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CRS721

Systematic Theology

  • Arts
  • 700 level
  • 2 credit units
  • 122 pages
  • 13 units

This course introduces the basic issues in Christian doctrines of God, creation, and humanity. It explores the theology of the Trinity, including God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and examines the theology of creation, evolution, the spirit world, and providence. The course also delves into the theology of humankind, covering uniqueness, fall/sin, and redemption. It is designed for students in an African context, with a particular focus on Nigeria.

About this course

Difficulty
Intermediate
Study hours
156 hours
Maths
None
Content
Theoretical
Practical work
No
How it is assessed
  • Assignments
  • Final examination

One paragraph, so you can see how it reads

CRS721 · UNIT 1 MEANING AND SCOPE OF SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY

Systematic Theology is a very interesting study and it touches every aspect of Christian faith, life and ministry. The various issues that will be examined in this unit to introduce you to systematic theology are the definition, levels, types, presuppositions, methodology, tasks and sources of theology.

What you should be able to do

  1. Define and describe the scope of systematic theology.
  2. Explain the Christian doctrine of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
  3. Analyze ideas about creation and evolution.
  4. Discuss the theology of humankind, including nature, fall/sin, and redemption.
  5. Relate and evaluate the relevance of systematic theology to Christian living.

What it prepares you for

Careers
  • Religious Leader
  • Theologian
  • Religious Educator
  • Missionary
  • Chaplain
Where it is applied
  • Religious Organizations
  • Educational Institutions
  • Charitable Organizations
  • Social Services
  • Community Development

Where it gets hard

The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.

  • Module 1:

    Unit 2: God the Father

    The unit requires understanding of various philosophical arguments and their historical context, demanding critical thinking and analytical skills.

  • Module 2:

    Unit 2: Biblical Teaching on Creation

    The unit involves reconciling scientific theories with religious beliefs, requiring careful evaluation and critical thinking.

  • Module 3:

    Unit 4: Alienation and Redemption of Humankind

    The unit requires understanding of complex theological concepts and their implications for human existence.

A suggested way through it

Suggested

13 weeks, about 39 hours in total. Yours will differ.

  1. Week 1Module 1:
    • Unit 1: Meaning and Scope of Systematic Theology · 3 hours

      Read the unit introduction to understand the scope of systematic theology.. Define theology from an etymological perspective.. Discuss the three levels of theology: popular, pastoral, and professional.. State and discuss one definition of theology..

  2. Week 2Module 1:
    • Unit 2: God the Father · 3 hours

      Explore various beliefs about God, including theism, monotheism, atheism, deism, polytheism, pantheism, and panentheism.. Explain the traditional philosophical and theological proofs about the existence of God.. State seven various beliefs about God. Discuss three out of these beliefs..

  3. Week 3Module 1:
    • Unit 3: God the Son · 3 hours

      Explain the divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ.. List some early christological views/debates.. Explain three biblical evidences/references each that support the humanity of Jesus Christ and the divinity of Jesus Christ..

  4. Week 4Module 1:
    • Unit 4: God the Holy Spirit · 3 hours

      Describe the person of the Holy Spirit.. Discuss the general activities of the Holy Spirit.. Describe the person of the Holy Spirit using ten (10) bible passages.

  5. Week 5Module 1:
    • Unit 5: The Triune God · 3 hours

      Highlight the nature of revelation.. Describe the characteristics of the Bible.. Write a short note on the nature of revelation from Christian understanding..

  6. Week 6Module 2:
    • Unit 1: Various Views of Creation · 3 hours

      Explain the meaning of the word theory with regard to the origin of life.. Mention the four categories of theory of origin of life.. What is the meaning of theory with regard to the origin of life? Give one example..

  7. Week 7Module 2:
    • Unit 2: Biblical Teaching on Creation · 3 hours

      State the features of the biblical teaching on creation.. Discuss the concept of ex nihilo in the Christian doctrine of creation.. Write a short note on the biblical concept of creation ex nihilo..

  8. Week 8Module 2:
    • Unit 3: The Spirit World · 3 hours

      Discuss the existence, groups and nature of angels.. Highlight some of the activities of angels.. Write a short note on the nature of Angels..

  9. Week 9Module 2:
    • Unit 4: Providence I – Preservation, Cooperation and Government · 3 hours

      Define the Christian doctrine of providence.. State the three aspects of the doctrine of providence.. Define the Christian doctrine of providence. State the three aspects of the doctrine..

  10. Week 10Module 2:
    • Unit 5: Providence II – Theodicy (Evil), Miracles and Prayer · 3 hours

      State the meaning, types and causes of evil.. Discuss the biblical teaching of victory over evil.. Write a concise essay on the meaning, types and causes of evil..

  11. Week 11Module 3:
    • Unit 1: The Nature of Humankind · 3 hours

      List the various approaches to the study of humankind.. Highlight the focuses of the study of humankind in philosophy, bible and theology.. Highlight the focus of the study of human being in philosophy..

  12. Week 12Module 3:
    • Unit 2: The Image of God in Humankind · 3 hours

      State the three general/classificatory views of the image of God in human beings.. List the various explanation of the image of God in humankind.. State the three general/classificatory views of the image of God in human beings..

  13. Week 13Module 3:
    • Unit 3: Communal Human Life in Africa · 3 hours

      Explain the importance of community in human life.. List social and cultural values in traditional African life.. What is the meaning of theory with regard to the origin of life? Give one example..

Preparing for the exam

What to do
  • Review all unit objectives to ensure comprehensive understanding.
  • Create concept maps linking key doctrines across modules.
  • Practice explaining complex theological concepts in simple terms.
  • Focus on understanding the relationships between different theological perspectives.
  • Prepare detailed outlines summarizing the main points of each unit.
  • Form study groups to discuss and debate challenging concepts.
  • Review all Tutor Marked Assignments (TMAs) and incorporate feedback.
  • Allocate specific time slots for focused revision in the weeks leading up to the exam.

Questions students ask about this course

What is CRS721 about?

This course introduces the basic issues in Christian doctrines of God, creation, and humanity. It explores the theology of the Trinity, including God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and examines the theology of creation, evolution, the spirit world, and providence. The course also delves into the theology of humankind, covering uniqueness, fall/sin, and redemption. It is designed for students in an African context, with a particular focus on Nigeria.

How many units does CRS721 have?

CRS721, Systematic Theology, has 13 units across 3 modules, over 122 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.

How many credit units is CRS721?

CRS721 carries 2 credit units, at 700 level in Arts.

Is CRS721 hard?

CRS721 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical work.

How long does CRS721 take to study?

About 156 hours of study, spread across its 13 units.

How is CRS721 assessed?

CRS721 is assessed by assignments and final examination.

What can I do with CRS721?

Religious Leader, Theologian, Religious Educator, Missionary and Chaplain.

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