Dogmatics, Theology

Holy Scripture in Protestant Scholasticism

Taught by Ryan Hurd
Runs 4/10 – 6/17/2023
$225.00 – $399.00
Syllabus

This course examines the doctrine of holy Scripture in the early modern period, particularly through the lens of the theologian Franciscus Junius (1 May 1545–23 Oct 1602) and his previously untranslated disputations on holy Scripture. These disputations, held at Heidelberg and Leiden, represent an important early codification of Protestant scholastic reflection, and they also supplied the headwaters for further developments in later periods of (especially Reformed) orthodoxy. Considering the doctrine at this juncture and through this lens will enable the student to inquire more deeply on the issues in play with an eye to medieval forebears (e.g., Thomas), contemporary conversants (e.g., various Roman Catholic theologians), and later recipients (especially among the Reformed), yielding sensitivity to doctrinal development and difference throughout the catholic tradition.

Deadline to register: Wednesday, March 29th

 

 

ENROLLMENT OPTIONS

Auditing ($225):

participate in readings and live class sessions, but no graded assignments and no course credit

Full course (Full-Time Discount) ($275):

for-credit courses (at least four per term) toward our Certificate or M.Litt in Classical Protestantism

Full course ($399):

individual classes on a for-credit basis; you can later apply them toward a Certificate or Degree

 

ENROLL NOW

Description

This Theology course will be taught by Ryan Hurd, and will run from April 10th through June 17th. The syllabus can be found here.

This course examines the doctrine of holy Scripture in the early modern period, particularly through the lens of the theologian Franciscus Junius (1 May 1545–23 Oct 1602) and his previously untranslated disputations on holy Scripture. These disputations, held at Heidelberg and Leiden, represent an important early codification of Protestant scholastic reflection, and they also supplied the headwaters for further developments in later periods of (especially Reformed) orthodoxy. Considering the doctrine at this juncture and through this lens will enable the student to inquire more deeply on the issues in play with an eye to medieval forebears (e.g., Thomas), contemporary conversants (e.g., various Roman Catholic theologians), and later recipients (especially among the Reformed), yielding sensitivity to doctrinal development and difference throughout the catholic tradition.

After giving some introduction to early modern scholasticism and the burgeoning doctrine of holy Scripture in the time period, the main component of the course consists in deep reading of approximately twenty disputations (supplied in English) which condense the main lines of Junius’s thought on, among other matters: true theology and its definition; holy Scripture’s definition and matter; its form, efficient cause, and end; its authority and perfection; the canon; interpretation; and its relation to tradition. As a supplement, we will also read several somewhat (then) contemporary treatments (Mastricht, Turretin, and the Synopsis Purioris), as well as both Scheeben and Bavinck’s works on holy Scripture for two more recent accounts.

Ryan Hurd is a systematic theologian whose area of expertise is doctrine of God, specifically the Trinity. His primary training is in the high medievals and early modern scholastics as well as the 20th century ressourcement movement. He has written a number of articles and regularly does translations of early modern theology sources; but his primary project is writing a systematics of the Trinity. He is currently a doctoral student at Theologische Universiteit Kampen.

Details

Online only, runs 10 weeks, meeting 2 hr./wk. via Zoom. Students will also have the option to participate in class discussion on the Davenant Common Room Discord server. Register to reserve your spot and schedule will be set after a poll of participating students; if the class time does not fit your schedule, you will be eligible for a full refund.

This is a graduate-level course. Although a BA is not a necessary pre-requisite for this course, students should come prepared to do graduate-level work.