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THEO 905SEMINAR: ISSUES IN CHRISTOLOGYSPRING 2015DR. JOHN D. MORRISONOFFICE: (434) 582-2185HOME: (434) 237-5344OFFICE LOCATION: SCHOOL OF RELIGION*NOTE: CLASS WILL BEGIN EACH DAY ABOUT 9 A.M. RATHER THAN 8A.M. *

*TO ALL THEO 905 STUDENTS: PLEASE READ THIS SYLLABUS CAREFULLY. DETAILS YOU OVERLOOK WILL LIKELY HAVE SERIOUS NEGATIVE EFFECTS.*TO MAKE CONTACT WITH DR. MORRISON, PLEASE CALL THE NUMBERS GIVEN ABOVE.

I. COURSE DESCRIPTION

This seminar gives total attention to the Person of Jesus Christ, Messiah, Son of God, and the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us. As such, we will give prominent focus to current issues surrounding the biblical, especially New Testament, materials, Christological developments in the centuries immediately following the apostolic era leading toward the Nicene and Chalcedonian Creeds, and “Modern” (post-Enlightenment considerations of Christology), both heterodox and orthodox up to the present.

II. RATIONALE

In working toward an ever increasingly complete view of the Christian faith, and so toward effective understanding, conceptualization, application and defense of that “faith” within the context of the early twenty-first century, it is clearly necessary that leaders and scholars within the church of Jesus Christ be vitally, and often critically, aware of past and present formulations of doctrine (earlier heterodoxical forms often “returning” under a different guise later). Given the nature of the gospel at the heart of the Christian faith , all doctrinal formulations intentionally and inevitably focused upon the Person (and Work) of Christ are obviously of monumental importance. The early church knew well that if persons distort or obscure or seriously alter proper recognition of who Jesus Christ is then the remainder of “the faith once for all delivered handed down to the saints” (Jude 3), and the redemption God intends thereby, will be grievously injured as well. This seminar, which gives focused attention to the Person of Jesus Christ, is intended to effect much deepening clarification of the reality of the Incarnate Word. Exegetically, historically, theologically even philosophically, we will pursue the issues surrounding the person at the center of the church’s affirmation of the divine-human Savior, and where appropriate, seek both explanation and reception, while arduously striving to avoid

THEO 905 – Issues in Christology

caricatures of positions found wanting. Such concerned “grappling” with the Church’s doctrine of the Person of Christ and the ‘issues” surrounding Christian orthodoxy’s Christ-claims in the face of ancient, modern (and postmodern) denials of the same, are surely required of anyone called to leadership and scholarly service in the Church of Jesus Christ.

III. PREREQUISITES

It is the student’s responsibility to make up any prerequisite deficiencies which would impede successful completion of this course.

IV. MATERIALS LIST

Hurtado, Larry. How Did Jesus Become a God? Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2005. ISBN: 978-0802828612

St. Athanasius. On the Incarnation. Available via online sources.

Grillmeier, Aloys, S. J. Christ in the Christian Tradition. Vol.1. Louisville: Westminster: John Knox Press. 1988. ISBN: 978-0664223014

Tillich, Paul. Systematic Theology. Vol. 2 Chicago: University of Chicago Press. 1954. ISBN: 978-0801020636

Berkouwer, G.C. The Person of Christ. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing. 1954. ISBN: 978-0802848161

Barth, Karl. Church Dogmatics volume 1, part 1. Edinburg: T&T Clark. While Barth’s text is officially “recommended” for purchase there are REQUIRED readings therein. ISBN: 978-0-567-20290-1

Erickson, Millard. The Word Became Flesh. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1996. ISBN: 978-0801020636.

V. MEASURABLE LEARNING OUTCOMES

Each seminar student will be able to:

A. Analyze the core philosophical and theological emphases of the most prominent contributors to the biblical, patristic, and “modern” developing elements of Christological orthodoxy and heterodoxy.

B. Evaluate the varied theological positions on the doctrine of Christ.

C. Assess the crucial Christological foci facing the Christian faith in relation to who Jesus of Nazareth was and is.

D. Formulate biblical/theological responses on the Person of Jesus and the elemental-redemptive implications of His Person for the “faith once for all delivered to the saints.”

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VI. COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND ASSIGNMENTS

A. Format: The effectiveness of this doctoral seminar, which focuses on issues and developments in Christology from at least the first century to the present, is much dependent on the multi-leveled, active and constructively critical participation of each seminar member. The seminar will be comprised of a highly-interactive combination of pre-class careful reading/study, pre-class written critical analyses of those ‘sectional’ readings (which are the primary bases for the class discussions), pre-class consideration, decision focusing, and direction for each student’s seminar research paper (directed to a precise critical question/ issue within the field of Christological developments through the centuries) and post-seminar research and writing, leading to a high quality (“doctoral level”) final research paper, directly, critically and constructively germane to the seminar’s Christological concerns.

B. Minor and Major Critical Book Analyses: Well before the seminar week, each student will have carefully read/studied every part, aspect and the whole of the assigned seminar textbooks (or specifically the assigned portions or sections of the different works). In some cases, the works will have been divided into major portions/sections (cf. below, pp 4-7), these being the portions to be constructively and critically assessed for class presentation and interactions throughout the days of the intensive seminar. These analyses cannot be mere reportage! And do not give lists. Doctoral students don’t demean themselves with the use of lists. These written critical responses will, depending of course on the nature, content and intent of the particular work, reflect attention focused on the primary, formative concerns, concepts, ideas, issues, focii, and methodologies involved, and so the exegetical, and/or historical and/or theological and/or philosophical emphases, concerns and apparent motivations of the various authors, and hence the nature of their argumentation and, critically, the effectiveness of such.. With one prominent exception for each seminar student, in relation to every one of the major book portions/sections, each student will thus critically respond with a “minor” page, double-spaced) critical analysis of that major section of reading, and, of course, if but a portion of a larger work, how such critical issues relate to the work as a whole. Again, the focus herein will ever and always be upon the author’s exegetical , theological or historical-theological, or philosophical intentions for that portion of the work, his/her method of argumentation, central concepts, ideas, concerns or aims, assessing as well strengths and weaknesses (though special concern will be directed at what this author is doing “here” and why). Obviously of great import for our seminar concerns are the texts (and so the author’s) implications for understanding who Jesus Christ was/is and what the Church has variously affirmed to be true about Christ, and so how the church has consequently responded to Jesus Christ as he has been “revealed” to them (kurios/Lord, soter/Savior, alpha and omega, logos/Word, etc…). Since the Enlightenment, these perspectives have often been antithetical to historical orthodoxy. These comparatively “shorter” written critical analyses will be the primary basis for our seminar discussions through the hours of each day we will then have together, discussions which (again) are heavily dependent upon the

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effective preparation (and careful reading and critical-constructive-conceptual written assessment done before our intensive week) by each student, thereby making for effective discussion whereby all are interactively involved in and benefitted. Remember, again, these critical analysis papers will be the bases for seminar discussion, therefore (critically) seek to bring “out” all that is crucial with regard to the involved and Christological claims/expression of the respective author.

The above mentioned “exception” will be the portion distinctively, especially and uniquely assigned to each seminar student (i.e. for each student a different major portion/section from the assigned leadings). For each seminar student’s uniquely assigned “major” portion he/she will pursue analysis with significantly greater, more careful, analytical detail and yet constructive-critical analysis (nine to ten pages, double-spaced) and that student will be the primary ”leader-teacher” for that particular major section and session-to which the professor and other fellow seminar students will for the sake of constructive, instructive dialogue, interject points, ask questions and together pursue clarification (based usually on their own “minor” analyses of that reading), as the student-leader-teacher presents what he/she has prepared (the nine to ten page analysis of that reading). Again, to be clear, each and all of the others will add to the leader’s major analysis from their “minor” written responses of that section/portion. The following “sections” reflect those portions of the assigned pre-class readings that will be both critically analyzed by each and all, but also “divided up” among the seminar students as their distinctive ‘major’ critical analyses. These will be dealt out on the basis of the alphabetic order of the class roster, via communication with Dr. Morrison at (434) 237-5344 or (434) 582-2185. So, as noted emphatically above, and to again be certain of clarity, those not in the position of primary presenter for a particular section will actively add to that fuller, larger “major” preparation from their own “minor” written analyses, i.e. every seminar student will prepare, from each reading portion, a “shorter” “minor” written critical analysis/response from each and all of the reading sections. Please be clear on all of these instructions. Hence, each section will then have, in critical response to it, either a “minor” or “major” paper from each seminar student. Hard copies of each of these analyses must be produced separately and handed in separately at the end of each “intensive” day. Your life in class depends on it. The sections to be thus critically and constructively analyzed and assessed in relation to each work/title for THEO 905 will be as follows:

1. Larry Hurtado, How on Earth did Jesus Become a God? (Eerdmans). Herein, renowned New Testament scholar L. Hurtado (University of Edinburgh) shows how evidence from the rise of Christianity indicates that the exalted and divine status of Jesus by Jewish monotheists was an innovation in second Temple Judaism not an effect of Hellenism.

Section One: Introduction, part I “Issues and Approached (Chapter 1-4).

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Section Two: Part II, “Definitions and Defense” (Chpaters 5-8, plus “Epilogue”).

2. Aloys Grillmeier, Christ in Christian Tradition, Vol. 1 (Westminster/John Knox). Detailed historical-theological constructive analysis and explanation of the apostolic, early patristic and later patristic developments and clarifications regarding the person of Jesus Christ, through Nicaea, Constantinople and up to the classic (but today controversial) Chalcedonian statement of the two natures and unipersonality of Christ (451 A.D.), written by the great Jesuit patristic scholar, Aloys Grillmeier.

Section One: Introduction, p. xxiii; part 1, pp. 3-149.

Section Two: Part 2, Introduction, pp. 153-166; pp. 167-189, 219-273

Section Three: pp. 274-343.

Section Four: pp. 345-439.

NOTE. Regarding the “strange” Council of Ephesus, 431 A.D., See J.N.D. Kelly, Early Christian Doctrines, pp 317-330.

Section Five: pp. 488-577.

3. St. Athanasius, On the Incarnation. This classic work by the great Alexandrian Church Father is must reading as the early church sought to clarify who Jesus is, indeed who and what he must be as one of us and for us if he is able to redeem, transform the entire human being, and so be Savior for a sinful humanity. This, of course, was set consciously against the various heretical positions, e.g., the Arians, positions which by distorting and falsifying Christ thereby jeopardized Salvation and the center of God’s redemptive-Kingdom purposes.

Section One: pp. 1-46This text can be acquired as an electronic book via the A. Pierre Giullermin Library’s “Library Research Portal.” As an electronic book, it’s call numbers BR65/ A443/D413/ 2004 e.b. I recommend that you do so. No one student will be assigned this essay as his/her primary focus. All will contribute.

4. Millard Erickson, The Word Became Flesh (Baker).Erickson’s large Christology contains a number of sections on topics not usually brought together in a Christology as he does, including substantial discussion of prominent, influential post-Enlightenment approaches to Christ, as well as his own fresh expression of the orthodox affirmation of

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Christ. While we will only have time to deal with probably three of Erickson’s Christological “groupings” you will need to read carefully and critically present (as usual) the central Christological concerns, methodologies and outcomes of the following similar theological movements. No one student will have these “Christologies” as their “major” focus.In accord with the two (2) groupings of Erickson sections below (1,2,3) (4,5) endeavor, by your critical analyses the foundation, essence and contribution/problems, to succinctly highlight each “Christology”.

Section One: pp 89-133.

Section Two: pp. 135-214.

Section Three: pp. 215-273.

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Section Four: pp. 275-331.

Section Five: pp. 333-379.

5. Paul Tillich, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2 (University of Chicago)Tillich is often regarded, with Karl Barth, to be one of the two pre-eminent constructive theologians since at least F. Schleiermacher. PT’s Systematic Theology, vol. 2 is his “systematic” Christology. Jesus as the Christ, as a human being fully open to the Ground of Being (=God), became thereby the central revelatory symbol, the center of God’s “healing” work in the estranged, anxiety filled domain of human existence. Thus in Jesus as the Christ, redemptive or saving “essence” has entered history and that estranged human “existence” and effected re-essentialized existential finitude.

Section One: “Introduction” (very important to establish Tillich’s purpose, direction, method), “Existence and the Quest for the Christ,” and “The Reality of the Christ,” pp. 3-180.

6. Millard Erickson, The Word Became Flesh (cf. number four, above). In these two major sections, Erickson contributes the elements and insights of his own fresh contribution and re-expression of classical orthodox Christology, but one clearly conscious of new issues that have arisen since the Enlightenment.

Section One: pp.383-505

Section Two: pp. 507-627.

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7. G. C. (Gerrit Cornelius) Berkouwer, The Person Of Christ (Eerdmans). Berkouwer (like Erickson) stands “essentially” within the historical affirmations of the Church’s orthodox theological teachings regarding Christology, but distinctly as standing, too, within the more confessional context of the Dutch Reformed Church (wherein he was, until the 1980’s, professor of theology at Free University of Amsterdam), and the larger European dialogical context as well (e.g., Barth, Brunner, Bultmann). All such is variously reflected in his constructive argumentation.

Section One: Introduction, Chapters 1-7, pp. 9-153. Here G. C. Berkouwer reflects historically, and so initiates and interrelates, contemporary Christological questions with ancient, medieval and Reformational conclusions, so leading “backward” into the biblical material.

Section Two: Chapters 8-11, pp. 155-303. These chapters embody the developed and overt embodiment of the central elements of G.C.B.’s dogmatic Christological formulation/declaration, and that then in constructive dialogue with the ancient, medieval and modern Church views on especially the Person of Jesus Christ, Savior and Lord.

8. Karl Barth, Church Dogmatics Volume I, part l, pp. 400-440, 457-512. Karl Barth is probably the most consistently and thoroughly Christocentric, and hence consequently Trinitarian, theologian in Church history. These Trinitarian and Christological sections of CD I/l are, in method and content, formative on all his volumes to follow. It is here needful that we thus responsibly grapple with, and thereby gain, from his thinking from a faith centered in Christ.

C. (Pre-Class) Intensive Research Paper Outlines: In light of the central foci of this seminar (Issues in Christology), your own particular Christological concerns/interests/questions, etc…and, too, the study/readings to be accomplished before the intensive seminar week begins, each seminar student will have prepared a preliminary detailed outline of the particular focused question/issue/topic (a crucial Christological concern to be dealt with and answered, or at least attempted), directly related to Christology, which he/she intends to pursue for his/her major research project/paper. In general terms, this issue/topic must already have been approved by your professor well before the seminar week begins (as above Dr. Morrison’s home number is 434.237.5344). Each students preliminary detailed outline for his/her research paper will then be orally (and visually—one way or another) presented to the seminar group and there assessed, with likely questions, alterations, additions, subtractions, etc., suggested by the members (Dr. Morrison will more than suggest) thus aiming toward improvement of the final resulting product. This presentation will occur near the end of the week (probably Friday, p.m.). This outline should include, first, a succinct paragraph about the nature of your topic/issue/question generally,

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the specific, crucial question you intend to answer by means of the paper and why it is important. Hence, note the following paragraph.

D. Research Paper: One original (for this seminar alone and for no other class/seminar), high level scholarly research paper on a professor approved and crucial, pertinent topic focused on ONE significant aspect/issue/concern/question in the area of Christology (influences on, particular elements related to the rise toward Christological “clarity” in the early Church, the (pro-con) roles of prominent thinkers/theologians—ancient, medieval, reformational modern, post-modern, etc., and /or prominent, formative persons in the Church whose roles, notably in their written work have been of signal importance to the Church’s regard for Christ, etc., will be required for this course. This paper will follow Turabian in terms of format, and will include headings (and sub-headings if necessary to reflect the main developing sections). And the paper will be the result of careful, scholarly, analytical work in the particular investigation of both historical and contemporary theologians, writings, giving special attention to the original sources, as well, too, each student’s own constructive theological thought that can result from such. The paper will seek to answer one basic question via the effective grasping, analyzing, and unfolding of that crucial aspect/issue/concern/question (or theme) as investigated by means of developments in the exegetico-historico- and philosophico-, if needed, theological developments within Christology (ancient, medieval, modern, postmodern, etc.), e.g. critical analysis of an aspect of a particular crucial Christological development, especially in the thought of one particular theologian (e.g. Augustine, Gregory of Nazianzus, Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther, Jonathan Edwards, Friedrich Schleiermacher, Karl Barth, Wolfhart Pannenberg, John Cobb, et al.), the effect of a particular philosopher on Christological development (e.g. Alfred North Whitehead on David Ray Griffin or process Christology), biblical analysis of the Logos doctrine in the early Church, etc…The issue/question/topic ought not be primarily a developmental re-hash of something prominent done during the seminar week. Move to new terrain. For the most part, purely “on-line” sources, except those presenting clearly prominent material, perhaps published elsewhere, should be eschewed. The body of the paper should be in the neighborhood of twenty pages. The final form will be due in hard-copy form at Dr. Morrison’s office by April 17, 2015.

VII. COURSE GRADING AND POLICIES

A. Element Points

Research Paper 500 ptsMajor Critical Reading Analysis(and discussion leadership)

150 pts

Multiple Shorter Critical Analyses 350 ptsTOTAL 1000pts

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B. Scale:

980-1000 A+960-979 A940-959 A-910-939 B+880-909 B850-879 B-810-849 C+780-809 C750-779 C-720-749 D+680-719 D650-679 D-BELOW 650 F

VIII. CALENDAR FOR THEO 905 “ISSUES IN CHRISTOLOGY”

DATE LESSON/ASSIGNMENT3/23 Hurtado I

Hurtado IIGrillmeier IGrillmeier II

3/24 Grillmeier IIIGrillmeier IVGrillmeier V

3/25 AthanasiusErickson I, II, III <=1Erickson IV, V <=1Tillich

3/26 Erickson VIErickson VIIBerkouwer I

3/27 Berkouwer IIBarth I/lCritique of Research Paper - Outlines

Post-Class Reading Analysis and Research Paper due 4/17/2015

IX. Attendance Policies

I will assume that each student will be present at all parts, sections and the whole of the intensive seminar week (intensives by nature require such) but also highly interactive,

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and so constructively—verbally involved from first to last. Further university attendance policies are being developed.

X. Other Policies

A. Academic MisconductAcademic misconduct is strictly prohibited. See The Graduate Catalog for specific definitions, penalties, and processes for reporting.

B. Disability StatementOnline students with a documented disability may contact the DLP Office of Disability Academic Support (ODAS) at [email protected] to make arrangements for academic accommodations. Residential students with a documented disability may contact the Office of Disability Academic Support (ODAS) in TE 127 for arrangements for academic accommodations.

C. Drop/Add Policy- Consult Graduate Catalog for drop-add policies

D. Dress Code – Students are expected to maintain a neat, professional appearance while in class. Consult your department for additional guidelines..

XI. STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES STATEMENTStudents with a documented disability may contact the Office of Disability

Academic Support (ODAS) in Green Hall 2668 to make arrangements for academic accommodations. For all disability testing accommodation requests (i.e. quieter environment, extended time, oral testing, etc.) the Tutoring/Testing Center (Green Hall 2700) is the officially designed place for all tests administered outside of the regular classroom.

XII. CALENDAR

A. Depending on the time Dr. Morrison will make some “brief” (or not so brief) presentations related to/on a topic/issue related to the seminar topic. As time permits for the week, these will occur at the beginning of the respective day.

XIII. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Aquinas, Thomas. Summa Theologiae, Book 3, Questions 1-6.

Athanasius, On The Incarnation (of the Word)

Augustine, Enchiridian.

Barth, Karl. Church Dogmatics, especially volumes I/1-2, II/2, IV/1-2.

Barth, Karl. The Humanity of God.

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mailto:[email protected]


Bauckham, Richard. God Crucified, Monotheism and Christology in the New Testament.

Berkower, G.C. The Person of Christ.

Bock, Darrell. Blasphemy and Exaltation.

Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Christ the Center.

Bousset, W. Kyrios Christos.

Brown, Raymond. The Birth of Messiah.

Brown, Raymond. The Death of Messiah.

Brunner, H. Emil. The Mediator.

Bultman, Rudolf. Jesus and the Word.

Bultmann, Rudolf. Jesus Christ and Mythology.

Calvin, John. Institutes of the Christian Religion. Book Two.

Cobb, John. Christ in the Pluralistic Age.

Dorner, J.A. History of the Development of the Doctrine and the Person of Christ. FourVols.

Dunn, James D.G. Christology in the Making.

Erickson, Millard. The Word Became Flesh.

Frei, Hans. The Identity of Jesus Christ.

Frei, Hans. The Eclipse of Biblical Narrative: A Study in Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Hermeneutics.

Fuller, Reginald. Foundations of New Testament Christology.

Guillmeier, Aloys. Christ in the Christian Tradition. (3 volumes)

Griffin, David Ray. Process Christology.

Habermas, Gary. Evidence for Jesus of History (?).

Henry, Carl F.H. God, Revelation and Authority. 6 volumes (especially vols 5 and 6)

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Hurtado, Larry. One God, One Lord.

Hurtado, Larry. Lord Jesus Christ: Devotion to Jesus in Early Christianity.

Irenaeus. Against Heresies.

Kahler, Martin. The So-Called Historical Jesus and the Historic Biblical Christ.

Kant, Immanuel. Religion Within the Limits of Reason Alone.

Kierkegaard, Soren. Philosophical Fragments.

McGrath, Alister. Making of Modern German Christology: From the Enlightenment toPannenberg.

Moltmann, Jurgen. The Crucified God.

Pannenberg, Wolfhart. Jesus: God and Man.

Pelikan, Jaroslav. History of Doctrine. Vol 5.

Pelikan, Jaroslav. The Christian Tradition. (5 Vols.)

Ramm, Bernard. An Evangelical Christology.

Robinson, John A.T. The Human Face of God.

Sanders, E.P. Jesus and Judaism.

Tilich, Paul. Systematic Theology. Vol 2.

Torrance, Thomas. Space, Time and Incarnation.

Torrance, Thomas. Space, Time and Resurrection.

Torrance, Thomas. The Trinitarian Faith.

Witherington, Ben. The Christology of Jesus. Mineapolis: Fortress. 1990.

Wright, N.T. Jesus and the Victory of God.

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