Lecturer: Dr Paul Thompson
paul.t@kvbcequip.org
+60 19 898 6509
Online via Google Classroom
Tuesday, 9.00 am – 12.00 pm
3 units
Course Description
The second of three principal doctrine (or theology) subjects that collectively both covers the principal doctrinal loci as listed in typical systematic theologies, and prepares students for further in-depth theological study. This subject focuses on Christology and Redemption. Particular attention will also be given to integrating these loci into one coherent system.
Course Aims
- Appreciate the need for theological study, evaluating scholarly methods and the theologian’s
character. - Begin to realise both how all theology is inter-related, and that theological reflection should be at
the centre of all Christian ministry. - Be able to engage fully with typical systematic theologies on the subject’s doctrinal loci.
- Begin to reason theologically and critically evaluate other proposals on the subject’s doctrinal
loci. - Begin to apply their learning to ministry practice.
Schedule
| Date / Time | Class | Length (Hrs) | Content | Pre-Reading |
| 23/6/2026 | 1 | 3 | Introduction to Doctrine II Christology (1): Theological method; Christ as both human & divine | Latest Doctrine I lecture notes on Theological method and Creation |
| 30/6/2026 9.00 am – 12.00 pm | 2 | 3 | Christology (2): Chalcedon & Hypostatic union | |
| 30/6/2026 7.00pm – 10.00pm | 3 | 3 | Christology (3): Christ’s offices | |
| 7/7/2026 | 4 | 3 | Christology (4): Christ and the Atonement | |
| 14/7/2026 | 5 | 3 | Redemption (1): The Problem | Latest Doctrine I on Total depravity |
| 21/7/2026 | 6 | 3 | Redemption (2): God’s Solution | |
| 28/7/2026 | No class. KVBC. | |||
| 4/8/2026 | No class (1 Corinthians intensive) | |||
| 11/8/2026 | No class (Philippians intensive) | |||
| 18/8/2026 | Mid-semester break | |||
| 25/8/2026 | Mid-semester break | |||
| 1/9/2026 | 7 | 3 | Redemption (3): Union with Christ and the Ordo Salutis | Latest Doctrine I on Divine Foreknowledge |
| 8/9/2026 7.00pm – 10.00pm | 8 | 3 | Redemption (4): Election | |
| 15/9/2026 | 9 | 3 | Redemption (5): Atonement Extent | |
| 22/9/26 | 10 | 3 | Redemption (6): Tulip contd. | |
| 29/9/26 | 11 | 3 | Redemption (7): Faith & assurance | |
| 6/10/2026 | 12 | 3 | Redemption (8): Roman Catholicism and Justification | |
| 13/10/2026 | 13 | 3 | Redemption (9): Adoption and Sanctification | |
| 20/10/2026 | Study Week | |||
| Final week | Exam (TBC) | |||
| Total | 39 |
Reading
The purpose of pre-reading previous lecture notes is to recall what was already covered in Doctrine I. Doctrine I and Doctrine II (and Doctrine III) need to be coherent. While during classes there will be only at most minimal checking on your pre-reading, the Doctrine II exam could include definitions and questions from the selected Doctrine I lecture notes.
In Doctrine II, you also continue your reading of Calvin:
For Theology 1: pp. 1-340
§ 1 (The Knowledge of God the Creator) – § 2.5 (The Knowledge of God the Redeemer in Christ… : Refutation of the Objections Commonly Put Forward in Defense of Free Will)
For Theology 2: pp. 239-987
§ 2 (The Knowledge of God the Redeemer in Christ, First Disclosed to the Fathers Under the Law and Then to Us in the Gospel), – § 3.24 (Election is Confirmed by God’s Call; Moreover, the Wicked Bring Upon Themselves the Just Destruction to Which They Are Destined)
For Theology 3: pp. 74–81, 537–42, 987–1521
§ 1.7 (Scripture Must Be Confirmed by the Witness of the Spirit…),
§ 3.1 (The Things Spoken Concerning Christ Profit Us by the Secret Working of the Spirit), – § 3.25 (The Final Resurrection) – §4.20 (Civil Government)
Calvin, John. Institutes of the Christian Religion. Translated by Ford L. Battles. Edited by John T. McNeil. 2 Vols. LCC 20–21. Philadelphia, PA: Westminster, 1960.
Online:
https://archive.org/details/institutesofchri0001calv_p7o5
https://archive.org/details/calvininstitutes0002calv (trans Beveridge…)
https://ccel.org/ccel/c/calvin/institutes/cache/institutes.pdf
Assessment Package
| No. | Weighting | Type | Word length1 | Deadline2 |
| 1 | 100% class attendance | |||
| 2 | Reading | |||
| 3 | 50% | Essay | 3,000 | Monday, 28 Sept 2026 |
| 4 | 50% | Exam | 3hrs | TBC |
| 5 | Student feedback |
- Reading
- Essay:
“Penal substitution is the only valid model of the atonement.” Discuss.
You are neither expected to read everything on this list nor every page of what you do read (be selective), but your essay needs to demonstrate in depth engagement with different views:
Baker, Mark D. and Joel B. Green. Recovering the Scandal of the Cross: Atonement in New Testament and Contemporary Contexts. 2nd ed. InterVarsity, 2011.
Beilby, James and Paul R. Eddy, eds. The Nature of the Atonement: Four Views. Spectrum Multiview Book. IVP Academic, 2006.
Clarke, Steve and Alan Mann. The Lost Message of Jesus. Zondervan, 2004.
Dodd, C. H. “Hilaskesthai, its Cognates, Derivatives and Synonyms, in the Septuagint.” JTS 32 (1931): 332–60.
Goldingay, John E., ed. Atonement Today: A Symposium at St John’s College, Nottingham. SPCK, 1995.
Jeffrey, Steve, Michael J. Ovey and Andrew Sach. Pierced for Our Transgressions. Inter-Varsity; Crossway, 2007. https://archive.org/details/piercedforourtra0000jeff.
Morris, Leon L. The Atonement: Its Meaning and Significance. IVP Academic, 1997.
Packer, James I. “What Did the Cross Achieve? The Logic of Penal Substitution.” TynBul 25 (1974): 3–45. https://www.tyndalebulletin.org/article/30636-what-did-the-cross-achieve-thelogic-of-penal-substitution.pdf.
Rillera, Andrew R. Lamb of the Free: Recovering the Varied Sacrificial Understandings of Jesus’s Death. Cascade, 2024.
Scandrett, Joel and William G. Witt. Mapping Atonement: The Doctrine of Reconcilation in Christian History and Theology. Baker Academic, 2022.
Stott, John R. W. The Cross of Christ. Inter-Varsity, 1986.
Tidball, Derek, David Hilborn and Justin Thacker, eds. The Atonement Debate: Papers from the London Symposium on the Theology of the Atonement. Zondervan, 2008. - Exam:
Each class will conclude with a list of required definitions and possible exam questions. The exam will consist of two sections:
a. Define ten terms from a random sample of fifteen of those definitions.
b. Answer (briefly) eight questions from a random sample of fifteen of those listed questions.
All your answers will be assessed against what was covered in class; in other words, the exam does not require extra reading. - Complete student feedback form
Bibliography
Modern systematic theologies:
| Doctrine I | Doctrine II | Doctrine III | |
| Frame, John M. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Christian Belief. P&R, 2013. | Parts 1 (Introduction to Systematic Theology) – 7 (The Doctrine of Man) 1–873 | Parts 7.36 (Sin) – 9.44 (Perseverance and Assurance) 845–997 | Parts 9.35 (The Holy Spirit), 9.45 (Glorification) – 11.51 (The Events of the Last Days) 923–33, 1009–1097 |
| Grudem, Wayne A. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. 2nd ed. InterVarsity; Zondervan, 2020. | Ch. 1 (Introduction to Systematic Theology) – Part 3 (The Doctrine of Man in the Image of God). 1–660 | Parts 3.24 (Sin) – 5.38 (Santification [Growth in Likeness to Christ]), 5.40 (The Perseverance of the Saints [Remaining a Christian]), 5.43 (Union with Christ) 619–941, 970–97, 1031–43 | Parts 4.30 (The Work of the Holy Spirit), 5.39 (Baptism in and Filling with the Holy Spirit), 5.41 (Death and the Intermediate State) – 7.57 (The New Heavens and New Earth) 778–800, 942–69, 998–1435 |
| Horton, Michael S. The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims On the Way. Zondervan Academic, 2011. | The Nicene Creed – 3.13 (The Fall of Humanity) 11–443 | Parts 3.13 (The Fall of Humanity) – 5.21 (The Hope of Glory…) 408–710 | Parts 5.17 (Called to be Saints…) – 5.18 (Union with Christ), 5.21 (The Hope of Glory…) – Glossary 551–619, 688–1003 |
| Letham, Robert. Systematic Theology. Crossway, 2019. | Parts 1 (The Triune God) – 4 (The Image of God) 1–401 | Parts 4.13 (Humanity in Sin) – 7.24.2 (The Progress of the Christian Life [1]: Justification), 7.25 (The Progress of the Christian Life [2]), 7.26.2 (Theōsis) 366–705, 724–50, 769–89 | Parts 7.21 (Union with Christ) – 7.22 (Salvation and the Church), 7.26.1 (The Progress of the Christian Life [1]: The Lord’s Supper), 7.27 (The Church and Its Offices) – 8.31 (The Life of the World to Come) 597–647, 751–68, 790–907 |
Others:
Anselm of Canterbury. “Why God Became Man.” Translated by Janet Fairweather. Pages 260–356 in The Major Works. Edited by Brian Davies and Gillian R. Evans. Reissue ed. Oxford World’s Classics. Oxford University Press, 2008. https://archive.org/details/majorworks0000anse_r1g7.
Athanasius. On the Incarnation. Translated by John Behr. Popular Patristics Series 44a. St.Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 2011.
Bird, Michael F. and Scott Harrower, eds. Unlimited Atonement: Amyraldism and Reformed Theology. Kregel Academic, 2023.
Boettner, Loraine. The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination. P&R, 1932. https://archive.org/details/reformeddoctrine0000boet_v8f8; (Monergism ed. https://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/sdg/boettner/predestination_p.pdf).
Gibson, David and Jonathan Gibson, eds. From Heaven He Came and Sought Her: Definite Atonement in Historical, Biblical, Theological, and Pastoral Perspective. Crossway, 2013.
Jeffrey, Steve, Michael J. Ovey and Andrew Sach. Pierced for Our Transgressions. Inter-Varsity; Crossway, 2007. https://archive.org/details/piercedforourtra0000jeff.
Letham, Robert. The Work of Christ. Contours of Christian Theology. InterVarsity, 1993.
———. Union with Christ: In Scripture, History and Theology. P&R, 2011.
MacLeod, Donald. The Person of Christ. Contours of Christian Theology. InterVarsity, 1998.
Olson, Roger E. Arminian Theology: Myths and Realities. IVP Academic, 2006.
Stott, John R. W. The Cross of Christ. Inter-Varsity, 1986.