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Historical and Systematic Theology Study Guide
Fall 2008 – Spring 2009
Exam Time: Fall Semester, October 31, 2008, 9am-4pm Exam Time: Spring Semester, March 28, 2009, 9am-4pm
The exam usually asks eight or nine essay questions, of which each student chooses five. The time limit is six hours. An unmarked, non-study Bible (that is, no printed notes or helps) may be used. No notes, books, or other study materials may be consulted during the writing of the exam or during breaks. No digital or printed copy of the exam or the answers may be retained, stored, or sent by the students.
The exam is doctrinally focused, asking about key doctrines and requiring knowledge of major alternative views on given doctrines within the Christian tradition. This doctrinal focus includes some historical doctrinal controversies and heretical challenges to them (for example, the third- and fourth-century Trinitarian and Christological controversies and the related councils and creeds, the fifth-century Pelagian controversy, Reformation- era disputes about Scriptural authority, church and tradition, sacraments, justification, church and state, or modern controversies about the incarnation and deity of Christ or the authority of Scripture or its relationship to the natural sciences).
The questions may ask students to describe and explain or to compare and contrast views of a doctrine (for example, the knowledge of God, original sin, atonement, kingdom of God, the sacraments, salvific pluralism, grace and free will). It may ask for critiques of the views, for example, regarding their relative adequacy biblically and theologically. Students may also be asked to state and explain clearly and persuasively their convictions on respective doctrines, after analysis and critique of a spectrum of views, for instance.
The doctrinal focus thus reflects both a systematic theology overview of doctrines and a historical theology perspective on them. There may be more straightforward historical theology questions about movements or historical developments, such as monastic developments and reforms, the development of the papacy, revivalism, or the relationships between church and state within a specific period.
Given the variety of versions of some courses (especially Christian Theology) from different professors during various terms, the exam may not be restricted to the course content of students’ programs, but may also include some material from the disciplinary area that was not covered in every offering of the courses. Thus additional reading should be done as well, though reviewing the course notes and textbooks is the wise initial step.
Consulting additional survey texts in historical theology and systematic theology may be advisable, noting portions that address doctrines, periods, or episodes on which you feel comparatively less prepared. Books that treat particular doctrines should be consulted as well. Theological dictionaries are very useful for brief, focused articles on doctrines,
issues, controversies, persons, movements, traditions, etc., on which you want remedial help or further guidance.
The following bibliography is NOT required reading for the exam. The exam does NOT test over specific books, whether course textbooks or any of the titles listed in the bibliography below. Rather, the following readings are recommended if students desire additional sources for reviewing course material, extending their competency beyond course coverage, or surveying additional areas not covered in course work.
Historical and Systematic Theology Reading List for M.A. Comprehensive Exam
This is not a list of required reading for the exam. Students are advised, however, to select from works such as the following for preparing for the exams, in addition to reviewing their course notes. These books are listed either because they may have been assigned reading in some offerings of courses in the program or because they are helpful for understanding the material that may be tested on the exam. The exam does not focus on the books themselves, however. Students are not expected to read all or even many of these books. In several cases, multiple books are listed that cover the same material, but with a variety of perspectives or detail or level. Students should choose books (or portions of books) that review and supplement their course work, clarifying or expanding their understanding of doctrines or historical periods, according to their needs. Students may choose according to availability, need, perspective, or level.
Historical Theology
Surveys
Gonzalez, Justo L. A History of Christian Thought , rev. ed. 3 vols. Nashville, TN: Abingdon, 1983.
Gonzalez, Justo L. The Story of Christianity , 2 vols. Nashville, TN: Abingdon
Hill, Jonathan. The History of Christian Thought. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2003.
McGrath, Alister E. Historical Theology: An Introduction to the History of Christian Thought. Oxford: Blackwell, 1998.
Lindberg, Carter, ed. The Reformation Theologians. Oxford: Blackwell, 2002.
Lull, Timothy F., and William Russell, eds. Martin Luther's Basic Theological Writings. 2d ed. Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg, 2005.
Ozment, Steven. The Age of Reform 1250–1550: An Intellectual and Religious History of Late Medieval and Reformation Europe. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1980.
Contemporary Theology
Braaten, Carl E., and Robert W. Jenson, eds. A Map of Twentieth-Century Theology: Readings from Karl Barth to Radical Pluralism. Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress, 1995.
Ford, David F., ed. The Modern Theologians: An Introduction to Christian Theology in the Twentieth Century. 3d ed. Oxford: Blackwell, 2005.
Grenz, Stanley J., and Roger E. Olson. 20th-Century Theology: God and the World in a Transitional Age. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1992.
Schwarz, Hans. Theology in a Global Context: The Last Two Hundred Years. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2005.
Systematic Theology
Boyd, Gregory A., and Paul R. Eddy. Across the Spectrum: Understanding Issues in Evangelical Theology. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2002.
Erickson, Millard. Christian Theology , 2d ed. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1998.
Gonzalez, Justo L. Manana: Christian Theology from a Hispanic Perspective. Nashville, TN: Abingdon, 1990.
Gunton, Colin, ed. The Cambridge Companion to Christian Doctrine. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997.
McGrath, Alister E. Christian Theology: An Introduction. 3d ed. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 2001.
McGrath, Alister E., ed. The Christian Theology Reader. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1995.
McKim, Donald K. Theological Turning Points: Major Issues in Christian Thought. Atlanta: John Knox, 1988.
Gunton, Colin E., Stephen R. Holmes, and Murray A. Rae, eds. The Practice of Theology: A Reader. London: SCM, 2001.
Holcomb, Justin S., ed. Christian Theologies of Scripture: A Comparative Introduction. New York: New York University Press, 2006.
Jensen, Peter. The Revelation of God. Contours of Christian Theology. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2002.
Packer, J. I. God Has Spoken , 3d ed. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1994.
Gunton, Colin E. The Triune Creator: A Historical and Systematic Study. Edinburgh Studies in Constructive Theology. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 1998.
Olson, Roger E., and Christopher A. Hall. The Trinity. Guides to Theology. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 2003.
Packer, J. I. Knowing God. 2d ed. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1993.
Hoekema, Anthony. Created in God’s Image. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 1986.
Blocher, Henri. Evil and the Cross. Translated by David G. Preston. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1994.
Plantinga, Cornelius, Jr. Not the Way It's Supposed to Be: A Breviary of Sin. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 1995.
Blocher, Henri. “The Sacrifice of Jesus Christ: The Current Theological Situation.” European Journal of Theology 8, 1 (1999): 23–36.
Husbands, Mark, and Daniel J. Treier, eds. Justification: What's at Stake in the Current Debates. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2004.
Lane, Anthony N. S. Justification by Faith in Catholic-Protestant Dialogue: An Evangelical Assessment. Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 2002.
Stott, John R. W. The Cross of Christ. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1986.
Registrar’s Office. Failure by the student to withdraw before the deadline of two weeks prior to the exam date results in the exam being recorded as an “F” for that attempt.
Students may attempt any section of the comprehensive exam for their master’s program only twice. A student failing a particular exam may retake the exam only at the announced time in the following semester. Students who have failed parts of the exam are required to retake only the failed questions or sections, and the retake will involve the same subject matter with revised questions (or biblical passages). Failure to pass any area of the comprehensive exam on the second attempt results in failure to have the master’s degree conferred.
Students that fail or withdraw from the comprehensive exam will be precluded from participating in commencement activities for that academic year.
