Trinitarian Theology
RGT2223H

Brief Syllabus - course not currently offered.

NEW: The on-line Bulletin Board is now open [link inactive].

Outline: 

The course will deal with history of triadology, christology and pneumatology in Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy. Areas will include apophatic and cataphatic theology; economic and immanent Trinity; creation; ecumenical councils; liturgy and sacraments. Reference will be made to the theological approaches of various Orthodox and Roman Catholic authors.

Goals: 

To situate these doctrines in an ecumenical setting, showing the diverse yet complementary theological approaches of East and West; to expose students to critical thinking about biblical exegesis, history of doctrines and their own theological traditions; to point to how Trinitarian theology is related to other areas of Christian doctrine (eg. ecclesiology, anthropology, soteriology). 

Brief Course Outline:

1. Introduction
- method; definitions: apophatic-cataphatic; economic-immanent Trinity, koinonia, revelation & Scriptures.
- pastoral approaches to preaching the Trinity.
- Platonic philosophy (cf. Timaeus).

2. God in the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament
- names of God; development of monotheism; creation; spirit (ruah) and word; corporate person.

3. Jesus Christ in the New Testament (1) 
- the christology of Jesus: "Who did Jesus say he was?"

4. Jesus Christ in the New Testament (2) 
- The christology of the New Testament authors: "Who did they say he was?"

5. Apostolic Fathers & Apologists (II-IIIrd centuries)
- Clem. Rome, Ig. Ant., Justin, Hipp., Tert., Clem. Alex., Origen.

6. Cappadocians & the Councils (III-IVth centuries) [Constantinople, 381-Chalcedon, 431]

7. The Chalcedonian Achievement; & Liturgy
- Cyril, Leo, Nestorius, Eutyches, & the Councils (Vth century) [Ephesus, 431; Chalcedon, 431]; Liturgical Roots of Trinitarian Theology 
- liturgical cycles; doxology; sacraments; iconography.

8. Monothelitism, Iconoclasm & the Filioque
Maximus Confessor [Constantinople III, 680], Iconoclasm and the Filioque
- monothelitism; patristic synthesis: modes of being and hypostasis.

9. Medieval Trinitarian Theology: Thomas Aquinas & Gregory Palamas
- relation with Augustine, Tertullian; substance; beatific vision; use of the Fathers.

10. Modern Theology
- Georges Florovsky & John Zizioulas 
- Trinity, church and time; current trends in Eastern triadology.

11. Modern Theology 
- Karl Rahner & Jurgen Moltmann

12. Modern Theology
- Elizabeth Johnson, Elisabeth Schussler-Fiorenza; feminist and liberation perspectives on God.

13. Counculsion - Modern Theology