Orthodox Theology

Course Code: BTT10

Resources for Constructing Theologies: Orthodox Theology

BD III, Semester 1, 2 Credit Hours, College Paper

Course Objectives:

1. To acquaint the students with the content of the Orthodox Christian faith by considering the progressive formulation of the doctrine in the ancient Christian period.
2. To help the students visualize those critical, creative, constructive and imaginative engagements with the doctrines which will enable them to transform the life and witness of the Church to make it reflect God’s reign of love, decisively embodied, and manifested in, through, and around Jesus Christ.
3. To deepen the apostolic faith in the students and to help them understand its theological implications for today.
4. To enable the students to equip themselves through ascetical and liturgical preparations towards a meaningful theological engagement for edifying the Church and also for expressing Orthodoxy in Praxis in a groaning world.

Course Requirements:

• Final Examination: 60%
• Internal Assessment: 40%

Course Outline:

I. Orthodox Theology: Introduction, Sources and Pre-requirements

• Theology, Orthodoxy, dogma, doctrine, experience, etc.
• Revelation, faith response, and interpretation.
• Apostolic faith and theology.
• Cataphatic and Apophatic theology.
• Holy Tradition and traditions.
• Sources: The Bible, Liturgy, Patristics, Councils, Canons, Creeds, Saints, etc.
• Orthodox theology is:
  1. Scriptural.
  2. Mystical.
  3. Ecclesial.
  4. Liturgical.
  5. Symbolic.
  6. Poetic.
  7. Pastoral.
  8. Contextual.
• Pre-requirements:
  1. Ascetical experience and holiness.
  2. Prayer life.
  3. Participation in the ecclesiastical life.
  4. Exposure to the experience of the people.

II. Immanent Aspect of Theology

• The mystery of Creation and Eco Theology.
• Human Presence.
• Jesus Christ, the perfect Human Image of God.
• Pneumatology.

III. Transcendent aspects of Theology

• Vision of a Triune God.
• Eschatology.

IV. Ecclesiological Understanding of Theology

• Ecclesia.
• Ministry.
• Worship.

V. Orthodoxy and Ortho-Praxis

• Orthopraxis a litmus test of Orthodoxy.
• Liturgy after liturgy.
• Concept of Unceasing Marturia.
• Incarnation and inculturation.
• Sharing God and Sharing World.
• Personal fulfillment and shaping of the world.

Bibliography:

PRIMARY

• Aleaz, K.P.A. Convergence of Advaita Vedanta and Eastern Christian Thought. Delhi: ISPCK, 2000.
• George, K.M. Light to the Nations. Kottayam: Divyabodhanam, 2011.
• Gregorios, Paulose Mar. The Church and Authority. Kottayam: MGF and ISPCK, 2001.
• Samuel, V.C. An Orthodox Catechism on the faith and life of the church. Kottayam: MGOCSM Bookshop & Publishing, 1997.
• Vaidyan, Math ew. Thinking about God: Christian Theology — An Introduction. Kottayam: Divyabodhanam Publications, 1989.
• Ware, Kallistos. The Orthodox Way. N.Y: St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1990.

SECONDARY

• Allen, Diogenes. Christian Belief in a Post-Modern World: The Full Wealth of Conviction. John Knox Press, 1986.
• Athappilly, Sebastian. Mystery and Destiny of the Human Person: A Theological Anthropology. Bangalore: Dharmaram College, 1933.
• Balthasar, Hans Urs Von. A Theological Anthropology. N.Y: Sheed and Ward, 1967.
• Basil the Great, On the Holy Spirit. New York: St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 2012.
• Behr, John. The Formation of Christian Theology Vol. 1: Way to Nicaea. New York: St. Vladimirs Seminary Press, 2001.
• Bettenson, Henry, ed. The Early Christian Fathers. New York: Oxford University Press, 1956.
• Bobrinskoy, Boris. The Mystery of the Trinity: Trinitarian Experience and Vision in the Biblical and Patristic Tradition. NY: St.Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1999.
• Carnell, Edward John. The Case for Orthodox Theology. London: Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1961.
• Clendenin, Daniel B. Eastern Orthodox Theology. Michigan: Baker Academic, 1999.
• Coniaris, Anthony M. Making God Real in The Orthodox Christian Home. Minneapolis: Light and Life Publishing Company, 1977.
• Fahey, Michael A. Trinitarian Theology East and West: St. Thomas Aquinas – St. Gregory Palamas. Brookline: Holy Cross Orthodox Press, 1977.
• Gonsalves, Francis. Goi/o/’OwrSoz7. New Delhi: ISPCK, 2010.
• Gregorios, Paulose Mar. The Joy of Freedom: Eastern Worship and Modern Man. London: Lutterworth Press/Richmond, Virginia: John Knox Press, 1967; reprint edition, Madras: CLS, 1986.
• Hall, Stuart G. Doctrine and Practice in the Early Church. Eugene: Cascade Books, 2011.
• Harkianakis, Stylianos. The Infallibility of the Church in Orthodox Theology. Sydney: Atf Press, 2008.
• Hopko, Thomas. The Orthodox Faith Doctrine. New York: The Department of Religious Education, The Orthodox Church in America, 1981.
• Jurgens, William A. The Faith of the Early Fathers. Vol.I-III. Bangalore: Theological Book Trust, 1995.
• Kallarangatt, Joseph. Pneumatocentric Ecclesiology in Nikos Nissiotis, Kottayam: WiGi Printers, Manganam, 1999.
• Kelly, J.N.D. Early Christian Doctrines, 5th rev. ed., London: Continuum, 2000.
• Koodapuzha, Xavier, ed. Eastern Theological Reflections in India: Kottayam: Oriental Institute of Religious Studies India, 1999.
• Lossky, Vladimir. In the Image and Likeness of God. N.Y: St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1985.
• Maloney, George A. History of Orthodox Theology Since 1453, Thiruvanthapuram: Kerala State Archives Department, 1976.
• Maniyattu, Pauly. East Syriac Theology: Satna: Ephrem’s Publications, 2007.
• Meredith, Anthony. The Holy Spirit: Growth of a Biblical Tradition. New York: Paulist Press, 2012.
• Meyendorff, John. Christ in Eastern Christian Thought. NY: St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1987.
• Migliore, Daniel L. Faith Seeking Understanding: An Introduction to Christian Theology. Cambridge: Wm. B. Werdmans, 2004.
• Pathil, Kuncheria and Veliath, Dominic. An Introduction to Theology. Bangalore: The Theological Publications, 2003.
• Pelikan, Jaroslav. Credo: Historical and Theological Guide to Creeds and Confessions of Faith in the Christian Tradition. Yale: Yale University Press, 2003.
• Shapiro, Marc B. Limits of Orthodox Theology. London: Littman Library of Jewish Civilization, 2004.
• Sheard, Robert B. Christian Faith for Today: A Contemporary Look at the basics of faith. Mumbai: St. Paul Press, 2000.
• Sumithra, Sunand. Holy Father: A Doxological Approach to Systematic Theology. Bangalore: Theological Book Trust, 1993.
• Tharakan, K. ed., Triune God, Love Justice Peace. Kottayam: Ashram Press, 1989.
• Theokritoff, Elizabeth. Living in God’s Creation: St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, New York, 2009.
• Thomas, Owen C. Introduction to Theology. Serampore: ITL, 1989.
• Victus, Solomon. “Visitation of Conservatism in the talks of Ecological Conservationism” in Asian Horizons: Dharmaram Journal of Theology, Bangalore, Vol. 8, No. 3, September 2014.
• Zizioulas, John D. The One and the Many: Studies on God, Man, the Church, and World Today. California: Sebastian Press, 2010.

All Subjects

Friendly Note

Bachelor of Divinity Materials is your one-stop resource for comprehensive Biblical studies, designed to support students pursuing a Bachelor of Divinity (B.D.) and other theological courses. Our website is a dedicated platform that provides access to the full syllabus of the Bachelor of Divinity course along with detailed answers, ensuring a thorough understanding of every subject and topic covered in your curriculum.

Here, you will find a vast collection of assignments, study guides, articles, and research papers meticulously curated to assist you in excelling academically. The platform also features a rich selection of theological books, journals, and resources spanning diverse subjects such as Old Testament, New Testament, Systematic Theology, Church History, Biblical Languages, and Pastoral Studies.

To make your learning experience convenient and accessible, we offer downloadable PDFs of study materials, including books and journals, allowing you to learn anytime, anywhere. Whether you are preparing for exams, writing assignments, or conducting in-depth research, these resources are tailored to meet the needs of both students and scholars in biblical and theological studies.

With a commitment to empowering theological learners, our mission is to provide high-quality, authentic, and practical study materials. Explore Bachelor of Divinity Materials to grow spiritually, academically, and intellectually as you deepen your understanding of God’s Word and Christian doctrine. This platform is a valuable resource for aspiring ministers, pastors, and anyone dedicated to the study of theology and biblical teachings.