Skip to Main Content

Theology: TH 210

A resource guide for students in Theology courses.

TH 210 : God of the Gospel

"The purpose of this course is to provide a systematic orientation to the center of Christian theology -- the life of the triune God. This course will cover the doctrines of God, Trinity, Christ, Scripture and Revelation. It will also consider questions of theological method, including the sources and norms of theology. The disciplined of theology will be approached as a practice of the church, both local and global, carried out for the benefit of the church's life, its proclamation and its services to the world."

Taken from course syllabus created by Dr. Bill Nyman.

Research Paper

According to Dr. Nyman's syllabus, the research paper must include

  • Introduction to the issue under consideration.
  • A concise overview of of a position as advocated by a prominent theologian (or group of) and its justification.
  • A concise overview of a position contrary to the previous, as advocated by a prominent theologian (or group of) and its justification.
  • Your theological evaluation of the debate in light of opposing voices.
  • Your attempt to answer the original essay question in light of your analysis.

Further details for each requirement are included in the course syllabus.

Research Questions

Is the clarity of the Scripture a defensible doctrine in light of the endless controversies over Scriptural interpretation?

  • Theologians or Theological Institutions
    • Lutheranism
    • Roman Catholicism

Should the doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture be rejected?

  • Theologians
    • Wayne Grudem or John Calvin
    • Any postmodern theologian

Do Muslims, Jews, and Christians worship the same God?

  • Theologians
    • Miroslav Volf
    • Millard Erickson and/or Nabeel Qureshi

Does God have a gender? If not, would it be appropriate to address God as Mother? If so, what is the basis of God's gender?

  • Theologians
    • Any feminist theologian
    • Millard Erickson

Is the God of classical theism the God of the Bible?

  • Theologians
    • Herman Bavinck or Richard Muller (Reformed theologians)
    • John Sanders (Open Theism)

Can God be affected by his creatures? Can God experience emotions? Can God change?

  • Theologians
    • Bruce Ware
    • John Sanders, Gregory Boyd, Clark Pinnock

Does prayer change the mind of God? 

Does Jesus have a fallen human nature?

  • Theologians
    • Carl Barth
    • Oliver Crisp

Is it possible for Jesus to sin? If not, how can he empathize with sinners like us? If so, how is it possible for God to sin?

Is the unity of the Trinity broken on the cross when the Father forsook the son?

  • Theologians
    • Jurgen Moltmann or Paul Fiddes
    • Robert Brewis

Is Social Trinitarianism a form of Tri-theism?

  • Theologians
    • Roger Olson, Cornelius Plantinga (Social Trinitarians)

Is anti-social Trinitarianism a form of monadic Monotheism.

  • Theologians
    • Craig Carter (Anti-social Trinitarian)
    • Miroslav Volf, John Zizioulas (Social Trinitarians)

Other Resources

If you cannot find the books you need in the library or they are already checked out, then Perlego and the Internet Archive are good options. Perlego is available to you for free as an on campus, online, or Hyflex students who is registered in a program. The Internet Archive offers free accounts to any one who registers. The ATLA database is also helpful when it comes to theological research. See the link below.