A study of Paul’s Letter to the Romans focused on its literary and canonical argument, engaging the history of interpretation, and considering its theological and pastoral implications. As we engage the text we will encounter a number of major issues in theology and ministry: the person and work of Christ, the meaning and content of God’s righteousness and grace, the definition of and distinction between law and gospel, the world as created and fallen, the relationship between faith, freedom, and obedience, and a Christological reading of the Old Testament. 

Doctrine begins and ends with scriptural interpretation. By working with and testing this basic thesis this course will commend an account of the relationship between scripture and doctrine in which doctrine is understood as a reading of scripture and as that which enables us to read scripture. To consider this reciprocal relationship – theology flows from scripture and returns us to scripture as better readers – this course will explore the character and content of the Bible, the relationship between the Old and New Testament, the process and history of interpretation, and a number of case-studies demonstrating the biblical basis for doctrinal formulations and, conversely, how doctrinal formulations can aid biblical interpretation. Throughout, attention will be given to the effectiveness and creativity of God’s word, indicating that ultimately it is not we who interpret scripture, but God who interprets us through his word.

Tragedies are often about remarkable discoveries and recognitions. This course itself is a remarkable discovery, an exciting (and sometimes terrifying) journey through the tragic literary genre in Western literature. Together, we will explore the key motifs and themes in classic tragic literature spanning the period from the ancient world up to modern times. In this class, we will learn how to define a tragedy, learn how to identify key works of literature as tragedy, and study the main themes present in tragic works of literature. Along the way we will see how gospel narratives of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration can be seen in tragedies ranging from Shakespeare’s King Lear to Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea. This is no ordinary class in that we will read about battles and blindings, courageous actions and cowardly betrayals. All of this will be studied with a view to seeing how the gospel of Jesus Christ has transformed and continues to transform literature, society, and culture.

This course continues the “Great Conversation” of the Western Tradition in antiquity by focusing on the nature of the soul: the effects of sin and the possibility of redemption.  We will introduce the literary genre theory of the soul, first articulated by Aristotle in the Poetics.  We will explore the terrain of tragedy as an outworking of the fall.  We also consider comedy as reflecting the possibility of redemption.  Augustine’s vision of the soul and its redemption will be noted in his Confessions.  We will deepen our familiarity with Plato through the Apology of Socrates in order to consider the role of the philosopher in the project of civic redemption.  The greatest attention, however, will be given to Aristotle’s discussion of the nature of the soul in the Ethics, and the cure of the soul, discussed in the Politics.

This is the second of two courses that constitute a survey of the Old Testament. The focus of this course is on the Prophets and Writings within the framework of a canonical approach to Christian Scripture. In addition to a survey of the prominent methods and developments in the history of interpretation, particular attention will be given to the redemptive-historical themes that continue in, and extend from, the Prophets and Writings through the rest of the canon.

This course provides a broad overview of the supernatural worldview of the biblical writers across the Old and New Testaments. Elements of this course include: (1) what the writers thought about the reality of spiritual entities loyal to, and in rebellion against, the God of Israel; (2) how the intersection (positive and negative) of spirit beings in the human realm propels the meta-narrative of biblical theology; and (3) how the engagement of the spiritual and human realm impacts other areas of biblical theology. The purpose of this course is to demonstrate the necessity and reward of interpreting biblical content in light of the writers’ ancient cultural, religious, and intellectual frame of reference.

This course examines the nature of scientific exploration and the relationship of religion and science generally, and the relationship between scientific theory and Christian theology particularly.