Biblical Theology

Class Schedule | 6:30–8:30 pm

  • September 10, 2023

  • September 24, 2023

  • October 8, 2023

  • October 22, 2023

  • November 5, 2023

  • November 19, 2023

  • December 3, 2023

  • December 17, 2023

Course Description

Biblical Theology refers to the practice of identifying themes in Scripture, showing how they begin in Creation, trace through Israel, climax in Christ, continue in the Church, and resolve in the New Creation. We've already covered exegesis (how do words and sentences in the Bible communicate meaning?) and Systematic Theology (what are the big ideas of the Bible?). These are like studying grammar and individual story concepts. Biblical Theology ties it all together showing how every plot line points to Jesus.

Textbook

The two required textbooks for the class are T. Desmond Alexander’s From Eden to the New Jerusalem and Brian S. Rosner's and T. Desmond Alexander’s New Dictionary of Biblical Theology: Exploring the Unity Diversity of Scripture. Below are links to obtain copies of the books.

  • Alexander, T. Desmond. From Eden to the New Jerusalem, Kregel Academic & Professional 2009.
    ISBN-13: 978-0825420153
    This textbook can be purchased new or used at the following links:
    CVBBS | Westminster Bookstore | AbeBooks | Amazon 

  • Alexander, T. Desmond and Rosner, Brian S. New Dictionary of Biblical Theology: Exploring the Unity Diversity of Scripture, InterVarsity Press 2000.
    ISBN-13: 978-0830814381
    This textbook can be purchased new or used at the following links:
    CVBBS | AbeBooks| Amazon

Course Requirements

  1. Class Attendance and Participation. Due to the brevity of our class and the amount of material we must cover, please make all possible arrangements to attend every class and fully participate in the discussions.

  2. It is expected that you will have read all of the material with reasonable care and completed the homework, if assigned, before class.

  3. A final 4–10 page paper will be completed before the end of the semester. An MLA Report template for download or use in Google Docs can be found here:
    https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/purdue_owl.html

Biblical Theology Paper

  1. Start thinking about this paper early on in the class! Draft a list of possible points of interest and think through them as we work through the various loci in each class and throughout your reading. The sooner you narrow in on a few options for your theme, the better your paper will be. This paper will be presented briefly on the final class day.

  2. To begin your paper, you will select a Biblical Theology theme, and your paper will briefly attempt to summarize the theme, trace the theme from infancy to the work of Christ unto its fruition in the new creation, identify its importance in the Christian life, and what you conclude from your Scriptural and extra-biblical research.

  3. How to best structure the paper:

    • Introduction: State the thesis of the paper and preview the argument of the paper in the first two paragraphs. To be clear, the thesis of the paper is the conclusion to the theme you selected. Explain what methodology you will use to demonstrate your thesis.

    • Body of the paper: The purpose of the body of the paper is to prove your thesis. This is where you will trace the theme from beginning to end. From shadow, to Christ, to final form.

    • Conclusion: In the conclusion, restate your thesis and summarize the sections of your argument for this thesis. Here you get to make one final appeal in different language than utilized to this point in the paper.

  4. A resource that further explains this can be found for free from Dr. John Frame here.

Reading Schedule

Access the syllabus here.

Lecture Schedule

Access the syllabus here.

 
 

Questions Regarding RST: bIBLICAL THEOLOGY