APPALACHIAN LOCAL PASTORS SCHOOL
Course:
Date:
Location:
Instructor:
COS 312 Theological Heritage: The Reformation
May 13-17, 2013
Union College, Barbourville, KY
Dr. Kenneth Kinghorn
A. Course Description
COS 312 consists of a survey of the Christian church and Christian doctrine during the Protestant Reformation
and the Roman Catholic Counter-Reformation. Emphases focus on the central people, ecclesiastical traditions,
and theological issues of the period, with attention given to their relevance for present-day ministry. This course
is for students in the Appalachian Local Pastors School.
B. General Learning Goals
(1) To feel and appreciate the Christian Tradition so the student understands that our generation lives on the
growing edge of the Christian heritage.
(2) To acquire basic factual knowledge of people, places, dates, events, and movements that helped shape the
history of the Christian Church.
(3) To comprehend the factors that motivated the Church to develop its beliefs, practices, and structures and to
grasp why, from time to time, the Church modified them.
(4) To understand the evolution of Christian doctrine and to discern between form and content.
(5) To recognize the importance of primary sources and the nature and effects of historical interpretation.
(6) To view the Reformation period in the context of the prior beliefs and actions of the Christian community.
(7) To evaluate one’s Christian vocation in the light of the Christian tradition.
(8) To gain insight into the nature of Christian ministry.
B. Specific Learning Goals
(1) To identify the key historical period of the Reformation and post-Reformation period.
(2) To understand the major Reformation traditions—Lutheran, Anabaptist, Reformed, and Anglican.
(3) To explore the Roman Catholic response to the Protestant Reformation.
(4) To grasp the significant issues about salvation in the Protestant tradition and understand the contrasts with the
Roman Catholic tradition.
(5) To survey the secular reaction to the Protestant Reformation.
(6) To examine three of the major Post-Reformation renewal movements—Puritanism, Pietism, and Methodism.
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C. Texts (YOU CAN LIKELY FIND USED COPIES OF THESE TEXTS ON THE INTERNET)
1. Bainton, Roland H., The Reformation of the Sixteenth Century, Boston: The Beacon Press, 1952.
2. Bettenson, Henry, ed., Documents of the Christian Church, second edition, London, New York: Oxford
University Press, 1963. (Read assigned selections)
3. González, The Story of Christianity, vol. 2, The Reformation to the Present Day, San Francisco: Harper & Row,
1984.
4. Kerr, Hugh T., ed., Readings in Christian Thought, Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1966. (Read assigned
selections)
5. Noll, Mark A., Turning Points: Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity, 2nd ed., Grand Rapids: Baker
Academic Books, 2000. (This book will also be used in COS 312.)
D. Session Guidelines
1. Martin Luther: The Man and His Message
READ GONZÁLEZ, 6-20
READ KERR, 136-140
READ BAINTON, 3-35
2. The Indulgence Controversy and Luther’s Ninety-five Theses
READ GONZÁLEZ, 20-28
READ BETTENSON, 182-192
READ BAINTON, 36-56
READ BETTENSON 182-201
READ NOLL, 151-174
3. Luther’s Legacy and Final Years
29-45
READ KERR, 140-154
READ BAINTON, 57-76; 141-159
READ BETTENSON, 201-206
READ GONZÁLEZ,
4. The Anabaptists
READ GONZÁLEZ, 53-60
READ KERR, 179-182
READ BAINTON 95-109; 123-140
5. The Reformed Tradition: Zwingli and Calvin
READ GONZÁLEZ, 46-52; 61-69; 86-109
READ KERR, 157-169
READ BAINTON 77-94; 110-122; 160-182
READ BETTENSON, 212-217; 268-269
6. The English Reformation
READ GONZÁLEZ, 70-85
READ KERR, 172-174
READ BAINTON 183-210
READ BETTENSON, 217-244
READ, NOLL, 175-196.
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7. The Roman Catholic "Counter-Reformation"
READ GONZÁLEZ, 110-124; 174-171
READ KERR, 175-179
READ BETTENSON, 258-268; 269-271
READ NOLL, 197-222.
8. The English Puritans
READ GONZÁLEZ, 149-163; 172-174
READ BETTENSON, 244-256; 282-311
READ KERR, 182-190
9. The Enlightenment and the Age of Reason
READ GONZÁLEZ, 132-148; 185-195
READ KERR, 206-233
READ BETTENSON, 268-271; 311-315
READ NOLL, 245-268.
10. The Wesleyan Revival in England
READ GONZÁLEZ, 209-16
READ BETTENSON, 256-258
READ KERR, 190-196
READ NOLL, 222-244
E. Class Assignments
1. Before class begins, read the assigned readings above.
2. Before the class begins, prepare two papers, double-spaced, about six pages in length.
First paper: Explain Martin Luther’s teaching on (1) sola scriptura (scripture alone (2) sola gratia (grace
alone), (3) sola fide (faith alone), and (4) solus Christus (Christ alone). Apply the theology of these landmark
Reformation doctrines to the needs and opportunities in your denomination.
Second paper: Discuss the doctrines of original sin, election, and the final perseverance of the saints as taught
by the Council of Trent (Bettenson, pp. 261-268; Kerr, pp. 175-178; (González, pp. 119-121), John Calvin
(Bettenson, pp. 212-214; Kerr, 164-168; González, pp. 179-183), and Wesleyan-Arminianism (Bettenson,
pp. 268-269; Kerr, 193-195; González, pp.179-183). On this point, which doctrinal system do you embrace?
Why?