I. Course Description
This is the third in a series of four courses on systematic theology. Topics in Systematic Theology III include: the Person and Work of Christ, the Nature of the Atonement, the Doctrine of Salvation and the Doctrine of Election. This course begins with Session 33 and concludes with Session 48 (Sessions 1-16 are the Systematic Theology I course; sessions 17 - 32 are the Systematic Theology II course). Dr. Roger Nicole is a retired professor of theology emeritus at both Gordon-Cornwell Theological Seminary and Reformed Theological Seminiary in Orlando, Florida. He is also a past president of the Evangelical Theological Society and a founding member of the International Council on Biblical Inerrancy.
II. Course Mentor
If you are taking this course as directed studies, you must have a mentor to successfully complete the course requirements. A list of available mentors for this course and their contact information is posted in the Student Area. If you have any difficulty arranging for a mentor, please contact the Study Center Director.
III. Attendance and Participation
This course meets for 16 sessions. Students will have 20 weeks to complete all the sessions (from September 8, 2009 to January 29, 2010).
Your participation in the course will be determined largely by your contact time with your mentor. You may work through the course material online at your own pace, but to fulfill the attendance requirement for the course, you must stay in contact with your mentor and log at least 16 meetings with your mentor (one for each session of the course). If you meet long enough to sufficiently cover two sessions, your mentor may give you credit for two meetings. It will be up to your mentor to determine at the end of the course if you have fulfilled the attendance requirement and sufficiently covered the course material.
If extenuating circumstances arise and you will not be able to complete the course in the allotted time, please contact the Study Center Director.
IV. Required Texts
Two texts are required for this course:
• A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith by Robert Reymond
• An Abstract of Systematic Theology by James P. Boyce (text available online)
One additional text is recommended (but optional):
• Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine by Wayne Grudem (provides help with terms and is an excellent resource for personal devotional study)
These are the same textbooks used in the Systematic Theology I and II courses.
V. Outline of Sessions
The 16 sessions of this course follow the course lectures by Dr. Roger Nicole.
Part 1: The Person and Work of Christ
33. Introduction to Christology
34. The Deity of Christ
35. The Humanity of Christ
36. Deity and Humanity Conjoined
37. The Divinity and Humanity of Christ (Part 1)
38. The Divinity and Humanity of Christ (Part 2)
39. The Birth and Death of Christ
40. The Nature of the Atonement (Part 1)
41. The Nature of the Atonement (Part 2)
Part 2: The Doctrine of Salvation
42. The Language of Salvation (Part 1)
43. The Language of Salvation (Part 2)
44. The Divine Purpose in Salvation: Calvinist Position
45. The Divine Purpose in Salvation: Arminian Position
46. The Doctrine of Election (Part 1)
47. The Doctrine of Election (Part 2)
48. The Doctrine of Election (Part 3)
VI. Method of Instruction
Teaching methods will include:
VII. Course Assignments
All assignments for the course are outlined on the session pages and in the study guides.
Weekly Assignments:
Each session will include the following:
1) Reading Assignments from the two required texts
2) Discussion Questions over chapters
3) Discussion Questions over lectures
Please complete all the readings for the session and print out a hard copy of your answers to the discussion questions so you are prepared for your meetings with your mentor. You will receive credit for doing your weekly assignments once you have met and covered the material with your mentor.
Major Project:
Your major project for this course will be a Position Paper.
Position Paper You will choose one topic of theology from a list of available topics covered in this course (The Deity of Christ, the Humanity of Christ, the Nature of the Atonement. . . ). Your paper should cover: 1) your own understanding of the topic 2) a biblical defense of your view 3) a brief comparison of your view to that of Dr. Nicole, Robert Reymond, James P. Boyce or Wayne Grudem, 4) devotional and pastoral application. Your paper should be 8 to 10 pages (not includng title page), double-spaced, no larger than 12-point font (Times Roman or Arial) with 1 inch margins. More detailed instructions will be provided in Session 44.
Your mentor will assign a specific due date for your paper. All course work must be complete to the satisfaction of your mentor by January 29, 2010.