Philippine Alliance College of Theology

Veteran’s Village, Project 7, Quezon City

Christian Theology I
Course Syllabus

Professor: Marvin P. Layug PhD. Applied Theology

Description:
Christian Theology 1 is an introductory study of the Systematic Theology discipline on the truths about
knowing God, the doctrine of God, Christology, Sin and Salvation.

Objective:
The course expects the student will;
1-have deeper experience of knowing God,
2-appriciate more the work of God in Jesus Christ in the impossibility of human experience,
3-accelerate faith in God and able to withstand in the ministry until the end.

Course Requirement: Grade by points

1-Attendance 20
2-Class participation and unscheduled argumentation 20
System:
Students will be called to ask questions to the professor,
to answer the questions asked, and
to give a little comment.
Note: All questions and comments should come from the class discussion.

3-Every meeting Theological Reflections 30

Expected content:
a-Scripture
b-Scripture relevance with your current experience or encounter
c-Provide practices

4-Research paper 30
Note: Individual topics will be provided by the professor
Due: A week before the end of the semester ______
Total final Grade: 100

Textbook: Christian Theology (any Edition) by Millard J. Erickson

Hand-outs Prepared by the Professor

What is Theology?
It is the study of God, His work and His relationship with the human beings. The God of Christianity as
an active God.

1-Theology is biblical – The primary source of the content is the canonical Scriptures of the Old and the
New Testament
2-Theology is systematic- It relates the entire Scripture to conjoin various teachings into one whole
3-Theology is appropriated – it identifies issues, culture, all sciences, philosophies, personalities, stories,
and history.
4-Theology is contemporary – It is timeless as to language, culture, era, experiences, technologies, and
people.

How theology begins?

In the development of systematic theology, the questions were posted; should theology begin with the
idea of God, or with human having the knowledge of him by the revelation? Or the human experience?
It is in first in the capacity of knowing God, it is by means of the Scripture and finally, through the human
experience.

Is theology a science?
Is theology be properly called a science of God? So, what is it a science? In what sense?
Augustine, a Philosopher-theologian in the 13th Century preferred to call theology as sapientia (wisdom)
instead of scientia (knowledge). Science deals with temporal things; wisdom is related to eternal
matters, especially of God as the highest good. Science and knowledge may lead to wisdom.
And so, truths acquired by the specific sciences would have to be ordered in relation to the highest
good. Therefore, philosophy and theology may serve as an organizing principle for knowledge

Thomas Aquinas considered theology as the Queen of the sciences for it is a derived science for it
proceeds from the principles revealed by God. Sciences is partly speculative and partly practical.
Theology surpasses other speculative by its greater faith, being based on the divine knowledge that
would not mislead.

Karl Barth has argued vigorously for the autonomy of theology by means of 1-theology must be free
from internal contradiction. 2-there must be a unity or coherence in its proposition. 3-its testing must be
susceptible to testing. 4-it must make no assertion that is physically and biologically impossible. 5-it
must be free from prejudice. 6-its proposition should be capable of being broken up into axioms and
theorems and susceptible of proof on that basis.

Theology and Philosophy

Is there any relation of the two? This is a 20th century development affecting contemporary theology.
The various approaches:
Tertullian disjoin theology from philosophy year 160-230. The two have different goals that Christian is
well advised to avoid contact and dialogue with philosophy.

Augustine stressed the priority of faith and acceptance of Biblical revelation, but also insisted that
philosophy may help us understand better our Christian theology. He adopted the philosophy of Plato
as vehicle for theology, the Ideas and Forms.
The Method of Theology
Theology lives at a specific period of time rather than some timeless vacuum- takes place within a given
context. Also, theology must be done within that situation.

The characteristics of the present-day theological scene:

1-The factor on life-spans- Like, Augustine’s synthesis of Platonic philosophy and theology (more than
800 years). Thomas Aquinas synthesized Catholic theology with Aristotle’s philosophy (until reformation
time). The Reformers Theology.

2-The death of great school of theology.

3-Deminishing theological giants.

Example of reactive Christian thinkers and the motions; from the reformers, Barth, Brunner, Tillich,
Bultmann

4-The opening of facet on the present theology. This is in the observance of experiences and results to
Liberation theology, Feminist theology, Black theology, and the Third world

5-Globalization is very evident. In the past, theology has been written predominantly by Europeans and
Americans were seen limited in the constant dialogue with the rest of the nations and cultures of the
world.

STUDYING GOD

The process of doing theology:

1-Collection of the Biblical materials. Gather all Biblical passages on the doctrine being investigated.
Exegesis is the procedure to get into the meaning of the passage.

2-Unification of the Biblical materials. The proceeding should lead to see the unity and consistency
among the several books of the Bible like the gospel writers.

3-Analysis of the meaning of biblical teaching. After precedents is the asking of “what is really meant by
this?” Example; “You must be born again” (John 3:7). Study the concept with the philosophical process
to theology
4-Examination of historical treatments. Visit the various interpretations from the past
5-Consultation of other cultural perspectives for usually one bias of its own and forgetting the other.
6-Identification of the essence of the doctrine. Bible and culture or situation

7-Illumination from extra biblical sources. Sources of studying is also from outside scripture but
carefully done. In language, culture and sciences.

8-Contemprary expression. Clothing the timeless truth in the appropriate form of time.

9-Development of a central interpretive motif. Theologians in various discipline must have a central
theme. It should be towards unity of system.

10-Stratification of topics. To outline topics for easy evaluation

STUDYING GOD: Theology and Critical Study of the Bible

The critical methodology in the study of the Bible

1. Textual criticism (which in the past was sometimes referred to as lower criticism) is the attempt to
determine the original text of the biblical books. This is done by comparing the various extant
manuscripts.
2. Literary-source criticism is the effort to determine the various literary sources upon which books of
the Bible are based or from which they derive.
3. Form criticism is the endeavour to get behind the written sources of the Bible to the period of oral
tradition, and to isolate the oral forms that went into the written sources. Insofar as this attempts to
trace the history of the tradition, it is known as tradition criticism.
4. Redaction criticism is a study of the activity of the biblical authors in shaping, modifying, or even
creating material for the final product which they wrote.
5. Historical criticism in a sense employs all of the above and, in addition, draws upon the data of
archaeology and of secular historical sources. It has as its aim the determination of the authorship and
date of Studying God the biblical books, and the establishment and interpretation of what actually
occurred historically.
6. Comparative-religions criticism assumes that all religions follow certain common patterns of
development. It explains the history of the Judeo-Christian faith in terms of these patterns. A common
assumption in this endeavour is that religions develop from polytheism to monotheism.
7. Structural criticism attempts to investigate the relationship between the surface structure of the
writing and the deeper implicit structures that belong to literature as such.

Contemporizing the Christian Message:

One huge challenge to the theologian is the apparent difference between the world of the Bible and the
present world.

Uselessness of the Bible to the present time.

Rudolf Bultmann shook the theological world with his essay “New Testament and Mythology? In it he
observed that the New Testament gives us a mythical view of the world.

-According to Bultmann, this mythological view of the world was the general view of reality at the time
the Bible was written. It can be found in the Jewish apocalyptic and the Gnostic redemption myths.
There is, in other words, nothing unique in the Bible’s cosmology. The Bible merely reflects a first-
century perspective. As such, its ideas on these matters are obsolete for us today.

-Bultmann asserts that the three-story view of the universe is unsound for anyone today.
Earth, heaven, hell or man, physical and spiritual

-The mythical biblical eschatology is similarly untenable, if for no other reason than that the second
coming of Christ has not taken place. If we do expect within time an end to the universe as we know it,
we undoubtedly expect it to happen through some form of catastrophe, such as a nuclear holocaust,
rather than through the mythical event of the return of Christ. It is impossible to take these myths
literally. What Bultmann suggests is a reinterpretation of them.
-If Bultmann raises logical objections to holding what he regards as outmoded myths, there is also a
psychological difficulty.
What must we retain in order to maintain genuine Christianity, or to remain genuinely Christian?
Elements in Christianity to answer: (1) an institution, (2) acts of God, (3) experiences, (4) doctrines, (5) a
way of life.

An Institution
Perhaps the purest form of this answer is the traditional Roman Catholic view that God has given a final
deposit of truth to the church. Revelation ceased with the death of the last apostle. Since that time the
church has not been adding to the content of revelation but declaring or defining what has been
revealed. It adds new dogmas, but not new revelation.

Acts of God
Another answer given in recent years is that the permanent element of Christianity is certain unique
historical events or mighty acts of God. Most of the narratives are merely interpretations by the
covenant people of what they believed God had done. This school of thought, in effect, has two acts of
God: the exodus in the Old Testament and the “Christ event” in the New.

Experiences
Yet another answer is that abiding experiences are the essence, the permanent factor, of Christianity.
While doctrinal beliefs may change, people of all periods have the same experiences. Harry E. Fosdick
considers the biblical idea of the resurrection of the body as the way persons living in that time gave
expression to their hope of immortality.

Doctrines
Some have contended that the permanent and unchanging in Christianity consists of certain doctrines
presented in biblical times and continuing to the present. J. Gresham Machen was an articulate
defender of this view. He takes particular note of the attempt to separate Jesus’ ethical teaching from
the doctrine which accompanied it.

A Way of Life
A final view identifies the locus of permanence as a particular way of life, or, in other words, a particular
ethic. Following in the direction pointed by Immanuel Kant and later by Albrecht Ritschl, those who hold
to this view see the essence of religion as lying in behavior rather than belief. This is the first and most
essential dogma of the Christian faith. The reign of God is the lost social ideal of Christianity (the
sixteenth-century Reformation was merely a revival of Pauline theology).
I - Knowing God
How?

God’s Universal Revelation

1-The Nature of Revelation

This is God’s manifestation of himself to man in such a way that man can know and fellowship with him.
The two basic classifications of revelation. The General Revelation is God’s communication of himself to
all persons at all times and in all places. The Special Revelation is God’s particular communications and
manifestations of himself to particular persons at particular times, communications and manifestations
which are available now only by consultation of certain sacred writings.

A-The General Revelation

Loci of:
Locus 1-Nature
Locus 2-history
Locus 3-the constitution of the human being

1-nature
General revelation is most frequently thought of in connection with the amazing and impressive
character of the creation, which seems to point to a very powerful and wise person who is capable of
designing and producing intricate variety and beauty. “The heavens are telling the glory of God” (Ps. 19:
l). “Ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has
been clearly perceived in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse” (Rom. 1:20).

2-history
It is to detect the trend of his work in events that occur as part of history. The consultation of the
historical record, the OT and other outside bible records. An example often cited of God’s revelation in
history is the preservation of the people of Israel. A small nation has survived over many centuries
within a basically hostile environment, often in the face of severe opposition, 2 world war and more.
Your personal records of your life.

3-The constitution of the human being

God’s general revelation is seen in the physical structure and mental capacities of man. Specially the
moral and spiritual qualities of man, God’s character is best perceived.
Humans make moral judgments, that is, judgments of what is right and wrong. The senses, reasoning
and ability to think, religious nature.

B-Special Revelation
God’s manifestation of himself to particular persons at definite times and places, enabling those persons
to enter into a redemptive relationship with him. Why was special revelation necessary? For human had
lost the relationship of favor which he had with God prior to the fall. After the fall of man, human was
turned away from God and in rebellion against him; man’s understanding of spiritual matters was
obscured. His relationship with God was not merely inactive; it was lost and in need of rebuilding.

Importantly, the objective of special revelation was relational for it was lost.
The account of God’s looking for Adam and Eve in the Garden subsequent to their sin (Gen. 3:8) gives
the impression that this was one in a series of special encounters which occurred.

Types of Special Revelation

1-Personal
A personal God presents himself to persons. This is seen in several ways: God reveals himself by telling
his name. Nothing is more personal than one’s name, “I am who I am [or I will be who I will be]” (Exod.
3:14) with Moses. “The LORD bless you and keep you: The LORD make his face to shine upon you, and
be gracious to you: The LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace” (Num. 6:24-26)
personal blessings. “that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his
sufferings, becoming like him in his death” (Phil. 3: 10) Paul’s testimony. The whole of Scripture is
personal in nature.

2-The Anthropic Nature of Special Revelation

God has revealed himself by a revelation in anthropic form. God’s revelation of coming in human
language and, human categories of thought and action. Revelation by means of our vernacular
language, through ordinary, everyday human experiences, dreams (were a frequent means used by God
to reveal himself in the scripture) .

3-The Analogical Nature of Special Revelation

His revelation employs analogical language, which is midway between univocal and equivocal language.
Univocal usage, a term is employed in only one sense. Equivocal usage, a term possesses completely
different meanings. Whenever God has revealed himself, he has selected elements which at-e univocal
in his universe and ours

The Modes of Special Revelation

1-Historical Events
The Bible emphasizes the whole series of divine events by which God has made himself known.

2-Divine Speech
A very common expression in the Bible and especially in the Old Testament is the statement, “The word
of the LORD came to me, saying, . . .” (e.g., Jer. l&l; Ezek. 12:1, 8, 17,21,26; Hos. 1:l; Joel 1:l; Amos 3:l).
Divine speech may take several forms, It may be an audible speaking, It may be a silent, inward hearing
of God’s message.

3-The Incarnation
The most complete modality of revelation. The contention here is that Jesus’ life and speech were a
special revelation of God. The miracles, his death, and the resurrection are redemptive history in its
most condensed and concentrated form.