COURSE DESCRIPTION:(Salvation History)

This course is a critical and reflective look into the different moments of God’s intervention in the history of humanity, gradually disclosing Himself and His plan of salvation through persons and events, until this Revelation reaches its fullness in the Incarnation of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. The whole history of salvation has for its central figure the person of Jesus Christ. Hence, salvation history, in its very nature, is Christocentric. It is in Jesus that the entire history of humanity finds meaning. It is also to Him that history tends. Hence, all events and persons in the history of salvation are seen in the light of the person of Jesus, apart from whom they have no value.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:(Salvation History)

The course shall make use of the Sacred Scriptures as its primary textbook since it is the bible that contains the record of God’s interventions with humanity and the testimonies of the members of early church about their encounters with Jesus. The course, therefore, inevitably involves the actual reading of Sacred Scriptures in class in order to discover how God’s Word, enveloped in human words, continues to communicate to humanity today; and at the same time to facilitate a dialogue between the text of the bible and the day-to-day life of the Filipino student.

COURSE SYLLABUS:THY 1 (Salvation History)

The course is divided into three parts. Part 1 is the Introduction, Part 2 is the Old Testament, and Part 3 is the New Testament.

Theology I is a three-hours-a-week, three-unit credit course to be completed within one semester, and is a prerequisite for the subsequent Theology course.

Course Objectives:

At the end of the course, the students are expected to:WORD : be familiar with the books of the Bible and have some

understanding of basic biblical hermeneutics.WITNESS: grow in their faith and love for God, his Word, and His church.WORSHIP: use the bible in prayer and participate more actively

in liturgical celebrations especially in the proclamation of God’s Word.

A. UNDERSTANDING THEOLOGY

1. DEFINITION

Etymology: (THEOS: GOD / LOGOS:STUDY/SCIENCE)

HENCE, THEOLOGY IS THE SCIENCE OR STUDY OF GOD

THEOLOGY AS SCIENCE

In the sense that theology as a study of Godis also a systematic body of knowledge

However, unlike other human sciences, theology solely relies on divine revelation

DIVINE REVELATION

Through revelation, God makes himself known…

…as well as his plan of salvation

God’s revelation comes to us even through

the most ordinary circumstance of our life.

Divine revelation can only be accepted by FAITH

Revelation is God’s initiative.

Through revelation God establishes a relationship with humanity

FAITHenables us to see God’s intervention even in

human history

Through theology: we learn of a God who is active in human affairs…

Not a God who watches from a distance

ON CATHOLIC THEOLOGY

Theology is part of the church’s evangelizing mission. To evangelize means to proclaim

the Good News—Jesus Christ.

The process of instruction on the faith for the purpose of leading the learners into maturity

in the faith is called catechesis.

In Catholicism, Theology is regarded as an attempt to explain things about God as well

as the teachings of the church.

SCHEMA:

EVANGELIZATION CATECHESIS THEOLOGY

Definition Initial proclamation of the Good News

Instruction on the Christian faith

Attempt to explain the teachings of the Church

Purpose Initial conversion Maturity in the faith

Better, meaningful, relevant explanation of the faith

ON COLLEGE THEOLOGY

It refers to religious education in the tertiary level of education. It is distinct from profession theology, which

aims at forming clerics and ecclesiastics.

Rather, the concern of college theology is to equip students of different disciplines with the fundamentals of Christian doctrine through sufficient knowledge and maturity in

the faith.

Therefore, while its content is truly theological, its methodology is catechetical.

Sadly, PCP II confesses that “many of the graduates of our schools despite these distinct advantages of their schooling, do not seem to have sufficient assimilated Christian values in such a way as to renew their living, and make them lay apostles in

their respective fields of endeavor.” We hear of corrupt politics practiced by products of prestigious catholic universities.

Perhaps these catholic professionals failed to encounter Christ in school. No” Christ” taken in, no “Christ given out.

ON COLLEGE THEOLOGY

Therefore, at the heart of College Theology should always be the person of Jesus. It is not merely about knowing things about Christ but knowing Christ Himself and entering into relationship with Him; for it is only through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ, that all of us can become agents for the renewal of our Filipino church and society.

Hence, THEOLOGY is:

The study of God and his relationship with man and the world

Studied through the use of reason illumined by faith