Download Doctor of Theology Component 3 THD-703

MASTER’S INTERNATIONAL
Evansville, Indiana U.S.A. © Copyrights Reserved
Doctoral Program Course Study Guide
The Origin of Codified Theology and Its
Relationship to Contemporary Christianity
(Doctor of Theology Component # 3 THD-703)
Component Purpose:
This Doctor of Theology Component presents the student with an opportunity to
demonstrate comprehension and general mastery of the foundational components of
Systematic Theology and how these relate to the Bible as a first-source. Furthermore, this
Component will allow the student to document a balanced understanding of the study of
Christian doctrine within a coherent framework; will enable the student to identify and
describe key doctrinal issues that unite or divide the Church; and also document that
knowledge in the context of the student's current theological persuasion.
Component Objectives:
To enable the student to explain, defend and teach the truths of Systematic Theology as
they relate to the Bible, and to apply these within the framework of contemporary
Christianity. This Component will provide the student the opportunity to develop a
comprehensive knowledge of the interdependent relationship between the Old and New
Testament, the roots of Systematic Theology, and how these coalesce into what may be
understood as the foundational requisites of contemporary theology.
COMPONENT PROJECTS
This Component Guide contains documentation requirements. These are referred to as
Component Projects.
PLEASE NOTE: As a Th.D. student you will have full access to Master’s millennium3
Online Digital Library (http://odl.mdivs.edu/). You are encouraged to make full use of this
resource as you complete this and all of the other Th.D. Components. Your password is
your student ID# (such as Master's0012345). Your personalized password was included
in your initial New Student Start Pack. If you have misplaced or forgotten your password,
please contact the school by phone (1-812-471-0611) or e-mail ([email protected])
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I. Collateral Reading Assignment:
In order to provide a reassuring element prior to launching the Theology Competence
Position Project, a collateral reading assignment is required. The required reading is
Systematic Theology, by Wayne Grudem, published by Inter-Varsity Press a subsidiary of
Zondervan, ISBN: 0-310-28670-0, 1994. This book consists of about 1,250 pages and
written at the introductory level. Therefore, the Th.D. student will not find this a difficult
read. The purpose (as noted above) is to serve as a reassuring affirmation of the general
scope of Systematic Theology.
Part One: Read Systematic Theology, by Wayne Grudem. Keep a simple reading log of
the time you spend reading.
Part Two: Write a statement verifying that you have read this text, and include your
reading log.
II. Theology Competency Position Project:
Part One: This Part of the Project requires that you use your previously completed “Old
and New Testament Roots of Theology Project” (from Components # 1 & 2), as the basis
for completing a directed online reading assignment. At this time, you should have both of
these previously completed Projects at hand. Now, you will need to go online and enter
Master’s Online Digital Library (http://odl.mdivs.edu/). Select “Commentaries” from the
left-side menu. Scroll down and select Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the
Whole Bible (A one-volume commentary prepared by Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and
David Brown. It was published in 1871). Next, beginning first with your “Old Testament
Roots of Theology Project,” select and read the commentary on each of the Scripture
references you selected in that Project. As you begin reading, start keeping track of the
verses that affirm that they are in fact key verses connected to the major point of Theology
as you have noted. Keep track of those verses, which after reading the commentary, may
seem to actually not be related to the major point of Theology as you have noted. Finally,
make a note of those verses where you believe the commentary has been inaccurate. Of
course, this is a difficult and exhaustive assignment, but the goal of it is to allow you to
compare, contrast, and conclude whether your own Old and New Testament Root verse
selections can withstand the test of direct scrutiny. Also, whether after further
consideration, you can now defend what you believe to be the roots of a particular major
tenet of Theology. Do this for the New Testament also. Convert your list (as directed
above) into a digital document and include it with your completed course under the title of:
Theology Competency Position Project One.
Example: The Gospel of John begins with a series of verses that declare Jesus Christ to
be God. These verses form one of the foundations upon which Trinitarianism and
Christology find a meeting place. But what, if after careful exegesis, it were determined
that these verses do not in fact support or confirm the deity of Jesus? Would the whole
Theology of Trinitarianism then fall? Or would the entire Theology of Jesus as the
Incarnation of the Godhead be destroyed? On the other hand, what are the implications
for the whole of Theology if these verses undeniably support the full deity of Jesus?
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Part Two: Using the same documents as in Part One (your Theological Roots projects
from Components # 1 & 2), and returning to the Online Digital Library, select “Lexicons”
from the left menu. Next, select from your Old and New Testament Roots project as
above, what you believe to be key words in the texts, and then complete both the initial
Lexicon search and then the keyed Strong’s search. You are the one who decides which
words are key-words, and therefore should be looking for words that help to affirm,
strengthen, and shed light on the particular theological position they are associated with.
Create a document in which you list these key words, their Scripture reference, and a brief
note as to why you believe these words help to affirm, strengthen or shed light on the
particular theological position with which they are associated.
Example: In Genesis 1 the word “day” is used in connection with the creation event. If
your theological position regarding creation is that of a six-solar-day event, then you would
be very interested in the meaning of the word day (yowm), and any key words associated
with it (e.g. evening and morning).
Of course, this too is a difficult and exhaustive assignment, but the goal of it is to force you
to compare, contrast, and conclude whether your own Old and New Testament Root verse
selections can withstand the test of key-word cross examination. Include Part Two with
your completed course under the title of: Theology Competency Position Project Two.
Part Three: The following major themes of Systematic Theology have previously been
set forth as the ground upon which themes in contemporary Theology have been
formulated. Now, after having completed all of your previous reading, research and
writing, write out your own personal position for each of the following themes. Use Old
and New Testament Scripture to support your position, and employ as many words as you
feel necessary to present your theological position. While there is no actual required
“word-count” for this Position Project, you must find a balance between being too “wordy”
or too brief. As is the case with all of your submissions, your paper must be typed or
printed and follow generally accepted page layout.
1. Bibliology (Biblical Inspiration)
2. Trinitarianism (Doctrine of the Trinity)
3. Angelology (Doctrine of Angels (clean and unclean including Satan)
4. Anthropology (Doctrine of Man)
5. Soteriology (Doctrine of Salvation)
6. Harmartiology (Doctrine of Sin)
7. Ecclesiology (Doctrine of the Church)
8. Theology Proper (Doctrine of God)
9. Christology (Doctrine of Christ)
10. Pneumatology (Doctrine of the Holy Spirit)
11. Eschatology (Doctrine of Things to Come)
12. Creationism (Doctrine of Origins)
Entitle this Project Theology Competency Position Project Part Three.
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III. Theology Comparison Project:
The purpose of the Comparison Project is to provide you with an opportunity to
demonstrate your knowledge of the general positions held on key theological issues
between those groups that may generally be accepted as orthodox on most issues, but
with sometimes widely differing position on some points (major and minor).
For the purpose of this Project, you are to state the general position of each of the four
following groups in relation to the theological points and sub-points. While there is no
actual required “word-count” for this Comparison Project, you must find a balance
between being too “wordy” or too brief. As is the case with all of your submissions, your
paper must be typed or printed and follow generally accepted page layout.
THE FOUR GROUP DIVISION:
1. Calvinist
2. Wesleyan/Arminian
3. Pentecostal/Charismatic
4. Reformed
THE TEN POSITIONS:
1. Salvation
2. Sanctification
3. Election
4. Baptism
5. Baptism with the Holy Spirit
6. Biblical Inspiration
7. Millennialism
8. Divine Healing
9. Dispensationalism
10. Doctrine of the Trinity
Entitle this Project Theology Comparison Project.
IV. Theology Defense Project:
A great many Christian cults and pagan religions have taken hold during the past
decades. Never before have there been so many false teachers of false religions. Senior
clergy are not unaware of this. In order to teach and preach the truth of God’s word, it is
often required that we confront the so-called Christian cults and pagan religions (I Peter
3:15).
Some of the most common false teachers are found in the so-called Christian cults of
Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Christian Science. Add to these the many “newage” type cults, as well as Islam and the more common eastern religions (many of which
are actually the foundation for the new-age types).
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To complete this Project, you are to write a paper in which you set forth the most common
ways in which these religions differ from Biblical Christianity. For example, the clear
differences between Biblical Christology and the Mormon view of Jesus, and the Hindu
teaching on reincarnation. You are free to select the groups you wish to defend against,
but you should select not less than four (4) of those most common in your area.
For the purpose of this Project, you are to state the general position of each of the groups
you select. While there is no actual required “word-count” for this Comparison Project,
you must find a balance between being too “wordy” or too brief. As is the case with all of
your submissions, your paper must be typed or printed and follow generally accepted
page layout. Use Scripture when necessary.
Entitle this Project Theology Defense Project.
SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
IMPORTANT: All of the Projects above must be submitted as a single unit. DO NOT
send individual Projects.
DO NOT proceed with Component # 4 until after this Component has been
received by the Th.D. grading faculty, and granted a passing grade. As soon
as you receive this Component back, you should begin the next Component.
HOWEVER, you should begin to review your next Component at the same time
you submit this Component.
This completes the Projects for this Component.
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