English Language & English Literature

Intensive format semester 1; weekly format semester 2

Lecturer: Wendy Bytheway

This subject is compulsory for all ministry students in their 1st or 2nd years of training and any other student studying languages. Normally the subject is offered every 2nd year.

Aim: To provide an introduction to basic grammar and to some of the classics of literature. To improve written skills in English with particular attention to notetaking, essay writing and examination techniques.

Description: Semester 1 English language, Semester 2 English literature

Textbooks:

Lyn Magree, The Pocket Basics for English and Maths (Poppet Publications).

Leland Ryken, Realms of Gold: The Classics in Christian Perspective (Wheaton, 1991).

 

Philosophy and Apologetics

1 hour per week semesters 1 & 2

Lecturer: Douglas Milne

Envisaged outcomes: an appreciation of the relationship between philosophy and theology throughout the history of Christian knowledge, and a working acquaintance with the various schools of apologetics for the 21st century.

 

Description: Semester 1 Philosophy and Worldviews. Semester 2  Apologetics.

Method: Class instruction, discussion and set reading.

Assessment: A major assignment (an essay worth 50%) each semester.

Textbooks:

Diogenes Allan, Philosophy for Understanding Theology (John Knox, 1985).

Steven Cowan (ed), Five Views on Apologetics (Zondervan, 2000).

 

The Canon and Textual Traditions of the Old and New Testament

1 hour per week semesters 1&2

Lecturers: Greg Goswell, Tony Bird

Aims: To enable students to understand the history of the canonical acceptance of the various books of the Old and New Testament; to give an appreciation of the variety of textual traditions lying behind both testaments; to teach the fundamentals of textual criticism of the Masoretic Text especially as printed in Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia and textual criticism of the Greek New Testament.

Method: Classroom instruction, discussion and set reading.

Description: The subject is offered as a post-foundation subject, either in second or third year.

Textbooks:

Andrew E Steinmann, The Oracles of God: The Old Testament Canon (Concordia Academic Press, 1999).

E R Brotzman, Old Testament Textual Criticism (Baker, 1994).

D A Black, New Testament Textual Criticism (Baker, 1994).

F F Bruce, The Canon of Scripture (IVP, 1988).

B M Metzger, The Canon of the New Testament (Clarendon, 1987).

B M Metzger, A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament (UBS, 1994).

United Bible Societies, The Greek New Testament (4th ed.; UBS, 1994).

 

Hermeneutics

1 hour per week semester 2

Lecturers: Greg Goswell, Tony Bird, Jared Hood, Douglas Milne

Aims: To enable students to understand the history of biblical interpretation; to gain an appreciation of the variety of hermeneutical tools available for interpreting the biblical text; to teach the fundamentals of a sound hermeneutical method in opening up the Bible for preaching and evangelism.

Method: Classroom instruction, discussion and reading as assignment.

Description: The subject is offered internally as a post-foundation subject.

Textbooks:

R Alter, The Art of Biblical Narrative (Basic Books, 1981).

M Sternberg, The Poetics of Biblical Narrative: Ideological Literature and the Drama of Reading (Indiana University Press, 1985).

J P Fokkelman,  Reading Biblical Poetry: An Introductory Guide (John Knox, 2001).

G M Burge, Interpreting the Gospel of John (Baker, 1992).

S McKnight, Interpreting the Synoptic Gospels (Baker, 1988).

W J Larkin, Culture and Biblical Hermeneutics (Baker, 1988).

J R Michaels, Interpreting the Book of Revelation (Baker, 1992).

T R Schreiner, Interpreting the Pauline Epistles (Baker, 1990).

D Carson, The Gagging of God (Zondervan, 1996).

G Bray, Biblical Interpretation, Past and Present (IVP, 1996).

 

Presbyterian Polity

2 hours per week semester 2

Lecturer: Peter Phillips

Description:  An overview of the biblical foundations for Presbyterian polity, the historical development of it, and the present polity as practised in the church. An essential component of this course is attendance at session, presbytery and the General Assembly.

Textbooks:

Rules and Procedure of the PCV (2003 ed.).

F Maxwell Bradshaw, Basic Documents on Presbyterian Polity (Christian Education Committee, PCA 1984).

Kevin Reed, Biblical Church Government (Presbyterian Heritage Publications, 1983).

GAA Code 1993.

 

Biblical Theology

1 hour per week semesters 1 & 2

Lecturer: Douglas Milne

Aims: To introduce first year students to the study of biblical teaching by reviewing the major stages of the whole biblical narrative.

Description: An introduction to biblical theology.

Method: Class instruction and discussion.

Assessment: A one hour exam at the end of each semester.

Textbooks:

Chris Wright, The Mission of God:  Unlocking the Bible’s Grand Narrative (IVP, 2006).

Willem Van Gemeren, The Progress of Redemption (Academic, 1988).

 

Reformed Worship

1 hour equivalent semester 1 or 2

Lecturer: Jared Hood

Aims:
(a) To bring candidates for the ministry to focus on particular aspects of the theology and practice of worship in Scripture and in the Reformed tradition.
(b) To enable competency in the constructing and leading of a Presbyterian worship service.

Content:
1. Worship in the Reformed tradition, particularly at Geneva.
2. Constructing a worship service.
3. Worship in Scripture, particularly the New Testament
4. Worship in Presbyterian Churches today

Method: Directed reading.

Assessment: Two essays (minimum)

Textbooks:

Terry L. Johnson and W. Robert Godfrey (eds), The Worship of God: Reformed Concepts of Biblical Worship (Mentor, 2005).

Richard A. Muller and Rowland S. Ward, Scripture and Worship: Biblical Interpretation and the Directory for Worship (Presbyterian and Reformed, 2007).