THEO 905
SEMINAR: ISSUES IN CHRISTOLOGY
SPRING 2015
DR. JOHN D. MORRISON
OFFICE: (434) 582-2185
HOME: (434) 237-5344
OFFICE 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: 9780801020636.
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 elementalredemptive 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 postseminar 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. 1-46
This 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.
*********************************************************
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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THEO 905 – Issues in Christology
the specific, crucial question you intend to answer by means of the paper and why
it is important. Hence, note the following paragraph.
D.
VII.
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, postmodern, 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.
COURSE GRADING AND POLICIES
A.
Element
Points
Research Paper
Major Critical Reading Analysis
(and discussion leadership)
Multiple Shorter Critical Analyses
500 pts
150 pts
TOTAL
350 pts
1000pts
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B.
Scale:
980-1000
960-979
940-959
910-939
880-909
850-879
810-849
780-809
750-779
720-749
680-719
650-679
BELOW 650
VIII.
CALENDAR FOR THEO 905 “ISSUES IN CHRISTOLOGY”
DATE
3/23
3/24
3/25
3/26
3/27
Post-Class
IX.
A+
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF
LESSON/ASSIGNMENT
Hurtado I
Hurtado II
Grillmeier I
Grillmeier II
Grillmeier III
Grillmeier IV
Grillmeier V
Athanasius
Erickson I, II, III <=1
Erickson IV, V
<=1
Tillich
Erickson VI
Erickson VII
Berkouwer I
Berkouwer II
Barth I/l
Critique of Research Paper - Outlines
Reading Analysis and Research Paper due
4/17/2015
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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THEO 905 – Issues in Christology
and so constructively—verbally involved from first to last. Further university attendance
policies are being developed.
X.
Other Policies
A.
Academic Misconduct
Academic misconduct is strictly prohibited. See The Graduate Catalog for
specific definitions, penalties, and processes for reporting.
B.
Disability Statement
Online students with a documented disability may contact the DLP Office of
Disability Academic Support (ODAS) at dlpodas@liberty.edu 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.
XI.
XII.
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..
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES STATEMENT
Students 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.
CALENDAR
A.
XIII.
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.
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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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. Four
Vols.
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 to
Pannenberg.
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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