TH112 Foundations of Theology
Course Syllabus
Professor Name and Title: Rev. Terance Espinoza, M.A., Ph.D. (ABD)
Professor’s Contact Information: teranceespinoza@gmail.com 831.737.7877 (cell)
Professor’s Office Hours: n/a
Location / Branch: CBC Craig
Semester / Year: Fall 2011
Mission Statement:
Central Bible College has been established for the purpose of training ministers and missionaries.
Central Bible College is an Assemblies of God institution of higher learning having a Bible-centered
curriculum designed to educate and train ministers, missionaries, and Christian workers to serve the
Lord Jesus Christ in and through the local church.
Course Description:
An introduction to the discipline and sources of systematic theology with emphasis on learning to do
theology; an overview of the 16 Fundamentals of the Assemblies of God; the doctrines of general
revelation, special revelation, inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture; and the importance of developing a
Christian worldview.
Course Objectives:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
To define theology—its source, purpose, process, and relevance.
To define and explain the various theological disciplines.
To define and explain the categories within systematic theology.
To examine the history and distinctive doctrines of the Assemblies of God.
To encourage the application of Christian theology personally and corporately.
As a result of this course, the student should be able to:
1. Recognize and use the specialized language of theological study, both for personal profit and for
dialogue with others.
2. Effectively use a major systematic theology book.
3. Explain the place and purpose of the Assemblies of God as part of the modern Pentecostal
movement.
Central Bible College
Page 1 of 6
4. Communicate the personal impact and contemporary significance of Christian theology.
5. Respectfully and intelligently defend the relevance of the Christian worldview.
Required Textbooks:
The Bible (any contemporary version will suffice).
Cosgrove, Mark P. Foundations of Christian Thought: Faith, Learning and the Christian Worldview. Grand
Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 2006.
Grenz, Stanley J. and Roger E. Olson. Who Needs Theology? An Invitation to the Study of God. Downers
Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996.
Menzies, William W. and Stanley Horton. Bible Doctrines: A Pentecostal Perspective. Springfield, MO:
Logion Press, 1988.
Course Outline:
Date
Topics/Assignments
Week 1  Orientation/Course Introduction – read the syllabus
Week 2 Grenz and Olson ch. 1, “Everyone Is a Theologian”
Grenz and Olson ch. 2, “Not All Theologies Are Equal”
Grenz and Olson ch. 3, “Defining Theology”
Week 3 Grenz and Olson ch. 4, “Defending Theology”
Grenz and Olson ch. 5, “Theology’s Tasks & Traditions”
Grenz and Olson ch. 6, “The Theologian’s Tools”
Week 4 Grenz and Olson ch. 7, “Constructing Theology in Context”
Grenz and Olson ch. 8, “Bringing Theology into Life”
Grenz and Olson ch. 9, “An Invitation to Engage in Theology”
Week 5  Menzies ch. 1, “The Scriptures Inspired”
 Menzies ch. 2, “The One True God”
 Menzies ch. 3, “The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ”
 Menzies ch. 4, “The Fall of Man”
Reflection Essay #1
Week 6  Menzies ch. 5, “The Salvation of Man”
 Menzies ch. 6, “Ordinances of the Church”
 Menzies ch. 7, “The Baptism in the Holy Ghost”
 Menzies ch. 8, “The Initial Physical Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Ghost”
Week 7  Menzies ch. 9, “Sanctification”
 Menzies ch. 10, “The Church and Its Mission”
 Menzies ch. 11, “The Ministry”
 Menzies ch. 12, “Divine Healing”
Week 8  Menzies ch. 13, “The Blessed Hope”
 Menzies ch. 14, “The Millennial Reign of Christ”
 Menzies ch. 15, “The Final Judgement”
 Menzies ch. 16, “The New Heavens and the New Earth”
Midterm Exam
Central Bible College
Page 2 of 6
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Week 14
Week 15
Week 16
Cosgrove Part 1, “Introduction: Developing a Christian Mind”
Cosgrove ch. 1, “What is a Worldview?”
Cosgrove ch. 2, “Worldview Beliefs and Persons”
Cosgrove ch. 3, “Faith: The Foundation for Learning”
Cosgrove ch. 4, “Learning: The Partner of Faith”
Cosgrove ch. 5, “Integration of Faith and Learning”
Cosgrove ch. 6, “Testing Worldviews”
Cosgrove Part 2, “Introduction: Modernism and Postmodernism”
Cosgrove ch. 7, “Naturalism”
Cosgrove ch. 8, “Secular Humanism”
Cosgrove ch. 9, “Atheistic Existentialism”
Cosgrove ch. 10, “Pantheism”
Cosgrove ch. 11, “The New Age Movement”
Cosgrove chapter 12, “Christian Theism”
Reflection Essay #2
Cosgrove Part 3, “Introduction: Christianity Meets Life”
Cosgrove ch. 13, “The Evidence for Christian Theism”
Cosgrove ch. 14, “A Christian View of Suffering”
Cosgrove ch. 15, “Living the Christian Worldview in the World”
Final Exam
Methodology:
This course involves extensive reading and assessment, lecture, reflection, writing, group discussion, and
student presentations.
Course Requirements:
1. Class Participation
a.
Class participation assumes regular attendance & participation. Class participation
comprises 20% of your final grade.
2. Reading Assignments
a.
Students must read the assigned chapters from the textbooks/Bible according to the
course schedule.
b.
Reading assignments will be accompanied by weekly reading reports, which will
account for 20% of your final grade.
3. Writing Assignments
a.
Reflective Essays* - Students will be assigned two essays throughout the semester
dealing with specific topics from our discussions or from the textbooks. Responses
must be two to three pages in length.
*Please adhere to the following guidelines for all written work:


Times New Roman font, 12 point
1” margins on all sides of the page
Double-spaced (except for long quotes, which should be avoided)
SBL parenthetical source citation – the source of a quote, idea or paraphrase must be
cited at the end of the sentence using the following format: (Bruce, p. 273). For
multiple-page citations: (Bruce, p. 273-282). A works cited list must also be included
providing the full bibliographic information about the source. Failure to document a
source is plagiarism and results in serious penalties.
Central Bible College
Page 3 of 6
For each topic assigned, several sources may be consulted, including the Bible, the
textbooks, class notes/discussions, other reference works. Students should demonstrate
meaningful interaction with these sources, rather than merely stringing together
disconnected quotes from the sources to achieve the minimum required length.
4. Exams
a.
Students will be required to successfully complete two exams thoroughly covering the
textbooks and the class sessions on the dates indicated in the course schedule. Exams
are worth 200 points each.
Grading Procedure:
Reading Assignments
200 pts.
Reflective Essays (2 @ 100pts each) 200 pts.
Midterm Exam
200 pts.
Final Exam
200 pts.
Class Participation
200 pts.
_____________________________________________
Total 500 pts
All assignments must be done/submitted by the date indicated in the course schedule.
The Central Bible College Grading Scale is:
93-100 A
83-87 B
73-77 C
63-67 D
90-92 A80-82 B70-72 C60-62 D-
88-89 B+
78-79 C+
68-69 D+
59 or below F
Selected Bibliography
Alexander, T. Desmond, Brian S. Rosner, D. A. Carson, and Graeme Goldsworthy, eds. New Dictionary of
Biblical Theology. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press, 2000.
Fee, Gordon D. and Douglas Stuart. How to Read the Bible Book by Book: A Guided Tour. Grand Rapids:
Zondervan, 2002.
________. How to Read the Bible For All Its Worth: A Guide to Understanding the Bible, 3rd ed. Grand
Rapids: Zondervan, 2003.
Green, Joel B., Scot McKnight and I. Howard Marshall, eds. Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels. Downers
Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1992.
Grenz, Stanley. What Christians Really Believe and Why. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1998.
________. A Primer on Postmodernism. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1996.
Hawthorne, Gerald F., Ralph P. Martin, and Daniel G. Reid, eds. Dictionary of Paul and His Letters.
Downers Grove: Inter-Varsity Press, 1993.
Hayes, John H. Biblical Exegesis: A Beginners Handbook. Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1987.
Central Bible College
Page 4 of 6
Klein, William W., et al. Introduction to Biblical Interpretation. Dallas: Word Publishers, 1993.
Martin, Ralph P. and Peter H. Davids, eds. Dictionary of the Latter New Testament & Its Developments.
Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1997.
Metzger, Bruce M. The Canon of the New Testament: Its Origin, Development, and Significance. Oxford:
Clarendon Press, 1987.
Olson, Roger. The Story of Christian Theology: Twenty Centuries of Tradition and Reform. Downers
Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1999.
Ryken, Leland, James C. Wilhoit, and Tremper Longman III, eds. Dictionary of Biblical Imagery. Downers
Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1998.
(Inclusion of a web site or book does not indicate agreement with everything contained therein.)
Policy on Academic Integrity
While discussion and collaboration is encouraged as part of course interaction, CBC students are
expected to exhibit the highest level of integrity in all their course work. All work submitted must be the
original work of the individual student, unless an assignment is explicitly designated as a group activity
by the professor. Any form of dishonesty, plagiarism, or cheating will be grounds for academic discipline.
Students who submit the work of another as their own will receive a failing grade for the assignment
and will be reported to the Vice President of Academic Affairs for academic discipline.
Resources such as books, notes, webpages, etc., are not to be used during online exams or quizzes,
unless an assessment is explicitly designated as “open-book” by the professor. If there is evidence of
cheating, the professor reserves the right to investigate and to report the instance to the Vice President
of Academic Affairs.
For more information, see the Student Academic Integrity Policies in the CBC Student Handbook
(available at https://netcom.cbcag.edu/NetCommunity/Document.Doc?id=11. A sanction for academic
dishonesty may be appealed using the appeals process. However, a violation that involves a charge of
academic dishonesty must be appealed before the Vice President for Student Development and the
Student Conduct Committee. Students have the right to continue attending class while an appeal is in
progress.
Policies on Assignments
Responsibility for Information: The student will be responsible for all material presented during a
course. This includes lecture material, assignment instructions or dates, test dates, changes in course
requirements, etc.
Class Study Time: The student should expect to devote 3 hours of study for every credit-hour of class.
For example, a 2 hour course will may require up to 6 hours of study time each week.
Missing Exams: If a student misses an exam or assignment due to an emergency or an internet/power
outage, he or she must contact the professor as soon as possible to arrange for an alternative. Missing
for such reasons as forgetting, not being prepared, or extending a holiday or weekend will not merit a
make-up opportunity. If the student knows in advance that he or she will not be able to complete an
exam or assignment in the allotted time, he or she must inform the professor prior to the due date to
arrange for an alternative. See the CBC Student Handbook.
Central Bible College
Page 5 of 6
Support for Online Students
CBC’s online delivery platform is Angel LMS (https://angel.cbcag.edu). Resources for online students are
available at http://netcom.cbcag.edu/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=254&frcrld=1.
Additionally, each online student is enrolled in an online student orientation community group within
Angel. These community groups contain need-to-know information, announcements, tutorials, policies,
and tips for CBC online students. These groups also allow for informal collaboration and interaction with
other online students and opportunities to provide feedback to the administration of CBC.
Learner and academic support is available through the CBC Center for Lifelong Learning
(clll@cbcag.edu). Technical support is available through the CBC Information Technologies office
(IT@cbag.edu).
Accessibility
This course has been designed to meet the requirements contained in the Americans with Disabilities
Act, Section 508. If you require specific accommodations to complete this course, notify your instructor.
Any student with a special, documented disability (sight, hearing, language, mobility, learning, etc.) that
may affect class activities should contact Dr. Jim Vigil at jvigil@cbcag.edu or 417-833-2551 ext. 1120.
Angel allows you to create a profile that describes your particular needs for accessing online course
material within the Angel environment (font size, font and background colors, screen reader settings,
etc.). If necessary, you can access an ACCLIP for use with Angel. The acronym ACCLIP stands for
“Accessibility for Learner Information Profile.” Angel’s Accessibility menu allows you to create, save, or
import ACCLIP profiles.
Tutoring and Assistance with Study Skills
The Writing and Learning Center is a free service available to all Central Bible College students. It is
designed to assist in developing academic readiness by teaching strategies for studying and by providing
a variety of tutoring services, such as test preparation, grammar and writing, computer skills, reading,
scribing, and academic advising. The Writing and Learning Center is also available to students who, in
conjunction with the professor, feel an alternative place for classroom testing is needed. The Writing
and Learning Center is located in room 205 of the Pearlman Library. It is open every afternoon Monday
through Friday and in the evenings Monday through Thursday. Students can make an appointment by
signing up at the circulation desk in the library or drop in on a first come/first serve basis.
This syllabus is provided to students and participants for their general guidance only. It does not
constitute a contract, either express or implied, and is subject to change without notice. Graphics used in
this course are included under the fair use exemption of the U.S. Copyright Law and have been prepared
according to the multimedia fair use guidelines and are restricted from further use.
Central Bible College
Office of Vice President of Academic Affairs
3000 North Grant Springfield, MO 65803
phone: 417.833.2551, x 1116 fax: 417.833.5141
email: DArnett@cbcag.edu web: www.cbcag.edu
Central Bible College
Page 6 of 6