Preliminary Theological Certificate (PTC)
The Preliminary Theological Certificate (PTC) is awarded once you have passed the following six units:
1. Introduction to the Bible
An overview of the entire Bible, plus helpful hints on how to understand its main themes.
Syllabus
1. The Book of Books
2. Interpreting the Bible
3. From creation to new creation
4. Israel and God's purposes
5. The promised land and God's good purposes writings
6. The Kingdom of David & God's purpose
7. God's purpose renewed
8. Jesus the fulfiller of God's purpose
9. The Gospel for the nations
10. Awaiting the fulfilment - The Apostles'
2. New Testament 1
Exploring God's purposes in sending Christ. Getting to know Jesus through the Gospel of Mark.
Syllabus
1. The Gospels: the gospel written down
2. The coming of the king
3. The kingdom of God
4. The victory of the kingdom
5. The king of the kingdom
6. The reception of the king
7. What it means for Jesus to be king
8. What it means to follow the king
9. The last week of the king
10. The king is dead: long live the king
3. Old Testament 1
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy together. What do they teach? What holds them together?
Syllabus
1. Creation and God's purposes
2. Rebellion and judgement
3. The patriarchs
4. The book of Exodus
5. The redemption of Israel
6. Israel at Sinai
7. The sacrificial system
8. The book of Numbers
9. The book of Deuteronomy
10. Major ideas in Deuteronomy
(New Testament 1 and Old Testament 1 may be taken in reverse order)
4. Doctrine 1
We explore the Bible's teaching about God - how we get to know him, what he is like, what he has done for us.
Syllabus
1. The Gospel of God
2. Knowing God
3. Sources for the knowledge of God
4. The Bible as the Word of God
5. The God we know (1)
6. The God we know (2): the Trinity
7. The God who creates
8. The God who saves
9. The God who rules history
10. The God who renews
5. Ephesians
This letter teaches us that we can only understand the present by relating it to what God has done in the past, and therefore to his intentions for the future. Ephesians presents a big picture, with cosmic dimensions, of God and his world for us to take in.
Syllabus
1. Why write to the Ephesians
2. The big picture of God's salvation
3. The Christian and the Church
4. The mystery in focus
5. The new humanity: in church
6. The new humanity: the old self and the new self
7. The new humanity: out of darkness into light
8. The new humanity: living by God's wisdom
9. The new humanity: living in the overlap of the ages
10. To sum up all things in Christ
6. Elective
Students may choose one (1) of the following as the elective for their sixth unit
6.1 Promise to Fulfilment
This is new course is designed to help students interpret the Bible and so is particularly useful for those who are involved in any teaching ministry.Syllabus
1. Biblical Theology
2. Jesus and the Old Testament
3. Abraham and the Children of Promise 1
4. Abraham and the Children of Promise 2
5. Exodus and God's Redemption 1
6. Exodus and God's Redemption 2
7. The King of God's Kingdom
8. The Covenant of Grace
9. The Gospel for the Nations
10. The Eternal Inheritance6.2. Prayer Book*
An historical and theological exploration of why and how Anglicans meet together.Syllabus - Prayer Book
1. What really is worship?
2. Why gather together?
3. The Lord's Supper
4. The first English Prayer Book
5. The second English Prayer Book
6. The Prayer Book from 1552 to 1662
7. Modern Anglican Prayer Books
8. Morning and Evening Prayer
9. Baptism and Confirmation
10. Occasional services
6.3 Christian Worship
What is the biblical meaning of 'worship'? How will that meaning be expressed?Syllabus - Christian Worship
1. Worship in the Old Testament
2. Worship under the New Covenant
3. Why the early Christians met together
4. The Lord's Supper
5. The Development of Liturgies
6. Continental Reformation Liturgies
7. British Reformation Liturgies
8. Modern Liturgies
9. Hearing God's Word
10. Singing Together
* Prayer Book is required to obtain a lay readers licence in the Sydney Diocese.
