•Module(Week) 1

• Lecture 1
 SYLLABUS
DOCTRINE OF GOD (THST 633)
 INSTRUCTOR’S DETAILS
• P L Thlenga Chhakchhuak is an ordained minister came from Mizoram. Before
coming to Spicer he had been working as local church pastor, district pastor, and
Youth departmental director and Publishing director in the Mizo Conference of SDA.
• He is a product of Spicer memorial College. He earns his BLA from Spicer memorial
College, MA R from Andrews University, MA in political Science from Tilak University,
and a PhD in Systematic Theology at AIIAS, Philippines. He enjoys teaching,
preaching and conducting revival meetings especially among young people. He
enjoys even more his marriage to Mrs. Vanlalruali Chhakchhuak.
• He has two sons:
• Judson Chhakchhuak ( doing his PhD in Biblical Studies at Radboud University, Netherlands)
• Andrews Chhakchhuak (Earned MAR at AIIAS and doing his MA in philosophy at Pune
University).
 Contact details
• Name: P L Thlenga Chhakchhuak
• Email: thlenga.pl@gmail.com
• Phone and WhatsApp number: +917630822674
 COURSE DESCRIPTION

• A study of the nature, names, existence and

attributes of God and His relation to the world.
Special consideration of divine foreknowledge,
impassibility, timelessness, predestination, and
providence, the Trinity, God as person and His
works.
 COURSE OBJECTIVES
• The purpose of this course is to develop a proficiency
in understanding the Doctrine of God and to be able
to recognize and refute any attacks upon the true
Doctrine of God. The course will concentrate on the
pre existence, nature, and attributes of the Triune
God. There will be an emphasis on the historic
doctrines that relate to the work of God in the Divine
Decrees, Predestination, Timelessness, Immutability
of God, Impassibility of God, and Trinity.
MA RELIGIOUS STUDIES PROGRAM OUTCOMES

• Upon completion of this course students should be able to:

1. Have a deep and personal conviction of God’s call to the mission of the church.
2. Develop a Christ-like spiritual maturity for fruitful personal life and church mission.
3. Possess sound principles of biblical interpretation that is faithful to the Bible.
4. Be well-grounded in the fundamental beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
5. Exhibit Christian leadership skills for service in Adventist churches and institutions.
6. Be qualified and ready for cross-cultural missionary work both locally and globally.
7. Exhibit the skills to conduct church activities including evangelism and ordinances.
8. Grow into an effective soul-winner with the passion to initiate, nurture, and disciple.
9. Be a responsible and active participant in the welfare of the community.
10. Be an efficient evangelist, pastor, or seminary professor with the ability to teach and
preach.
11. Be able to effectively articulate ones’ faith both in oral and written form.
12. cquire the skills to conduct various research work for the benefit of the church.
13. Be qualified to pursue higher studies in any Adventist institution of higher learning.
 
 STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
OF THE COURSE
• Knowledge Objectives: Upon successful completion of this course,
the student will be able
• To become acquainted with the orthodox doctrines of the Triune, Personal,
Living and Creating God, and redeeming God.
• To know the classical theism
• To know the key Biblical passages that teach these doctrine.
• To know the development of the Church’s understanding of these doctrines in
the various expressions in the Creeds.
• To be familiar with the development of Adventist Understanding on Trinity
• To familiar with the difficult biblical texts on Trinity
• To understand the Triune God’s relation to the World.
• Skill Objectives: Upon successful completion of this course, the
student will be able to
• To be able to teach, illustrate, and explain the orthodox doctrines
• To refute all heresies, innovations, and novelties that are fashioned by Satan
and the imaginations of men.
• To be able to see God in Jesus Christ His Only Begotten Son
• To be able to make universal applications of the authority and compassion of
the Creator in terms of the world-wide mission of the church.
• Application/Attitude Objectives: Upon successful completion of this course, the
student will be able
• To become the people of God, in mind, heart, soul, and strength.
• To find the true knowledge of God, which is eternal life, according to our Lord (John 17:3)
• To find the knowledge of self comes from the knowledge of God, because man is in the image of
God.
• To know the precious promises, given to man so that he might partake of the divine nature. Man
cannot partake of God’s essence, nor of His incommunicable attributes, but as His image, it is
given to man to reflect His goodness, grace, justice, love, wisdom, and holiness, to the praise of
His glory.
• To have a better relationship with God
• To stands in awe of the majesty and love of God.
• To worship God in spirit and in truth, as Christ has taught us.
• To love all men, as the images of God, and especially the church, the household of faith.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS &
REFERENCE BOOKS
• 1. Norman R. Gulley, Systematic Theology: God as Trinity (Berrien Spring, MI:
Andrews University Press, 2011). (Main text Book)

• 2. Raoul Dederen, Handbook of Seventh-Day Adventist Theology, vol. 12,

Commentary Reference Series (Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald Publishing
Association, 2001).

• 3. . Erickson Millard, Christian Theology (Grand Rapid, MI: Bakers, 1985), part 1.
 COURSE ASSIGNMENTS
• 1. Research Paper:
• The student is required to write and submit a formal research paper. It is to be written
in accordance with Spicer standard format.
• a. The length of the paper is expected to be 20+
• b. The topic is to be related to the course and is to be chosen by the student and
approved by the professor.
• c. Due dates: The date for the submission of the paper is to be arranged later.
• Topic selection: Now
• Proposal Submission:
• Full Draft Submission:
• Paper Presentation:
Suggested Topics for Research Paper
• 1. Evaluation of Richard Dawkin’s theory of Atheism
• 2. Evaluation of Ontological argument of God’s existence
• 3. The Relationship between God’s name and salvation
• 4. The Relationship God’s name and His Character
• 5. The usage of Elohim and Jehovah in the OT
• 6. Personal Name of God
• 7. Identify Jehovah in the NT
• 8. OT names and NT Name of God
• 9. The superlative Attribute of God
• 10. God’s Wrath as one of the Permanent Attributes of God
• 11. Evaluation of Open theism from Adventist Perspective
• 12. Comparison of Arminian and Methodist view on Foreknowledge
• 13. Comparison of Luther and Calvin on Predestination
• 14. Evaluation of Impassibility of God from Adventist Perspective
• 15. Comparison of Ellen G White and Karl Barth on Foreknowledge
• 16. Comparison between the Roman Catholic and Adventist view on Trinity
• 17. Understanding of the Biblical meaning of the First Born in Relation to the Trinity
• 18. The Development of Adventist Understanding of Trinity
• 19. Evaluation of Jehovah Witness Understanding of Trinity
• 20. Evaluation of the Pentecostal Understanding of God Head
• 21. The Work of God in creation providence and in redemption.
• 22. Evaluation of RC Sproul’s view on Divine Provision
• 23. Evaluation of Reform view on the Perseverance of the saint.
• 24. Evaluation of classical Impassibility and Immutability of God
• 2. Listening Assignments:
• a. The Atheist Delusion Movie (2016) HD
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChWiZ3iXWwM ..Due date.
• 
• b. God's Not Dead: How Science Proves God Exists! - Mike Ladra, D. Min.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPiW8ZohN0g Due date :
• 
• c.
• 
• d.
• 3. Reading Assignments
• a. Berkhof’s Systematic Theology
• b. Sermon on Systematic Theology by Erickson Millard
• c. Systematic Theology: Creation and Salvation by Norman R. Gulley
• d. Charles Finney’s systematic on moral Arguments.
• e. Trinity for Seventh-day Adventist by Max Hatton
• 4. Group Discussions/ Debates
• 5. Class Participation
• 6. Internal Examination/ Mid Term Exam
• 7. Final Exam/ Semester Examination
 SEMESTER PLAN OR OUTLINE
Week Number Date Topics Required Periods/hours Methods/ Assignments Due &
Activities Tests

1   The Existence of God 6 hours 1. 1

“Asetiy” 2.

2   Traditional “Proofs” for 6 hours    

the Existence of God

3   Evaluation of the Proof 6 hours    

4   The attributes of God      
5   The Image of God      
6   Classical Theism      
Transcendence of God

7   Timelessness, Immutability of God,      

Impassibility of God

8   Divine Foreknowledge      
Open Theism
9   Predestination,

10   God’s major names

11   On God’s Personal Name

12   Introduction to Trinity

13   The Controversy on Trinity in Christian History

14   Monarchianism

15   Arianism

16   Biblical Concept of Trinity

17   Trinity in Adventism and difficult texts about Trinity

18   Roman Catholic and Adventist View on Trinity

God’s Relation to the World
 GRADING AND ASSESSMENT
• Credit-Hour Definition: (Generally)
• 1 credit course requires 18 contact hours in the class and 18 hours outside the class.
• 2 credit course requires 36 contact hours in the class and 36 hours outside the class.
• 3 credit course requires 54 contact hours in the class and 45 hours outside the class.
• 4 credit course requires 72 contact hours in the class and 72 hours outside the class.
• 5 credit course requires 90 contact hours in the class and 90 hours outside the class.
• 6 credit course requires 108 contact hours in the class and 108 hours outside the class.
Grades are normally assigned according to
the table below. (Taken from old bulletin)
Grade Marks % Grade Points

O 70 & above 7

A 60 to 69.99 6

B 55 to 59.99 5

C 50 to 54.99 4

D 45 to 49.99 3

E 40 to 44.99 2

F (Fail) 39.99 & below 0

RECOMMENDED
READINGS/BIBLIOGRAPHY
• Alston, William. "Divine and Human Action." In Divine and Human Action: Essays in the Metaphysics
of Theism, edited by Thomas V. Morris, 257-280. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press, 1988.
• Baggett, David and Jerry L. Walls. Good God: The Theistic Foundations of Morality. New York: Oxford
University Press, 2011.
• Beilby, James K. and Paul R. Eddy, eds. Divine Foreknowledge: Four Views. Downers Grove, Ill.:
InterVarsity Press, 2001.
• Bloesch, Donald G. God, the Almighty: Power, Wisdom, Holiness, Love. Downers Grove, Ill.:
InterVarsity Press, 2006.
• SEVENTH - DAY ADVENTIST T HEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 1 1
• Boyd, Gregory A. God at War: The Bible & Spiritual Conflict. Downer's Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press,
1997.
• Boyd, Gregory A. Satan and the Problem of Evil: Constructing a Trinitarian Warfare Theodicy.
Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 2001.
• Brand, Leonard. Faith, Reason, & Earth History: A Paradigm of Earth and Biological Origins by
Intelligent Design. 2nd ed. Berrien Springs, Mich.: Andrews University Press, 2009.
• Brümmer, Vincent. The Model of Love: A Study in Philosophical Theology. Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press, 1993.
• Cahn, Steven M. and David Shatz, eds. Contemporary Philosophy of Religion. New York: Oxford
University Press, 1982.
• Canale, Fernando. A Criticism of Theological Reason: Time and Timelessness as Primordial
Presuppositions. Berrien Springs, MI: Andrews University Press, 1987.
• Canale, Fernando. "Doctrine of God." In Handbook of Seventh-Day Adventist Theology, edited by
Raoul Dederen. Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald, 2000.
• Canale, Fernando. Back to Revelation-Inspiration: Searching for the Cognitive Foundation of Christian
Theology in a Postmodern World. Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 2001.
• Canale, Fernando. Basic Elements of Christian Theology. Berrien Springs, MI: Andrews University
Lithotech, 2005.
• Canale, Fernando. Creation, Evolution, and Theology. Berrien Springs, Mich.: Andrews
University Lithotech, 2005.
• Carson, Donald A. The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God. Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway,
2000.
• Clouzet, Ron E. M. Adventism's Greatest Need: The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Nampa, Idaho: Pacific Press Pub. Association, 2011.
• Cooper, John W. Panentheism: The Other God of the Philosophers. Grand Rapids,
Mich.: Baker Academic, 2006.
• Craig, William Lane. The Only Wise God: The Compatibility of Divine Foreknowledge
and Human Freedom. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Book House, 1987.
• Craig, William Lane. Divine Foreknowledge and Human Freedom: The Coherence of
Freedom. New York: Leiden, 1991.
• Craig, William Lane. The Kalam Cosmological Argument. Eugene, Oreg.: Wipf & Stock,
2000.
• Craig, William Lane. Time and Eternity: Exploring God's Relationship to Time. Wheaton,
Ill.: Crossway Books, 2001.
• Craig, William Lane. "The Coherence of Theism: Introduction." In Philosophy of Religion:
A Reader and Guide, edited by William Lane Craig, 203-215.
• Dederen, Raoul, ed. Handbook of Seventh-Day Adventist Theology, Commentary
Reference Series. Hagerstown, MD: Review & Herald, 2000.
• Erickson, Millard J. Christian Theology. 3rd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2013.
• SEVENTH - DAY ADVENTIST T HEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 1 2
• Erickson, Millard J. God in Three Persons: A Contemporary Interpretation of the Trinity.
Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books, 1995.
• Erickson, Millard J. God the Father Almighty: A Contemporary Exploration of the Divine
Attributes. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books, 1998.
• Erickson, Millard J. What Does God Know and When Does He Know It? Grand Rapids, MI:
Zondervan, 2003.
• Erickson, Millard J. Who's Tampering with the Trinity? An Assessment of the Subordination
Debate. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Academic, 2009.
• Flint, Thomas P. "Divine Providence." In The Oxford Handbook of Philosophical Theology,
edited by Thomas P. Flint and Michael C. Rea, 262-285. New York: Oxford University Press,
2008.
• Froom, Le Roy Edwin. The Coming of the Comforter. Takoma Park, Washington, D.C., Peekskill,
N.Y. etc.: Review and herald publishing association, 1928.
• Ganssle, Gregory E., ed. God & Time: Four Views. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 2001.
• Gavrilyuk, Paul L. The Suffering of the Impassible God: The Dialectics of Patristic Thought
The Oxford Early Christian Studies. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004.
• Griffin, David Ray, John B. Cobb and Clark H. Pinnock, eds. Searching for an Adequate God:
A Dialogue between Process and Free Will Theists. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 2000.
• Gulley, Norman R. Systematic Theology: Prolegomena. Berrien Springs, Mich.: Andrews
University Press, 2003.
• Hahn, Scott. Kinship by Covenant: A Canonical Approach to the Fulfillment of God's Saving
Promises. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2009.
• Hartshorne, Charles. Omnipotence and Other Theological Mistakes. Albany: State
University of New York, 1984.
• Hasker, William. God, Time, and Knowledge Cornell Studies in the Philosophy of Religion.
Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1989.
• Henry, Carl F. H. God, Revelation, and Authority. 6 vols. Waco, Tex.: Word Books, 1976.
• Holmes, Stephen R. The Quest for the Trinity: The Doctrine of God in Scripture, History, and
Modernity. Downers Grove, Ill.: IVP Academic, 2012.
• Horton, Michael Scott. The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims on the Way.
Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2011.
• Jowers, Dennis, ed. Four Views on Divine Providence. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2011.
• Lewis, C. S. The Complete C.S. Lewis Signature Classics. 1st ed. San Francisco, Calif.:
HarperSanFrancisco, 2002.
• Lister, Rob. God Is Impassible and Impassioned: Toward a Theology of Divine Emotion.
Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway, 2013.
• McCall, Thomas H. and Michael C. Rea, eds. Philosophical and Theological Essays on the
Trinity. New York: Oxford University Press, 2009.
• SEVENTH - DAY ADVENTIST T HEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 1 3
• Meister, Chad and James K. Dew. God and Evil: The Case for God in a World Filled with Pain.
Downers Grove, Illinois: IVP Books, 2013.
• Moreland, James Porter and William Lane Craig. Philosophical Foundations for a Christian
Worldview. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 2003.
• Nash, Ronald H. The Concept of God. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 1983. Nash, Ronald
H., ed. Process Theology. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker, 1987.
• Norton, David L. and Mary F. Kille, eds. Philosophies of Love. San Francisco: Chandler, 1971.
• Nygren, Anders. Agape and Eros. Translated by Philip S. Watson. London: S.P.C.K., 1953.
• Oden, Thomas C. The Living God. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1987.
• Oord, Thomas Jay. The Nature of Love: A Theology. St. Louis: Chalice Press, 2010.
• Osborne, Grant R. The Hermeneutical Spiral: A Comprehensive Introduction to Biblical
Interpretation. Rev. and expanded, 2nd ed. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 2006.
• Peckham, John C. "An Investigation of Luther's View of the Bondage of the Will with
Implications for Soteriology and Theodicy." Journal of the Adventist Theological Society 18, no.
2 (2007): 274-304.
• Peckham, John C. "The Passible Potter and the Contingent Clay: A Theological Study of Jeremiah
18:1-10." Journal of the Adventist Theological Society 18, no. 1 (2007): 130-150.
• Peckham, John C. The Concept of Divine Love in the Context of the God-World Relationship. New
York: Peter Lang, (forthcoming) Peckham, John C. "Providence and God's Unfulfilled Desires."
Philosophia Christi 15, no. 2 (2013): 453-62.
• Perszyk, Kenneth J., ed. Molinism: The Contemporary Debate. New York: Oxford University
Press, 2011.
• Pfandl, Gerhard, ed. Interpreting Scripture. Silver Spring, MD: Biblical Research Institute, 2010.
• Pinnock, Clark H., Richard Rice, John Sanders, William Hasker, David Basinger. The Openness of
God: A Biblical Challenge to the Traditional Understanding of God. Downers Grove, Ill.:
InterVarsity Press, 1994.
• Plantinga, Alvin. The Nature of Necessity Clarendon Library of Logic and Philosophy. Oxford:
Clarendon Press, 1974.
• Plantinga, Alvin. God, Freedom, and Evil. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1977.
• Plantinga, Alvin. Does God Have a Nature? Milwaukee: Marquette UP, 1980.
• Richards, Jay Wesley. The Untamed God: A Philosophical Exploration of Divine Perfection,
Immutability, and Simplicity. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 2003.
• Schreiner, Thomas R. and Bruce A. Ware, eds. Still Sovereign: Contemporary Perspectives on
Election, Foreknowledge, and Grace. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Book House, 2000.
• SEVENTH - DAY ADVENTIST T HEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 1 4 Swinburne, Richard. The Coherence
of Theism. Rev. ed. Clarendon Library of Logic and Philosophy. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1993.
• Vanhoozer, Kevin J., ed. Nothing Greater, Nothing Better: Theological Essays on the Love of God. Grand Rapids,
Mich.: Eerdmans, 2001.
• Vanhoozer, Kevin J. Remythologizing Theology: Divine Action, Passion, and Authorship Cambridge Studies in
Christian Doctrine. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2010.
• Walls, Jerry L. "Why No Classical Theist, Let Alone Orthodox Christian, Should Ever Be a Compatibilist."
Philosophia Christi 13, no. 1 (2011): 75-104.
• Walton, John H. Covenant: God's Purpose, God's Plan. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan Pub. House, 1994.
• Ware, Bruce A. God's Greater Glory: The Exalted God of Scripture and the Christian Faith. Wheaton, Ill.:
Crossway Books, 2004.
• Ware, Bruce A., Paul Helm, Roger E. Olson and John Sanders. Perspectives on the Doctrine of God: 4 Views.
Nashville, Tenn.: B & H Academic, 2008.
• Webster, J. B., Kathryn Tanner and Iain R. Torrance, eds. The Oxford Handbook of Systematic Theology. New
York: Oxford University Press, 2007.
• Wolterstorff, Nicholas. "Suffering Love." In Augustine's Confessions: Critical Essays, edited by William E. Mann,
107-146. Oxford: Rowman & Littlefield, 2006.
 UNIVERSITY POLICIES

• Class Attendance:
• Assignment Submission:
• Style and Format of Written Work: Turibain Style
• Academic Integrity:
• 1. Plagiarism 
• Take note that plagiarism and any other form of cheating or deception is strictly
prohibited and can be grounds for expulsion from the institution. Copying (Copy
paste) from internet, article or book without giving credit to the author are not
allowed. All sources should be fully documented according to standard format.
Work that has been done or being done for other classes may not be used to
earn credit in this class. Original work is required for each assignment and paper.
RUBRICS FOR GRADING ASSIGNMENTS
Sample template: (Rubrics should be provided for all the assignments given)

  Excellent Proficient Satisfactory Unsatisfactory    

Parts Weight Score
4 3 2 1

             
 
 

             
 
 

             
 
 

             
 
 

Total Score