We Distinguish: A Free Greystone Resource for January
Our recent series of articles at Wince+Sing, Rescuing Mary from Rome: a Reformed Catholic Mariology, has caused many to consider the fact vs. fiction of what “reformed” really means. In light of this, and to help with the ongoing conversations, Greystone Theological Institute is pleased to offer our full module, We Distinguish, completely free to the public for the month of January!
Lectures:
Terminology: Why is "Reformed Catholic" preferable to "Calvinist" as a reference to the Reformed body of doctrine?
Protestant Scholasticism: Why is "Reformed theology" not only "Reformed catholic theology" but also "Reformed scholastic theology"?
The Confessional Principle: In what ways is the Reformed tradition of "normed norms" (norma normata) self-consciously ruled by Scripture as the "norming norm" (norma normans) that is not itself ruled by any other (norma normans non normata)?
Diversity: How important is it to appreciate that the Reformed theological tradition was not merely one of development characterized by external and internal disputes, but that many of these disputes remain unresolved, and thus Reformed theology includes a range of open questions?
Trinity, God, and Subordination: Should one speak of the Son eternally submitting to the Father if the simplicity of God is true, which means therefore that God has one essence and one will that is identical with his essence?
Good Works: In what sense(s) are good works necessary to salvation in traditional Reformed theology?
The Covenant with Adam and Sin: In what ways must we clarify our meaning when we refer to covenant and sin in relation to nature, creation, law, works, grace, or life?
Covenant, Church, and Baptism: How have the Reformed classically understood the relationship of covenant, regeneration, the Church, the sanctification of Christ himself, and children?
Description:
Calvinism is popular today in certain evangelical circles, but what do we mean by the term? There are some misunderstandings about Reformed theology that need to be corrected. This course will show how the scholastic method that was used by several generations of reformers can aid students of theology in their quest to know and promote theological truth. We will focus on the way the reformers viewed Scripture as a source of knowledge of God, the doctrine of the Trinity, the place of good works in the Christian life, and covenant theology. We will also note how these reformers managed diverse views within ecclesiastical harmony, content to leave some questions unanswered.
Today, there are many misunderstandings of the reformers and post-reformation theologians, especially as pertains to the doctrine of God and the Christian life. For many, Protestant Scholasticism is a term equal to the desire to go back to Rome. For others it is a unified theory of the nature of God and natural theology. Far from a move back to Rome or simply articulating a unified doctrine of God, Protestant Scholasticism, and the theologians of the 17th century, sought to express a confessional Reformed theology that took into account the Trinity, good works, the Christian life, ecclesiology, and even covenant theology—all in the mode, and with an eye to, the creedal heritage that came before. This course seeks to right some of these misunderstandings while offering a path forward.
The Greystone Membership:
For the modest amount of $18 a month (the price of a paperback), a Greystone Member subscriber enjoys unlimited access to all the resources added to our growing Greystone Connect library, which includes auditor-access to all full course module lectures and supplemental materials, special lectures, study day and weekend lecture series, our online postgraduate seminar series, and symposia and lecture events held by our Lydia Center for Women and Families.
The Membership has been carefully crafted to serve several distinct but related uses tied to emerging needs and opportunities in individual, group, and institutional theological formation. How can you use the Greystone Membership?
Use it for your daily personal growth in Scripture and theology.
Use it with friends or colleagues in your church, community, or organization as a way to focus attention together on a certain topic or theme.
Use it in your church body or with fellow clergy or ministerial trainees.
Use it at your institution as a robust continuing-education resource for students and/or faculty, or to supplement courses or programs.
Use it to customize an apprenticeship program for ministerial preparation or theological research training.
The possibilities are now many! And think not only of yourself but of others you may desire to encourage with such a resource: give the gift of the Membership to your pastor or church leader, or your theologically interested student or friend.