M.A. in Theology and Religious Studies

GRADUATE STUDY

Fall Semester

Spring Semester

Summer Classes

COURSE DESCRIPTION

CRK 701: Foundations for Communicating the Gospel:-

This foundational course is designed to establish a theological basis, spiritual dynamic and practical guidelines for evangelistic effectiveness in today's world. It is concerned with the need both to live out and to articulate the gospel. The classes provide opportunities in small group settings to develop skills in sharing personal faith stories and in presenting the gospel in ways appropriate to particular groups and individuals

CRK 711: Creative Arts and the Bible:-

This course provides a biblical foundation for the use of the arts in contemporary worship and witness, and also includes training in practical ministry skills such as liturgical dance, drama, mime, clowning, and storytelling. Practical parish management strategies for incorporating the arts into regular church life will also be discussed..

CRK 712: Biblical Interpretation:-

This course surveys the practice of interpretation from the first century to the present, examines the methods of interpretation for the different genres of the Old Testament and the New Testament, and applies the results of interpretation to worship, theology, teaching, and spiritual formation.

CRK 713: Life of Jesus:-

A study of the Gospels which focuses on the content of Jesus' message, the events of his life and his understanding of his mission.

CRK 714: The Person and Work of Jesus:-

The aim of the course is to gain a critical appreciation of the understanding of the person and work of Christ in the New Testament texts. The course will examine and evaluate the development of Christology and soteriology against its background in Judaism and the Hellenistic world. Particular attention will be given to the teaching of Jesus himself, to the growth of thought in the early church and to its literary deposit in the major authors of the New Testament. Several major texts of theological importance and the main Christological titles will be examined.

CRK 715: Emergence of the Church:-

A study of the nature of the church in the New Testament through an examination of the biblical theology of the church, resurrection, the Holy Spirit, ministry, baptism and the Lord's Supper.

CRK 719: Jesus and the Kingdom of God:-

A study of the central message of Jesus. His proclamation of the Kingdom of God is examined together with his actualization of it in his ministry. His Kingdom parables receive a special treatment, but his attitude to the law and the Temple is also examined. The course is focused on the question of Jesus' self-understanding and his aim expressed in his Kingdom preaching, and it climaxes with an exploration of the relationship between Jesus' Kingdom preaching and the apostolic gospel.

CRK 720: New Testament Ethics:-

The ethics of Jesus, early Judaism and Christianity as disclosed in the New Testament and related documents from antiquity. Special attention is given to key ethical matters as they arise from the texts and their bearing on issues in our contemporary world. .

CRK 723: The Cross in the New Testament:-

A study of the rich and various interpretations of the death of Jesus in the New Testament. Attention will be paid to Jesus' own understanding of the purpose of his death; various images used in the New Testament to articulate the significance of his death, particularly within the context of the Old Testament Scriptures; and contemporary objections or questions raised with respect to traditional expositions of the death of Jesus.

CRK 724: Job and Human Suffering:-

Examines critically the book of Job from the perspectives of its meaning in its ancient context and its continuing significance for the modern community of faith. Addresses thematic and structural issues and explores parallels with other ancient Near Eastern representatives of theodicy literature.

CRK 725: The Church in the New Testament:-

An exegetical and theological study, this course will focus upon key passages from the New Testament and trace the development of the church's thinking about itself. Although the course will consider historical questions, it is primarily concerned with the understanding of the church as presented in the New Testament and how this ecclesiology might impact present conceptions of the church.

CRK 726: Hebrew Prophets:-

The content and literary qualities of the Former and Latter Prophets in light of their historical background and their developing theological content.

CRK 727: Spirituality of the Psalms:-

A descriptive study of the integration of theological truths and the realities of human experience illustrated in the Psalms, with opportunity for discussion of its prescriptive validity.

CRK 729: Pauline Theology:-

A study of Paul's theology against his Jewish and Hellenistic background and in the light of his life and missionary situations. The course concentrates on a systematic exposition of Christology, soteriology, eschatology and other leading themes. Yet Paul's relationship to Jesus-tradition and the pre-Pauline tradition, his use of Scripture, and his response to the needs in his mission fields are also examined in order to delineate the development of his theology and to understand his method of theologizing.

CRK 731: Paul and the Law:-

This course is a study in the so-called "new perspective on Paul" as it has been discussed especially in the area of Paul and the Law. The study will be accomplished by (1) reading the major contributors to the debate, including traditional and newer approaches, (2) studying the key texts in the debate (Romans 1-11; Galatians; 2 Corinthians 3; Philippians 3), and (3) analyzing the impact of the new perspective for church ministry and theology.

CRK 732: Biblical and Practical Peacemaking:-

This course addresses the topic of Christian peacemaking through an examination of both theological rationales and practical techniques. Differing Christian ethical approaches to peace and war will be discussed, as well as strategies for nonviolence in the context of contemporary culture and its challenges.

CRK 733: The Art of Spiritual Direction:-

This course offers an introduction to the principles and practice of spiritual direction, through a combination of lecture/discussion of course readings, guest speakers who present a variety of approaches to direction and applied work

CRK 742: The Changing Family:-

This course seeks to provide a biblical, theological, sociological, psychological and historical understanding of the family. Through lecture, discussion, reading, personal reflection and research, each student is encouraged to see how their own understanding and experience of family and other related systems affect who they are and how they operate. This process in turn will equip the students to be more effective in serving people in the name of Christ in a variety of ministry settings.

CRK 734: Text, Image and Sound: Multimedia Arts in Worship:-

In this course students will learn to use computer software to develop multimedia resources for corporate worship. We will explore the difference between worship and entertainment, the generational tensions which divide the church, and the underlying values of African and American cultures. Students will write a major exegetical paper on a passage of their choice, which will become the basis of the multimedia interpretations designed for use in corporate worship services.

CRK 737: Pentateuch:-

The contents and theology of the first five books of the Old Testament. Primary attention will be given to literary nature and structure and theological message. Theories of origin and genetic development will also be covered.

CRK 738: Early Church History:-

A survey of the early church from the post-apostolic fathers through the Council of Chalcedon.

CRK 799: Dissertation