Fall 2007

1. Course Description

This half of the course will survey the Biblical, Christian and Reformed dogmatic and confessional doctrine of God’s existence in unity and Trinity, his attributes, works, decree and providence.

2. Course Requirements:

Complete all assigned readings. You will be on your honor to complete them. Readings must be finished before the final exam. You will be asked to state, on the final, what percentage of the reading you have completed (25%).

(Due on the last day of class for the doctrine of God section).

Write a 2,500 word (limit) essay on some aspect of the doctrine of God (35%). Your grade will be reduced by one full grade for each day an assignment is late. (Due on the last day of class for the doctrine of God section).

The paper will be submitted electronically to rsclericus at gmail.com

Final exam (40%)

(administered on the last day of class for the doctrine of God section)

3. Required Reading (in the order assigned):

F. Turretin, Institutes of Elenctic Theology, 3 vol. trans. F. Giger. Philipsburg: P&R, 1992-97. 1:212-234; 244-272; 311-35; 341-64; 417-30; 505-35.

R. Scott Clark, Caspar Olevian and the Substance of the Covenant (Edinburgh: Rutherford House, 2005), ch. 4.

— “The Splendor of the Three-in-One God: The Necessity and Mystery of the Trinity,” in Modern Reformation (Sept/Oct 1999) Vol. 8 No. 5.

J. Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, trans. F. L. Battles (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1961), 1.10-14.

R. W. Letham, The Holy Trinity (Phillipsburg: P&R Publishing, 2004), all.

Richard Muller, “Incarnation, Immutability and the Case for Classical Theism,” Westminster Theological Journal 45 (1983): 22-40.

R. Scott Clark, Recovering the Reformed Confession ch. 4.1

Michael S. Horton, Lord and Servant: A Covenant Christology (Louisville: WJKP, 2005), 22–87.

Michael S. Horton, “Hellenistic or Hebrew? Open Theism and Reformed Theological Method,” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 45 (2002): 317-341.

Herman Bavinck, Reformed Dogmatics vol.2: God and Creation, trans. J. Vriend (Grand Rapids, 2004), 27-439.

Symbolics

The Belgic Confession Art. 12; 8-13, 16 (See P. Schaff, Creeds of Christendom vol 3)

Second Helvetic Confession, chapters 3, 4, 6, 7-10 (See P. Schaff, Creeds of Christendom vol 3)

Irish Articles, 1-18. (See P. Schaff, Creeds of Christendom vol 3)

Arminian Articles (all) (See P. Schaff, Creeds of Christendom vol 3)

Westminster Confession of Faith , ch. 2-5.

Westminster Larger Catechism 6-20.

Ecclesiastical Deliverances

The Conclusions of Utrecht (1905)

4. Helps

On the Writing of Essays

Outline of Berkhof’s Systematic Theology

Clark’s Theological Theses

Open Theism Bibliography

A Meditation on Divine Immensity

On the Logical Order of the Decrees

Predestination and Election