Academic courses – unit descriptions
Undergraduate history and theology units
Successful completion of learning objectives and assessment requirements assumes that students have access to the required learning resources listed for consultation and reference.
Note: unit descriptions are correct at time of publishing; however students should check with their lecturer before purchasing any required text books, or if there are any difficulties purchasing them.
HIS1001 History of Christianity
HIS1002 Early and Medieval Church History
HIS1003 Reform of the Church
HIS1005 Global Christianity
HIS1006 Lutheranism and Australian Christianity
THE1001 Prolegomena and the Triune God
THE1002 The Christian Faith
THE1003 Philosophy for Theology
THE1004 Hermeneutics
THE1005 Lutheran Confessions
THE1006 Formula of Concord
THE1007 Apologetics and World Religions
THE1008 Ecumenical Theology
THE1009 Sanctification
THE1010 Creation and Redemption
THE1011 Moral Theology
HIS1001 History of Christianity
Prerequisites:
- Nil
Course unit purpose:
Elective unit in all undergraduate courses
The purpose of this unit is that students may gain an overview knowledge of the major events, movements and issues experienced by the Christian community from its beginning to the present day, becoming, thereby, more skilled in interpreting the present and better able to help in shaping the future in their role as members of the Christian community in society.
Required texts:
- Hill, Jonathan, 2007. The history of Christianity, the new Lion handbook, Lion, Oxford UK. [2009 paperback available]
or
- Dowley, Tim, ed, 1990. The history of Christianity, a Lion handbook, rev ed, Lion, Oxford UK.
Also required, to purchase or borrow, is a book on Luther (listed in order of preference for this unit):
- Nestingen, James A, 2003. Martin Luther: a life, Augsburg, Minneapolis MN.
or
- Marty, Martin, 2004. Martin Luther, Penguin lives series, Penguin, New York NY.
or
- Kittelson, James M, 2003. Luther the reformer: the story of the man and his career, Fortress, Minneapolis MN.
or
- Bainton, Roland H, 2009. Here I stand: a life of Martin Luther, Hendrickson, Peabody MA. (First published Abingdon Press, Nashville, 1950)
HIS1002 Early and Medieval Church History
Prerequisites:
- Nil
Course unit purpose:
This is a core unit of the BTh/BMin ordination stream; elective for other courses.
The purpose of this unit is to enable students to gain knowledge and understanding of the church’s historical development in theology, structure, worship, and mission from Pentecost through to the late medieval period [AD 1400], and to reflect on the significance of this history for the present situation of the church.
Required texts:
- Gonzalez, Justo, 2010. The story of Christianity, volume 1: the early church to the reformation, 2nd ed, HarperOne, New York NY.
- Stevenson, James, ed, 1987. A new Eusebius: documents illustrating the history of the church to AD 337, rev ed WHC Frend, SPCK, London.
HIS1003 Reform of the Church
Prerequisites:
- Early and Medieval Church History is desirable but not essential
Course unit purpose:
This is a core unit of the BTh/BMin ordination stream; elective for other courses.
This unit involves students in the history of the Reformation era so that they may better understand the church of today, and the Lutheran tradition in particular as a movement for evangelical reform within the church catholic.
Required texts:
- Kittelson, James M, 1986. Luther the reformer: the story of the man and his career, Augsburg, Minneapolis, MN. [Or 2003 paperback edition]
- Lindberg, Carter, 2010. The European reformations, 2nd ed, Wiley-Blackwell, Chichester England.
HIS1005 Global Christianity
Prerequisites:
- Early and Medieval Church History and Reform of the Church are desirable but not essential
Course unit purpose:
This is a core unit of the BTh/BMin ordination stream; elective for other courses.
This unit enables students to gain knowledge and understanding of the church’s historical development from post-Reformation times up until the present as motivated and determined by its nature as a movement of biblical proclamation, worship, care, and mission.
Required texts:
- Gonzales, Justo L, 2010. The story of Christianity, volume 2: the Reformation to the present day, 2nd ed, Harper & Row, San Francisco CA.
HIS1006 Lutheranism and Australian Christianity
Prerequisites:
- Nil
Course unit purpose:
This is a core unit of the BTh/BMin ordination stream; elective for other courses.
The purpose of this unit is to examine and debate important aspects of the arrival, impact, current features, and character of Christianity in Australia, and within that framework to focus in particular on the history of Lutheranism in this country.
Required texts:
- Breward, Ian, 1993. A history of the Australian churches, Allen & Unwin, St Leonards NSW [reprinted, 2004, I Breward, Garden City VIC].
- Leske, Everard, 2009. For faith and freedom: the story of Lutherans and Lutheranism in Australia 1836-1996, rev ed, Friends of Lutheran Archives, Brompton SA.
THE1001 Prolegomena and the Triune God
Prerequisites:
- Lutheran Confessions is desirable but not essential.
Course unit purpose:
This is a core unit of the BTh/BMin ordination stream; elective for other courses.
This unit is foundational for the study of theology. It reflects on the nature of theology and its relation to worship and the receptive life. It also examines theological methodology, the nature and function of Scripture, tradition, and experience, as well as the biblical teaching of the triune God and the so-called new trinitarianism. The purpose of this unit is to give the student the necessary basis for further study in systematics.
Required texts:
- Bayer, Oswald, 2008. Martin Luther’s theology: a contemporary interpretation, translated by Thomas H Trapp, Eerdmans, Grand Rapids MI.
- Gunton, Colin E, 2002. The Christian faith: an introduction to Christian doctrine, Blackwell Publishers, Oxford.
THE1002 The Christian Faith
Prerequisites:
- Nil
Course unit purpose:
Core unit of DipTh and all related diploma courses; elective for other courses.
This unit aims to introduce students to the basic teachings of the Christian faith from a Lutheran theological perspective and to demonstrate the evangelical and pastoral applications of the teachings.
Required texts:
- Hebart, Friedemann, 2000. One in the gospel: the Formula of Concord for our day, 2nd ed, Openbook, Adelaide SA.
- Kolb, Robert, 1993. The Christian faith: a Lutheran exposition, Concordia Publishing House, St Louis MO.
- McGrath, Alister E, 2010. Christian theology: an introduction, 5th ed, Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford UK.
Note: Students taking this unit at ACU Brisbane Campus (McAuley at Banyo) should contact the lecturer for advice on required texts
THE1003 Philosophy for Theology
Prerequisites:
- Nil
Course unit purpose:
This is a core unit of the BTh/BMin ordination stream; elective for other courses.
The purpose of this unit is to introduce students to the major philosophical ideas and traditions that have had an influence on theology, and to help students understand the relation between philosophy and theology.
Required texts:
- Clark, Kelly, Richard Lints and James Smith, 2004. 101 key terms in philosophy and their importance for theology, Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville KY.
- Leithart, Peter, 2008. Solomon among the postmoderns, Brazos Press, Ada, MI.
THE1004 Hermeneutics
Prerequisites:
- Bible Introduction 1 and 2 are desirable but not essential
Course unit purpose:
This is a core unit of the BTh/BMin ordination stream; elective for other courses.
This unit seeks to introduce students to the principles and practice of the discipline known as hermeneutics, expose students to a range of significant hermeneutical approaches, demonstrate a Lutheran biblical hermeneutic, and thereby help students develop self-awareness as interpreters of the Bible and proficiency in completing an exegesis as basis for biblical study and sermon preparation.
When applied to biblical studies, hermeneutics—from a Greek verb meaning ‘to explain’ or ‘to interpret’—deals with the history, the theory and the craft of biblical interpretation. The word ‘hermeneutic’ is then applied to specific theories of biblical interpretation, such as a fundamentalist hermeneutic, a Lutheran hermeneutic, a feminist hermeneutic, a liberationist hermeneutic, or an ecological hermeneutic, each with its distinctive set of guiding principles.
Required texts:
- Gorman, Michael J, 2009. Elements of biblical exegesis: a basic guide for students and ministers, rev ed, Hendrickson, Peabody MA.
- McKenzie, Steven L and Stephen R Haynes, 1999. To each its own meaning: an introduction to biblical criticisms and their application, revised and expanded, Westminster John Knox, Louisville KY.
THE1005 Lutheran Confessions
Prerequisites:
- Reform of the Church is desirable but not essential
Course unit purpose:
This is a core unit of the BTh/BMin ordination stream; elective for other courses.
This unit introduces students to the Lutheran Confessions as contained in the Book of Concord. It concentrates on the overall content of the Lutheran Confessions, especially the Augsburg Confession, to help them to appreciate the background and main themes of the confessions for the study of theology and for the life of the church.
Required texts:
- Fagerberg, Holsten, 1972. A new look at the Lutheran Confessions (1529–1537), Concordia, St Louis MO.
- Gassmann, Gunther and Scott Hendrix, 1999.Fortress introduction to the Lutheran Confessions, Fortress, Philadelphia PA.
- Kolb, Robert and Timothy J Wengert, eds, 2000. The Book of Concord: the confessions of the EvangelicalLutheranChurch, Fortress, Minneapolis MN.
THE1006 Formula of Concord
Prerequisites:
- Nil
Course unit purpose:
This is a core unit of the BTh/BMin ordination stream; elective for other courses.
This unit provides students with a grounding in the doctrinal content of The Formula of Concord in the context of its historical and theological setting, assists them in assessing their own and the Lutheran Church of Australia’s present-day commitment to it, and explores its place in the life and worship of the church.
Required texts:
One of the following:
- Tappert, Theodore G, ed, 1959. The Book of Concord, Fortress, Philadelphia PA.
- Kolb, Robert and Timothy J Wengert, eds, 2000. The Book of Concord: the confessions of the evangelical Lutheran church, Fortress Press, Minneapolis MN.
- Kolb, Robert and Timothy J Wengert, eds, 2002, Book of Concord on CD-ROM, Fortress Press, Minneapolis MN.
THE1007 Apologetics and World Religions
Prerequisites:
- Completion of the majority of the BTh course is desirable, but not essential.
Course unit purpose:
This is a core unit of the BTh/BMin ordination stream; elective for other courses.
The purpose of this unit is to introduce students to the foundations, history, and functions of Christian apologetics, and then, with an apologetic focus, to study major world religions and a variety of other non-Christian movements.
Required texts:
- McGrath, Alister E, 1992. Bridge-building: effective Christian apologetics, Inter-Varsity Press, Leicester UK.
- Partridge, Christopher, ed, 2005. The New Lion handbook: the world's religions, 3rd ed, Lion, Oxford UK.
THE1008 Ecumenical Theology
Prerequisites:
- Sanctification is desirable but not essential.
Course unit purpose:
This is a core unit of the BTh/BMin ordination stream; elective for other courses.
This unit introduces students to the ecumenical movement and the main traditions within the Christian church, helps them to critically engage with some of the most important documents that have been produced through conversations between the churches, and introduces them to the idea of receptive ecumenism.
Required texts:
- Kasper, Walter, 2009. Harvesting the fruits: basic aspects of Christian faith in ecumenical dialogue, Continuum, London and New York.
THE1009 Sanctification
Prerequisites:
- Creation and Redemption is desirable but not essential.
Course unit purpose:
This is a core unit of the BTh/BMin ordination stream; elective for other courses.
This unit is foundational for the study of theology. It reflects on the third article of the creed. It takes in the justification and sanctification, ecclesiology, and eschatology. The purpose of this unit is to give the student an understanding of how the doctrinal issues associated with sanctification fit into the theology and life of the church.
Required texts:
- Bayer, Oswald, 2008. Martin Luther’s theology: a contemporary interpretation, translated by Thomas H Trapp, William Eerdmans, Grand Rapids MI and Cambridge UK.
- Gunton, Colin E, 2002. The Christian faith: an introduction to Christian doctrine, Blackwell, Oxford UK.
- Peters, Ted, 2000. God—the world’s future: systematic theology for a new era, 2nd ed, Fortress, Minneapolis MN.
THE1010 Creation and Redemption
Prerequisites:
- Prolegomena and the Triune God is desirable but not essential.
Course unit purpose:
This is a core unit of the BTh/BMin ordination stream; elective for other courses.
This unit is foundational for the study of theology and reflects on the doctrinal content of the first and second articles of the creed. Its purpose is to help students understand the distinctive emphasis that the Lutheran tradition gives to these doctrines and to learn how to teach them today in the light of modern questions and challenges.
Required texts:
- Bayer, Oswald, 2008. Martin Luther’s theology: a contemporary interpretation, translated by Thomas H Trapp, Eerdmans, Grand Rapids MI.
- Gunton, Colin E, 2002. The Christian faith: an introduction to Christian doctrine, Blackwell, Oxford UK.
- Kolb, Robert and Timothy J Wengert, eds, 2000. The Book of Concord: the confessions of the evangelical Lutheran church, Fortress, Minneapolis MN: Art VIII: Person of Christ, 616–34.
- Peters, Ted, 2000. God—the world’s future: systematic theology for a new era, 2nd ed, Fortress, Minneapolis MN.
THE1011 Moral Theology
Prerequisites:
- Sanctification is desirable but not essential
Course unit purpose:
This is a core unit of the BTh/BMin ordination stream; elective for other courses.
The purpose of this unit is to give students an understanding of the nature, basis, and norms of Christian morality and in particular an appreciation of the Lutheran ethos, its distinctive theological emphases, and the way the Lutheran church approaches ethical issues.
Required texts:
- Bloomquist, Karen L and John R Stumme, eds, 1998. The promise of Lutheran ethics, Fortress, Minneapolis MN.
- Childs, James M, 2006. Ethics in the community of promise: faith, formation and decision, 2nd ed, Augsburg Fortress, Minneapolis MN.
- Via, Dan Otto and Robert A J Gagnon, 2003. Homosexuality and the Bible: two views, Fortress, Minneapolis MN.
Either
- Schubert, David, 2004. Christian faith and freedom: Martin Luther’s ‘The freedom of a Christian’ paraphrased for today, D Schubert, Magill SA. [Available for purchase from ALC Reception]
Or
- Tranvik, Mark, 2008. The freedom of a Christian, Fortress, Minneapolis MN.
Updated: 29/08/2011 [1.07]
ALC | RTO/state code: 90032 | National code: 2287 | CRICOS No: 00707J | ACN: 108 602 151
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