Christology
Understanding the Doctrine of Christ


Course Objectives:
By the end of this course, students will:
1. Gain a foundational understanding of Christological concepts such as the pre-existence, deity, humanity, and incarnation of Jesus Christ.
2. Explore and critically analyse early church debates and heresies, including Docetism, Gnosticism, and the Council of Chalcedon.
3. Understand the scriptural underpinnings of Christ's mission and its implications for redemption and salvation.
4. Develop theological insights into the relevance of Christology in contemporary Christian practice.
5. Apply the principles of incarnational living to create meaningful connections between theological study and daily life.

Course Content:
1. Introduction to Christology:
• Definition and scope of Christology.
• Historical development and controversies.
• Key scriptural texts (e.g., John 1:1-14, Philippians 2:5-11).
2. The Pre-Existence of Christ:
• Theophany and Christophany: Old Testament appearances.
• Modern scholarly perspectives, including insights from Richard Bauckham and N.T. Wright.
3. The Deity and Humanity of Christ:
• Dual nature of Christ: Hypostatic union.
• Early heresies (Docetism, Gnosticism) and their counterarguments.
• Implications of Jesus as both Son of God and Son of Man.
4. The Incarnation:
• Theological perspectives on the incarnation (Louis Berkhof, Kenosis theory).
• Scriptural support and historical church affirmations.
• The incarnation’s significance in God's redemptive plan.
5. Incarnational Living:
• Practical theology: Living missionally and authentically in a secular world.
• Dr. Bob Logan’s principles of incarnational living.
6. Reflection and Application:
• Integration of theological understanding into personal faith and community engagement.
• The contemporary relevance of Christological doctrines.

Learning Outcomes:
Upon completing this course, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate theological literacy in Christological doctrines and their scriptural basis.
2. Analyse historical and contemporary Christological debates and articulate their significance.
3. Formulate a well-rounded theological perspective on the relevance of Christ’s life, work, and mission.
4. Integrate Christological concepts into personal reflections and communal discussions.
5. Apply incarnational living principles to foster authentic engagement in faith-based and secular contexts.

Assessment Method:
 Examination (100%)
Format: Multiple-choice answer questions.

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