Master of Theology Course Curriculum 2007
Students are required to complete and pass the Theological Bibliography and Research Methodology course.
January 8-12, 2007: English Nonconformity (1660-1735), Dr. Rober Oliver
This course’s purpose is 1) to trace the development of English Nonconformity from the Great Ejectiion to the dawn of the Evangelical Awakening; 2) to consider the character of later English Puritanism and to trace its struggles to secure the freedom of the Church; 3) to consider the doctrinal challenges faced by Nonconformists and their response to these; 4) to help students to appreciate the importance of freedom under Christ. Topics covered include: the Clarendon Code and the Great Persecution; the contrasting leadership of John Owen and Richard Baxter; the contrast between comprehension and toleration; the challenge of Neonomianism, Arianism and early Hyper-Calvinism; the work of early Nonconformists including Benjamin Keach, Isaac Watts and Philip Doddridge; Nonconformist training for the ministry. There will be study of the memoirs of figures covered and a selection of their doctrinal writings.
Robert Oliver, Visiting Professor of Church History
B.A., University of London, 1959; Post-graduate Certificate in Education, University of Nottingham, 1960; Ph.D., London Bible College and Council for National Academic Awards, 1986; Teacher, United Kingdom, 1960-1976; Pastoral ministry, United Kingdom, 1971- ; Lecturer, London Theological Seminary, 1989- ; Visiting Lecturer, Emanuel University, 1993- ; Westminster, 2000- .
April 2-5, 2007: Reformed Doctrine of Salvation, Dr. Lane Tipton
This course will address the relationship between biblical eschatology and soteriology; the meaning of, and relation between, historia salutis and ordo salutis; the function of union with Christ in Reformed soteriology; the distinct-yet-inseperable benefits of union with Christ (e.g., justification, sanctification, and adoption); and historical conceptions of the plan of redemption. Special attention will be given, from an exegetical perspective, to the redemptive-historical character and systematic theological implications of Reformed soteriology.
Lane Tipton, Associate Professor of Systematic Theology
B.A., Southwestern Oklahoma State University, 1992; M.Div., Westminster Seminary California, 1998; Ph.D., Westminster Theological Seminary, 2004; Westminster, 2003- .
June 18-22, 2007: Union with Christ in Calvin's Theology, Dr. Mark Garcia
This course is designed as an exercise in the responsible reading and interpretation of historical-theological texts by systematic theologians, or those interested in the systematic theological issues that arise in the course of such study. As the major theologian of the early Reformed tradition, Calvin’s rich and engaging theology of union with Christ has consistently drawn interest from theologians throughout the modern era. This course will pursue a faithful understanding of Calvin’s thought by attending to the exegetical, polemical, and historical-contextual facets of his teaching on this topic. The general interest will be in the function of the union idea in the way Calvin relates justification "sola fide" to the recognized necessity for good works, and the textual-contextual foci will be 1) his Romans commentary, which will involve a close examination of Calvin’s exegesis; 2) his expositions of sacramental union with Christ, which will involve developing a sensitivity to Calvin’s concern for theological implications and coherence; and 3) his extensive refutation of Andreas Osiander, which will bring many aspects of the first two foci to bear upon a highly important event in Calvin’s later work. This course will conclude with a discussion of proposals by contemporary theologians who interact with Calvin’s Christology and theology of union with Christ.
Mark Garcia , Adjunct Professor of Church History
B.S., Clearwater Christian College, 1998; M.A.R., Westminster Theological Seminary, 2000, Graduate studies, Westminster Theological Seminary; Ph.D., University of Edinburgh, 2004; Pastoral Intern, Lake Sherwood Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Orlando, Florida, 2004-2005; Teacher, 2005-2006; Adjunct Professor of Systematic Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary, 2004-2006; Research Fellow, Craig Center for the Study of the Westminster Standards, Westminster Theological Seminary, 2006- ; Visiting Scholar, Cambridge University, 2006- ; Senior Member and Post-doctoral Research Associate, Wolfson College, Cambridge University 2006- ; Westminster, 2006- .
August 20-24, 2007: Scottish Covenant Theology, Dr. Andrew McGowan
This course will follow the rise and development of Scottish covenant theology from Robert Rollock onwards, concentrating particularly on the seminal work of Thomas Boston. T.F. Torrance’s views on covenant theology will be examined and a response offered. The nature of covenant theology will be spelled out in detail and the various internal disagreements (notably the Kline/Murray debate) will be examined in the light of the of the position taken by leading Scottish theologians.
Andrew McGowan, Visiting Professor of Church History
B.D., Aberdeen University, 1977; S.T.M., Union Theological Seminary, 1978; Ph.D., Aberdeen University, 1990; Pastoral ministry, 1977-1994; Principal, Highland Theological College, Scotland, 1994- ; Adjunct Professor, Reformed Theological Seminary; Westminster, 2001- .
August 27-31, 2007: The History and Theology of the Westminster Assembly (1643-1652), Dr. Chad Van Dixhoorn
This course’s purpose is 1) to acquaint students with the history of the Westminster Assembly in its various contexts; 2) to aid students in understanding the development of theology; and 3) to train students to think critically and write constructively as church historians. Topics covered include the calling, constitution and work of this great post-Reformation synod. This course also discusses some of the Assembly’s major debates in systematic and practical theology. Both lectures and discussions will seek to illustrate the complexity of creed-making and developments in the doctrines of God, the atonement, justification, Church government, and pastoral theology.
Chad Van Dixhoorn, Adjunct Professor of Church History
B.A., Huron College, University of Western Ontario, 1996; M.Div., Westminster Theological Seminary, 1999; Th.M., 2000; Ph.D., Selwyn College, University of Cambridge, 2005; Lecturer in Historical Theology, Westminster Seminary California, 2004; Lecturer in Theology, University of Nottingham, 2005; Member of the Early Modern History Subject Group, Faculty of History, University of Cambridge, 2004- ; Research Fellow, Wolfson College, University of Cambridge, 2004- ; British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow, Faculty of History, University of Cambridge, 2005- ; Associate Minister, Cambridge Presbyterian Church, 2006- ; Director of the Cambridge Summer Program, Westminster Seminary California, 2006- ; Visiting Professor of Historical Theology, Westminster Seminary California, 2006- ; Westminster, 2006- .
Master of Theology Course Curriculum 2008
January 7 - 11 The Life and Thought of Martin Luther
The purpose of this course is to examine the life and teaching of Martin Luther through studying texts written by Luther and his contemporaries which illuminate the intellectual development and theological contribution of the German Reformer. Topics include the controversy over indulgences, the nature of justification, the dispute with Erasmus, the Marburg Colloquy, and the development of Lutheran theology in the 1530s and 1540s.
Carl R. Trueman MA PhD
Professor of Historical Theology and Church History
Lecturer in Theology, University of Nottingham, 1993-98; Senior Lecturer in Church History, University of Aberdeen, 1998-2001, Westminster Theological Seminary, 2001 -
March 17 - 20 History of the Atonement
An opportunity to engage first-hand with a selection of classic Reformed treatments of the doctrine of the Atonement. The course will involve extensive reading of primary texts from a range of Reformed theologians, including John Calvin, John Owen, Jonathan Edwards and Charles Hodge, focusing particularly on their exposition and defense of penal substitution atonement. The course will examine the historical background of Reformed conceptions, their polemical function, their biblical basis, and their internal systematic coherence.
Garry Williams MA MSt PhD
Lecturer in Church History and Doctrine
Oak Hill Theological College, London.
Garry Williams studied for a doctorate at Oxford University, where he researched Hugo Grotius's doctrine of the atonement.
June 23 - 27 The Doctrine of the Church in Reformed Theology
This course seeks to familiarize students with ecclesiology in the Reformed tradition through readings in historical, biblical and systematic theology (including John Calvin, John Owen, William Cunningham, James Bannerman, Charles Hodge, Herman Bavinck, G.C.Berkouwer, John Murray, Thomas E. Peck, Herman Ridderbos, Stuart Robinson, James Henley Thornwell, Gerhardus Vos, and Thomas Witherow). Those who hold to Reformed convictions face the numerous challenges of sacramental, liberal, and emergent views of the church, as well as the ongoing need to speak meaningfully in an age in which so much of the church is infatuated with individualism, the parachurch, and "postmodernism." This course seeks to equip students more fully with the ability to articulate—thoughtfully and winsomely—the conviction that "there is no ordinary possibility of salvation" outside of the church, and to defend the church's rightful claim to ordain "stewards of the mysteries of God" (1Cor 4.1), to exercise the "keys of the kingdom" (Mt 16.19), and to carry out her work as the "pillar and foundation of the truth" (1Tim 3.15).
Craig Troxel MATS PhD
Adjunct Professor of Systematic Theology
Pastor, Calvary Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Glenside, PA. 1995—; Westminster Theological Seminary 1997—
August 25 – 29 Old Religion in the New World: Transatlantic Puritan Thought
The course will investigate New England puritan theology (through Jonathan Edwards) in comparison with British and continental Reformed Tradition.
Jeffrey Jue BA MDiv PhD
Associate Professor of Church History
B.A., University of California at Irvine, 1994; M.Div. Westminster Theological Seminary 1998; Graduate studies, University of Geneva, 1999; Ph.D. University of Aberdeen, 2003; WTS, 2003-
September 1 – 5 The Life and Thought of J. Gresham Machen
This course looks at the life and thought of Gresham Machen, setting him in the transatlantic context of the Modernist/Fundamentalist debate of the early twentieth century. Attention will be given to Machen as biblical scholar, theologian, culture critic, and churchman.
Stephen Nichols BS MA MAR PhD
Professor of Historical Theology and Philosophy at Lancaster Bible College and Graduate School.
Graduate of Philadelphia Biblical University (BS), Westminster Theological Seminary (MAR), West Chester University (MA) and Westminster Theological Seminary (PhD). Lancaster Bible College Faculty, 1997 - ; Lecturer in Church History, Westminster Theological Seminary, 2004-. Author of books on Jonathan Edwards and Martin Luther.
