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Christology Syllabus
Christology Syllabus
Tuesday evening
6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
On Line/In Class Course
Cell: (314) 566-4923
Course Description:
Christology is an exploration of the biblical doctrine of that explores the identity and
work of Jesus Christ. This course has a number of foci. We will consider historically, the
development of various Christological models and in early church history. In conjunction
with this, we will look at perspectives of oneness authors on church history. Further
historical work will focus on various Christological perspectives in the last two hundred
years, including a special focus on Oneness writers and perspectives.
During the semester, we will work to focus, not merely on theological constructs about
Jesus Christ; in conjunction with this, we will take time in class to do exegetical work
from a oneness perspective, focusing on establishing a consistent hermeneutic as well as
answering challenges involved in a oneness position. The biblical focus will work to
provide students a model as they work exegetically on a text of their choice; this text will
serve as a basis for an exegetical paper on Christology. Students will determine not only
the biblical context, but the various theological and hermeneutical presuppositions
involved in interpreting any christological text.
Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, a student will be able to:
1. Develop a working hermeneutical approach towards interpreting Christological
texts; this includes understanding how the text has been interpreted historically,
along with working tools to do original exegetical work
2. Explain historically how the first century understood messianism and how the
claims of Jesus, as demonstrated by the New Testament and other historical
documents
3. Write exegetically on important passages of Scripture that are central to the
Oneness understanding of Christology
4. Synthesize the important claims of modern academics in a changing theological
milieu; demonstrate an ability to articulate our message in conversation with the
constructs and methods that are current in theological reflection today.
Student Requirements: Students are expected to complete the assigned readings, attend
all classes and participate by posting for each threaded discussion. Because you are
professionals, please anticipate your busy times during the semester and post ahead of
time. For on campus students, as a courtesy, please let me know if you need to be absent.
Exegetical papers and oral report should be turned in the date they are assignedboth the
report and the papers are an integral part of the focus of the class.
Threaded Discussion: Weekly threaded discussion will include the first post on the
reading material that seeks to answer the discussion question that it is asked. This first
post is formal; as in other classes, this post should be two hundred and fifty words at a
minimum. Then two additional posts should be offered in conversation with others who
are posting. The discussion questions are available on final site.
Oral Report: You may at any time (even before the class begins) pick a theologian about
whom you would like to report. The theologians from whom you may choose are in
blue on the syllabus below. Of interest to the class for you (1) to situate this person
within their larger Christological milieu; (2) utilizing primary sources if they are
available, explain what it is that this person taught in terms of the christological
perspective. The oral report should be ten minutes in length and heavy in material. The
due date is in blue; it is the date upon which the theologian appears in blue on the
syllabus below. The deadline for distance learners to present a video of their oral report
is the Friday prior to the class where it should be presented. If you would like students to
read anything ahead of time, please get it Marjorie to post a week in advance.
Exegetical Paper: The exegetical paper is to be done in four steps. You may at any time
select a particular christological verse upon which you will focus. Please indicate this in
the threaded discussion that appears regarding your choice.
Grading Structure:
Paper
1. Select Text
2. Initial Exegesis
3. Rough draft
4. Final draft
Threaded Discussions
Oral Report
60%
0%
10%
20%
30%
30%
10%
Books and tape which you need to purchase. All but one are available from PPH:
(http://www.pentecostalpublishing.com/)
David K. Bernard, The Oneness View of Jesus Christ
____. Debate between Bernard and Cook [Audio or Video]
Gordon Magee, Is Jesus in the Godhead or is the Godhead in Jesus
Kenneth Reeves, The Godhead Book I
William Chalfant, Ancient Champions of Oneness
The following book may be purchased from Christ Temple Book store
(http://www.christtempleac.org/bookstore_main.html
G. T. Haywood, The Victim of the Flaming Sword
Paper:
The paper will be done in four stages, and I want to utilize both the subjects as well as
your writing into the class curriculum Therefore, it is essential that you do your work in a
timely manner. Normally, your grade is not affected in my class by a late paper, but
because of the nature of this class, your work needs to be done by the due date.
Stage 1: Select your Christological text that you want to write your paper about and
indicate that choice by posting it on the discussion board. Once you choose your text, no
one else may choose the same biblical text. While a number of Scriptures have been
offered from which you may choose, you are not required to choose any of these. You
may utilize an Old Testament text only if it is universally recognized as being
christological [for example, Psalm 110; Psalm 22; Isaiah 53, etc.] but my preference is
that you will select a New Testament text.
Stage 2: Write a four page paper that works towards surveying the various positions
have taken about the text, and identifies important words and concepts to consider and
essential for working through a correct understanding of the text in question. Students
should offer a working thesis for the paper, a one sentence statement of the tentative
position you are taking with a subordinating clause that hints at what is at stake. A
bibliography should include twenty academic sources that you intend to include in your
longer paper. Due March 28th.
Stage 3: There are no good writers. There are only good re-writers. Please allow me
time to look at your paper before the semester ends. Your paper should be in what you
deem to be its final form when you turn it in as a rough draft. If you satisfy this criterion
by the due date of the rough draft, there will be extra credit offered equivalent to half a
letter grade (to be applied at the end of the grading period). This is an incredible amount
of grace for a graduate level course, but it is grace that has to be earned. How about that
for a theological oxymoron. Due April 15.
Stage 4: Turn in final paper after my critique. Your total percentage of the class grade for
your paper is 60%. Due May 13.
Class Schedule
Date
Topic in Class
February 5
Overview Syllabus
Reading/Assignment
Postings Due Weekly
Cullman Reader 31-37
Methods of doing
Christological study
February 19th
Excerpt DSN I AM
Reader 31-54 Cullman
Reader 82-98 Dunn
February 26th
Philippians 2
Issues in exegesis
March 4
Oral Reports
Justin, Hippolytus
Tertullian [oral reports]
M Term
March 18
Reading Week
Due
March 25
124-59
Origen
March 11
McGrath, History
Athanasius
Arius [oral reports]
April 1
Chalfont, 65-140
German Christology
McGrath, 198-211
April 8
Bart Ehrman
Larry Hurtado [oral reports]
N. T. Wright
Early Pentecostal
Reflections
David Bernard
Oneness Controversy
Amos Yong, Oneness/Trin
The Victim of the Flaming
Sword by G. T.
Haywood
DSNHaywood and
Revelation
Differing Approaches
BernardOnenesView51-109
Kenneth Reeves The
Godhead Book I.
Conn, A Oneness Logos
Christology
April 29
Oneness Controversies
What does procreation mean?
Vonelle Kelly
Divine Flesh
Prologue of John
DSN Paper on
Prologue
James Anderson Prologue
L Reddy response
Segraves on Prologue
DSN MasTh 83-89
Bernard OnenessView 33-40
May 6
Oneness Approaches
Gordon Magees:
60 Questions (see web site)
Debate of Bernard
vss Gene Cook
May 13
Oneness Strategies
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