NT/OT 795: Biblical Theology Seminar Syllabus...already taken the two Bible Survey courses, Greek, Hebrew, both OT and NT interpretation courses, and at least one 600 level OT exegesis

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NT/OT 795: Biblical Theology Seminar Syllabus

Course Description

This seminar focuses on certain primary themes and fundamental theological issues shared by both

Testaments.

Expanded Description

This course examines the synthetic task of theology, the unity and diversity of Scripture, through:

1. Reading that covers various topics or themes in Scripture;

2. Online, PowerPoint lectures to be completed prior to class;

3. Saturday mini-seminars and class discussion.

The course begins with a focus on methodology—various ways to discuss the unity and diversity

of Scripture in Biblical Theology. This matter runs throughout the course as nine themes in

Biblical theology are explored: the mission of God, covenant theology, the Trinity in the Bible,

Christology, Pneumatology, Kingdom and Gospel, Soteriology, Ecclesiology, and Eschatology.

Course Prerequisites and Relation to the Curriculum

Pre-requisites: Since this is an advanced, “capstone” course in the curriculum, students will have

already taken the two Bible Survey courses, Greek, Hebrew, both OT and NT interpretation

courses, and at least one 600 level OT exegesis course. This course is a required part of the Master

of Divinity and the Master of Arts degrees in Biblical Studies (Biblical Studies, Old Testament

Studies, and New Testament Studies). Be aware that there is an English-based Biblical Theology

course, OT/NT517, that is an alternative to this course for students in other degree programs (ones

lacking the Biblical languages requirements; the appropriate course should be taken for your

degree).

The course relates to the mission of Gordon-Conwell to train people in a knowledge of the Bible

and the correct use of Scripture. Graduates of the seminary are trained to think Biblically, and,

since theological study and ministry practice should always proceed from a Biblical theology, this

course carries the charge to prepare students accordingly.

Canvas

Spring 2019

Professor: Dr. Rollin G. Grams, Professor of Biblical Theology and Ethics

E-mail: [email protected]

Meeting Times: Module 1, Saturdays only: 9:30 am – 3:45 pm: Jan. 26, Feb. 23, Mar. 23 Prerequisites: 600 level OT exegesis course and NT 502 (these assume other courses have been

completed, too)

Work for Course Begins: 22 January, 2019

Work for Course Ends: 13 May, 2019 (check Registrar’s date for completion of assignments for graduating

seniors)

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This course utilizes the Canvas learning management system. (Canvas is replacing Sakai.) Course

lessons, materials, assignments, assignment submission, online activities, and grades will be in

Canvas.

If this is your first course in Canvas, please take the time to become familiar with it BEFORE the

class starts. The NT/OT795 course site will be available about a week before class starts. There

are tutorials in the course site in Modules/Getting Started. If you do not have access to Canvas, or

need general assistance, contact the Service Desk at [email protected]. If

something is not working properly in the NT/OT795 site in Canvas, contact site designer Erin

James at [email protected].

Course Outcomes

The student completing this course of study will:

*have acquired a greater knowledge of the Bible, including specific texts and, especially, its unity

and diversity

*be able to analyze, evaluate, and critique proposals for Biblical theology from an understanding

of hermeneutical and methodological issues

*be able to investigate Scripture theologically in the areas specified in the course description

*be able to apply methods of Biblical theology to certain topics in the course to other Biblical

topics

*be able to explain several theological themes in Scripture and state how they are different or

related at different times and in different authors

*be able to identify and explain ways in which Biblical theology relates to the Christian life and

to ministry

Work Prior to First Class Meeting

Our first weekend comes rather quickly after the semester begins. Therefore, we will have a short

number of pages to read before class, and initial lectures will be given on the Saturday (although

they are available as narrated PowerPoint lectures as well). Students should pick up with online

lectures where the class concludes on the first Saturday. Thereafter, lectures will be by narrated

PowerPoint and completed prior to the weekend class, along with the related reading. The 2nd and

3rd Saturday meeting times will be devoted to mini-seminars and discussion based on this

preparation.

Friday Night, 18 January

The Robert C. Cooley lecture will be given by Dr. Peter Williams. Students are also strongly

encouraged to come for the lecture on Jesus’ use of Greek.

Course Textbooks/Reading

There are about 1,600 pages of required reading in these eight seminars. Not all pages in the

textbooks for this course are required, so note the page assignments. Most of my own writing for

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this course will be available on Canvas (one item is to be purchased online). Some optional reading

is noted in addition to unassigned chapters which students may wish to read at a later time, and

further reading can be found in the bibliography.

Richard Bauckham, Jesus and the God of Israel (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2003).

ISBN-13: 978-0802845597

Rollin Grams. Leadership: Challenging a Paradigm for Christian Ministry. Unpublished.

Available on Canvas.

Rollin Grams, Theologising without Abstractions: Forays in Biblical Theology. Unpublished,

Available on Canvas.

Rollin Grams, Rival Versions of Theological Enquiry (Prague: International Baptist Theological

Seminary, 2005/2015). Available for $1.99 from Bookstore on Bible and Mission blog:

https://bibleandmission.blogspot.com/p/bookstore.html.

Scott Hafemann, and Paul R. House, eds., Central Themes in Biblical Theology: Mapping Unity

in Diversity (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2007). Pp. 336. ISBN-13: 978-0801034237.

Robin Routledge, Old Testament Theology (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2013).

ISBN-10: 0830839925 ISBN-13: 978-0830839926.

Anthony C. Thiselton, The Holy Spirit In Biblical Teaching, through the Centuries, and Today

(Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2013. ISBN-13: 978-0-8028-6875-6.

Christopher Wright, The Mission of God: Unlocking the Bible’s Grand Narrative (Downers

Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2006 ISBN-13: 978-0-8308-2571-4.

Course Seminars (‘Lessons’)

The reading and the lectures in this course seldom overlap intentionally—they are meant to work

together to introduce students to various ideas and issues. Each module is meant to serve as an

introduction to an area of study in Biblical theology and prepare students for ongoing study after

the course and after graduation. The seminar format is meant to encourage students to continue in

such a group after graduation. The guiding questions are indicative: seminar discussions should

be robust discussions developed out of the reading and lectures but may pursue other matters not

identified below. Plan ahead: note when things are due so that you do not run into a timing

problem.

Seminar One: Methodology

22 January – 5 February

Recommended Cooley Lecture by Dr. Peter Williams: 18 January at 7:00 – 9:00 pm

Reading (202 pages):

Read the material written by Rollin Grams and as much of the rest of the reading as you can before our first

Saturday class on 26 January.

https://bibleandmission.blogspot.com/p/bookstore.html

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Rollin Grams. Leadership: Challenging a Paradigm for Christian Ministry. Unpublished. Available on Canvas

for students in this course. Read four very short ‘chapters,’ 16 pages:

Chapter Two: ‘The Need for Servants, Not Leaders—Not Even Servant Leaders,’ pp. 23-27

Chapter Three: ‘Six Uses and Misuses of Scripture in Leadership Studies,’ pp. 28-31

Chapter Four: ‘A Biblical Theology of Leadership?,’ pp. 32-36

Chapter Five: ‘Some Methodological Questions for Leadership Studies,’ pp. 37-39

Rollin Grams, Theologising without Abstractions: Forays in Biblical Theology. Unpublished, Available on

Canvas for students in this course. Collection of published essays and chapters available on Canvas for this course.

Read 32 pages:

‘The Shaping of Christian Convictions and the Avoidance of Ideology: Paul’s Contribution to a Vexing

Issue in 1 Corinthians,’ pp. 4-15;

‘Contextualization, Intertextuality, and Paul’s Soteriology,’ pp. 35-56.

Rollin Grams, Rival Versions of Theological Enquiry (Prague: International Baptist Theological Seminary,

2005/2015). Read 43 pages:

Chapter One: ‘Introduction to the Four Hermeneutical Tasks of Theology and Three Rival Versions of

Enquiry,’ pp. 9-33

Chapter Three: ‘Rival Versions of Enquiry into the Synthetic Task of Theology,’ pp. 42-63


ISBN-10: 0830839925 ISBN-13: 978-0830839926. Read: ‘Approaches to Old Testament Theology,’ pp. 17-80 =

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Christopher Wright, The Mission of God: Unlocking the Bible’s Grand Narrative (Downers Grove, IL: IVP

Academic, 2006 ISBN-13: 978-0-8308-2571-4. Pp. 21-69 = 48

Further Reading:

Craig G. Bartholomew and Michael W. Goheen, The Drama of Scripture: Finding Our Place in the Biblical Story

Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2016). ISBN-13: 978-0801049569

I. Howard Marshall, New Testament Theology: Many Witnesses, One Gospel (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic,

2014). ISBN-13: 978-0830825387

Frank S. Thielman, Theology of the New Testament: A Canonical and Synthetic Approach, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids,

MI: Zondervan, 2005). ISBN-13: 978-0310211327 Lectures:

1. Bases for Biblical Theology (49 minutes)

2. What is Biblical Theology? (1 hour, 17 minutes)

3. Introduction to Narrative Biblical Theology (52 minutes narrated)

4. Metanarrative of Scripture (1 hour, 40 minutes narrated)

Saturday Seminar Time: 26 January, 8:30 – 12:15, lunch, 1:20 – 4:30

Guiding Questions:

1. What is required for a Biblical topic to be a ‘Biblical Theology’ on that topic? Is a ‘Biblical Theology of

Leadership’ possible?

2. What are the differences between Biblical Theology, Historical Theology, Contextual Theology, and

Systematic Theology? What challenges does Biblical Theology pose for Systematic Theology? Relatedly, what

are the points of overlap and places of difference between theology studied as the interpretation of texts, sacred

narrative, a logically organized system of ideas, an evolving community’s witness, and as application to new

contexts?

3. How does Biblical theology relate to the theology of authors/texts versus that of the Biblical canon?

4. Discuss the three rival versions of theological enquiry as a lens for understanding different scholars’

approaches to theological studies that you have encountered at seminary. What difference will this make in

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approaches to Biblical theology? Furthermore, how has the relativism in postmodern deconstructivism evolved

into a preference for the set of actions and views of a particular group (‘tribalism’), and what does this mean for

theology?

5. Discuss the tasks of theological enquiry, with a focus on the relationship between the first two tasks and the

third and fourth tasks (see Rival Versions, chs. 1, 3).

6. What is the relationship between history and theology in Scripture? Consider the difference between historical

facts or events, the interpretation of events, and the presentation of theological truth (beyond literal description).

7. What are the ways in which we can speak of ‘unity’ in theology?

8. Where is there significant diversity in Scripture? Between OT and NT? Between Biblical authors? How do

we account for that diversity?

Assignments:

Be prepared to discuss the reading in class.

Working ahead: this module will contribute to your first paper on methodology (due later in the semester).

Seminar Two: Missional Biblical Theology

6 – 12 February

Reading (170 pages)

C Christopher Wright, The Mission of God: Unlocking the Bible’s Grand Narrative (Downers Grove, IL: IVP

Academic, 2006 ISBN-13: 978-0-8308-2571-4. Pp. 71-188, 501-530 = 147.


ISBN-10: 0830839925 ISBN-13: 978-0830839926. Read: ‘God and the Nations,’ pp. 311-334.

Further Reading:

Richard Bauckham, Bible and Mission: Christian Witness in a Postmodern World (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker

Academic, 2004). ISBN-13: 978-0801027710

Michael W. Goheen, ed., Reading the Bible Missionally (The Gospel and Our Culture Series; Grand Rapids, MI:

Eerdmans, 2016). ISBN- 978-0802872258

Rollin Grams, The Mission of Jesus and His Disciples in the Gospels (unpublished, 2016). Pages 122. Available

on Canvas (for students in this course)

Christopher Wright, The Mission of God’s People: A Biblical Theology of the Church’s Mission (Grand Rapids,

MI: Zondervan, 2010).

Lectures: 1. Old Testament Missional Theology (Parts 1 and 2: 1 hour 14 minutes)

2. God and Mission in the Old Testament: The Nations in God’s Plan (29 ½ minutes)

3. Paul’s Mission Goals & Methods and the Gospel (1 hour 5 minutes)

Guiding Questions: 1. What is the difference between reading the Bible to study the theme of missions and reading the Bible as a

missional book? (Cf. C. Wright.)

2. In light of the previous lesson’s challenges about whether there is such a thing as a ‘Biblical Theology of ….’

projects (e.g., leadership, counseling, finances, and so on), discuss the pros and cons of reading the Bible as a

missional corpus.

3. From C. Wright’s The Mission of God, how might we consider mission as God’s mission to make His glory

known? How might this be a perspective on missional biblical theology in the New Testament as well (consider

Ephesians 1, Gospel of John, and Revelation, e.g.)?

3. Compare an understanding of mission as God’s mission to make His glory known (among His people, the nations,

in the cosmos) and as our mission to proclaim the Gospel of salvation with respect to the OT and NT and the

following:

a. Centripetal (inward force) vs. Centrifugal (outward force)

b. Ecclesiology, Ethics, and Evangelism: what are the relationships between the mission of God’s people as a

community, ethics (community, character), and the proclamation and profession of faith?

c. What do you think about C. Wright’s models of redemption (the Exodus) and restoration (the Jubilee) for

missions? Are they picked up elsewhere in the OT? In the NT?

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d. Eschatology: will there be mission after the Day of the Lord, after Jesus returns?

4. What are the key passages in Scripture that emerge through the lens of mission? 5. How do approaches to Biblical theology discussed in this course so far challenge Dispensational theology, and

what do you make of the differences?

6. What stands out to you as helpful from the readings and lectures? What would you challenge or want to state

differently or explore further? What are you learning about how to read the Bible theologically and how to do

theology (to theologize) Biblically? Assignments: 1. Be prepared to discuss the guiding questions in our next Saturday seminar.

2. Continue working ahead for your first paper on methodology as you listen to lectures and complete the reading.

3. Begin to take notes for your final paper. You should be writing this paper throughout the course and not at the

end. See the description of this 2nd paper in Seminar Eight.

Seminar Three: Covenant Biblical Theology

13 February – 5 March



in Diversity (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2007). Pp. 336. ISBN-13: 978-0801034237. Read the following:

Scott J. Hafemann on the covenant relationship, pp. 20-65 = 45

Thomas R. Schreiner on the commands of God, pp. 66-101 = 45

Roy E. Ciampa on the history of redemption, pp. 254-308 = 54


ISBN-10: 0830839925 ISBN-13: 978-0830839926. Read 93 pages:

‘God and His People (1): Election and Covenant,’ pp. 159-170


Academic, 2006 ISBN-13: 978-0-8308-2571-4. Pp. 189-392 = 203

Further Reading:

Jeffrey J. Niehaus, Biblical Theology, Vol. 2: The Special Grace Covenants (Old Testament)

Weaver, 2017. ISBN: 978-1-941337-77-6. Also available on Kindle. [You may wish to purchase the set

of 3 volumes.]

Lectures: 1. Themes of Genesis (35 ½ minutes)

2. Old Testament Theology (Part I: 44 minutes; Part II: 30 minutes)

3. New Testament Theology (Part I: 32 minutes; Part II: 19 minutes; Part III: 22 minutes; Part IV: 34 min.)

Saturday Seminar: 23 February, 9:30 – 12:00; Lunch 12:00 – 1:15; 1:15– 3:45

Morning: Seminar on Mission Biblical Theology and Discussion of Methodology

Afternoon: Seminar on Covenant Biblical Theology and Discussion of Methodology

Guiding Questions:

1. What are the main covenants of God? Is there a ‘creation covenant’?

2. Which Biblical passages are key to a discussion of God’s covenants?

3. How do the covenants of God relate to one another and to redemption history? How do approaches discussed

in this course so far challenge Dispensational theology, and what do you make of the differences?

4. Discuss different approaches to the unity of the Old Testament: e.g., missional, covenantal, narrative, or

thematic emphases. How are these different approaches similar and different? How helpful are these

overlapping approaches to giving an explanation of the unity of the OT? Of the NT? How do these approaches

help to relate the OT to the NT in Biblical theology?

5. How might we fit the Wisdom literature (and James in the NT) into a Biblical theology—particularly a theology

organized by covenantal, missional, and narrative dynamics?

6. Do you find C. Wright’s discussion of election (pp. 262-264) correct or helpful?

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7. What stood out to you as helpful from the readings and lectures? What would you challenge or want to state

differently or explore further? What are you learning about how to read the Bible theologically and how to do

theology (theologize) Biblically?

8. What further study occurs to you to undertake in covenantal Biblical theology? Are there places where you

would want to say things differently? Assignments:

First Paper: Methodology in Biblical Theology

Due: 5 March

Write a short paper on methodology of about 2,500 words (plus or minus 10%). Compare narrative, missional,

covenantal, and thematic approaches to Biblical theology with reference to your reading and the lectures. Reference

and engage the reading, lectures, and Scripture in your answer. There is no need for reading and research beyond

materials on the course. Submit in Canvas. Percentage of final grade: 35%.

Seminar Four: Evangelical Biblical Theology

6 – 19 March




Frank S. Thielman on the atonement, pp. 102-127 = 25

Rollin Grams, ‘According to My Gospel’ (unpublished, 2017). The work is available on Canvas.

Read pp. 5 – 104 = 99. Also, review the appendices with some care and thought.



‘God and His People (2): Worship and Sacrifice,’ pp. 175-208 = 33


Academic, 2006 ISBN-13: 978-0-8308-2571-4. Pp. 421-433, 454-500 = 49

Lectures: 1. The Human Condition in Rom. 1 (Total time: 1 hour and 58 minutes)

2. Kingdom of God (Part I: 46 minutes; Part II: 33 minutes)

Guiding Questions:

1. What is the Gospel?

2. What is the OT basis for the NT Gospel? Which texts are important? How does the Gospel in the early

Church teaching offer something new from OT Theology?

3. Is it correct to say that the Proclaimer (Jesus, who preached the Kingdom of God/Heaven) became the proclaimed

(the Gospel of/about Jesus Christ)? What is the relationship between the notion of the Kingdom of God (in the

Synoptic Gospels) and the Gospel (in Paul)? That is, what is the relationship between Jesus’ (and John the

Baptist’s) preaching and Paul’s preaching?

4. How does a study of diverse terms for salvation in Paul (see Rollin Grams, According to the Gospel, Appendix

I) help us to understand his theology more broadly—rather than, say, focus on a single term such as ‘justification’?

5. What else did you learn from the lectures and reading in this seminar? What further study occurs to you to

undertake? Are there places where you would want to say things differently?

Assignments:

1. Be prepared to discuss the guiding questions in our next Saturday seminar.

2. Continue working ahead for your second paper as you listen to lectures and complete the reading

Seminar Five: Christological Biblical Theology

20 March – 2 April


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Richard Bauckham, Jesus and the God of Israel (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2003). Read pp. 1-59,

127-151, 182-268 = 169

Scott Hafemann, and Paul R. House, eds., Central Themes in Biblical Theology: Mapping Unity in Diversity

(Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2007). Pp. 336. ISBN-13: 978-0801034237. Read:

Stephen G. Dempster on the servant of the Lord, pp. 128-178 = 50

Further Reading:

Larry Hurtado, Lord Jesus Christ: Devotion to Jesus in Earliest Christianity (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2005).

ISBN-13: 978-0802831675

Christopher Wright, Knowing Jesus through the Old Testament, 2nd ed. (Downers Grove, IL:

InterVarsity Press, 2014). ISBN 978-0-8308-2359-8

Lectures:

1. New Testament Christology (Parts 1, 2, 3)

2. Christological Titles

Guiding Questions:

1. From the reading and lecture, what is Bauckham’s suggestion for discussing ‘divine identity,’ and how does it

relate/contrast to other approaches? How is early Christian Christology still monotheistic from a Jewish

perspective?

2. Which Biblical texts rise to significance for Bauckham’s discussion of Christology and the OT? Does the NT

engage the OT ‘appropriately’—shedding light on the true meaning of the OT?

3. What stands out to you from the lectures and reading? Where do you think the arguments could be improved?

4. Regarding the OT and Jesus’ Passion in the Gospels [from the appendix in Grams, According to My Gospel],

discuss the following questions:

Old Testament and Jesus’ Passion: Class Discussion a. What strikes you simply about the number of OT references (quotes or allusions) in Jesus’ passion

narrative? How does this speak to the issue of ‘event’ vs. ‘interpreted event’ in Biblical theology?

b. What difference does it make to read Jesus’ passion in light of the OT references? What medium (poetry,

live video, artistic film, narrative) best captures allusions to the OT—and what is gained or lost by using

other mediums?

c. Which psalms, and what kinds of psalms (lament, praise, hymns, royal) are commonly referenced in

relation to Jesus’ Passion? Look these over and discuss what you see. What is the message of these psalms,

not only of the verses quoted or alluded to in the Passion narratives (assuming what is quoted in the NT is a

‘hook’ to read further in the entire section/psalm?

d. Are the psalms prophetic, predicting Jesus’ passion (predicting what happened)? Or are they ‘fulfilled’ by

Jesus in the sense that, while they apply to others’ lives, they reach a fulfillment in Jesus’ life? Do they

explain why Jesus suffered and died?

e. Do we have any reason to believe that Jesus Himself was responsible for a particular interpretation of the

OT that related to His person and ministry, particularly His suffering and death, versus this being something

from the later Christian community or Gospel authors?

f. Thinking generally, what does it mean to fulfill the lament psalms of Israel? What does it mean for Jesus

to fulfill the lament psalms written by David? Also discuss the final parallel noted about David, Jesus, and

the Mt. of Olives.

g. Examine Jesus’ fulfillment of other OT passages than the Psalms. How do they explain Jesus’ suffering

and death? Do they explain how and/or why Jesus suffered and died?

h. What do you note about any similarities and differences in the use of the Old Testament in the Passion

narratives between the Synoptic Gospels and between the Synoptic Gospels and the Gospel of John?

5. How would you explain to a Jew that Jesus fulfills the OT hopes and promises, even and especially in His

death and resurrection?

6. How would you explain to a Muslim that the Christian faith is monotheistic? How would you explain to a

Muslim that Christian teaching on the incarnation, death, and resurrection of Jesus is entirely consistent with

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divine identity and offers us a greater hope? (This topic takes us beyond Biblical theology per se, but discussing

it helps us to understand Scripture better—keep the focus on Scripture and its interpretation.) Saturday Seminar: 23 February, 9:30 – 12:00; Lunch 12:00 – 1:15; 1:15– 3:45

Morning Seminar: Evangelical Biblical Theology

Afternoon Seminar: Christological Biblical Theology

Assignments: None

Seminar Six: Pneumatological Biblical Theology

3 – 16 April


Anthony C. Thiselton, The Holy Spirit In Biblical Teaching, through the Centuries, and Today (Grand Rapids,

MI: Eerdmans, 2013. ISBN-13: 978-0-8028-6875-6. Read pp. 3-162, 468-500 = 191

Further Reading:

Trevor J. Burke and Keith Warrington, eds., A Biblical Theology of the Holy Spirit (Eugene, OR: Cascade Books,

2014). ISBN: 978-1-62564-926-3

Christopher Wright, Knowing the Holy Spirit through the Old Testament (Downers Grove, IL:

InterVarsity Press, 2006). ISBN-10: 0830825916; ISBN-13: 978-0830825912.

Lectures:

1. The Spirit in the OT (Part I: 36 minutes; Part II: 24 minutes)

2. The Spirit in the NT (Part I: 20 minutes; Part II: 52 minutes); Part III: 30 minutes)

3. The Trinity in Scripture and the Early Church (Part I: 44 minutes; Part II: 44 minutes; Part III: )

Guiding Questions:

1. Can we speak of the divine, Holy Spirit within the pages of the Old Testament? Which OT passages come into

focus when we look at the OT through the lens of the Spirit?

2. How does Biblical teaching on the Spirit relate to other OT theological topics, such as creation, the people of

God, ethics, eschatology? How do these relate to the NT?

3. Can we say that the Bible has or supports a Trinitarian theology?

4. What stands out to you in your reading of Thiselton? Where would you want to challenge or improve on his

arguments? How does he speak to unique views on pneumatology from Cessationists, Pentecostals, and

Charismatics? Do you agree with his interpretation of Acts regarding speaking in tongues? Being filled with the

Spirit?

5. What have you learned from this seminar about the Spirit and interpretation of Scripture? Also discuss the

‘power of God’ at this point, particularly in relation to the Spirit’s role in Scripture and in the Church today. How

does this seminar encourage/challenge your understanding of spiritual life and the church’s life in the Spirit? Assignments: There are no further Saturday seminars. Post a 300 – 350 word answer to one of the guiding questions, or a part to

one of these questions. Engage the reading and lectures, as well as Scripture. Be sensitive to issues/methods in

Biblical theology. Read the posts of your fellow seminar participants (this is expected, but there is no reporting).

5% of final grade.

Due: 16 April.

Seminar Seven: Ecclesiological Biblical Theology

17 - 30 April (Note: Easter is Sunday 21 April)


Rollin G. Grams, Gathered for Worship: Biblical Studies on the Church (Franschhoek, South

Africa: Machaira Publications, 2016). Available from: bookstore, www.bibleandmission.blogspot.com. Pp. 4-39

= 36.

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Elmer A. Martens on the people of God, pp. 225-253 = 28



‘God and His People (3): Receiving Instruction,’ pp. 209-224

‘God and His People (4): Kingship in Israel,’ pp. 225-237

‘God and His People (5): Ethics and Ethical Instructions,’ pp. 238-260

Further Reading:

Daniel Block, For the Glory of God: Recovering a Biblical Theology of Worship (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker

Academic, 2016). ISBN-13: 978-0801098567

James W. Thompson, The Church According to Paul: Rediscovering the Community Conformed to Christ

(Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2014). ISBN: 978-0-8010-4882-1

Christopher Wright, The Mission of God’s People: A Biblical Theology of the Church’s Mission (Grand Rapids,

MI: Zondervan, 2010). ISBN-13: 978-0310291121

Lectures:

The People of God in the Old and New Testaments

Peace Among the Nations (36 minutes)

Optional Video Discussion:

A Conversation with Dr. Steve Klipowicz (Rollin Grams)

Guiding Questions:

1. What is the relationship between Israel and the Church as the people of God?

2. What are the relationships and differences between the early Church (NT) and Israel (OT) in worship?

3. Is there a future for Israel in God’s plan? How should we understand Matthew 23.39 and Romans 11.25-27?

4. What is a Biblical understanding of the Church and how does this contribute to (or challenge) our

understanding of the local church, the denominational church, and universal Church?

5. Is ‘election’ (‘chosen people,’ ‘predestination’) a personal or corporate theological idea in the OT and in key

NT passages/texts such as Rom. 9-11, Eph. 1, and the Gospel of John?

6. From a Biblical perspective, how should we understand the local church? In terms of (1) being a ‘covenant’

people with a smaller, elect remnant (a classic, Reformed model of church), (2) a parish in a particular place

serving the needs of the community at large (Church of England); (3) a separated, holy people with rules of

membership (Anabaptist); (4) a porous community with very few boundaries and a culturally ‘relevant’ (non-

churchy!) feel, encouraging seekers of the faith to attend (seeker-sensitive, megachurches), (5) a house church

that has many of the characteristics of a family, (6) or something else?

Assignments: Post a 300 – 350 word answer to one of the guiding questions, or a part to one of these questions. Engage the

reading and lectures, as well as Scripture. Be sensitive to issues/methods in Biblical theology. Read the posts of

your fellow seminar participants (this is expected, but there is no reporting). 5% of final grade.

Due: 30 April.

Seminar Eight: Eschatological Biblical Theology

1 – 13 May


The reading is briefer so that you can focus on your final work in this course.


ISBN-10: 0830839925 ISBN-13: 978-0830839926. Read:

‘God and the Future,’ pp. 261-310 = 59

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128-178 = 50

Paul R. House, ‘The day of the Lord’

Further Reading:

Richard Bauckham, Theology of Revelation (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993).

ISBN-10: 0521356911ISBN-13: 978-0521356916.

Craig R. Keener, Revelation and the End of All Things, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2018). ISBN-13:

978-0802875785

Bruce Metzger, Breaking the Code: Understanding the Book of Revelation (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2006).

ISBN-13: 978-0687492008

Lectures:

None. Focus on your final work in the course.

Guiding Questions:

1. Consider how the New Testament engages with the Old Testament on ‘God and the Future’ (Routledge) and

‘The day of the Lord’ (House)—both authors being Old Testament scholars.

2. Would you agree with Ernst Käsemann’s claim that apocalyptic is the mother of Christian theology?

Would/should such a statement apply to your church, mission, ministry?

3. In Gordon Fee and Doug Stuart’s popular How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth, a fundamental

understanding for reading the New Testament is the idea of an ‘already/not yet’ eschatology. How crucial is

such a perspective for the topics of the seminars in this course? How does this shape your ministry?

Assignments: 1. For your post, focus on some aspect of one of the guiding questions and write a briefer answer than before of

about 200 words to one of the guiding questions. Engage the reading and lectures, as well as Scripture. Be sensitive

to issues/methods in Biblical theology. Read the posts of your fellow seminar participants (this is expected, but

there is no reporting). 5% of final grade.

Due: 7 May

2. Reading Report: Due 6 May

3. Lecture Report: Due 6 May

4. Second Paper: Due 13 May (7 May for graduating students)

Write a thematic paper of 3,000 words (plus or minus 10%) on the following: “The Old Testament Background and

Basis for [topic].” First, choose a topic form one of the seminars in this course: Evangelical [i.e., Gospel] Biblical

Theology, Christology, Pneumatology, Ecclesiology, or, Eschatology. Possibly narrow the discussion to some

specific sub-topic within your choice, such as ‘Jesus’ divinity’ in the topic of Christology. (Do not limit your paper

to a single author in Scripture, however, as this is a course in Biblical theology.) This will allow you to dig deeper

into the subject matter in the space allotted for this assignment. Be sure to discuss the Old Testament background

and basis for the New Testament teaching on the subject. Engage Scripture, cite the course readings, and

demonstrate that you have listened to the lectures. Pay attention to methodological issues in Biblical theology, such

as different authors’ views, the unity and diversity of canonical texts, contextual issues, historicity, etc.—and

especially the use of the OT by NT authors. Remember that this course builds on your exegetical courses and

knowledge of the Biblical languages as you engage Biblical texts, so demonstrate your overall learning at seminary.

Some additional research may be necessary for this paper, such as commentaries, theological dictionaries,

monographs on Biblical theology, and journal articles. The nature of your topic will dictate any need for further

research. However, most of the research should come from reading already done on the course. Submit in Canvas.

Percentage of final grade: 50%.

Course Requirements

1. Students will complete a reading report (see below) on their achievement of the required reading

for the course.

2. Students will complete a lecture listening report (see below) on their achievement of the required

lectures for the course.

3. Students will meet in 6 seminars on the Saturdays of class.

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4. Students will complete two papers. The first is on methodology. The second focuses on one of

these themes: Evangelical [i.e., Gospel] Biblical Theology, Christology, Pneumatology,

Ecclesiology, or, Eschatology.

5. Students will complete 3 posts on Pneumatology, Ecclesiology, and Eschatology.

Approximate Hours for Course

Assignment Hours

Reading 77 hours

Lectures 28 hours

Papers & Posts 30 hours

Totals 135 hours

Classroom Seminars

Students will be placed in seminar groups of 5 persons each (if possible). Each Saturday meeting

will involve two seminars as per the Course Outline. Students are expected to come prepared for

the seminars by having completed the relevant lectures and reading, having given thought over the

guiding questions, and being ready to discuss the topic of each seminar with reference to their

notes and Scripture. Students may swap seminar groups by their own arrangement if they keep

the same size of the group.

Course Marking

Weight of Assignments (and Table to Show Completion of Requirements)

Assignments Percentage of Final Grade

Complete listening to lectures; Note-taking on all

lectures

Pass/Fail (submit on Canvas on Canvas)

Reading, with note-taking as appropriate Pass/Fail (submit on Canvas on Canvas)

3 Saturdays of Mini-Seminars Required attendance and engagement Pass/Fail

1st Paper 35% of the Final Grade

2nd Paper 50% of the Final Grade

1st Post 5% of the Final Grade

2nd Post 5% of the Final Grade

3rd Post 5% of the Final Grade

Meaning of Letter Grades for the Course

A

A-

Excellent, Well Above Average

Very Good and Above Average

B+

B

B-

Fine Work, Just Above Average

Good, Average

Slightly below average

C+

C

C-

Satisfactory for passing, although

below average for graduate level

work

D+

D

Pass, although inadequate work at

the graduate level

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D-

F Fail

Plagiarism is either an indication of cheating or poor skills in research and writing that should

not occur at the master’s level. Any plagiarism will result in a failing grade for the entire course.

Guidelines for Writing Papers and Posts

Topics:

Evidence of learning on the course: engagement with lectures and reading, awareness of scholarship,

issues, and methodology

Biblical engagement: use of Scripture, awareness of exegetical issues (including Biblical languages),

NT use of the OT, proper use of Scripture in Biblical theology

Detail and depth of engagement with the course lectures and reading

Analytical strengths: clarity on the overall issues (forest vs. trees), distinguishing what is key and what

is less important, understanding alternative views, identifying on what point/s arguments turn, awareness

of how different versions of enquiry affect scholarship, ability to compare and contrast scholars read.

Attention to questions of unity and diversity in Scripture: awareness of dating of Biblical texts,

different texts and authors in Scripture, their language, genre, and notions, any progression of theology

in the canon, NT use of the OT.

Tasks of theology: awareness of how different tasks of theology engage topics in theology, with a focus

on exegetical and synthetic tasks in Biblical theology.

Additional research for the paper beyond reading on the course when necessary (not required)

Writing: clarity, conciseness, balance, logic, structure, consistent referencing/footnotes, use of sub-titles

Reading Report

Please complete and return the following report on our reading for this course on 7 May, 2019 in

Canvas:

I read in entirety and took notes on the following (write ‘Yes’ or explain):

Book Reading Notes (as needed)

Bauckham (Christology) Complete? Yes or No

Routledge (OT Theology) Complete? Yes or No

Grams, Leadership Complete? None Required

Grams, According to the Gospel Complete? Yes or No

Grams, Gathered for Worship Complete? None Required

Grams, Theologising by Abstraction Complete? None Required

Hafemann and House, ed. Complete? Yes or No

Thiselton (Pneumatology) Complete? Yes or No

Wright (Mission) Complete? Yes or No

Lecture Listening Report

Return this statement on 7 May, 2019 in Canvas:

I attest that I listed to all the lectures for this course and took notes, as needed, on them.

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Syllabus Addendum

Academic Standards

Cheating and plagiarism are considered serious breaches of personal and academic integrity. Cheating

involves, but is not necessarily limited to, the use of unauthorized sources of information during an

examination or the submission of the same (or substantially same) work for credit in two or more courses

without the knowledge and consent of the instructors. Plagiarism involves the use of another person’s

distinctive ideas or words, whether published or unpublished, and representing them as one’s own instead

of giving proper credit to the source. Plagiarism can also involve over-dependence on other source

material for the scope and substance of one’s writing. Such breaches in academic standards often result in

a failing grade as well as other corrective measures. For more information, please consult the Student

Handbook.

ADA Policy/ Disability and Accessibility

The seminary complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. A student with a

qualifying and authenticated disability who is in need of accommodations should petition the seminary in

accordance with the stated guidelines in the Student Handbook. Any student who has a learning,

orthopedic, sensory or psychiatric condition that substantially limits one or more major life activities and

who would benefit from accommodations may be eligible for assistance. Please contact the Registrar,

Trish King ([email protected]; 704-527-9909), who coordinates services for students with

disabilities at the Charlotte campus. It is the responsibility of the student to notify the professor of the

documented accommodations at the beginning of the semester.

Cancellation of Class

In the event the seminary has to cancel a class meeting (due to an impending storm, professor illness,

etc.), the Registration Office will send out an email notification (via the GCTS email account) to all

students registered in the affected course. If the cancellation occurs the day of the scheduled meeting, the

Registration Office will also attempt to contact students via their primary phone contact on record. The

professor will contact the students (via GCTS account) regarding make-up. If a weekend class is

cancelled, the class will be made up during the scheduled Make-Up weekend (see the Academic Calendar

for the designated dates). For more info, consult your Student Handbook.

Extension Policy

Arrangements for submission of late work at a date on or before the end date for the semester or term (as

noted in the seminary’s Academic Calendar) are made between the student and professor. Formal petition

to the Registration Office is not required in these cases. This includes arrangements for the rescheduling

of final exams.

However, course work (reading and written) to be submitted after the publicized end date for the semester

or term must be approved by the Registration Office. An Extension Petition, available online, must be

submitted to the Registration Office prior to the stated date. Requests received after this date will either be

denied or incur additional penalty. For a full discussion of this policy, please consult the Student

Handbook.

Grades

Faculty are expected to turn in final grades by January 15 for fall-semester courses, by June 15 for spring-

semester courses, and by September 15 for summer-term courses. Grades are posted on-line within

twenty-four hours of receipt from the professor. Students are expected to check their CAMS student

mailto:[email protected]

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portal in order to access posted grades (unless instructed otherwise). Those individuals who need an

official grade report issued to a third party should put their request in writing to the Registration Office.

Documents

NT/OT 795: Biblical Theology Seminar Syllabus...already taken the two Bible Survey courses, Greek, Hebrew, both OT and NT interpretation courses, and at least one 600 level OT exegesis