Course Syllabus: Introduction to Theology

 

EAGLES NEST CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 

(ENCA)
GLOBAL SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY

Course Syllabus

Introduction to Theology

What We Believe

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”  — 1 Peter 3:15

Course Number	Credits	Level	Prerequisites
THEO 101	3 Semester Hours	Undergraduate / First Year	None
Term	Meeting Pattern	Classroom	Modality
[Fall / Spring 20___]	[e.g., Tue/Thu 9:00–10:20]	[Room____/ Campus______]	On-campus / Hybrid / Online

 

Instructor:  ______________________   Office Hours:  [Days _____/ Times______ / Location_______]

Email:  __________________________  Office Phone:  ______________________

1.  Course Description

This foundational course introduces students to the nature, method, and content of Christian theology. Beginning with the question “What is theology, and why does it matter?”, students learn how the church has sought to know God faithfully from Scripture and then survey the major doctrines of the Christian faith: Scripture, God, creation, humanity, sin, Christ, the Holy Spirit, salvation, the church, and the last things.

The subtitle What We Believe names the course’s pastoral aim. Students will not merely catalog ideas. They will learn to state, from the Bible, what Christians have historically confessed; to distinguish gospel essentials from secondary matters; and to let doctrine shape worship, discipleship, and ministry. Scripture is treated as the supreme and sufficient source of Christian belief. Historic creeds and confessions are used as guides, never as rivals to the Word.

THEO 101 is the recommended first theology course and a prerequisite for subsequent systematic theology, historical theology, and doctrine electives.

2.  Course Rationale

Every Christian already has a theology—a working set of beliefs about God, the world, and the gospel. The only question is whether that theology is biblical, coherent, and livable. Bible college exists to form servants who can handle the Word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15) and give a reason for the hope that is in them (1 Pet. 3:15). This course therefore treats theology as both an academic discipline and a spiritual practice: faith seeking understanding, for the glory of God and the good of the church.

3.  Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Define theology and explain why every believer is a theologian called to love God with the mind (Matt. 22:37).

2. Identify the sources and method of evangelical theology, defending the inspiration, authority, sufficiency, and clarity of Scripture as the final rule of faith and practice.

3. Summarize the major loci of Christian doctrine (God, Scripture, humanity, sin, Christ, Spirit, salvation, church, last things) and support each from key biblical texts.

4. Distinguish essential (gospel-defining) doctrines from secondary and tertiary matters, and practice irenic disagreement within orthodox bounds.

5. Compose a personal statement of faith that is biblically grounded, historically informed, and written in the student’s own voice.

6. Apply theological truth to personal holiness, corporate worship, evangelism, and ministry decisions.

4.  Required Texts and Materials

• The Holy Bible. KJV, ESV, NASB, or NIV preferred for classroom quotation. Students may use the translation they memorize and study from daily.

• Grudem, Wayne. Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know. Revised Edition. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2022. (Primary textbook—clear, compact, and Scripture-saturated.)

• A printed or digital notebook for lecture notes, reading responses, and the developing Statement of Faith.

Recommended / Supplemental

• Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic, 2020. (For students who want the full treatment of any topic.)

• Bird, Michael F. What Christians Ought to Believe. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2016. (Doctrine through the Apostles’ Creed.)

• Packer, J. I. Knowing God. Downers Grove: IVP, any edition. (Devotional companion.)

• The Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed (provided in class; also found in most hymnals and many study Bibles).

5.  Course Outline at a Glance

The course follows the classic order of systematic theology while remaining introductory. Each unit answers a “What we believe…” question.

Wk	Unit / Question	Doctrinal Focus	Primary Reading
1	What is theology, and why does it matter?	Prolegomena	Grudem, Intro; selected essays
2	How has God made Himself known?	Revelation	Grudem, ch. 1 (Bible)
3	What do we believe about the Bible?	Bibliology	Grudem, ch. 1 (cont.); 2 Tim. 3
4	Who is God? Attributes of God	Theology Proper I	Grudem, chs. 2–3
5	How can God be Three and One?	Theology Proper II — Trinity	Grudem, ch. 3; Matt. 28:19
6	What do we believe about creation and the unseen realm?	Creation, Providence, Angelology	Grudem, chs. 4–5
7	What does it mean to be human?	Anthropology	Grudem, ch. 6
8	What is sin, and what has it done?	Hamartiology  ·  Midterm	Grudem, ch. 7
9	Who is Jesus Christ?	Christology I — Person	Grudem, chs. 8–9
10	What did Christ accomplish?	Christology II — Work / Atonement	Grudem, ch. 10
11	Who is the Holy Spirit, and what does He do?	Pneumatology	Grudem, chs. 11–12
12	How does God save sinners?	Soteriology	Grudem, chs. 13–15
13	What is the church?	Ecclesiology	Grudem, chs. 16–17
14	What do we believe about the last things?	Eschatology	Grudem, chs. 18–20
15	Essentials, non-essentials, and a living confession	Theological method revisited	Creeds; Statement of Faith due
16	Integration, review, and final examination	Capstone week	Comprehensive final exam

6.  Weekly Topics in Detail

Week 1 — Prolegomena: What Theology Is and Why It Matters

• Definitions: theology, doctrine, dogma, religion, worldview.

• Every Christian is a theologian; the danger of “tabloid theology.”

• Branches of theology: biblical, historical, systematic, practical, philosophical.

• Faith seeking understanding (Anselm). Loving God with the mind.

• Rules of engagement: irenic spirit, charity toward fellow believers, courage toward error.

Week 2 — General and Special Revelation

• General revelation in creation and conscience (Ps. 19; Rom. 1–2).

• Special revelation in mighty acts, the incarnation, and Holy Scripture.

• Why general revelation is real, and why it is not enough for saving knowledge of God.

• The relationship of nature, reason, tradition, experience, and Scripture.

Week 3 — Bibliology: What We Believe about the Bible

• Inspiration: verbal, plenary; 2 Timothy 3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:20–21.

• Inerrancy and infallibility of the original autographs.

• Canon: how the church recognized (did not create) the 66 books.

• Attributes of Scripture: authority, sufficiency, necessity, clarity (perspicuity).

• Basic principles of grammatical-historical interpretation.

Week 4 — Theology Proper I: The Being and Attributes of God

• The existence of God; names of God.

• Incommunicable attributes: aseity, immutability, eternity, omnipresence, simplicity.

• Communicable attributes: holiness, righteousness, love, goodness, wisdom, faithfulness.

• Knowing God versus merely knowing about God.

Week 5 — Theology Proper II: The Holy Trinity

• Biblical witness: one God, three distinct Persons, equal in deity.

• Key texts: Deut. 6:4; Matt. 3:16–17; 28:19; John 1:1–18; 14–16; 2 Cor. 13:14.

• Historic language: essence/substance, person, eternal generation, procession.

• Errors to avoid: modalism, Arianism, tritheism, subordinationism.

• Why the Trinity is essential for gospel, worship, and prayer.

Week 6 — Creation, Providence, and the Unseen Realm

• Creation ex nihilo; God as Maker of heaven and earth.

• Providence: preservation, concurrence, and government.

• The problem of evil: mystery, the cross, and pastoral care.

• Angels, demons, and Satan—biblical teaching without speculation.

Week 7 — Anthropology: Humanity in the Image of God

• Created male and female in the image of God (Gen. 1–2).

• Constitution of the human person: body and soul/spirit.

• Dignity, vocation, work, rest, and stewardship.

• Marriage, family, and the goodness of embodied life.

Week 8 — Hamartiology: The Doctrine of Sin  ·  Midterm Examination

• The fall (Gen. 3); original sin and inherited corruption.

• The nature of sin: rebellion, unbelief, idolatry.

• Total inability apart from grace; the wages of sin.

• Midterm covering Weeks 1–7 (definitions, key texts, short essays).

Week 9 — Christology I: The Person of Christ

• Eternal Son; incarnation; virgin birth.

• True deity and true humanity in one Person (hypostatic union).

• Kenosis rightly understood; Christ’s sinlessness.

• Historic landmarks: Nicaea (325), Chalcedon (451).

Week 10 — Christology II: The Work of Christ

• Offices of Christ: Prophet, Priest, and King.

• Atonement: substitution, propitiation, reconciliation, redemption, victory.

• Death, burial, bodily resurrection, ascension, and session.

• The exclusivity of Christ as the only way to the Father (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).

Week 11 — Pneumatology: The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

• The Spirit’s full deity and distinct personhood.

• The Spirit in creation, Scripture, the life of Christ, and the church.

• Conviction, regeneration, indwelling, sealing, filling, and sanctifying.

• Spiritual gifts: purpose, discernment, and charity amid differences.

Week 12 — Soteriology: The Doctrine of Salvation

• The gospel in summary: God, man, Christ, response.

• Calling, regeneration, conversion (repentance and faith).

• Justification by grace through faith; imputed righteousness.

• Adoption, sanctification, perseverance, and glorification.

• Grace and works: Ephesians 2:8–10 as the pattern.

Week 13 — Ecclesiology: The Doctrine of the Church

• The church as the people of God, body of Christ, and temple of the Spirit.

• Marks of the church: Word, sacraments/ordinances, discipline, mission.

• Baptism and the Lord’s Supper: meaning and practice (survey of views).

• Leadership, membership, unity, and the church’s mission to the nations.

Week 14 — Eschatology: Last Things

• Personal eschatology: death, intermediate state, resurrection.

• The return of Christ: blessed hope, judgment, and consummation.

• Heaven and hell; the new heavens and new earth.

• Survey of millennial views (pre / post / a-); essentials versus intramural debate.

Week 15 — What We Believe Together

• Essentials, convictions, and opinions (theological triage).

• The Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds as summaries of the rule of faith.

• Unity and diversity in the body of Christ.

• Personal Statement of Faith presented and discussed.

Week 16 — Integration and Final Examination

• Review of the whole counsel of God as a single story.

• From confession to life: worship, ethics, and mission.

• Comprehensive final examination.

7.  Assignments and Assessment

Grade Weighting

Component	Weight	Points
Class participation, discussion, and weekly preparation	10%	100
Weekly reading quizzes (best 12 of 14)	15%	150
Scripture memory (10 passages, recited or written)	10%	100
Doctrine brief #1 (Bibliology or Theology Proper) — 800–1,000 words	10%	100
Doctrine brief #2 (Christology or Soteriology) — 800–1,000 words	10%	100
Personal Statement of Faith (1,500–2,000 words, with Scripture)	15%	150
Midterm examination (Weeks 1–7)	12%	120
Comprehensive final examination	18%	180
TOTAL	100%	1,000

Assignment Descriptions

Weekly quizzes. Short closed-book quizzes on assigned reading and prior lecture. Lowest two scores are dropped. Quizzes reward faithful weekly work rather than last-minute cramming.

Scripture memory. Ten passages that underwrite the course doctrines. Students may recite to a classmate (who signs a verification sheet) or write the passage from memory in class. One translation must be used consistently.

Doctrine briefs. Two short papers. Each brief (1) states the doctrine in the student’s own words, (2) traces the main biblical witness, (3) notes one historic error or contemporary challenge, and (4) names one pastoral or personal implication. Use at least eight Scripture references. Cite the textbook when used.

Personal Statement of Faith. The capstone writing assignment. Students compose a first-person confession covering the major loci of the course (Scripture, God, Trinity, humanity and sin, Christ, Spirit, salvation, church, last things). Every paragraph must be anchored in Scripture. The statement should be suitable to hand to a church, mission board, or future congregation. A draft workshop occurs in Week 14; the final copy is due Week 15.

Examinations. A mix of vocabulary, short identification of key texts, short-answer, and one or two essay questions. A study guide is released one week prior. The final is comprehensive, with heavier weight on Weeks 8–15.

Grading Scale

A  =  93–100%	A−  =  90–92%	B+  =  87–89%	B  =  83–86%
B−  =  80–82%	C+  =  77–79%	C  =  73–76%	C−  =  70–72%
D+  =  67–69%	D  =  63–66%	D−  =  60–62%	F  =  below 60%

8.  Scripture Memory List

Memorize in one consistent translation. Recitation or written reproduction is accepted. Passages may be completed in any order but must all be finished by Week 15.

#	Reference	Doctrinal Focus
1	2 Timothy 3:16–17	Inspiration and sufficiency of Scripture
2	2 Peter 1:20–21	The Spirit’s role in the origin of Scripture
3	Deuteronomy 6:4–5	The oneness of God and the call to love Him wholly
4	Matthew 28:18–20	The Trinity, the authority of Christ, and the church’s mission
5	Genesis 1:26–27	Humanity created in the image of God, male and female
6	Romans 3:23–24	Universal sin and justification by grace
7	John 1:1–4, 14	The eternal Word made flesh
8	Isaiah 53:5–6	Substitutionary atonement foreshadowed
9	Ephesians 2:8–10	Salvation by grace through faith, unto good works
10	1 Corinthians 15:3–4	The gospel: Christ died, was buried, and rose

9.  Course Policies

Attendance and Participation

Theology is learned in community. Students are expected to attend every class session, arrive prepared, and contribute charitably. More than three unexcused absences will reduce the participation grade and may result in a full letter-grade penalty at the instructor’s discretion. Official college activities, documented illness, and family emergencies are excused when the instructor is notified promptly.

Late Work

Assignments lose 5% per calendar day late, up to one week. Work more than seven days late is not accepted except by prior written arrangement. Quizzes missed for an excused absence may be made up within one week. Unexcused missed quizzes receive a zero (the drop policy exists for this reason).

Academic Integrity

The college’s academic integrity policy applies in full. Plagiarism, including uncredited use of AI-generated prose presented as one’s own theological work, is a violation. Students may use study tools, commentaries, and (with disclosure) language models as research aids, but every submitted paper must be the student’s own reasoning in the student’s own words, with Scripture and sources cited. A first offense typically results in a zero on the assignment; a second offense is referred for disciplinary action.

Classroom Climate

Disagreement is expected; contempt is not. Students will address historic Christian positions and one another with the charity the gospel requires. Secondary doctrines (baptismal mode, millennial views, gifts of the Spirit, and similar intramural questions) will be presented fairly. The instructor will state the college’s confessional position where the institution has one, without requiring identical conclusions on non-essentials.

Technology

Laptops and tablets are permitted for note-taking and Bible software. Phones should be silenced and put away unless used as a Bible. Recording of lectures requires the instructor’s prior consent.

Accessibility and Pastoral Care

Students who need academic accommodations should contact the college’s student-success or disability office at the start of the term. Students carrying pastoral burdens—doubt, grief, or crisis of faith—are warmly invited to speak with the instructor or the campus pastor. Theology class is a classroom, not a substitute for soul care, but it should never be a place where struggling saints are left alone.

10.  Suggested Statement-of-Faith Outline

Use this skeleton for the capstone paper. Write in the first person (“I believe…” / “We believe…”). Support every article with Scripture.

• I. The Holy Scriptures — inspiration, authority, sufficiency, canon.

• II. The Triune God — one essence, three Persons; attributes.

• III. Creation and Providence — God as Maker and Governor.

• IV. Humanity and Sin — image of God, the fall, human inability.

• V. The Person and Work of Jesus Christ — incarnation, atonement, resurrection.

• VI. The Holy Spirit — person, work in salvation and the church.

• VII. Salvation — grace, faith and repentance, justification, sanctification, assurance.

• VIII. The Church — nature, ordinances/sacraments, mission.

• IX. Last Things — return of Christ, resurrection, judgment, new creation.

• X. The Christian Life — a brief concluding paragraph on worship, holiness, and hope.

11.  How to Adapt This Syllabus

Bracketed items (institution name, dates, room, instructor) are placeholders. The following adjustments are common:

• 8-week intensive or online term: combine Weeks 2–3, 4–5, 9–10, and 13–14; keep the Statement of Faith; reduce quizzes to weekly modules.

• Denominational colleges: add the institution’s confession (Baptist Faith and Message, Westminster Standards, Articles of Religion, etc.) as a required secondary text and map one class session to it.

• Certificate / institute track: drop the midterm, keep quizzes and the Statement of Faith, and replace the final with an oral theological interview.

• Advanced section: assign selected chapters from Grudem’s full Systematic Theology or Erickson in place of Christian Beliefs.

12.  A Word to the Student

Theology is not a hobby for the curious. It is the church’s long labor of saying truly who God is and what He has done in Christ. The goal of this course is not that you leave with a thicker notebook. The goal is that you leave more able to worship, more stable in trial, more useful to the church, and more ready to give an answer for the hope that is in you.

Read the Bible more than you read about the Bible. Pray the doctrines you study. And remember the warning and the promise that belong together: “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up” (1 Cor. 8:1)—and “this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3).

Soli Deo Gloria

This syllabus is a complete working draft for a first-year Bible college course.

Customize names, dates, confession, and calendar to your institution before distribution.