About this Course

“Nearly all the wisdom we possess,” John Calvin insists, “consists of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves.” Nothing is more foundational in theology than a right understanding of God. But we can only know God in His revelation of Himself to us. And when we do this, we discover that He has revealed fundamental truth about ourselves. This course examines the great truths about God and Humankind that make up the prelude to the Gospel of Redemption in Jesus Christ. Tutorials and off-site readings will focus on engagement with and understanding of primary sources.
Register

Instructor

Dr Tan Seng Kong

Lecturer in Systematic and Spiritual Theology

Dr Tan Seng Kong serves as the Head of Technology and Resources and a Lecturer in Systematic and Spiritual Theology at BGST. Formerly an architect, he holds an MA in Spiritual Theology from Regent College and a PhD from Princeton Theological Seminary, specializing in Jonathan Edwards’ doctrine of salvation. Beyond his academic work, Seng Kong is a member of Bethel Assembly of God and enjoys indoor gardening, Korean media with his wife, and Indian cuisine with his son.

  • Location

    Live via Zoom

    First and Last Sessions are in-person for local students at

    DM360
    360 Dunearn Rd
    Singapore 299552

  • Dates: 2024

    (Mondays)

    Jan: 15, 22
    Feb: 5, 19
    Mar: 4
    Apr: 8, 22
    Closing Date for Registration:
    January 11, 2024

  • Time:

    7.10-10.00pm


    Prerequisite: TS101

TRY BEFORE YOU BUY

We have a free lesson waiting for you

Course curriculum

  • 1

    General

    • General Formatting for all Assignments

    • Orientation Course & Library Access
  • 2

    Session 1: Introduction - Live (on site)

    • Course Syllabus

    • Introduction

    • Introduction Slides

    • Lecture 1 - Introduction (older 2022 recording, for review)

    • Karl Barth, “Wonder” and “Concern"
  • 3

    Session 2 - Scripture & Tradition - Live (Zoom)

    • Revelation: Scripture & Tradition

    • Lecture 2 - Zoom Recordings

    • Lecture 2 Slides - Tradition & Scripture

    • Douglas Sweeney, “Scripture, Tradition, and Church: From Abelard to Barth"

    • Florovsky, “The Function of Tradition in the Ancient Church.”
  • 4

    Session 3 - Revelation & Theology - Self-Paced

    • Revelation & Theology

    • Wesley, “The Original, Nature, Properties, and Use of the Law.”

    • Barth, “The Word of God in Its Threefold Form.”

    • Barth, “On Revelation.”

    • Deddo, “Karl Barth and His Theology."

    • McDermott, “General Revelation through History.”
  • 5

    Session 4 - Divine Life & Attributes - Self-Paced

    • Doctrine of God: Divine Life & Attributes

    • Sonderegger, “The Inner Life of God.”

    • Sonderegger, “The Perfect Oneness of God.”

    • Gunton, “Toward a Trinitarian Reading of the Tradition. I. The Relevance of the ‘Economic’ Trinity.”
  • 6

    Session 5 - Contemporary Issues -Live (Zoom)

    • Doctrine of God: Contemporary Issues

    • Lecture 5 - Zoom Recordings

    • Lecture 5 - Slides

    • “Rethinking Omnipotence with Jurgen Moltmann”

    • “How Does the Suffering God Give Us Hope?”

    • Stump, “Does God Suffer?”

    • Weinandy, “Does God Suffer?”

    • Weinandy, “God’s Love and Human Suffering.”

    • Moltmann, “The Passion of God.”
  • 7

    Session 6 - Divine Trinity -Live (Zoom)

    • Doctrine of God: Divine Trinity

    • Lecture 6 - Zoom Recordings

    • Lecture 6 - Slides

    • Gresham, Jr., “Three Trinitarian Spiritualities.”

    • Torrance, “Trinity in Unity and Unity in Trinity.”
  • 8

    Session 7 - Doctrine of Creation: Its Care -Self-Paced

    • Doctrine of Creation: Its Care

    • Zizoulas, “The Natural World as the Gospel (Good News) of Creation.”

    • Haught, "The Cry of the Earth: How Pope Francis Calls Us to the Science Faith, and Action of Saving Our Common Home."

    • Craig, “Different Views of Divine Providence."

    • Pope Francis, “Laudato Si.”
  • 9

    Session 8 - Doctrine of Creation: Overview -Live (Zoom)

    • Doctrine of Creation: Overview

    • Lecture 8 - Zoom Recordings

    • Lecture 8 - Slides

    • Lossky, “Created Being.”

    • Basil the Great, The Hexaemeron, Homily 1

    • Basil, The Hexaemeron, Hom. 1 (with footnotes)
  • 10

    Session 9 - Doctrine of Humankind: Relation & Constitution -Self-Paced

    • Doctrine of Humankind: Relation & Constitution

    • Hunsinger, “Barth on What it Means to be Human.”

    • Nee, “Spirit, Soul, and Body,” & “Spirit and Soul.”

    • Calvin, Institutes, bk. 1, ch. 15.
  • 11

    Session 10 - Doctrine of Humankind: Imago Dei -Self-Paced

    • Doctrine of Humankind: Imago Dei

    • Marc Cortez interview, “Image of God.”

    • Niebuhr, “Man as a Problem to Himself.”

    • John of Damascus, “Concerning Man.”
  • 12

    Session 11 - Doctrine of the Angels -Self-Paced

    • Doctrine of the Angels

    • Cunningham, “On Angels.”

    • Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermons 11 & 12 from Sermons on Psalm 90

    • Calvin, Institutes bk. 1, ch. 14
  • 13

    Session 12 - Evil & Original Sin - Live (Zoom)

    • Doctrine of Sin: Evil & Original Sin

    • Student Presentations 1

    • Coakley, “Sin and Desire.”

    • Luther, “Review of Erasmus’ Arguments for ‘Free-Will’.”

    • Pelagius, “Letter to Demetrias.”
  • 14

    Session 13 - Sin and Its Effects -Live (DM@360)

    • Doctrine of Sin – Sin and Its Effects

    • Student Presentations 2

    • Barron, “On Rene Girard.”

    • “Insights with Rene Girard”

    • Girard, “Violence and Religion.”

    • Fairlie, “The Fact of Sin.”

    • “Mortification of Sin in Believers,” chs. 1-4
  • 15

    Course Evaluation & Assignment Submission

    • Course Evaluation TS211 (prerequisite to Assignment Submission)

    • Book Review

    • Integration-Reflection Paper

    • Final Essay