FELLOWSHIP FOR REVIVAL ACADEMY. Guided Private Study Programmes. Correspondence Courses. SYNOPSIS OF COURSES. Old Testament. New Testament. Theology (Biblical and Systematic). The History of Theology. The Mature Christian Life. Revivals. Christian World-View Philosophy. Christian Literature. Copyright (c) 1991,93 by the Fellowship For Revival. All Rights Reserved. OLD TESTAMENT. The Old Testament course is conducted in English, and does not require the learning or study of Hebrew, or of other ancient languages. First Level. This course begins with a basic study of all the Old Testament books, called the first level of the course. This first part can be done by someone who has little knowledge of the Old Testament. This part of the course can provide a broad introduction to the Old Testament. The Old Testament is studied in a normal academic manner, but the degree of difficulty is not great. Some work is also included which has a more devotional emphasis, and there is work on Old Testament themes related to preaching. Apart from the Bible itself, a single-volume commentary, and a substantial Bible dictionary are needed, as well as several other smaller books. Second Level. The second level of the Old Testament course is in two parts. The first part in the second level requires a more advanced study of the content of the books of the Old Testament, as well as much more extensive biographical and theological studies. Extensive studies are also made of sermons on Old Testament texts and themes by various preachers. The second part in the second level requires an extensive study of many different commentaries on the major books of the Old Testament, including a good knowledge of critical questions. The purpose is to see WHY the various commentators have taken different stances toward their subject material. It asks what world-views and assumptions underlie these various stances; what evidence there may be to support these views, and in what ways they might be verified; and it seeks to judge the value and validity of these various stances. In other words, it seeks to establish an understanding of the Old Testament as the Word of God, with authority in relation to our lives, and to the world. The whole course represents a substantial educational experience in Old Testament studies. NEW TESTAMENT. The New Testament course is modeled on the Old Testament course, described above. Each of the parts of the New Testament course can be described in the same way as the parts of the Old Testament course have been described. First Level. The first level begins in a way that requires very little previous knowledge of the New Testament, and makes a survey of all the New Testament books. Second Level. The second level is divided into two parts. The first of these makes a deeper study of the books of the New Testament, along with its theological themes, some character studies and devotional writings, and some sermons based on texts from the New Testament. The final part seeks to study critical, literary and philosophical issues relating to how we are to understand the New Testament. It involves the study of many commentaries which have varying viewpoints, world-views and assumptions underlying them. The student is expected, not only to discover what has been said, taught and written on these various issues, and why the differences exist, but also to consider what evidence there might be to support any of these viewpoints, and what value and justification they might have. This course, also, provides not only a simple introduction to the subject, but also develops into a widespread educational experience in New Testament studies generally. THEOLOGY. (Biblical and Systematic.) The main purpose of this course is to enable the student to develop his or her own theological thinking, building upon the shoulders of those who have gone before, and covering the whole range of subjects which are matters of theological concern. First Level. The first level of this course is in two parts. The first of these parts begins with a survey of the Bible, and this is followed by the study of a basic theological text. Neither of these sections require much previous experience in this subject matter. Those who have already done some formal studies in theology, or in the Bible, may be able to gain an exemption from doing this part of the course. The second part of the first level embodies a deeper look at several important historical figures, and studies their thought in terms of a system of theology, and in terms of their attempt to be biblical. No exemptions will be allowed in this part, but the course will be made to fit anyone who has done previous studies in theology. Second Level. The second level of the theology course also contains two parts. The first of these looks at fundamental philosophical questions which underlie all theological thinking. It raises such matters as the world- view of the theologian; human finiteness and its repercussions; the question of what evidence might be given in support of theological opinions; faith and reason; principles of biblical interpretation, etc. The second part of the second level of this theology course embarks upon a wide reading of the whole range of thought of a number of major theologians, and of several periods in the history of theology, in order to discover what was thought and why. This is, in turn, used as a quarry, or as a tool, to help the student develop his or her own thoughts upon the whole area of theology, and to test the student's reasons for holding these views. THE HISTORY OF THEOLOGY. As with the other courses, this history of theology course begins at a very basic standard, which can be done by someone who has little or no previous experience at formal theological studies. First Level. Therefore, the first level has two parts to it. The first part is very elementary and simple. It requires both (a.) an introduction to theology, and (b.) an introduction to the history of christian thought, and the life of the church. Also included is a brief study of the systematic nature of theological thinking. Theologians do not always write their work in the form of a system of thought, or in any systematic form. But it is often a good idea to try to understand what any theologian has written as a system of thought, with the logical development of its ideas. The second part of the first level involves the more intensive study of certain set theological texts by great theologians of the past. If students are doing this course as a formal correspondence course, and they have a reasonable previous experience in the study of theology, they may be granted an exemption from doing the first part of the first level. However, nobody will be exempted from part two. If the student has already studied some of the books which are normally set for this part of the course, then the tutor will set other books which the student has not yet studied. Second Level. The second level in the History of Theology course is also divided into two parts. 1. In the first part, the works of a number of great theologians down through the ages will be studied in some detail. The context of their work will be studied, as well as the development of their thought throughout their lives. This section involves solid study of a considerable range of theological subjects in their proper historical character. 2. The second part involves the study of various trends and changes in the history of theological thought. Special attention will therefore be given to the various factors which caused or helped to promote these changes. Similarly, special attention will be given to significant results which flowed from these changes. As a result, these theological trends and changes will need to be studied in the full context of their historical situation in all its complexity. Note This course seeks to pay unbiased attention to any and all theologians, according to their contribution to the church through the ages. An extra dimension is added, however, because special attention is given to theological figures within the history of revivals. This arises from the special interest that the Fellowship For Revival has in this area of research. It is not intended to imply that revival history is any more important than an unbiased research would reveal. And, it is a good service to the church to make a special study of this area, in order to establish the proper worth of thinkers in the field of revival history, because it is an area that has often been neglected in theological studies, as well as in secular studies. THE MATURE CHRISTIAN LIFE. This course covers THREE substantial and important areas: 1. The theology and practice of the christian life. 2. The christian spiritual classics. 3. Christian biographies. First Level. The first level of the course is divided into two parts. The first of these parts is simple and basic, and introduces the three areas lists above. The second part of first level goes into these three areas somewhat more deeply. Second Level. The second level of this course is divided into three major sections, corresponding to the three areas. Each section involves very extensive reading, study, considerations of the practice of christian living, and related matters, which arise in each of those three areas of study. 1. The theology and practice of the christian life covers a number of topics. These include such doctrines as preparation for conversion, conversion and regeneration, the work of the Spirit, assurance of salvation, fellowship with God, conflict with sin, Bible study and prayer, church, ministry and sacraments, and other matters related to christian maturity. However, we are not only concerned with the theory of these things, but their practice, also. This will be considered at length, and be an important factor. 2. A study of the christian spiritual classics involves digging deeply into the great spiritual writings of the church down through the ages. Generally, the writings used in the earlier parts of the course are the better known protestant writings in this field, such as Bunyan, Baxter and Andrew Murray. But, later in the course, writings are studied from many of the different christian traditions, ranging from Pentecostal and charismatic writers to Roman Catholic, Orthodox and early church writers. Again, we are concerned not only to study the experiences of others, but the practice, as well. We are concerned to allow God to do His own work in our lives in His own way. The experiences of others can help us in this regard. 3. Biographical studies of christians can also be a great mine from which we can quarry great wealth in our desire to grow in God. Again, the earlier works studied here are generally the lives of better known christians in the protestant churches. But later in the course, biographies are studied from many other christian traditions. REVIVALS. First Level. The first level of this course seeks to introduce the student to the nature of revival movements, their history in the Bible, and in more modern times. There is also a study of the nature of prayer, which is then applied to praying for revival. Second Level. The second level of the course on revivals is divided into SIX parts, which seek to develop a much more substantial grasp of the whole subject, and of its many parts, in the mind of the student. The studies seek to develop the student's own abilities to study further, for himself, on any aspect of the subject. These six parts are: o Prayer for Revival. o The History of Revivals. o Revivals and the Transformation of Society. o Literature and Historiography of Revivals. o Revivals and Theology. o Revivals and Psychology. As with all of the other courses, each of these parts may be studied separately, but the entire course represents a substantial educational experience in studying this subject. However, it is essential that such a subject should also have a practical intention. One of the aims of the course is to encourage everybody to prepare for, to pray for, and to experience heaven-sent revival where they are. Other long-range goals of revivals are also studied, and should be aimed at, in obedience to God, in our christian experience. CHRISTIAN WORLD-VIEW PHILOSOPHY. First Level. The first level of this course seeks to make a brief and simple introduction to several basic areas of philosophy which relate directly to the task of developing a coherent world-view. The study of the theory of knowledge (epistemology.) is developed further. And this is followed by a simple introduction to the philosophy of science, of history, and of religion. The philosophy of religion covered in this section is a particular approach to the subject, based in evangelical experience. This approach is a key part of the christian world-view philosophy developed throughout the course. This approach to the philosophy of religion is not generally the same as the academic approach taught in most seminaries, although all of the approaches are available to be studied at some point during the course. The last part of the first level deals in an introductory way with the philosophy of civilization. Second Level. The second level of this philosophy course represents a major undertaking for any student. But, again, parts may be done without doing the whole - although this will make it more difficult to obtain a balanced perspective on the whole subject. There are FIVE areas of study in the second level. The first area is primarily about the philosophies of the branches of knowledge, although it is prefaced with a study of human nature which relies largely upon studying the work of Reinhold Niebuhr. The study of the philosophies of the branches of knowledge is intended to show that similar patterns of thinking exist in the ways we acquire knowledge in various disciplines. Questions like the following are addressed: What standards are used in each discipline? What is considered to be sufficient to verify a theory, model or claim to know something in each of the disciplines? What degrees of certainty are possible? How much speculation takes place which is commonly thought to be proper knowledge? This study is intended to set a frame of reference for the study of faith and reason which follows in the next part of the course. The second area, on "Faith and Reason", seeks to show that an evangelical christian can know that the christian God exists, and that the New Testament is a reliable guide to God's will and Word. This can be known to be true as soundly as any normal human knowledge is possible. This section concludes with an outline of the topics which develop logically as a person builds a world-view. The third area, on "Christian Ethics", assumes that the arguments presented in the earlier sections have been successful in their general purposes. As a result, the understanding of ethics which is possible builds upon an authoritative understanding of the New Testament as God's word to man. In the fourth area, this view of ethics is then applied to certain areas of life, as examples which show how it will apply to every area of life. In the final section, the gospel preached and lived in the power of the Spirit of God is seen as God's basic way of transforming society into one showing greater likeness to God's will, and a greater degree of godliness. This is linked to the study of revival movements as a transformer of society which has been presented in the Academy's course on revivals. So, the five areas dealt with in the second level are:- 1. Philosophies of the Branches of Knowledge. 2. Faith and Reason. 3. Christian Ethics. 4. The Application of this Ethics to Every Area of Life. 5. The Transformation of Society. In its entirety, this philosophy course is a major undertaking. To complete the course represents an education in a most valuable and important area of thinking, and of life. The course sets out a subject which is of great importance. The development of thought with respect to christian world-views has a fundamental importance to our understanding of life, and of the world, which is a key factor in the growth of civilization in general, and of our society in particular. The value of these concerns is often not realized, understood or appreciated by many christians. Indeed, the whole subject of the philosophy of life, and the impact that these philosophies have upon the world, whether they are christian or not, is a subject of enormous importance for us all. CHRISTIAN LITERATURE. The general purpose of this course is to help a student realize the limitations of his or her present knowledge and reading, and to set before the student new areas of reading and knowledge to expand his or her mind. It has a particular application to christian literature, but has also a more general application. First Level. The first level in this subject contains FIVE units. The first three units introduce the student to the history of books, the history of libraries and of basic library science, and the nature and place of special libraries. In the fourth unit, an analysis is made of the full range of subject material covered by christian literature. This is followed by the student making an analysis of his or her past reading experience, and especially of the books which are personally owned at present. The final unit is a reading programme which is then prescribed by the tutor. This is aimed at introducing the student to a number of other areas of christian literature which have not been experienced before. Second Level. The second level contains FIVE more units, plus an optional extra unit. The first of these units makes another analysis of the student's previous reading experience, but, this time relating to the entire range of literature in English. The second unit is optional, and contains a brief introduction to christian theology, for those who have no previous experience of formal studies in theology. This leads, in the third unit, to another reading programme being prescribed by the tutor which is aimed at introducing the student to valuable areas of reading and knowledge which have not been experienced before. This may involve any subject. The fourth unit of the course deals with the business of library surveys, as an exercise using the student's newly acquired breadth of reading. The student is required to make evaluations of the book collections in several libraries of different types, including a theological library. This is meant simply as an exercise for the student, and is not intended as a judgment on any library or librarian. In the fifth unit, bibliographies, relating to christian literature especially (but not restricted to this), are studied in some detail, and the student is required to build a small bibliography on an agreed subject. The final unit involves a study of books currently in print. POST-GRADUATE OPTIONS. In all of the above subjects, the Fellowship For Revival Academy will help to promote opportunities for studies at a higher level than is required by any of the courses described in this synopsis. Enquiries about these possibilities, from any suitably qualified person, are welcome.