Course Syllabus
The course is divided into four consecutive years. Applicants can join the Course in any year and continue throughout the four-year cycle. Thus someone starting in Year A would do Years A, B, C, D (in that order). Someone starting in Year C would do Years C, D, A and B (in that order).
Although there is no formal teaching of the biblical languages, help can be given by the Biblical Studies lecturers (who are university trained to degree or post graduate level in these languages) to men who so require it.
In all sections of the Course, issues over which evangelicals are in disagreement in their interpretation of Scripture will be treated with integrity and charity, and with an earnest desire to be faithful in all things to the Scriptures.
YEAR A:
BIBLICAL STUDIES
- The Pentateuch, with special reference to Creation, Fall, Covenant with Abraham and Israel, paying particular attention to the progressive nature of revelation and the importance of this to biblical theology.
- The Pre-Exilic Prophets with special reference to Hosea in Israel and Isaiah in Judah.
CHURCH HISTORY
- The Early Church. Origins and Growth; Persecutions; Life, Worship and Church Order; Controversies up to 451 – the Church and the Roman Empire.
- The Mediaeval Period. Relationship of Eastern to Western; Growth of the Papacy; Monasticism; Scholasticism; Intellectual Developments; Mysticism; The Demand for Reform; Preparation for the Reformation.
SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY
- The Doctrine of Scripture – Revelation, Inspiration, Authority and Interpretation; Text and Canon of Scripture; Contemporary Challenges.
- The Doctrine of God – His Being, Attributes; The Holy Trinity; Works; Contemporary Challenges.
- The Doctrine of Man – His original state; in sin; under grace; Relevance to Contemporary Issues.
PASTORAL THEOLOGY
- Exegesis and Hermeneutics: Intro to Exegesis
- Pastoral Practice: Personal Care & Development / Intro to Counselling
- Church Life: Principles of Mission / Local Church Mission
YEAR B:
BIBLICAL STUDIES
- The Johaninne Literature.
- Luke-Acts.
CHURCH HISTORY
- The Reformation in Europe. Luther; Calvin; Knox; Zwingli; Anabaptists; Counter-Reformation; The Reformation in England; The Origins of Puritanism.
SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY
- The Doctrine of Christ: His Person, States, Offices; Historic and contemporary controversies.
- The Work of Christ with special reference to the Atonement; Challenges to preaching the Atonement.
- The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit: His Divinity, Personality; His work in the church and the individual.
PASTORAL THEOLOGY
- Exegesis and Hermeneutics: Mapping the text / Preaching Genre
Pastoral Practice: Pastoral Problems
Church Life: World Mission / Pastoral Visitation
YEAR C:
BIBLICAL STUDIES
- The Wisdom Literature with special reference to Ecclesiastes.
- Jeremiah and Haggai.
CHURCH HISTORY
- Puritanism and the Rise of Nonconformity.
- The Evangelical Awakening in Wales; Early Welsh Nonconformity; The Rise of Calvinistic Methodism.
- The Revivals of 1859 and 1904.
SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY
- The Doctrine of the Application of the Work of Redemption: special attention will be paid to contemporary challenges to the doctrine of justification by faith, and to differing views of sanctification.
- The Doctrine of the Church: Introduction.
PASTORAL THEOLOGY
- Exegesis and Hermeneutics: From Text to Sermon / Illustrations and Application
Pastoral Practice: Pastoral Problems
Church Life: Church Leadership / Church Meetings
YEAR D:
BIBLICAL STUDIES
- The Epistle to the Romans
- 1 Corinthians
- Colossians
CHURCH HISTORY
- The Evangelical Awakening in England and America: Nineteenth and Twentieth-century Developments.
- The Missionary Movement: Intellectual and Religious Developments; Conflicts and Attitudes of the Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries.
SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY
- The Church: Relationship between Old and New Testament view of God’s people; Features, Functions, and Form of the Church (including Structures, Offices, Gifts, and Ministries).
- The Doctrine of the Last Things.
PASTORAL THEOLOGY
- Exegesis and Hermeneutics: Different types of Preaching / Developing your Preaching
Pastoral Practice: Pastoral Problems
Church Life: Weddings / Funerals
