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TH 330/530 CHRISTOLOGY Summer Session Syllabus

SUMMER SESSION NUMBER AND DATE:

Session I, July 8-12

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course investigates, from within Christian faith, the identity and significance of

Jesus the Christ. We will focus in a special way on the formative period of Christology, the first

five centuries of Church history. Students will learn about the historical, philosophical and

theological problems that must be handled in order to grasp the intelligibility within this early

history.

After a discussion of some important medieval theologians, we will discuss the elements

needed for an authentic Christology today in light of this early formative period and with a

concern to transpose the permanent meaning of Christ to the various cultural situations of our

contemporary globalized situation. Finally, Christianity’s relationships to other religions

constitute an important component of Christology in the contemporary context. In a discussion of

the Trinity, we will investigate a way of meeting the needs of inter-religious dialogue while

maintaining the integrity of the Chalcedonian dogma.

COURSE PREREQUISITE AND/OR MINIMAL TECHNICAL SKILLS

None

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Upon completing this course, you should be able to do the following:

Think theologically about the person and work of Christ within the faith of the orthodox

Christian tradition.

Recognize the importance of the first five centuries for the development of Christology.

Recognize the salient elements of soteriology as they have emerged through the

centuries.

Respond to contemporary questions and challenges regarding the meaning and

significance of Jesus the Christ today.

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COURSE FORMAT

This is an accelerated one week course. You will acquire the skills outlined in the course

objectives through the following:

1. Readings from books, journal articles, and Internet sources.

2. Lecture notes

3. Written essays

4. Active participation

REQUIRED TEXT

A Bible (searchable NRSV and other translations are available on line at oremus.org)

“Christology” and “The Resurrection of Jesus” in Brown, Raymond E., Fitzmyer, Joseph A., and

Murphy, Roland E. Murphy. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Englewood

Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1990. [NJBC], 1354-1359, 1373-1377. I assume you have this

already, having taken your bible courses.

Rusch, William, ed. The Trinitarian Controversy. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1980.

ISBN: 9780800614102

Norris, Richard, ed. The Christological Controversy. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1980.

ISBN: 9780800614119

Low, William P. “From the Humanity of Christ to the Historical Jesus” in Theological Studies 61

(2000), 314-331. Loewe shows that the Quests, valuable as they are, have not resulted in

a scholarly consensus regarding the historical Jesus and therefore cannot provide a

foundation for Christology. The article can be retrieved here:

http://ezproxy.sjcme.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db

=rfh&AN=ATLA0000918749&site=ehost-live&scope=site

Lonergan, Bernard. “The Origins of Christian Realism” in Second Collection (Philadelphia:

Westminster, 1974), pp. 239-62. Lonergan provides a philosophical basis for sorting out the

various issues that have arisen over the past 100 years regarding the early Christian entry into

Hellenistic culture. Some have claimed that the Christological dogmas that were developed in the

first five centuries are examples of Greek distortions of the New Testament witness. Lonergan

defends the early conciliar teachings by appealing to an accurate understanding of human

cognition and epistemology. An earlier version of this essay can be found here:

Lonergan et al, Philosophical and Theological Papers, 1958-1964. Toronto: University of

Toronto Press, 1996, Chapter 4. This chapter can be retrieved here:

http://ezproxy.sjcme.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db

=e000xna&AN=469439&site=ehost-live&scope=site&ebv=EB&ppid=pp_80

http://ezproxy.sjcme.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rfh&AN=ATLA0000918749&site=ehost-live&scope=site

http://ezproxy.sjcme.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rfh&AN=ATLA0000918749&site=ehost-live&scope=site

http://ezproxy.sjcme.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e000xna&AN=469439&site=ehost-live&scope=site&ebv=EB&ppid=pp_80

http://ezproxy.sjcme.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e000xna&AN=469439&site=ehost-live&scope=site&ebv=EB&ppid=pp_80

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If you have any questions regarding your course materials, please contact your academic

advisor and/or our book vendor EDMAP. You can reach EDMAP by phone at 1-(800)-

274-9104 or website at http://www.edmapbookstore.com/storefront/index/STJSP

COURSE SCHEDULE Class Period 1

Topic: The context of contemporary Christology: The “historical Jesus,” the

“historically reconstructed” Jesus, and the interpretation of the N.T.

Required Reading Assignments:

“Christology” in The New Jerome Biblical Commentary, 1354-1359.

William P. Loewe, “From the Humanity of Christ to the Historical Jesus”

Class Period 2

Topic: The Easter Event


“The Resurrection of Jesus” in The New Jerome Biblical Commentary, 1373-1377.

PLEASE NOTE: All graded assignments for this Day should be grouped together and

submitted using the Assignment Submission form accessed from your course homepage or

http://www.sjcme.edu/gps/assignments .

Class Period 3

Topic: The dogmatic development toward Chalcedon.

Class Period 4

Topic: The Gnostic / Docetist Challenge; Tertullian and Origen


Selections from Tertullian, “Against Praxeas” and Origen, “De Principiis,” (all in Norris)




http://www.edmapbookstore.com/storefront/index/STJSP

http://www.sjcme.edu/gps/assignments


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Class Period 5

Topic: Nicea (325 A.D.)


Athanasius, “Orations Against the Arians,” Book I (in Rusch) and Book III (in Norris)

Arius, “Letter to Eusebius” and “Letter to Alexander” and “Letter to Constantine” (in

Rusch)

Creed of Nicea (in Rusch)

Class Period 6

Topic: The Councils of Ephesus (431) and Chalcedon (451)


Nestorius, “First Sermon” and “Second Letter to Cyril”

Cyril of Alexandria, “Third Letter to Nestorius” and “Letter to John of Antioch”

Pope Leo I, “Tomus ad Flavianum” of A.D. 449 (All readings to be found in Norris)




Class Period 7

Topic: Salvation in Christ: From the Fathers to Anselm


St. Anselm, “A Meditation on Human Redemption”

Class Period 8

Topic: Thomas Aquinas


Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, III, q. 1, a. 1-6




Class Period 9

Topic: A Contemporary Christology and Soteriology




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Bernard Lonergan, “Christology Today: Methodological Reflections” (Your instructor

will provide you with information on how to access this reading)

William P. Loewe, “Toward a Responsible Contemporary Soteriology”

Class Period 10

Topic: The Spirit, Spirituality, and the World’s Religions


Lonergan, “Mission and the Spirit” (your instructor will provide you with information on

how to access this reading)




POST-RESIDENCY ASSIGNMENT

TH 330 and TH 550

There is a post-residency take-home exam due absolutely no later than August 31.

GRADING BREAKDOWN

Class Participation 40%

Post-Residency Assignment 60%

TOTAL 100%


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RUBRICS

Score Discussion Grading Criteria

A Responses are on topic, original, and contribute to the quality of the discussion.

Responses make frequent, informed references to unit material.

Responses are clearly written.

Substantial original answers to the questions that furthers the work of the class. Typically in the 100 word range or

responses meet length requirements as posted in the classroom.

Two or more thoughtful responses per discussion question to classmates that advance the discussion.

B Responses are on topic, largely original, and contribute to the quality of the discussion.

Responses make some informed references to unit material.

Responses are generally clearly written.

Substantial original answers to the questions that furthers the work of the class. Typically in the 75-100 word range or

responses meet only 80% of the length requirements as posted in the classroom.

One response per discussion question to a classmate that is thoughtful and advances the discussion.

C Responses are on topic, but they lack originality and lack a significant contribution to the quality of the discussion.

Responses make vague or summary references to unit material.

Responses have several mechanical or stylistic errors.

Short posting. Normally in the 50-75 word range or responses meet only 70% of the length requirements as posted in

the classroom.

Response(s) to others does not advance the discussion.

D Responses are only partially on topic, lack originality, and lack a significant contribution to the quality of the

discussion.

Responses make little or no references to unit material.

Responses have several mechanical or stylistic errors.

Minimal posting. Normally in the 25-50 word range or responses meet only 60% of the length requirements as posted

in the classroom.

No responses to classmates.

If there are two questions, student did not respond to one.

Post-Residency Written Assignments

Grade Content, Focus, Use of

Text/Research

Analysis and Critical Thinking Writing Style, Grammar, MLA Format

50% 30% 20%

A Response successfully answers

the assignment question(s);

thoroughly uses the text and

other literature.

Response exhibits strong higher-

order critical thinking and

analysis (e.g., evalua-tion).

Sentences are clear, concise, and direct; tone

is appropriate. Grammatical skills are strong

with almost no errors per page. Correct use of

APA format when assigned.

B Response answers the

assignment question(s) with only

minor digressions; sufficiently

uses the text and other literature.

Response generally exhibits

higher-order critical thinking

and analysis (e.g., true analysis).

Sentences are generally clear, concise, and

direct; tone is appropriate. Grammatical skills

are competent with very few errors per page.

Correct use of MLA format when assigned.

C Response answers the

assignment question(s) with

some digression; sufficiently

uses the text and other literature.

Response exhibits limited

higher-order critical thinking

and analysis (e.g., applica-tion

of information).

Sentences are occasionally wordy or

ambiguous; tone is too informal.

Grammatical skills are adequate with few

errors per page. Adequate use of APA format

when assigned.

D Response answers the

assignment question(s) but

digresses significantly;

insufficiently uses the text and

other literature.

Response exhibits simplistic or

reductive thinking and analysis

but does demonstrate

comprehension.

Sentences are generally wordy and/or

ambiguous; tone is too informal.

Grammatical skills are inadequate, clarity and

meaning are impaired, numerous errors per

page. Inadequate use of APA format when

assigned.

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COURSE GUIDELINES

Read, think, ask questions.

COURSE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Current information regarding College policies affecting your course can be found on the

Resources/Policy section of the course homepage. On this page, you will find vital information,

including the following:

Current Student Handbook, outlining course-specific policies

Access to support resources, including advising and online tutorial services

Student Success Guides

SUBMITTING ASSIGNMENTS

Please submit your Final Assignment via the Assignment Submission form.

How Do I Access Disabilities Services?

Anyone who would like information or needs access to accommodations or services related to

disabilities should contact the college’s Accommodations Office. Please contact your Academic

Advisor or refer to the Student Handbook for more information.

This course was developed by Saint Joseph’s College for the exclusive use of students enrolled

in the College’s Division of Graduate and Professional Studies.

Copyright 2013 by Saint Joseph’s College Online - All Rights Reserved

http://sigma.sjcme.edu/intranet/gps/assignmentsub.aspx

th330_530_hammond_2013pdf

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