THEO 202 Theological Essay
THEO 202 Theological Essay Liberty
In preparation for the Theological Essay and by completing your textbook readings, you will be equipped to objectively identify the core content of the doctrines of anthropology, hamartiology, soteriology, ecclesiology, and eschatology and distinguish scriptural passages supporting the above Christian doctrines (Syllabus MLOs: A, C and Module 8 LOs: 1, 4).
Choose a theological doctrine discussed in the course (from the listing of acceptable topics) and write a 1,250–2,000-word research paper in current Turabian format. Your paper must include the following sections:
- Statement of Topic (1 paragraph)
Describe the specific theological doctrine examined in your paper. Your topic must be a focused subtopic of a larger theological area.
- Philosophical Foundations or Presuppositions (1–2 pages)
State the philosophical assumptions that must be made in order to do theological analysis on this doctrine. Examples include view of the Bible, belief in the supernatural, understanding of science, etc. Discuss any philosophical viewpoints that cause tension when performing theological analysis on this doctrine. Examples include the relationship between science and religion, the relationship between religion and psychology, etc.
- Biblical Evaluation (1–2 pages)
Survey the major biblical teachings on this doctrine throughout the Bible. Listing biblical references is not sufficient for this section. Teachings must be categorized to describe a coherent understanding of the biblical witness as a whole.
- Historical Development (1–2 pages)
Survey how your chosen doctrine has been understood throughout the history of the Christian Church. Make sure the following time periods are addressed, describing the continuity and discontinuity of doctrinal development throughout history:
- The Ancient Church (100 AD–590 AD)
- The Medieval Church (590–1517 AD)
- The Reformation and Counter Reformation (1517–1648 AD)
- The Modern Church (1648–present)
- Theological Formulation (1–2 pages)
Discuss the various theological methods used to synthesize biblical and historical theology into a theological doctrine. After surveying the various methods, present the model you believe most accurately describes the biblical teachings. Support your claim with sufficient logical reasoning, scholarly sources, and Scripture.
- Practical Application (1–2 pages)
Describe the importance of this doctrine for life. Examine how the doctrine impacts your personal life, the Church community, and culture.
- Bibliography
A separate bibliography page must be included, citing all scholarly sources used.
Your paper must cite at least 3 scholarly sources in addition to the Bible and the textbook. Your paper must also include a cover page and footnotes. The bibliography page and cover page do not count towards the length requirement.