Christology

This syllabus is ONLY intended as a sample. All information contained within is subject to change the next time this course is offered.

Christology: The Doctrine of ChristBT 612David S. Norris, professorSpring, 2008Urshan Graduate School of Theology

Tuesday evening Office hours: by appointment

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm(314) 921-9633 appointment

On Line/In Class CourseEmail: dnorris@ugst.org.

Cell: (314) 566-4923Course Description:

Christology is an exploration of the biblical doctrine of that explores the identity and work of Jesus Christ. This course has a number of foci. We will consider historically, the development of various Christological models and in early church history. In conjunction with this, we will look at perspectives of oneness authors on church history. Further historical work will focus on various Christological perspectives in the last two hundred years, including a special focus on Oneness writers and perspectives.

During the semester, we will work to focus, not merely on theological constructs about Jesus Christ; in conjunction with this, we will take time in class to do exegetical work from a oneness perspective, focusing on establishing a consistent hermeneutic as well as answering challenges involved in a oneness position. The biblical focus will work to provide students a model as they work exegetically on a text of their choice; this text will serve as a basis for an exegetical paper on Christology. Students will determine not only the biblical context, but the various theological and hermeneutical presuppositions involved in interpreting any christological text. Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, a student will be able to:

1. Develop a working hermeneutical approach towards interpreting Christological texts; this includes understanding how the text has been interpreted historically, along with working tools to do original exegetical work 2. Explain historically how the first century understood messianism and how the claims of Jesus, as demonstrated by the New Testament and other historical documents3. Write exegetically on important passages of Scripture that are central to the Oneness understanding of Christology4. Synthesize the important claims of modern academics in a changing theological milieu; demonstrate an ability to articulate our message in conversation with the constructs and methods that are current in theological reflection today. Student Requirements: Students are expected to complete the assigned readings, attend all classes and participate by posting for each threaded discussion. Because you are professionals, please anticipate your busy times during the semester and post ahead of time. For on campus students, as a courtesy, please let me know if you need to be absent. Exegetical papers and oral report should be turned in the date they are assignedboth the report and the papers are an integral part of the focus of the class.

Threaded Discussion: Weekly threaded discussion will include the first post on the reading material that seeks to answer the discussion question that it is asked. This first post is formal; as in other classes, this post should be two hundred and fifty words at a minimum. Then two additional posts should be offered in conversation with others who are posting. The discussion questions are available on final site. Oral Report: You may at any time (even before the class begins) pick a theologian about whom you would like to report. The theologians from whom you may choose are in blue on the syllabus below. Of interest to the class for you (1) to situate this person within their larger Christological milieu; (2) utilizing primary sources if they are available, explain what it is that this person taught in terms of the christological perspective. The oral report should be ten minutes in length and heavy in material. The due date is in blue; it is the date upon which the theologian appears in blue on the syllabus below. The deadline for distance learners to present a video of their oral report is the Friday prior to the class where it should be presented. If you would like students to read anything ahead of time, please get it Marjorie to post a week in advance. Exegetical Paper: The exegetical paper is to be done in four steps. You may at any time select a particular christological verse upon which you will focus. Please indicate this in the threaded discussion that appears regarding your choice. Grading Structure:

Paper

60%1. Select Text

0% [Select text any time; only one student per text

2. Initial Exegesis

10% [Due March 28]3. Rough draft

20% [Due April 15]

4. Final draft

30% [Due May 13]Threaded Discussions30% [Due Weekly]Oral Report

10% [select any time; see syllabus to

determine presentation due date]Text books, readings, and tapeStudents will do readings in several different ways. First, there are readings that are posted on Final Site. Readings on the syllabus indicated on Final Site will be colored in red [the 60 questions on the Godhead may be downloaded from another site. Second, readings will be offered in a READER and some marked with an * will be in a Reader Addendum. Students may purchase the reader and its addendum from the front office. If you are taking this class from a distance, contact Sister Yoder in order to purchase it. Again, I have colored the readings from the reader and the reader addendum* in green. Third, the textbooks (and tape) that you will need to purchase I have colored in purple. While there seem to be a number of these items, they are all nominal in price. I have included where they may be ordered below. Excerpts from the Reader: Hendrikus Berkhof, Christian Faith.

Oscar Cullman, The Christology of the New Testament

James D. G. Dunn, Christology in the Making *Delroy Gayle, Our Roots. After the Way Called Heresy

Marinus de Jonge, Christology in Context

Richard Longenecker, Contours of Christology in the N. T.

Alister McGrath, Christian Theology. An Introduction

_____. The Making of German Christology: 1750-1950

Gregory Riley. One Jesus, Many Christs

N. T. Wright, Judas and the Gospel of Jesus

*Thomas Weisser, After the Way Called Heresy.

*Amos Yong, The Spirit Poured Out on all Flesh. Pentecostalism and the Possibility of Global Theology. Chapter 5: Oneness and Trinity. Identity, Plurality, and World Theology *Dan Brown, Da Vinci Code,

*Michael Conn, Treasures form Job and Parable of the Insect

Materials from Final Site that may be downloaded directly James N. Anderson, Preexistent Christology and Certain Passages ____. Response to Avoiding the Achilles Heel of Modalistic Monarchianism ____. Future of Oneness Pentecostalism Jason Dulle, Avoiding the Achilles Heel of Modalistic Monarchialism Vonelle Kelly, The UPCI and Divine Flesh

David S. Norris, Origins and Biblical Theology of Modalistic Monarchianism ____. G. T. Haywood and the Antiquity of the Earth ____. I AM. A Oneness Pentecostal Theology. [PPH: forthcoming Fall, 2008]

____. Modalism and the Johannine Prologue, June, 1995 Lisa Reddy, Response to Pre-Existent Christology and Certain Passages 60 questions on the Godhead may be downloaded by accessing: http://www.bromac.com/Godhead/Godhead.htmBooks and tape which you need to purchase. All but one are available from PPH: (http://www.pentecostalpublishing.com/)

David K. Bernard, The Oneness View of Jesus Christ

____. Debate between Bernard and Cook [Audio or Video]

Gordon Magee, Is Jesus in the Godhead or is the Godhead in Jesus Kenneth Reeves, The Godhead Book I William Chalfant, Ancient Champions of OnenessThe following book may be purchased from Christ Temple Book store (http://www.christtempleac.org/bookstore_main.htmlG. T. Haywood, The Victim of the Flaming SwordPaper:

The paper will be done in four stages, and I want to utilize both the subjects as well as your writing into the class curriculum Therefore, it is essential that you do your work in a timely manner. Normally, your grade is not affected in my class by a late paper, but because of the nature of this class, your work needs to be done by the due date.

Stage 1: Select your Christological text that you want to write your paper about and indicate that choice by posting it on the discussion board. Once you choose your text, no one else may choose the same biblical text. While a number of Scriptures have been offered from which you may choose, you are not required to choose any of these. You may utilize an Old Testament text only if it is universally recognized as being christological [for example, Psalm 110; Psalm 22; Isaiah 53, etc.] but my preference is that you will select a New Testament text.

Stage 2: Write a four page paper that works towards surveying the various positions have taken about the text, and identifies important words and concepts to consider and essential for working through a correct understanding of the text in question. Students should offer a working thesis for the paper, a one sentence statement of the tentative position you are taking with a subordinating clause that hints at what is at stake. A bibliography should include twenty academic sources that you intend to include in your longer paper. Due March 28th. Stage 3: There are no good writers. There are only good re-writers. Please allow me time to look at your paper before the semester ends. Your paper should be in what you deem to be its final form when you turn it in as a rough draft. If you satisfy this criterion by the due date of the rough draft, there will be extra credit offered equivalent to half a letter grade (to be applied at the end of the grading period). This is an incredible amount of grace for a graduate level course, but it is grace that has to be earned. How about that for a theological oxymoron. Due April 15. Stage 4: Turn in final paper after my critique. Your total percentage of the class grade for your paper is 60%. Due May 13. Class ScheduleDate

Topic in Class

Reading/Assignment

Postings Due WeeklyFebruary 5

Overview Syllabus

Cullman Reader 31-37

Explain Strategy of classFebruary 12

Methods of doing

Reader 54-76 (Cullman)

Christological study

Greg Riley 160-181

Bernard, Oneness View 9-31February 19th

Jesus as Covenant Partner

Excerpt DSN I AM

As Ebed Yahweh

Reader 31-54 Cullman

As Answering to Adam

Reader 82-98 DunnFebruary 26th

Philippians 2

DSN MasTH 89-98

Issues in exegesis

Bernard/OneView 41-50

Segraves Phil. 2March 4 Oral Reports

Norris MThes 1-45

Justin, Hippolytus

William Chalfant 11-64

Tertullian [oral reports]

Tom Weisser *2-11 [add]March 11

M Term

NO CLASSMarch 18

Reading Week

4 page exegetical paper

Due

DUEMarch 25

Origen

McGrath, History 124-59

Athanasius

DSN MThes 45-83

Arius[oral reports]

D. Gayle, *12-24 [add]

April 1

A sweep of church History

Chalfont, 65-140Karl Barth

German ChristologyJrgen Moltmann

McGrath, 198-211April 8

Bart Ehrman

N. T. Wright, Judas 183-97

Larry Hurtado [oral reports] Brown, Da Vinci Code

N. T. Wright

*53-67 [addendum]

Hendrikus Berkhof 99-123Thursday April 11History of Controversies

David Bernard8:00-11:00 amBernard: Guest Speaker

Oneness Controversy

Amos Yong, Oneness/TrinApril 15

Early Pentecostal

The Victim of the Flaming

Reflections

Sword by G. T. Haywood

DSNHaywood and

Revelation

Rough Draft DueApril 22

Differing Approaches

BernardOnenesView51-109Kenneth Reeves The Godhead Book I.

Conn, A Oneness Logos

ChristologyApril 29

Oneness Controversies

Vonelle Kelly

What does procreation mean?

Divine Flesh

Prologue of John

DSN Paper on Prologue

James Anderson Prologue

L Reddy responseSegraves on Prologue

DSN MasTh 83-89

Bernard OnenessView 33-40May 6

Oneness Approaches

Gordon Magees:

60 Questions (see web site)

Debate of Bernard

vss Gene Cook

May 13

Oneness Strategies

Dulle: Achilles heel

Bernard: Response

Bernard: Future of

Apostolic Movement

Final Paper Due* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *Bibliography for Studies in ChristologyRequired Reading

Color Code:

Red: Retrieve Document on-line

Purple: Purchase book or tape. See above for more info.

Green: An excerpt of a book in the reader

Green: with an *. This comes from [addendum] to the readerAnderson, James M. Preexistent Christology and Certain Passages, a paper presented

at the 2005 UGST Symposium, Florissant, MO. Bernard, David K. Addendum to a Position Paper for discussion at SPS

____. Debate. Oneness vss. Trinity. (Video and Audio) Hazelwood: Pentecostal

Publishing House, ____. The Oneness View of Jesus Christ. Hazelwood, MO: Word Aflame Press, 1994. ____. Response to Avoiding the Achilles Heel of Modalistic Monarchianism, a

paper presented at the 2002 UGST Symposium, Florissant, MO. Berkhof, Hendrikus, Christian Faith. An Introduction to the Study of Faith, translated by Sierd Woudstra, (rev. ed.) Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1985.

* Brown, Dan. The Da Vinci Code. New York: Anchor Books, 2003.

Chalfant, William. Ancient Champions of Oneness (1979). Hazelwood, MO: Word

Aflame Press, 1984.* Conn, Mike. Treasures from Job. Tecumsah, KS: 2007.Cullmann, Oscar. The Christology of the New Testament. trans. Shirley C. Guthrie and

Charles M. Hall; Philadelphia: Westminster, Philadelphia, PA, 1963.

James D. G. Dunn. Christology in the Making: A New Testament Inquiry into the Origins

of the Doctrine of the Incarnation. Philadelphia: Westminster Press Philadelphia,

1980.Dulle, Jason. Avoiding the Achilles Heel of Modalistic Monarchialism, paper

presented for the 2002 UGST symposium, Hazelwood, MO.

* Gayle, Delroy Gayle. Our Roots. After the Way Called Heresy. A History of the Apostolic Church. (3rd Edition) Cincinnati, OH: Bethesda Ministries, 2000.

Haywood, G. T. The Victim of the Flaming Sword. Indianapolis, IN: n. d.

Jonge, Marinus de. Christology in Context. The Earliest Response to Jesus. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1988.

Kelly, Vonelle. The UPCI and Divine Flesh, paper presented for the 2002 UGST

Symposium, Hazelwood, MO. Richard Longenecker, Contours of Christology in the New Testament. Grand Rapids,

MI: William B. Eerdmans Pub., 2005.

Magee, Gordon. Is Jesus in the Godhead or is the Godhead in Jesus? Hazelwood, MO:

Word Aflame Press, 1988. McGrath, Alister E. Christian Theology. An Introduction. Third ed. Malden, MA:

Blackwell Publishers, 2001.

_____. The Making of German Christology: 1750-1990.Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan,

1994.Norris, David S. Origins and Biblical Theology of Modalistic Monarchianism,

Unpublished Masters Thesis, Wynnewood, PA, Eastern Baptist Theological

Seminary, May, 2005.

____. G. T. Haywood and the Antiquity of the Earth: Revisiting Revelation as a Source

for Theology, paper presented at the Society for Pentecostal Studies, March

2008, Durham, NC.

____. I AM. The God Who is in Covenant. A Oneness Pentecostal Theology. [PPH:

forthcoming Fall, 2008]

____. Modalism and the Johannine Prologue, a paper for a class at Temple University,

December, 1995

Reddy, Lisa Response to Pre-Existent Christology and Certain Passages, a paper

presented at the 2005 UGST Symposium, Florissant, MO. Reeves, Kenneth. The Godhead Book I. Granite City, IL: 1962. Riley, Gregory J. One Jesus, Many Christs. How Jesus Inspired not one True

Christianity, but Many. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1997. 60 Questions on the Godhead, (tract) Hazelwood, MO: Pentecostal Publishing House,

n. d. http://www.bromac.com/Godhead/Godhead.htm* Weisser, Thomas. After the Way Called Heresy. Kearney, NE: 1981. Wright, N. T. Judas and the Gospel of Jesus. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House,

2006. *Amos Yong, The Spirit Poured Out on all Flesh. Pentecostalism and the Possibility of

Global Theology. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 2005.