The task of systematic theology is to set forth in orderly and coherent manner the truth respecting God and his relations to men and the world. This truth is derived from the data of revelation, and revelation comprises all those media by which God makes himself and his will known to us men. All other departments of theological discipline contribute their findings to systematic theology and it brings all the wealth of knowledge derived from these disciplines to bear upon the more inclusive systematization which it undertakes.
– John Murray
Systematic theology seeks rightly to divide the Word of truth, particularly the holy Scriptures. It aims at formulations which correctly understand the Scriptures, through proper exegesis, and applies those formulations to the needs of the church and the issues of the day.
To that end, the Systematic Theology curriculum enables students:
• To understand and be able to articulate “the whole counsel of God” in the form of the system of doctrine taught in Scripture
• To grasp the way this system of doctrine derives from sound interpretation that does justice to the unity of Scripture in its historical and authorial diversity
• To understand the history of doctrine, primarily the theological heritage of the Reformed Churches and their confessional documents, especially the Westminster Standards
• To recognize within the theological heritage of the Reformed Churches what is perennial and undoubted and what is not yet settled
• To value the Westminster Standards as a summary of the system of doctrine taught in Scripture and, where appropriate, be prepared ex animo to subscribe to them as such
• To embrace the system of doctrine taught in Scripture in a way that enhances devotion to God and service to the church and the world, and so, in all, “to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge”
Systematic Theology faculty: Professor Gaffin, Coordinator; Professor Oliphint; Associate Professor Tipton; Mr. Ferguson, Mr. Letham, and Mr. Troxel.
Master’s level
ST 101 Introduction to Systematic Theology
Purpose:
• To provide foundations for the study of theology, particularly for deepening understanding of the teaching of Scripture as a whole and in its unity
Topics covered include nature, method, and sources of theology; revelation and the inspiration of Scripture.
Fall semester, two hours. Mr. Oliphint.
ST 113 Doctrine of God
Purpose:
• To grasp that we can know nothing of God except he first revealed himself to us
• To recognize that the doctrine of God (theology proper) seeks to unpack the teaching of Scripture and not directly the problems set by philosophy
• To value those ecumenical creeds of the church which give classic expression to vital elements of the doctrine of God, and whose doctrine is evident in the Westminster Standards
• To embrace the doctrine of God not as a bare set of propositions but as the very personal knowledge of God so essential to worship and service and so characteristic of a Reformed world and life view
Topics covered include revelation, names and attributes of God, and God as Trinity. Spring semester, two hours. Mr. Oliphint.
ST 131 Survey of Reformed Theology
Purpose:
• To learn the basic doctrines upheld in mainstream Reformed theology
• To grasp the coherency of the system
• To understand the biblical basis for Reformed doctrine
• To appreciate the distinctiveness of Reformed theology
Topics covered include the inspiration and authority of Scripture, covenant theology, creation of man in the image of God, the person and work of Christ, and the application of redemption in Christ. Not available to M.Div. or M.A.R. students.
Fall semester, three hours. Mr. Tipton.
ST 211 Doctrine of Man
Purpose:
• To deepen understanding of biblical anthropology in its redemptive-historical and Reformed context
Topics covered include the theology of creation days; the nature of man, particularly as a psycho-somatic unity created in the image of God; the covenant of creation; the epistemological implications of Reformed anthropology; the fall and its implications; the imputation of Adam’s sin; the intermediate state; the nature of free moral agency; and total depravity and inability. Special attention will be given from an exegetical perspective to the redemptive-historical character and systematic theological implications of Reformed anthropology. Prerequisites, OT 011 completed or in progress, and NT 013, or equivalent.
Fall semester, two hours. Mr. Tipton.
ST 223 Doctrine of Salvation I
Purpose:
• To deepen understanding of the salvation accomplished by the triune God in Christ in both its central focus and comprehensive scope
Topics covered include plan of salvation, covenant of grace, and person and work of Christ. Prerequisites, OT 012, or equivalent, and NT 013, or equivalent.
Spring semester, three hours. Mr. Tipton.
ST 313 Doctrine of Salvation II
Purpose:
• To deepen understanding of the application of the salvation applied by the triune God in Christ in both its central focus and comprehensive scope
Topics covered include the relationship between eschatology and soteriology; the meaning of, and relationship between, historia salutis and ordo salutis; the function of union with Christ in Reformed soteriology; the distinct-yet-inseparable benefits of union with Christ (e.g., justification, sanctification, and adoption); a survey of biblical eschatology; and theology of the sacraments. Special attention will be given from an exegetical perspective to the redemptive-historical character and systematic theological implications of Reformed soteriology and eschatology. Prerequisites, OT 013, or equivalent, and NT 013, or equivalent, completed or in progress.
Spring semester, four hours. Mr. Tipton.
ST 323 Christian Ethics
Purpose:
• To study and reflect on our obligations toward God’s revealed will in the setting of the covenant
• To arrive at certain convictions about key moral issues facing the church today
• To grow in wisdom, the ability to discern good and evil in every situation
Topics covered include the biblical foundation for ethics, an introduction to different types of ethical systems, hermeneutical questions, Christians and the public square, sanctification, the clash of obligations, calling, stewardship, sexual ethics, bioethical issues, race matters, ethics in cyberspace, just war theory, and ecology. Prerequisite, OT 013, or equivalent, and NT 013, or equivalent.
Spring semester, four hours. Mr. Edgar.
ST 463 Topics in the Doctrine of Man
See ST 763 below. Prerequisite, ST 211, completed or in progress. Spring semester, two hours. (Not given in 2007-2008.) Mr. Poythress.
ST 503 The Theology of Karl Barth
See ST 803 below. Spring semester, two hours. Mr. Oliphint and Mr. Tipton.
ST 532 The Westminster Standards
See ST 932 below. Winter term, two hours. (Not given in 2007-2008.) Mr. Ferguson.
WT 601 Van Til’s Trinitarian Theology
See ST 901 below. Spring semester, two hours. (Not given in 2007-2008.) Mr. Tipton.
ST 611 The Theology of Jonathan Edwards
See ST 911 below. Fall semester. Mr. Logan.
ST 661 The Theology of John Calvin
See ST 961 below. Fall semester, two hours. (Not given in 2007-2008.) Mr. Ferguson.
ST 673 Reformed Spirituality
Purpose:
• To acquaint students with the distinctives of Reformed spirituality
• To encourage students toward greater communion with God in faith and life
• To highlight the relationship between Reformed spirituality and the piety that dominates much of the evangelical world and popular religion
Topics covered include the doctrine of the church; sanctification; worship; the Lord’s Day and its observance; the means of grace (preaching, prayer, the sacraments of baptism and communion); family worship; Christian liberty; the doctrines of vocation and providence; the Reformed world and life view; and the Christian in society.
Spring semester, two hours. Mr. Troxel.
Th.M. and Ph.D. level
ST 701 Topics in Medical Ethics
Topics covered include bioethics, medicine as a Christian calling, in vitro fertilization, AIDS, genetic engineering, and euthanasia. Prerequisite, ST 323.
Fall semester. (Not given in 2007-2008.) Mr. Edgar.
ST 711 Postmodern Theologies
Purpose:
• To enable students to recognize and evaluate major trends in a variety of postmodern theologies
Topics covered include post-liberal theology, post-evangelical theology, post-metaphysical theology, Anglo-American postmodern theology, radical orthodoxy, and deconstructive theology. Special attention will be given to assessing and critiquing postmodern theologies from a Reformed theological perspective.
Fall semester. (Not given in 2007-2008.) Mr. Tipton.
ST 741 Themes in Puritan Theology
Purpose:
• To provide opportunity for consideration of some of the leading themes in the theology of the British Puritans of the seventeenth century
Topics covered include representative writings of Thomas Goodwin, John Owen, Richard Baxter, John Flavel, Richard Sibbes, Stephen Charnock, and others on the topics of knowledge of God, providence, sanctification, and assurance.
Fall semester. (Not given in 2007-2008.) Mr. Ferguson.
ST 751 Studies in Historical Theology I
Purpose:
• To provide opportunity for reading and seminar reflection on important theologians prior to the Reformation
Topics covered include representative writings of Irenaeus, Athanasius, Hilary of Poitiers, Augustine, John of Damascus, Anselm, Thomas Aquinas, and others. Seminar presentation is required.
Fall semester. (Not given in 2007-2008.) Mr. Ferguson.
ST 763 Topics in the Doctrine of Man
Purpose:
• To deepen understanding of man, and our theological method, through use of biblical theology and linguistics
Topics covered include the relation of classical theological anthropology to biblical-theological method, including theology of sonship in Paul and John; special attention to the image of God; dichotomy and trichotomy; the covenant with Adam; and the nature of sin.
Spring semester. (Not given in 2007-2008.) Mr. Poythress.
ST 773 Studies in Historical Theology II
Purpose:
• To provide opportunity for reading and seminar reflection on important theologians from the Reformation to the early twentieth century
Topics covered include representative writings of Luther, Calvin, Turretin, Schleiermacher, and Barth. Seminar presentation is required.
Spring semester. Mr. Tipton.
ST 781 Theology of Romans
Purpose:
• To examine aspects of the teaching of Romans for their bearing on systematic theological issues
Topics covered include some prolegomena for systematic theology and for studying the theology of Romans, and exegetical-theological comments on selected passages.
Fall semester. (Not given in 2007-2008.) Mr. Gaffin.
ST 791 Issues in Theology Proper
Purpose:
• To introduce students to current discussions in theology proper
• To develop a response to challenges to a Reformed doctrine of God
Students will be expected to analyze and critique both classical and contemporary essays that look at language about God, God and evil, God and morality, as well as God’s necessity, omnipotence, omniscience, eternity, providence, foreknowledge, and simplicity. Seminar discussions in these and related areas.
Fall semester. Mr. Oliphint.
ST 803 The Theology of Karl Barth
Purpose:
• To understand the place of Barth in his western European post-Enlightenment context
• To evaluate the foundations of Barth’s theological approach
• To gain exposure to some of Barth’s theological writings
• To reflect on the critique of Barth offered by Cornelius Van Til
Spring semester. Mr. Oliphint and Mr. Tipton.
ST 811 Covenant Theology
Purpose:
• To provide a thorough understanding of critical issues in the development of Reformed covenant theology
Topics covered include Trinity and covenant, the pactum salutis, the covenant of works, the covenant of grace, covenant theology and justification, and covenant theology and epistemology. Special attention will be given from an exegetical perspective to the development of Reformed covenant theology.
Fall semester. (Not given in 2007-2008.) Mr. Tipton.
ST 821 The Theology of B. B. Warfield
Purpose:
• To explore how, though he did not write a systematic theology, Warfield’s wide-ranging contributions to biblical, historical, and systematic theology touch most points in the theological system
Topics covered include both the outlines of his thought and his specific contributions in such areas as Scripture, Christology, and sanctification.
Fall semester. (Not given in 2007-2008.) Mr. Ferguson.
ST 851 Theology of the Sacraments
Purpose:
• To study carefully the biblical texts and the history of the theology of the sacraments
Topics covered include baptism and the Lord’s Supper with special attention to their place and significance in Reformed theology.
Fall semester. (Not given in 2007-2008.) Mr. Ferguson.
ST 881 The Theology of John Owen
Purpose:
• To study Owen’s life and the influences on his theology
Topics covered include the covenant structure of his theology and his distinctive contributions to Puritan teaching.
Fall semester. (Not given in 2007-2008.) Mr. Ferguson.
ST 901 Van Til’s Trinitarian Theology
Purpose:
• To investigate the context, structure, and significance of Cornelius Van Til’s trinitarian theology
• To encourage the student to engage critically central issues in trinitarian theology from a Van Tilian perspective
Topics covered include the architectonic significance of the Trinity, both in Van Til’s theology and apologetics. Special attention will be given to Van Til’s historical and theological context, his theology of triune personhood, the structure and function of the representational principle, the distinctively trinitarian character of the transcendental method, and his place in contemporary discussions of trinitarian theology, ranging from the theological function of perichoresis to the notions of relationality and temporality within the Godhead.
Fall semester. (Not given in 2007-2008.) Mr. Tipton.
ST 911 The Theology of Jonathan Edwards
Purpose:
• To become familiar with the basic themes of Jonathan Edwards’s theology
• To understand his theology against the background of the Great Awakening
• To see the relevance of Edwards’s theology to issues facing the church today
• To grow in zeal for the God whom Edwards worshipped
Topics covered include several of Edwards’s major theological treatises, including Justification by Faith Alone, Narrative of Surprising Conversations, Thoughts on Revival, Treatise on Religious Affections, Freedom of the Will, and Original Sin, plus several of the most important secondary sources on Edwards and his theology.
Fall semester. Mr. Logan.
ST 932 The Westminster Standards
Purpose:
• To exposit the theology of the Westminster Assembly by means of a study of the Westminster Confession of Faith
Topics covered include the origin and convening of the Westminster Assembly.
Winter term. (Not given in 2007-2008.) Mr. Ferguson.
ST 961 The Theology of John Calvin
Purpose:
• To study the sources and development of Calvin’s theology
Topics covered include the Institutes of the Christian Religion.
Fall semester. (Not given in 2007-2008.) Mr. Ferguson.
ST 972 Calvin’s Doctrine of the Holy Spirit
Purpose:
• To research Calvin’s teaching on the person and work of the Spirit, with attention to his expositions in the Institutes, Commentaries, and Treatises
Seminar presentation required.
Winter term. Mr. Ferguson.
ST 991 Themes in Ecclesiology
Purpose:
• To examine biblical teaching and analyze expositions of the marks, structure, and ministry of the church in Christian theology
Fall semester. (Not given in 2007-2008.) Mr. Ferguson.
Courses listed for other majors which may be counted as major courses for the Th.M. degree in Systematic Theology: OT 871, CH 863, CH 883, CH 891, CH 901, CH 943, CH 953, CH 963, NT 851, NT 883, NT 931, NT 951, NT 961, NT 993, AP 861, AP 931, AP 963, AP 981.
