Theological Studies Course

Lesson 1 • Primary Sources in Theology

Surveys the authoritative texts and traditions that theologians draw upon. Students learn to identify and evaluate sources that will recur throughout the course.

Lesson 2 • Theological Language and Concepts

Introduces the specialised vocabulary essential for reading and writing theology. Mastery of these terms enables precise engagement with all subsequent chapters.

Lesson 3 • Major Theological Methods

Compares systematic, historical, and contextual approaches to doing theology. Students select and justify a methodological lens for their own theological reflection.

Lesson 1 • Modern and Contemporary Theology

Surveys theological responses to Enlightenment critique, secularism, and global pluralism. Students connect historical shifts to current theological debates.

Lesson 2 • Medieval Scholasticism

Examines the synthesis of faith and reason achieved by medieval theologians. Students trace how scholastic method shaped doctrinal precision and university theology.

Lesson 3 • Reformation and Counter-Reformation

Analyses the doctrinal ruptures and reforms of the sixteenth century. Students evaluate how competing ecclesiologies and soteriology reshaped Western Christianity.

Lesson 1 • Principles of Hermeneutics

Introduces the theory of interpretation and its theological stakes. Students understand why method matters before applying any specific exegetical tool.

Lesson 2 • Contextual and Theological Readings

Explores feminist, postcolonial, and canonical approaches that read scripture through lived experience. Students evaluate how context shapes interpretive outcomes.

Lesson 3 • Producing an Exegetical Paper

Guides students through the full process of writing a scholarly exegetical analysis. Integrates all prior hermeneutical skills into a single assessed output.

Lesson 4 • Literary and Narrative Approaches

Applies narrative theory, rhetorical criticism, and reader-response methods to biblical texts. Students analyse how literary structure shapes theological meaning.

Lesson 1 • Theological Anthropology

Explores the doctrine of the human person as image of God, embodied soul, and social being. Students assess how anthropology shapes ethics and soteriology.

Lesson 2 • Providence and Divine Action

Examines how God acts in history, nature, and human life without overriding creaturely freedom. Students engage the problem of evil as a test case for providence.

Lesson 3 • Theology of Creation

Analyses creation ex nihilo, continuous creation, and the theological meaning of nature. Students relate doctrinal claims to scientific cosmology responsibly.

Lesson 1 • Contemporary Christologies

Examines feminist, liberation, and global South Christologies that challenge Western norms. Students evaluate how cultural context reshapes Christological claims.

Lesson 2 • Classical Christological Doctrine

Traces the conciliar definitions of Christ's person from Nicaea to Chalcedon. Students analyse how two-nature doctrine functions within systematic theology.

Lesson 3 • Historical Jesus and Christ of Faith

Distinguishes the historical-critical quest for Jesus from confessional Christological claims. Students evaluate the theological significance of historical Jesus research.

Lesson 1 • Models of the Church

Surveys institutional, communal, sacramental, and servant models of ecclesiology. Students compare how each model shapes church governance and mission.

Lesson 2 • Liturgy and Worship Theology

Analyses the theological structure of Christian worship and its formative power. Students connect liturgical practice to doctrinal expression and community identity.

Lesson 3 • Ecumenism and Church Unity

Surveys the history and theology of ecumenical dialogue amongst Christian traditions. Students evaluate progress and obstacles in the pursuit of visible church unity.

Lesson 1 • Theological Ethics in Practice

Integrates ethical frameworks into real-world ministry, counselling, and advocacy contexts. Students produce a case-based ethical analysis demonstrating full competency.

Lesson 2 • Social Teaching and Justice

Surveys the major themes of Christian social teaching: dignity, solidarity, and the common good. Students apply these principles to structural injustice and policy.

Lesson 3 • Scripture and Moral Discernment

Examines how biblical texts are used to guide ethical decision-making. Students apply hermeneutical skills from Chapter 3 to contested moral questions.

Lesson 4 • Foundations of Christian Ethics

Introduces natural law, divine command, virtue, and covenantal frameworks for moral reasoning. Students identify the theological grounding of each ethical approach.

Lesson 1 • Theology of Religions Typology

Introduces exclusivist, inclusivist, and pluralist positions on salvation and religious truth. Students evaluate each position's biblical, doctrinal, and pastoral strengths.

Lesson 2 • Constructing a Personal Theological Synthesis

Guides students in integrating all core content into a coherent, original theological position. Serves as the capstone exercise for the entire core curriculum.

Lesson 3 • Interfaith Dialogue Methods

Surveys practical and theological frameworks for respectful interreligious encounter. Students practise dialogue skills grounded in theological integrity and mutual respect.

Lesson 4 • Global and Postcolonial Theologies

Examines how African, Asian, and Latin American theologies challenge Western theological dominance. Students integrate global perspectives into their own theological synthesis.