ThM Seminar: Holiness (INTD 0930)
Department of Theology
Tyndale Seminary
Winter 2003
Thursdays at 8:30 a.m.
Office Hours (to be announced)
Instructor: Victor Shepherd
416 226 6380 ext. 6726
email: victor.shepherd@sympatico.ca 

Description
This course attempts to acquaint the student with that category (holiness) which is the primordium of biblical faith as it understands the nature of God and the nature of the life of God’s people.

Objectives
1] to explore the meaning and force of God’s holiness;
2] to understand the command, “You shall be holy…”. as the root command of scripture;
3] to understand the relation of this command to the “great commandment”: “You shall love the Lord your God… and your neighbour as yourself.”
4] to trace the interpretation of category and command in selected major thinkers;
5] to identify one-sided or erroneous interpretations in the history of the Church that have given rise to non-biblical declensions (e.g., the confusion between holy living and Platonic asceticism, or the confusion between holiness and religious subjectivism);
6] to assist the student in relating the category of holiness to major doctrines; e.g., creation, fall, sin, redemption, eschatology.

Prerequisites
Students will be admitted to the course in conformity to the regulations articulated in the Tyndale Seminary Academic Catalogue.

Requirements
Two essays, approximately 4,000 words each.

Evaluation
The two essays will be weighted equally.

Texts
To be purchased: David Willis, Notes on the Holiness of God. (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, ISBN: 0 8028 4987 3

To be distributed by the instructor: photocopies of material for remaining weekly sessions.

Please note:
1] The APA standard is to be followed in submitting written materials.
2] The student handbook should be consulted for matters pertaining to academic integrity.

Schedule