Survey of especially the wisdom literature of the Old Testament, which may cover Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs and should address the role of wisdom in Israelite religion and culture. Comparison will be made with wisdom texts in the Apocrypha and Ancient Near East. Other texts from the Writings may also be included. Prerequisites: BSTH 101, 102, 201

A study of the archaeology, culture, religions and texts of the Ancient Near East, with particular interest in understanding the people of Israel and the Old Testament. Prerequisites: BSTH 101, 102, 201 Same as: HIST 316

Explores the legal and cultic context of the Ten Commandments. The course will also address the significance of the Decalogue in Christian interpretation and the history of civilization. Students will become familiar with current scholarship on the Ten Commandments, especially in the context of Christian discourse. Prerequisites: BSTH 101, 102, 201

Examines the life of Jesus as presented in the Gospel of Matthew. Will consider “What is a gospel?”, the presentation of Jesus as the Jewish Messiah, the significance of Jesus’ teaching and his teaching about the kingdom of God. Prerequisites: BSTH 101, 102, 201

A study of the structure, message and uniqueness of the Gospel of Mark that is intended to help students interact with the literary genre called “gospel” and to grasp the contemporary meaning and theological themes of the Markan Gospel. Prerequisites: BSTH 101, 102, 201

Study of the life of Jesus and the beginning of the early church as told in Luke and Acts. Either Luke or Acts will function as the primary focus of the course. Attention will be on the Jewish and Greco-Roman contexts of the narratives, Luke’s theology, and the relationship of the two texts in the reception of the early church. Prerequisites: BSTH 101, 102, 201

Examines the literary structure, narrative development, authorial purpose and interpretation of the Fourth Gospel in its historical context with an effort to discover the continuing relevance of that book in the development of Judeo-Christian theological understanding. Intended to help the student interact with the literary genre called “gospel” and to grasp the contemporary meaning and theological themes of the Fourth Gospel. Prerequisites: BSTH 101, 102, 201

A section-by-section study of Paul’s letter to the Romans to determine what Paul wanted his audience in Rome to hear, and then to ask what the Spirit is saying through this letter to the church today. In discussing the letter’s major themes and teachings, attention will be given to the historical background, literary style and the nature of Paul’s argumentation. Prerequisites: BSTH 101, 102, 201

Explores the historical, cultural, and social contexts of Paul’s letters to the Jesus-believing community in Corinth. Discusses Paul’s complicated relationship with the Corinthians from the evidence in Acts and the Corinthian letters. Analyzes the text and context of Paul’s letters in terms of Paul’s concerns for the Corinthian believers and their socio-cultural context, and considers the theological heart of these letters – the nature of wisdom, love, and reconciliation. Prerequisites: BSTH 101, 102, 201

Explores the letters of Paul and concentrates on the historical, social and religious contexts of the early Christian communities to which the letters are addressed. Attention will be paid to the theology of the letters and critical, scholarly issues. Prerequisites: BSTH 101, 102, 201

Examines the message, historical situation, Old Testament connections, theology and reception history of Hebrews, James, 1–2 Peter, 1–3 John and Jude. Attention may focus on one or more of the epistles. Prerequisites: BSTH 101, 102, 201

Study of the Book of Revelation (or the Apocalypse) with special attention to its content, its literary genre of “apocalypses,” the various interpretations of the book, the Old Testament connections, and the theological themes. Prerequisites: BSTH 101, 102, 201

Study of the history, culture, religion and literature of the Jewish people from the end of the exile until the destruction of Jerusalem by Rome. Readings will include selections from the Apocrypha, Pseudepigrapha and the Dead Sea Scrolls, with interest in the development of apocalyptic and rabbinic Judaism(s). Prerequisites: BSTH 101, 102, 201 Same as: HIST 315

An exploration of who Jesus was and what he accomplished as recorded by the canonical witnesses of Matthew, Mark and Luke, in conversation with contemporary “historical Jesus” research models. Focus will be on the questions: Where does Jesus belong within the Jewish world of his day? What were Jesus’ aims and claims? Why did Jesus die? Why did the early church begin and why did it take the shape that it did? Prerequisites: BSTH 101, 102, 201

Examination of the person, life and theology of the apostle Paul. Will emphasize Paul’s missionary journeys and order of his letters, his Greco- Roman and early Jewish contexts, politics, Paul’s perceived theological developments, and his role as pastor. Prerequisites: BSTH 101, 201

Open to third- and fourth-year students who wish to explore a topic not covered in the regular curriculum and in which the professor has an interest and expertise and is willing to direct studies. Prerequisite: 12 credit hours in Biblical Studies and Theology Permission required

Examines the spirituality and theology of the early Church Fathers by addressing early Christian creeds, liturgies, and teaching on prayer and the Christian life. Prerequisites: BSTH 101, 102, 270

Explores the life and thought of one of the most influential figures in the history of Christianity and Western culture. Particular attention will be given to his Confessions and to a selection of his major controversies, such as his debates with the Manicheans, the Donatists and the Pelagians. Prerequisites: BSTH 101, 102, 270

Provides an introduction to medieval theology and spirituality in both the Eastern (Byzantine) and Western traditions, from the 6th to the 15th century. Prerequisites: BSTH 101, 102, 270

Examination of the life, writings, and thought of Thomas Aquinas. Particular attention will be given to his Summa Theologiae, among other writings, and his theological and philosophical concerns and approaches. Some topics for discussion will include Aquinas’ view of God, metaphysics, epistemology, evil and scripture. Prerequisites: BSTH 101, 102, 270, PHIL 171 Same as PHIL 364

Focuses primarily on the theology of the main Protestant Reformers, including Luther, Zwingli and Calvin. Attention may also be given to the Anabaptists, the English Reformation and the Counter-Reformation, but its main focus will be the continental, magisterial reformers. Prerequisites: BSTH 101, 102, 270

Examines the development of Christian theology from the 17th to the 20th centuries, including post-Reformation scholasticism, the influence of the Enlightenment thought on theology, the rise of liberal Protestantism, the fundamentalist reaction to liberal theology, various developments in Roman Catholic theology, especially with regard to its relationship to modernity, and the theological revolution initiated by Karl Barth in the first half of the 20th century. Prerequisites: BSTH 101, 102, 270

Addresses the question “What is Evangelicalism?” by examining the origins, development, and theological distinctives of the Evangelical movement from the Great Awakening in the 18th century to the present. Prerequisites: BSTH 101, 102, 270

Examines one or more major theological figures from church history and their contribution to the articulation and development of theological doctrines. The course may cover figures such as Ambrose, Anselm, Luther, Wesley, Barth, etc. Prerequisites: BSTH 101, 102, 270