Lecturer: Dr Paul Thompson
paul.t@kvbcequip.org
+60 19 898 6509
Course Description
The third of three principal doctrine (or theology) subjects that collectively both covers the principal doctrinal loci as listed in typical systematic theologies, and prepares students for further in-depth theological study. This subject completes the coverage of the range of doctrines by focusing on pneumatology, ecclesiology and eschatology. Particular attention will also be given to integrating these loci into one coherent system.
Course Aims
By the end of the subject, the student will:
- Appreciate the need for theological study, to evaluating scholarly methods and the importance of the theologian’s character.
- Begin to realise both how all theology is inter-related, and that theological reflection should be at the centre of all Christian ministry.
- Be able to engage fully with typical systematic theologies on the subject’s doctrinal loci.
- Begin to reason theologically and critically evaluate other proposals on the subject’s doctrinal loci.
- Begin to apply their learning to ministry practice.
Provisional Schedule
Dates
Class
Topics
24/6/2025
Class 1
Introduction
Historical outline of key developments in Pneumatology
Recap of Theology I & II material.
1/7/25
Class 2
Recap contd.
8/7/25
Class 3
Recap contd.
15/7/25
Class 4
Pneumatology (1): Means of grace inc. intro to sacraments
22/7/25
Class 5
Pneumatology (2): Sacraments contd. (Baptism)
29/7/25
Class 6
Pneumatology (3): Sacraments contd. (Lord’s Supper)
Wesleyan perfectionism
KVBC (4-6 August)
Mid-Semester Break (11th-22nd August)
26/8/25
Class 7
Pneumatology (4): Pentecostalism and charismatic renewal
2/9/25
Class 8
The Church (1)
9/9/25
Class 9
The Church (2)
Malaysia Day (16th September)
23/9/25
Class 10
Eschatology (1)
30/9/25
Class 11
Eschatology (2)
Assessments
These assignments will not be marked according to whether you happen to agree with the lecturer or even your home church! They will instead be marked according to the quality of your argument for your
conclusion and being fair to alternative views.
- Reading Assignment
During the semester, you are required to read the pertinent chapters of Calvin’s Institutes.
For Theology 3:
§1.7 (Scripture Must Be Confirmed by the Witness of the Spirit…),
§3.1 (The Things Spoken Concerning Christ Profit Us by the Secret Working of the Spirit),
§3.25 (The Final Resurrection) – §4.20 (Civil Government)
pp. 74–81, 537–42, 987–1521
Calvin, John. Institutes of the Christian Religion. Translated by Ford L. Battles. Edited by John T. McNeil. 2 Vols. LCC 20–21. Philadelphia, PA: Westminster, 1960.
Online:
https://archive.org/details/institutesofchri0001calv_p7o5
https://archive.org/details/calvininstitutes0002calv
https://ccel.org/ccel/c/calvin/institutes/cache/institutes.pdf
This is best done after the relevant class not beforehand. Then you are more likely to understand the nuances of what you are reading.
You will need to complete a weekly reading diary and submit it via Moodle before midnight on Friday 31th Oct 2025. 5% marks will be deducted for not completing compulsory reading. - Book Review
Write a book review on the applicable book on eschatology.
Undergraduate:
Beynon, Graham. Last Things First: Living in the Light of the Future. Nottingham: Inter-Varsity, 2010.
Graduate:
Hoekema, Anthony A. The Bible and the Future. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1994.
1,250 (±10%) words
Deadline: before midnight on Friday 31st Oct 2025 - Essay
Who, and for what purpose, should be baptised?
Armstrong, John H., ed. Understanding Four Views on Baptism. Counterpoints: Church Life. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2007.
Letham, Robert. A Christian’s Pocket Guide to Baptism: The Water that Unites. Fearn, Ross-shire: Christian Focus, 2012.
Murray, John. Christian Baptism. Philadelphia, PA: P&R, 1974.
Schreiner, Thomas R. and Shawn D. Wright, eds. Believer’s Baptism: Sign of the New Covenant in Christ. NAC Studies in Bible & Theology. Nashville, TN: B&H, 2006.
3,000 (±10%) words
Deadline: before midnight on Monday 15th Sept 2025 - Exam
In-person at MBS during the exam week.
Each set of lecture notes will have a possible list of definitions, short questions and (in the first set of notes) integrative questions. The exam will consist of a random selection of these.
Three parts:
(i) Definitions — choose 10 out of 15
(ii) Short questions — choose 8 out of 15
(iii) Integrative questions — choose 1 out of 2
Remember: your answers need to be comprehensive.
Match the level of detail covered in the lecture notes.
Recommended modern systematic theologies
While not required reading, the following modern systematic theologies cover the topics in your Doctrine subjects:
For Theology 3:
| Book | Pages | Topics |
| Frame 2013 | 923–33, 1009–1097 | Parts 9.35 (The Holy Spirit), 9.45 (Glorification) – 11.51 (The Events of the Last Days) |
| Gruden 2020 | 778–800, 942–69, 998–1435 | Parts 4.30 (The Work of the Holy Spirit), 5.39 (Baptism in and Filling with the Holy Spirit), 5.41 (Death and the Intermediate State) – 7.57 (The New Heavens and New Earth) |
| Horton 2011 | 551–619, 688–1003 | Parts 5.17 (Called to be Saints…) – 5.18 (Union with Christ), 5.21 (The Hope of Glory…) – Glossary |
| Lethan 2019 | 597–647, 751–68, 790–907 | Parts 7.21 (Union with Christ) – 7.22 (Salvation and the Church); 7.26.1 (The Progress of the Christian Life [1]: The Lord’s Supper); 7.27 (The Church and Its Offices) – 8.31 (The Life of the World to Come) |
Frame, John M. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Christian Belief. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R, 2013.
Grudem, Wayne A. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. 2nd ed. London: Inter
Varsity; Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2020.
Horton, Michael S. The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims On the Way. Grand Rapids, MI:
Zondervan Academic, 2011.
Letham, Robert. Systematic Theology. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2019.
Selected additional bibliography
Pneumatology:
Allison, Gregg R. and Andreas J. Köstenberger. The Holy Spirit. Nashville, TN: B&H, 2020.
Bruner, Frederick D. A Theology of the Holy Spirit: The Pentecostal Experience and the New Testament Witness. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1970.
Chan, Francis. Forgotten God: Reversing our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit. Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2009.
Edwards, Jonathan. “The Distinguishing Marks of a Work of the Spirit of God, applied to that Uncommon Operation that has Lately Appeared on the Minds of the People of New England with a Particular Consideration of the Extraordinary Circumstances with which this Work is Attended.” Pages 2:257-77 in The Works of Jonathan Edwards. 2 vols. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1974. Reprinted Grand Rapids, MI: CCEL; https://ccel.org/ccel/edwards/works1, https://ccel.org/ccel/edwards/works2.
———. “A Faithful Narrative of the Surprising Work of God in the Conversion of Many Hundred Souls, In Northampton and the Neighbouring Towns and Villages of New Hampshire, In New England in a Letter to the Rev. Colman of Boston.” Pages 1:344–64 in The Works of Jonathan Edwards. 2 vols. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1974. Reprinted Grand Rapids, MI: CCEL;
https://ccel.org/ccel/edwards/works1, https://ccel.org/ccel/edwards/works2.
———. “Some Thoughts concerning the Present Revival of Religion in New England and the Way in Which It Ought to be Acknowledged and Promoted.” Pages 1:365–430 in The Works of Jonathan Edwards. 2 vols. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1974. Reprinted Grand Rapids, MI: CCEL; https://ccel.org/ccel/edwards/works1, https://ccel.org/ccel/edwards/works2.
Fee, Gordon D. God’s Empowering Presence: The Holy Spirit in the Letters of Paul. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1994.
Ferguson, Sinclair B. The Holy Spirit. Contours of Christian Theology. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1996
Gaffin, Richard B., Jr. Perspectives on Pentecost: Studies in New Testament Teaching on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R; Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1979.
Letham, Robert. The Holy Spirit. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R, 2023.
Michael, Green. I Believe in the Holy Spirit. I Believe. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1976.
Turner, Max. The Holy Spirit and Spiritual Gifts: In the New Testament Church and Today. Rev. ed. Carlisle,
England: Paternoster, 1999. Reprinted Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2005.
Williams, J. Rodman. Renewal Theology: Systematic Theology from a Charismatic Perspective. 3 vols. in 1
vol. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1996.
Ecclesiology:
Bannerman, James. The Church of Christ: A Treatise on the Nature, Powers, Ordinances, Discipline, and Government of the Christian Church. Students’ Reformed Theological Library. 2 vols. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1960.
Bray, Gerald L. The Faith We Confess: An Exposition of the Thirty-Nine Articles. Anglican Foundations 1.
Oxford: Latimer Trust, 2009.
Davie, Martin. Bishops Past, Present and Future. Malton, Yorks.: Gilead, 2022.
———. Bishops: A Concise Study. Oxford: Latimer Trust, 2022.
Jensen, Michael P. Reformation Anglican Worship: Experiencing Grace, Expressing Gratitude. The Reformation Anglicanism Essential Library 4. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2021.
Null, Ashley and John W. Yates III, eds. Reformation Anglicanism: A Vision for Today’s Global Communion. The Reformation Anglicanism Essential Library 1. Downers Grove, IL: Crossway, 2017.
Owen, John. “The True Nature of A Gospel Church and its Government.” Pages 16:1–208 in The Works of
John Owen. Edited by William H. Goold. 16 vols. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1965–1968.
Packer, James I. The Heritage of Anglican Theology. Downers Grove, IL: Crossway, 2021.
Eschatology:
Baxter, Richard. The Saints’ Everlasting Rest. London: Tegg, 1839 [1650]. Reprinted Fearn, Ross-shire:
Christian Focus, 1998.
Online: digitalpuritan.net/Digital Puritan Resources/Baxter, Richard/The Saint’s Everlasting Rest.pdf.
Boettner, Loraine. The Millennium. Philadelphia, PA: P&R, 1957.
Höhne, David A. The Last Things. Contours of Christian Theology. Leicester: Inter-Varsity, 2019.
Jensen, Peter. At the Heart of the Universe: What Christians Believe. Leicester: Inter-Varsity, 1991.