Any course in the Department of Theology not marked as Required can be taken as an elective-at-large.
200 Introduction to Theology
Theology is an attempt to answer the significant questions of life using the data God has revealed in the Scriptures. Once the ?queen of the sciences,? theology has either been ignored in our culture or has been corrupted by theologians who have rejected the uniqueness and trustworthiness of the Bible. This course will present an overview of various types of theology, outline principles for doing good theology, survey the historical development of evangelical theology, and assist you in identifying the importance of thinking theologically.
Required for Preliminary Certificate.
Spring I
Mondays, 7:35 p.m. - Mann
Summer - June
Monday, 6 p.m. - Mann
201 Basic Christianity
This practical course in the principles of the Christian life addresses topics such as faith, prayer, guidance, work, temptation, witness, fellowship, and the place of the Bible in daily living. Only with careful attention to these basics can a believer grow in the faith. New Christians will gain instruction in beginning their newfound spiritual life. Older Christians will be revived in their quest to regain their first love.
Required for Preliminary Certificate.
Spring I
202P Praying the Psalms of Jesus
Journey with us through several Psalms that Jesus prayed and referred to about Himself to grow closer to Him. Develop your prayer life by learning how to pray and meditate on these Psalms in light of their context and truth.
Spring II, Thursdays, 6 p.m. - A. Blankley
203 The Philosophy of Theology
This course will focus on the destructive elements of hardcore post-modern thought. However, it iwll also deal with how we may come to terms with its challenges. This will be done in light of some of the hard sayings of Scripture. We will examine the language of various biblical texts to see the difficulty in interpreting them. A minimal interest in Greek and Hebrew, while not absolutely essential, may facilitate a deeper appreciation of the interpretative challenges of this course.
Fall I, Mondays, 6 p.m. - R. Muñoz
210 God and the Bible
Understanding who God is and what He has said forms the basis for living a meaningful life. Understanding the Bible?s revelation about God?s character and His work in the world is the starting point for developing a worldview based on truth rather than speculation. Holding that Scripture are the actual words of God enables the student to confidently search for answers to life's most profound questions.
Required for Preliminary Certificate.
Spring II
Mondays, 7:35 p.m. - Mann
211 The Trinity in Light of Scripture and Reason
How do Old Testament Scriptures anticipate the New Testament teaching regarding God as a Trinity? What is a reasonable defense of this truth for the Church in light of the radical monotheism of Islam and Rabbinic Judaism? What are the implications of Trinitarian teaching for mankind being created in the image of God? Attention will also be given to ways in which the Trinity is reflected in God's creation.
Fall II, Mondays, 6 p.m. - R. Muñoz
215E Chosen in Christ: The Case for Divine Election
This course is designed to give serious students of Scripture a better understanding of their faith by tracing the Bible's teaching on divine election. It will also seek to answer common objections by those who disagree and will offer important applications of this neglected Biblical teaching.
Fall I, Mondays, 6 p.m. - R. Blankley
219B Scripture Alone: Why I Trust the Bible
This course focuses on seven foundational reasons we as evangelical Christians can place our complete faith in the Bible, God's inspired and inerrant Word!
Fall II, Mondays, 6 p.m. - R. Blankley
220 Humanity and Sin
The great issues of life ultimately hinge on one?s view of human nature. Our world is plagued by the need to satisfactorily explain humanity's great capacity for creativity, ingenuity, and expression in the face of gross displays of inhumanity. This course will explore God's answer to these problems and provide hope for our human existence.
Required for Intermediate Certificate.
Fall I
Saturdays, 10:35 a.m. - Taylor
Mondays, 7:35 p.m. - Gueli
230 Christ and Salvation
The eternal destiny of each person is ultimately determined by one?s response to Jesus Christ. Jesus presented Himself as God?s Son by performing works consistent with His nature and speaking words full of grace and truth. Jesus declared His purpose in life as having come to ?seek and to save that which was lost.? Accepting His provision of salvation provides entrance into the eternal kingdom of God. Understanding the full scope of this salvation provides motivation for serving Him acceptably while living within the kingdom of humankind.
Required for Intermediate Certificate.
Fall II
Saturdays, 10:35 a.m. - Mann
Mondays, 7:35 p.m. - MannSummer - July
Monday, 6 p.m. - Watson
231A Christology: Logos, Chalcedon, and Beyond
This course will examine how Old Testament prophetic utterances about Israel's Messiah were met in Christ. It will analyze how the early Church dealt with the biblical tradition of the prophets and apostles. We will see how the Church over the ages grappled with the mystery of how the second person of the Trinity is to be understood as a distinct person in the Godhead possessing both a human and a divine nature.
Spring I, Mondays, 6 p.m. - R. Muñoz
233V The Virgin Birth
This course will study the details of the New Testament account of the Virgin Birth. Going back to Genesis 3:15, the proto-Gospel, it will explore how the incarnation of Christ plays into Isaiah's famous prophecy. An innovative solution will be proposed for the "almah/bethulah" controversy of Isaiah 7:14. Time will be spent considering why Jesus, the divine Son of God, was also fully human. Comment will be made on the teaching of the perpetual virginity of Mary.
Spring II, Mondays, 6 p.m. - R. Muñoz
240 The Holy Spirit and the Church
The Holy Spirit is revealed in the Bible as a member of the Godhead, worthy of equal honor and active in all phases of God?s eternal plan. Who He is and what He does must be understood if we are to live lives pleasing to Him. It was the Holy Spirit who founded the Church and who now provides its ongoing vitality. This assembly of believers takes various organizational forms but its essential nature and purpose are clearly presented in the Bible. Contemporary views of the Holy Spirit and of the Church need to be liberated from the muddled thinking present in today?s Christian culture.
Required for Advanced Certificate.
Fall I
Saturdays, 9 a.m. - Mann Mondays, 6 p.m. - Watson
250 Angels and the End of the Age
Two topics of particular confusion for believers relate to angels and the end of the present age. Angels exist and are active in our lives?for better or for worse. Christians need to know how to cooperate with the good angels and how to avoid the evil ones. Additionally, the end of the age is frequently taught in the Bible. Knowing what the Bible teaches and how we are to live is important for our walk of faith.
Required for Advanced Certificate.
Fall II
260A Worldview Apologetics: Defending the Faith
In the marketplace of ideas, the average Christian seems to feel intimidated by the ?bullies? of modernity. Too often we have taken refuge in the fortress of blind faith: ?You ask me how I know He lives, He lives within my heart.? True enough. But much more can be said, indeed, needs to be said. This course aims to develop a positive, Biblical apologia, or defense of the faith, by showing that our worldview is based on creation, fall, and redemption.
Required for Advanced and Worldview Apologetics Certificates.
Fall I
Saturdays, 10:35 a.m. - Mann
Mondays, 7:35 p.m. - Mann
Spring I
Thursdays, 7:35 p.m. - Mann Summer - July
Monday, 6 p.m. - Mann
260B Worldview Apologetics: God and Creation
After god had finished creating and surveying His creation, the bible sates the end result "was very good" (Gen. 1:31). Hardly a portrait of bloody evolution! While the atheist contends that a belief in God reflects ignorance, there are many compelling reasons (logical, evidential, and scientific) to believe that God created this world. We will investigate these reasons, the various proofs for the existence of God, and also the claims against them, especially from atheism, the "problem of evil and suffering", and the theory of evolution. Instruction will include the use of films, discussions, and role-play.
Required for Worldview Apologetics Certificate.
Fall II, Thursdays, 6 p.m. - Mann
260C Worldview Apologetics: The Bible and Its Critics
The Bible is the foundation of our faith and life. It also imparts profound riches to those who believe (Col. 2:1-4). But it is continually under fire from various sources--The DaVinci Cod, The Jesus Seminar, the Gnostic Gospels, etc. If we fail to counter their challenges, we leave seeds of doubt within our minds that slowly will erode our confidence, joy, and enthusiasm for the Bible. This course will examine and critique what the critics are saying and offer positive evidences for the reliability of Scripture.
Required for Worldview Apologetics Certificate.
Spring I, Thursdays, 6 p.m. - Mann
260D Worldview Apologetics: Christ in the Old Testament
It is a glorious faith-builder to find Christ and His cross within the pages of the Law. Seeing the harmony between the Old and New Testaments paints a portrait that will inspire the believer and will challenge the doubts which are an expected part of the Christian experience.
Required for Worldview Apologetics Certificate.
Spring II, Thursdays, 6 p.m. - Mann
260E Worldview Apologetics: Proof the Bible Is God's Word
Beholding the harmony between the Old and New Testaments is a thing of beauty and also powerful evidence of the authoring hand of the Holy Spirit. While Jewish commentators insist that the Apostles misrepresented the teachings of the Hebrew Scriptures regarding forgiveness, grace, atonement, God, and many other ideas, we find that both of our testaments agree to an incredible extent. If we fail to understand this, we might be easily misled by assertions that "Paul and Jesus got it wrong!". We will examine these Jewish challenges.
Required for Worldview Apologetics Certificate.Fall I
Saturdays, 12:30 p.m. - Mann
Mondays, 7:35 p.m. - Mann
260F Worldview Apologetics: Religions and Worldviews
In order to speak effectively to people of other religions, we have to be able to enter into their thinking (1 Cor. 9:19-23). This course will help equip you to understand other religions: their development, variety, appeal, commonalities, weaknesses, and vulnerabilities. Each has its own worldview which we will analyze and compare with Christianity and provide strategies of engagement. This will also help us to better understand our own faith.
Required for Worldview Apologetics Certificate.
Fall II
Saturdays, 12:30 p.m. - Mann
260G Worldview Apologetics: Proof the Bible Is God's Word
Peter instructs us that "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him" (2 Peter 1:3). Therefore, knowing who God is is so critically important. We find that the cults inevitably present a different Jesus and a different Gospel. The Church needs to be able to identify distorted interpretations and to counter them for the sake of its people. Paul writes that it is a duty of an elder to "hold firmly to the trustworthy messge as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it" (Titus 1:9). This is not an option but a command. This course will examine the teachings of the Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, and various cult leaders in order to critique their errant interpretations of Scripture.
Required for Worldview Apologetics Certificate.
Spring I
Saturdays, 12:30 p.m. - Mann
260H Worldview Apologetics: Ethics and Moral Questions
Proverbs 13:14 tells us, "The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death." This gives us an incredible opportunity to be the salt and light to a dying world. However, we need to be able to speak wisely about the issues that confront humanity today. This course will examine some of the difficult ethical issues of the day, including civil disobedience, warfare, separation of Church and State, gay marriage, and reproductive technologies, in order to equip the Church to be that "fountain of life". This course will involve much discussion.
Required for Worldview Apologetics Certificate.
Spring II
Saturdays, 12:30 p.m. - Mann
270A Church History: The Early Church
History does not have to be boring! Step into the world of the early Christian Church as it faced its greatest period of persecution, while expanding at one of the fastest rates since its inception. Learn about the great people of God, the doctrinal struggles, and the miraculous adventure of our Christian forefathers from the close of the New Testament to 590 A.D.
Fall I, 2009 Mondays, 7:35 p.m. - Gardner
270B Church History: The Dark Ages
King Arhur and the Knights of the Round Table, the Islamic expansion, the Revival of the Holy Roman Empire, and much more marked the period from 590-1054 A.D., better known as The Dark Ages. What shadows passed over the Church, crushing its spirit and threatening tis extinction? What windows of hope pointed to a brighter tomorrow? Grab your flashlight and travel deep into The Dark Ages.
Fall II, 2009 Mondays, 7:35 p.m. - Gardner
270C Church History: Scholasticism and the Pre-Reformation Era
This age of church history has become known as "Scholasticism" because an age of scholarship arose from the dust heap of the Dark Ages. Human reason and Christian theology were reconciled as the teachings of the Church were organized. Walk with us through the corridors of learning from 1054-1500
A.D.
Spring I, 2010 Mondays, 7:35 p.m. - Gardner
270D Church History: Why Just 66 Books in the Bible?
Are there lost books of the Bible? did Constantine select the books for the canon? Who has the right number of biblical books, the Roman Catholics or the Protestants? Which English translations are the best? Learn how the biblical canon was formed, how it was passed down throughout the centuries, what issues the Church faced in translating the Bible, and why there are so many varieties of translations today.
Spring II, 2010 Mondays, 7:35 p.m. - Gardner
270E Church History: Why Just 66 Books in the Bible?
Are there lost books of the Bible? did Constantine select the books for the canon? Who has the right number of biblical books, the Roman Catholics or the Protestants? Which English translations are the best? Learn how the biblical canon was formed, how it was passed down throughout the centuries, what issues the Church faced in translating the Bible, and why there are so many varieties of translations today.
Fall I, Mondays, 7:35 p.m. - Gardner
270F Church History: Why Just 66 Books in the Bible?
Are there lost books of the Bible? did Constantine select the books for the canon? Who has the right number of biblical books, the Roman Catholics or the Protestants? Which English translations are the best? Learn how the biblical canon was formed, how it was passed down throughout the centuries, what issues the Church faced in translating the Bible, and why there are so many varieties of translations today.
Fall II, Mondays, 7:35 p.m. - Gardner
270G Church History: Why Just 66 Books in the Bible?
Are there lost books of the Bible? did Constantine select the books for the canon? Who has the right number of biblical books, the Roman Catholics or the Protestants? Which English translations are the best? Learn how the biblical canon was formed, how it was passed down throughout the centuries, what issues the Church faced in translating the Bible, and why there are so many varieties of translations today.
Spring I, Mondays, 7:35 p.m. - Gardner
270H Church History: Why Just 66 Books in the Bible?
Are there lost books of the Bible? did Constantine select the books for the canon? Who has the right number of biblical books, the Roman Catholics or the Protestants? Which English translations are the best? Learn how the biblical canon was formed, how it was passed down throughout the centuries, what issues the Church faced in translating the Bible, and why there are so many varieties of translations today.
Spring II, Mondays, 7:35 p.m. - Gardner
271 Getting to Know the Church Fathers
The lives and writings of the early Church fathers have played an integral role in the expansion and development of Christian doctrine and practice. As heirs of this great community of faith, knowledge of the testimonies and teaching of these individuals enhances our understanding of our theological roots and convicts us in regard to our devotion and practice. As a result of this course, men such as Ignatius, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Origen, Athanasius, Augustine, and John Chrysotom will no longer remain disconnected predecessors but will become valued partners in our contemporary pilgrimage.
272 Creeds and Councils of the Christian Church
The expressions of Christian thought and faith, which were articulated in the creeds and fought for during the councils of the early Church, help lay a sure foundation upon which we are to continue to build God's community. These intelligent expressions of the core truths of Christianity are worth exploring and appreciating in light of the historical environment in which they were birthed. In this class, this historical exploration will be couple with an in-depth look in the theological maxims clarified in the resulting creeds, as well as the theological errors they serve to expose.
276A Teaching Morality through Literature
What do classic children's stories teach us about life, immortality, friends, mentors, evil, redemption, faith, and courage? Find out as we delve into the values portrayed in Charlotte's Web; The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe; Prince Caspian; The Velveteen Rabbit; Pinocchio; Bambi and others.
292A Are Miraculous Gifts for Today?
These are few issues which raise the battle lines if division within moder Evangelicalism more than the validity and appropriateness of miraculous gifts. This class will seek to delve into the issues raised by this debate in a critical yet irenic fashion, modeling a Christian interaction which seeks unity in the bond of peace. Speaking in tongues, healing, prophecy, casting out demons, miracles, and Spirit baptism are just several of the topics that will be discussed and evaluated in this class from the vantage point of the five major approaches found within the Evangelical Church.
Fall I, Mondays, 7:35 p.m. - Luciano
292B Four View of Hell
Is there really life after death? Is purgatory real? Is it true there are no second chances for redemption once one has died? Are not the descriptions of hell found in the Bible just metaphorical? Are Gehenna, the Pit, Hades, the Lake of Fire, and Hell the same location? Why does the Old Testament not give a complete picture of the afterlife? These and many other questions will be discussed and evaluated from a close interaction with the various biblical and theological arguments and evidence. As a result of this class, one's ability to respond to those who have these and similar questions will be strenghtened and one's evangelistic zeal will be encouraged.
Spring I, Mondays, 7:35 p.m. - Luciano
