In the Theology: Advanced Reformed Theological Studies Certificate Program you’ll study key aspects of Reformed theology. You’ll survey systematic theology from a Reformed perspective. You will delve into the complex topic of the doctrine of God and explore the implications of the doctrine of man. You will look closely at Christology and the doctrine of salvation. These courses will help enable you to live faithfully before God as you live out your salvation in Christ.
What is the relationship between Holy Scripture and Christian tradition, and how do you use both to live in the world as Christ’s disciple? These are some of the questions Dr. Michael Allen explores in TH111. Using John Calvin’s image of theology as spectacles, Dr. Allen shows how Scripture and theological tradition work together to shape how we see, interact with, and serve the world in our own unique time and place.
After defining and explaining different theological methods, Dr. Allen provides an in-depth look at the character of God—in particular God’s triunity—in order to explain the relationship between God and humanity. Dr. Allen shows how our creaturely origins inform our rightful dependency on God and God’s unique covenant with humanity. He also explains how being created in God’s image affects our understanding of relationships, morality, and missions. This course concludes with a reflection on sin’s impact on God’s covenant with humanity and our vocation as divine image bearers.
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Prior to joining the faculty of RTS in 2015, Dr. Allen taught undergraduate and graduate students at Wheaton College and then taught at Knox Theological Seminary for five years, where he held the D. James Kennedy Chair of Systematic Theology and also served as dean of the faculty. With Dr. Scott Swain, he serves as general editor of the T&T Clark International Theological Commentary and the New Studies in Dogmatics series for Zondervan Academic. He also serves as book review editor for the renowned International Journal of Systematic Theology and is a teaching elder in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.
In TH112, Dr. Allen focuses on the doctrines of Christ (Christology) and the church (ecclesiology), carefully explaining how Christ—as Prophet, Priest, and King—fulfills the covenant of grace conveyed throughout the whole of Scripture and the implications of this for the life of the church as the site of God’s covenantal promises. This course will introduce and respond to a wide variety of heresies concerning Jesus—many of which still arise today—including those from the Ebionites, Docetists, Apollinarians, Arians, Monophysites, and Nestorians. This course will help you address unorthodox portrayals of Jesus Christ with a thoughtful, biblical, and historical response; explain how the resurrected Christ is working through the church; and show how this understanding offers practical application for real-life ministry issues.
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Dr. Allen concludes this bundle with TH113, which covers the doctrine of salvation (Soteriology), or how God saves us, and the last things (Eschatology): the return of Christ, the coming judgment, and the resurrection and eternal life we anticipate.
Before walking you through the doctrine of salvation and last things, Dr. Allen provides a thoroughly biblical understanding of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit (Pneumatology): the Holy Spirit’s unique work and how the Third Person of the Trinity relates to the Father and the Son. Dr. Allen then teaches you about the different means of grace available to the church, including a definition of the sacraments, an explanation of the difference between infant and believer baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and the sacramental nature of prayer. This course concludes with an in-depth study of the last things, including how the Old Testament relates to the New Testament, the curse of Gen 3, the Kuyperian New-Calvinism position, and the complex relationship between the church and wider culture.
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A Reformed Doctrine of God: Trinitarian Foundation (TH211) provides a comprehensive overview of the most vital piece of systematic theology in the Reformed tradition: the doctrine of God. With a specific focus on the Trinity, Dr. K. Scott Oliphint presents both biblical and extrabiblical evidence, considering the testimony of Scripture as well as other methods of revelation which God uses even today. In the final section, the course covers the shaping of Trinitarian doctrine and language throughout church history, illuminating the backstories to various controversies.
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A Reformed Doctrine of God: Essence and Attributes (TH212) discusses difficult questions about God, such as who he is and what he does, even while embracing the mystery of God. Dr. K. Scott Oliphint reflects on the covenant-redemptive qualities of the relational Trinity as well as a wide variety of the attributes of God. The course covers both essential and covenantal characteristics, in addition to the workings of God in view of his decrees, will, providence, and knowledge.
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Doctrine of Man (TH221) provides an introduction to the fascinating and vast topic of the doctrine of man, from a Reformed position. The course introduces several theological methods, striking a balance between biblical and doctrinal considerations. Using a close reading of Gen 1–2, it examines what it means to be an image-bearer in our everyday life and work—created in God’s likeness and oriented toward God’s glory. The course also describes sin’s impact on our image-bearing work. It also provides a broad understanding of the doctrines of creation, revelation, and sin.
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In Christology: The Person and Work of Christ Dr. Lane Tipton maps out the distinctive features of the person and work of Jesus Christ, to help you see more clearly His significance. Dr. Tipton focuses on Christ from a Reformed perspective, beginning with an overview of the person and work of Christ as well as historical developments in Christology. From there, he takes an in-depth look at three main passages—Col 1:15–20, Heb 1:1–4, Phil 2:5–11—to glean authoritative teaching concerning the person and work of Christ. The course concludes by examining Heb 8–9, with an emphasis on Jesus’ role as heavenly high priest. The course will lead you to a deeper and richer understanding of the gospel as you grow in your understanding of the person and work of Jesus Christ
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Investigate the doctrine of salvation with Dr. R. Michael Allen as a guide. Christ is the proper starting point for understanding, integrating, and applying the doctrine of salvation, and Dr. Allen maintains this central focus as he considers the theological and historical context of this tenet of the Christian faith. After supplying a thorough doctrinal framework, Dr. Allen looks at salvation through the lens of the communion of the saints, referencing Christian tradition over the centuries to illuminate relevant theological developments. Finally, he considers recent challenges and ongoing debates within the church that have influenced how we confess Christ and understand his work on our behalf today. Ultimately, the goal of this course is not to merely add to your knowledge about the doctrine of salvation but to aid you in faithfully living out your salvation in Christ.
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Glenn Martinez
12/11/2019