THEO 706 Theological Foundations

In this course students will analyze theological foundations that undergird apologetic applications. Attention will be given to how these foundations inform and guide the research and application of apologetic argument for elements of a biblical worldview.

Theological education is often compartmentalized into independent courses in Old Testament, New Testament, Theology, Church History, Practical Ministry, and so forth with little correlation or integration. Consequently, the biblical-theological foundation at the heart of all ministry can be obscured. This course “connects the dots” so that students can move into their dissertation preparation with a correlated and integrated understanding of biblical theology as the foundation and framework for ministry.

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

No details available.

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Peer-Review Discussions (2)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the, student will complete two (2) Peer-Review Discussions in this course. Peer-Review Discussions facilitate collaborative learning in which the students share insights about each other’s work, noting strengths and weaknesses and offering suggestions for improvement.

The student will upload the appropriate Peer-Review Discussion assignment for their classmates’ review, together with a thread of at least 400 words explaining and elaborating on the uploaded assignment. The student will then post at least two (2) replies of at least 200 words each to classmates’ threads offering additional insights, helpful critique, noting strengths and weaknesses, and making suggestions for improvement. (CLO: A, C, D)

Biblical Theology Map Assignment

The student will complete two interrelated and interdependent assignments (this assignment and, later in the course, the Reflective Essay Assignment) in which the student maps out their pre-course understanding of biblical theology and then compares that understanding with the student’s end-of-course understanding of biblical theology.

The first of those is the Biblical Theology Map Assignment in which the student maps out their current understanding of biblical theology in a paragraph of no more than 150 words; that is, the understanding of biblical theology with which the student entered the course. (CLO: C, D)

Theological Foundations Project: Project Proposal Assignment

The student will propose and develop a project exploring the theological foundations for ministry. The project will be completed in four (4) scaffolded steps with subsequent steps dependent on the successful completion of earlier ones: Project Proposal, Annotated Bibliography, Outline, Final Paper/Project.

In this first step, the student will propose a topic to be researched throughout the term from a list of pre-approved topics, or propose one of their own pending instructor approval. The proposal must include a preliminary thesis statement and a preliminary bibliography of five to ten sources to be researched. (CLO: A, E)

Theological Foundations Project: Annotated Bibliography Assigment

The student will submit an annotated bibliography of no fewer than fifteen (15) scholarly sources the student plans to use in their research. Each bibliographic entry must include a brief paragraph (100 – 200 words) providing a clear rationale for the use of the source in terms of its appropriateness for the research and what it potentially contributes to the research plan. (CLO: B, D, E, F)

Theological Foundations Project: Outline Assignment

The student will provide an outline (or project map), in Harvard style, of their final paper. The outline must include a revised (if needed) thesis statement that will be defended in the paper. The outline must include all major headings (points) in the paper, along with all supporting points for each heading. At the end of each major heading (Roman numerals) in the outline the student must include an explanatory paragraph (100 – 200 words) describing what is being undertaken in this section of the paper and how it contributes to the paper’s logic and development. The outline must reflect logical flow and development as well as internal integrity. (CLO: B, D, E, F)

Theological Foundations Project: Final Paper Assignment

The student will assemble the various parts of the project into the final paper for submission, including a thesis and conclusion, clear organization and development, appropriate engagement with research resources, a well-framed and consistently-defended argument, and presented in a form appropriate to doctoral-level writing.

In lieu of the research paper project described above, the student may, with prior approval of the instructor, design and submit, in scaffolded steps, a ministry project that reflects, incorporates, and demonstrates in a real-world setting the biblical-theological foundations for ministry learned in this course. (CLO: B, D, E, F)

Reflective Essay Assignment

The student will compose an essay of no more than ten (10) pages, double-spaced in which they revisit, review, and reassess their Biblical Theology Map Assignment submitted in Module 1: Week 1 reflecting on what has been learned about the biblical-theological “baggage” brought into the course, what new information and ideas were discovered along the way, and what now the student, upon further reflection, has determined are the non-negotiables to be re-packed into one’s biblical-theological “baggage” to take with them as they conclude the course. (CLO: A, B, C, D)

Quiz: Mid-Term

The student will complete a Mid-Term Quiz during the course. The quiz is an essay and requires the student to choose one (1) of five different essay questions to answer. The essay of 400 to 500 words must engage and interact with Learn materials in the covered modules and document that interaction with appropriate source citation. The Mid-Term Quiz will cover the Learn materials from Module 1: Week 1 through Module 4: Week 4 and will be open-book/open-notes, contain 1 essay question, and have a time limit of 2 hours. (CLO: A, B, C, D)