Certificate in Theology (ThC)

The Certificate in Theology (ThC) is awarded only after both the PTC and the ITC have been completed and the student has passed the further six prescribed units listed below:

13. Old Testament 3
This unit focuses on the Latter prophets from Isaiah through to the Minor prophets.

Syllabus
1. The prophets in historical and canonical context
2. The prophets in theological context
3. Overview of Isaiah
4. Isaiah 1-39
5. Isaiah 40-66
6. Jeremiah
7. Ezekiel
8. The Twelve (1): Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah
9. The Twelve (2): Nahum, Micah, Habakkuk, Zephaniah
10. The Twelve (3): Haggai, Malachi, Zechariah

14. New Testament 3
Paul and his ministry. Investigating the problems he faced, the gospel he preached and the letters he wrote.

Syllabus
1. Introduction to Paul's Letters
2. Paul and the Gospel
3. The Defence of the Gospel of grace
4. The Nature of Christian Freedom
5. Paul the Pastor
6. Problems at Corinth
7. The Apostolic Ministry
8. Philippians and Ephesians
9. Fullness of Life in Christ
10. The Pastoral Epistles

15. Doctrine 3
The Church. What it is and what does it do in the purposes of God? Attention is paid to Christian worship, baptism and the Lord's supper.

Syllabus
1. The Church (1): The Nature of the Church
2. The Church (2): God's Calling of the Church
3. The Church (3): The Fellowship of the Church
4. The Church (4): The Continuity of the Church
5. The Church (5): The Church & Denominations
6. Christian Worship
7. The Lord's Supper
8. Baptism
9. The Ministry
10. False Ministries

16. Elective 1
Students may choose one (1) of the following as their fourth unit.

16.1 Old Testament 4

The focus of this unit is on the ‘Writings’ with a particular look at the nature of wisdom literature in the Old Testament.
Syllabus
1. Introduction to the Writings
2. The Psalms: an overview
3. Selected Psalms
4. Wisdom in Israel
5. The book of Proverbs
6. The Song of Songs and Ruth
7. The book of Job
8. Ecclesiastes and Lamentations
9. Apocalyptic in Israel
10. Daniel, Esther and the Apocrypha
16.2 Gospel and Epistles of John
The gospel and the letters of John, showing to us the importance of his witness to the life and work of Jesus Christ.
Syllabus
1. Introduction to John’s Gospel (1)
2. Introduction to John’s Gospel (2)
3. Jesus in the World (1) (John 1-4)
4. Jesus in the World (2) (John 5-12)
5. Jesus with His Disciples (John 13-16)
6. Jesus Bears the Sins of Men (John 17-19)
7. Jesus Returns to the Father (John 20-21)
8. Introduction to the First Epistle of John (1)
9. Introduction to the First Epistle of John (2)
10. Introduction to the Second & Third Epistles of John

17. Elective 2
Students may choose one (1) of the following as their fifth unit.

17.1 New Testament 4
An overview of the non-Pauline letters, with an in-depth look at Hebrews and how to understand Revelation.
Syllabus
1. Introduction to Hebrews
2. Hebrews 1-4
3. Hebrews 5-10
4. Hebrews 10:19-13:25
5. The Epistle of James
6. 1 Peter 1-2
7. 1 Peter 3-5
8. Jude and 2 Peter
9. Revelation 1-3
10. Revelation 4-22
17.2 Historical Theology 1
This unit considers significant church leaders and their contribution to the development of doctrinal understanding from the First century to the Twelfth.
Syllabus
1. The Beginnings of Christian Doctrine
2. The Apostolic Fathers: Ignatius (35-107)
3. The Apologists: Justin Martyr (100-165)
4. Defending and Defining the Faith: Irenaeus (130-200)
5. Defending and Defining the Faith: Tertullian (160-225) and Origen (185-254)
6. Understanding God on God’s Terms 1: Athanasius (296-373)
7. Understanding God on God’s Terms 2: Athanasius (296-373)
8. Understanding mankind on God’s terms 1—grace, sin and salvation: Augustine (354-430)
9. Understanding mankind on God’s terms 2—grace, sin and salvation: Augustine (354-430)
10. Atonement—faith in search of understanding: Anselm

18. Elective 3
Students may choose one (1) of the following as their sixth unit.

18.1 Apologetics
This course is written with the conviction that apologetics is more than just intellectual and philosophical debate. Apologetics involves people's whole beings. Modern apologists need to be concerned with how people feel toward Christ and the gospel as with how they think about Christ and the gospel.
Syllabus
1. The Christian Apologist
2. Varieties of approach
3. Faith and reason
4. Concepts of truth
5. Arguing for the existence of God
6. Intellectual barriers to faith: traditional questions
7. Intellectual barriers to faith: alternative world views
8. Intellectual barriers to faith: Christian doctrines
9. Personal barriers to faith
10. Apologetics in action
18.2 Historical Theology 2
This unit considers significant church leaders and their contribution to the development of doctrinal understanding from the Thirteenth century to the Twentieth.
Syllabus
1. The Beginnings of Christian Doctrine
2. 'The big picture 1': philosophical theology come of age? Thomas Aquinas
3. 'The big picture 2': philosophical theology come of age? Thomas Aquinas
4. Theology of the Cross 1: Martin Luther
5. Theology of the Cross 2: Martin Luther
6. God is Personal in all his Acts 1:John Calvin
7. God is Personal in all his Acts 2: John Calvin
8. 19th Century Theology: 'Know then thyself, presume not God to scan, the proper study of mankind is man.'
9. 20th Century Theology 1: God in History
10. 20th Century Theology 2: God in History

Completion

The Certificate in Theology is awarded at three levels:

Pass, awarded to students who successfully complete 18 subjects.
Second Class Honours, awarded to students who successfully:
• complete one extra subject (total 19)
• obtain an overall average of 65% or more in the course
First Class Honours, awarded to students who successfully:
• complete three extra subjects (total 21)
• obtain an overall average of 75% or more in the course

For the purpose of calculating honours, the higher mark will be counted where a student has re-sat a subject .