OPEN SEP 07, 2020 – NOV 11, 2020 1,050 $
The Trinity
The Trinity signifies the revelation of one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This doctrine describes the faith in one God, whose creation called the world to existence and life, who revealed himself historically in the person of Jesus Christ, and who is present in and through the Holy Spirit. Even though the confession of faith in the Trinity belongs to the nonnegotiable foundations of the Christian faith, it is poorly understood by many contemporary Christians.
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What you´ll learn
The Trinity: The Christian doctrine of God
The Trinity signifies the revelation of one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This doctrine describes the faith in one God, whose creation called the world to existence and life, who revealed himself historically in the person of Jesus Christ, and who is present in and through the Holy Spirit. Even though the confession of faith in the Trinity belongs to the nonnegotiable foundations of the Christian faith, it is poorly understood by many contemporary Christians.
In the early Church, however, no theological theme was more relevant, or more hard-fought than the doctrine of the Trinity. The New Testament includes prayers and formulas that speak of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, but a systematic explanation of their relations to each other is not to be found. For this reason, one finds in the course of the next few centuries various attempts to clarify the Trinity. Ultimately, the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. (with clarification of the Council of Constantinople) declared for the Church the formulation of the Trinity which is binding for orthodox Christianity to this day.
Many of the points of strife from the early centuries of the Church may appear to us today as overwrought hair-splitting. Be that as it may, our Christian faith is in the triune God, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The Christian’s confession of the three-in-one God is an important characteristic that sets our faith apart from other world religions, such as the Islamic picture of God, for example.
In addition to the main emphasis on the trinitarian understanding of God, this course also provides foundations for related theological disciplines, especially Christology and Pneumatology. As such, this course serves as a general introduction to Systematic Theology.
In the early Church, however, no theological theme was more relevant, or more hard-fought than the doctrine of the Trinity. The New Testament includes prayers and formulas that speak of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, but a systematic explanation of their relations to each other is not to be found. For this reason, one finds in the course of the next few centuries various attempts to clarify the Trinity. Ultimately, the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. (with clarification of the Council of Constantinople) declared for the Church the formulation of the Trinity which is binding for orthodox Christianity to this day.
Many of the points of strife from the early centuries of the Church may appear to us today as overwrought hair-splitting. Be that as it may, our Christian faith is in the triune God, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The Christian’s confession of the three-in-one God is an important characteristic that sets our faith apart from other world religions, such as the Islamic picture of God, for example.
In addition to the main emphasis on the trinitarian understanding of God, this course also provides foundations for related theological disciplines, especially Christology and Pneumatology. As such, this course serves as a general introduction to Systematic Theology.
Course Goals
- The student describes the significance of the doctrine of the Trinity for the Christian faith.
- The student summarizes the theological development of the doctrine of the Trinity in its development from the New Testament through the great councils of the Church.
- The student articulates the connections between the doctrine of the Trinity, Christology, and Pneumatology.
Acquired Skills
- Articulating foundational statements of orthodox systematic theology.
- Summarizing historical sources of main Christian doctrines.
- Reflecting and expressing one’s personal understanding of Trinitarian theology.
OPEN SEP 07, 2020 – NOV 11, 2020
1,050 $
Contents of the course in detail
The Trinity: The Christian doctrine of God
Faculty
To be announced
Final exam
Online test
Evaluation and Grading
Mid-term essay exam (30%).
Historical paper (40%).
Final essay exam (30%).
Preparatory tasks for the students
Required reading (20 hours)
Proof of achievement
to be announced
Required Reading
To be announced.
Additional Bibliography
To be announced.