Master of Theology

Course Description for Master of Theology Program

Biblical Division

Old Testament Concentration

OT 601 Biblical Aramaic (3)

An introductory study of the basic elements of biblical Aramaic, including elementary Aramaic grammar and vocabulary, translation exercises, and the reading of Aramaic portions of the Old Testament.

OT 602 The Ugaritic Language (3)

An introduction to the study of Ugaritic, including noun formation, verbal system, and syntax; reading of a Ugaritic text in transliteration.

OT 603 The Art of Hebrew Poetry (3)

A careful reading of selected biblical poetic compositions for the purposes of developing a greater proficiency in correctly reading and interpreting Hebrew poetry, and an appreciation for its literary artistry.   

OT 604 Reading and Interpreting the Prophecy of Isaiah (3)

A literary and historical introduction to the Prophecy of Isaiah, in­cluding a survey of the history of its interpretation, a critical evaluation of major exegetical hypotheses and close reading of selected passages in the Hebrew text. Special attention is given to questions of exegetical methodology (source, form, redaction-historical, rhetorical, canonical, etc.), the compositional structure of the book, the use of important theological motifs, and key inner-biblical connections with a view to elucidating the message of the book in the canon of Scripture.

OT 606 Ancient Near Eastern and Biblical Law (3)

An examination of Sumerian, Assyrian, Babylonian, and Hittite legal materials, in translation, with a view toward how specific laws of these cultures compare with analogous biblical laws from sociological and theological perspectives.

OT 607 Methods of Old Testament Interpretation (3)

An investigation and critical analysis of leading methodological ap­proaches to Old Testament studies. The history and presuppositions of each methodology are examined. Constructive application of literary, form, redaction, and rhetorical criticism is expected of the student.

OT 608 Seminar in Old Testament Studies (3)

Advanced study of selected exegetical, biblical-theological, hermeneu­tical, or linguistic issues arising out of studies of the Old and New Testaments. Specific topics to be announced by the Biblical Division.

New Testament Concentration

NT 610 Intermediate Greek Reading of the New Testament (3)

An interpretive reading of selected passages of the Greek New Testament with an emphasis on grammatical and lexical material.

NT 611 The Letter to the Ephesians (3)

An exegetical analysis of the letter to the Ephesians and a consideration of its critical introductory problems, rhetorical and literary features, major theological themes, and its relevance for the life and mission of the church.

NT 612 First Corinthians

A study of the historical context, social setting, and epistolary structure of Corinthians, with an emphasis on the major themes and issues of this letter and its message for the church today.

NT 613 The Coptic Language (3)

An introduction to the Coptic language with selected readings from the New Testament and the Gospel of Thomas.

NT 614 The Message of Hebrews for the Church (3)

After an investigation into its introductory problems and its literary structure, the main emphasis of this English-based exegetical elective will be placed on the study of the major theological motifs in the five homilies contained in Hebrews.

NT 615 Seminar in New Testament Studies (3)

Advanced study of selected exegetical, biblical-theological, hermeneutical, or linguistic issues arising out of studies of the Old and New Testaments. Specific topics to be announced by the Biblical Division.

Theological Division

Historical Theology Concentration

HT 621 The Theology of the Lutheran Reformation (3)

An examination of the thought of Luther, Melanchthon, and their as­sociates in the context of the later Middle Ages and early Reformation.

HT 622 Puritanism and Orthodoxy (3)

An examination of post-Reformation theological developments with emphasis on English puritanism and the scholastic systems of Calvinism and Lutheranism in the late sixteenth and seventeenth cen­turies.

HT 623 Biblical Interpretation in the 16th and 17th Centuries (3)

An examination of the method and practice of sixteenth and seven­teenth century exegetes and theologians with emphasis on the development of Reformed theology and hermeneutics.

HT 624 Biblical Interpretation in the Middle Ages (3)

A study of the methods and results of major medieval exegetes from Augustine and Gregory the Great to the early Luther. The course will emphasize the diversity of medieval exegesis and significant continuities between medieval approaches and the methods of the early Reformation.  

HT 625 Seminar in Historical Theology (3)

Advanced study of selected historical issues. Specific topics for this seminar will be announced by the Theological Division.

Systematic Theology Concentration

ST 631 Theology and Narrative (3)

A critical examination of some recent attempts to integrate biblical and systematic approaches to theology through the category of narrative.

ST 632 Seminar in Systematic Theology (3)

Advanced study of selected systematic issues. Specific topics for this seminar will be announced by the Theological Division.

ST 633 Trends in Christological and Trinitarian Doctrine (3)

An examination of recent incarnational, atonement, and trinitarian theories, with special attention to the theological relation of the Incarnation to the doctrine of the Trinity.

ST 634 The Theology of Pannenberg and Moltman (3)

An examination of the theology proposed by Wolfhart Pannenberg and Jürgen Moltmann in reaction to the theology of Barth and Bultmann.

ST 635 The Theology of Karl Barth (3)

A critical study of the theology of Karl Barth as set forth primarily in his Church Dogmatics.

ST 636 Theology of Prayer (3)

A biblical, confessional, theological study of prayer.

Philosophical and Moral Theology Concentration

PM 644 The Ten Commandments (3)

A study of the Ten Commandments in an attempt to discover their original meaning and contemporary significance.

PM 645 The Impact of Post-Enlightenment Philosophy on Theology (3)

A critical survey of how the philosophies of Kant and Hegel shaped the concepts of God, revelation, and knowledge of God among major contemporary theological figures and movements.  

PM 646 Seminar in Philosophical or Moral Theology (3)

Advanced study of selected philosophical or moral issues. Specific topics for this seminar will be announced by the Theological Division.

Ministry Division

Preaching and Worship Concentration

PM 652 Recent History of Worship (3)

A study of the forces and movements that have reshaped patterns of Christian worship in the past twenty-five years, with a particular focus on the ecumenical liturgical movement that arose out of Vatican II, the Charismatic movement, and new models for integrating worship and evangelism.

PM 653 Narrative Preaching: Communicating the Word in a Post -literate Age  

This course will examine the theory of and give practical experience in narrative preaching. It will develop the premise that faithful preaching of the Word ought to be governed not only by the content of the Word but also by its form. Since more than half of Scripture is narrative literature, the contemporary Reformed preacher should at least augment the classic Greco-Roman rhetorical form of address traditionally used by Reformed preachers with the use of narrative preaching.

PM 654 Preaching on the Miracles of Jesus

A course in preaching on the miracle accounts in the Gospels, including a study of the revelatory purposes in these accounts and the construction of sermons on these texts.

PM 655 Preaching and Culture

A study of the relationship between preaching and culture, including a consideration of the biblical and theological issues involved in that relationship, an analysis of the impact of North American culture on preaching and the development of effective preaching strategies in the North American cultural context.

PM 656 Preaching for Postmoderns

Contemporary electronic media have contributed to the creation of a new communication environment. Using both inductive examples of contemporary preaching and the theoretical work of contemporary scholars, students will explore how to meet the challenges of preaching in this new context.

PM 657 Studies in the History of Preaching

A survey of the history of Christian preaching and research on influential preaching in a selected period.

PM 658 Preaching in the Reformed Tradition

An investigation of preaching and sermon construction in major segments of the Reformed tradition from the sixteenth century to the present. Doctrinal emphases, rhetorical theories, homiletical assumptions, and cultural context are all assessed as ingredients in the definition of Reformed preaching.

PM 659 Hearing the Word in a Visual Age

If faith “comes by hearing” and is the “conviction of things not seen,” how should we preach in a culture where “seeing is believing”? The course provides an in-depth practical and theological study of the problems and possibilities of becoming more effective communicators of the gospel in our increasingly visual age.

Educational Ministry Concentration

PM 661 Administration of Educational Ministries (3)

A study of the organizational structure of educational ministries in the church, with special focus on the principles and methods of planning, organizing, managing, and supervising such ministries. 

PM 662 Personal Piety, Discipleship, and Spiritual Formation (3)

A study of the nature and nurture of personal piety in the light of the Reformed doctrine of sanctification. Contemporary and classical stud­ies on piety, spirituality, and discipleship will be examined. 

PM 663 The Christian Nurture of Children (3)

A study of the moral, spiritual, emotional, and social development of children from birth to adolescence and the implications for the teach­ing ministry of the church. 

PM 664 Adult Education in the Church (3)

A study combining biblical-theological and educational perspectives on the development of adult-education programs for the local church. 

PM 665 Imagination in Teaching and Preaching (3)

A development and application of the thesis that a belief, if it is to touch the heart, must be made credible to the imagination. Course activities focus on preaching and teaching. 

PM 666 Life and Ministry in Cultural Perspective (3)

Through lectures, seminars, readings and projects, students enrolled in this course analyze educational ministries in light of the cultural di­mensions of life. Particular attention is given to curriculum and to an understanding of the cultural dimensions of human learning. This course may be taken for credit in Pastoral Care, Educational Ministry, or Missions. 

Missions Concentration

PM 671 Seminar in Missiology (3)

An advanced study of selected aspects of missiology and the study of missions.

PM 672 Adventures in Classic Mission Literature (3)

An intensive study of the thought of missionaries over the centuries and missiologists over the past 150 years, with special attention to the current developments in evangelical, ecumenical, and Roman Catholic writings in both the West and the Two -Thirds World.

PM 673 Contemporary World Mission (3)

An intensive study of opportunities and problems that challenge the church in its mission today both at home and abroad.

PM 674 Immigration and Christianity in the Korean-American Community (3)

A study of the historical and contemporary church experience of ethnic Koreans and of the development of the Korean Church in North America.

RM 690 Biblical Studies and Research Methodology (3)

An examination of theory and methods in biblical studies intended to provide a foundation for graduate research.

Pastoral Care Concentration

PM 674 Dynamics of Human Sexuality and Pastoral Care (3)

A multidisciplinary study of the nature of human sexuality, changing patterns of sexual behavior, aberrant and dysfunctional sexual patterns, and the development of pastoral approaches to these issues. Relevant biblical material, psychological data, and sociological surveys will provide the basis for the development of ministry strategies

PM 675 Perspectives on Personality (3)

A theological evaluation of religious and psychological interpretations of the structure and dynamics of human personality.