Professor: Dr. Cornelis P. Venema (USA)
Time: September 7 – 12, 2024

Schedule:

Saturday, September 7 – 9:00-12:00
Monday, September 9 – 18:00 – 21:00
Tuesday, September 10 – 18:00 – 21:00
Wednesday, September 11 – 18:00 – 21:00
Thursday, September 12 – 18:00 – 21:00

Place: Akas street 13, Riga. Registration necessary for participation.
Language: English, with simultaneous translation channel in Russian (on Zoom).

COURSE DESCRIPTION

A theological study of the nature of man, his fall into sin; and of the covenant. An investigation of a Reformed approach to the doctrine of man in the tradition of John Calvin, utilizing the classic confessions of the Reformed tradition and the writings of leading Reformed theologians. The course will include a comparison of a Reformed approach with alternative approaches in the Roman Catholic and Protestant traditions.

ABOUT PROFESSOR

Cornelis P. Venema is the President and Professor of Doctrinal Studies at Mid-America Reformed Seminary, Dyer, Indiana.

He also serves as an Associate Pastor at Redeemer United Reformed Church in Dyer, and is co-editor of the Mid-America Journal of Theology and contributing editor of a column on doctrine for the monthly periodical The Outlook.

Venema, Ph.D, Princeton Theological Seminary, is the author of several books including The Promise of the Future  and The Gospel of Free Acceptance in Christ: An Assessment of the Reformation and New Perspectives on Paul.

He is married to Nancy, and they have four children. He has regularly taught at Baltic Reformed Theological Seminary since 1999.

COURSE REQIREMENTS

The work of the course will consist of completing the assigned readings, writing a paper, and taking a final examination.

• READING
  • Hoekema, Anthony. Created in God’s Image. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1986.
  • Louis Berkhof, Systematic Theology, Part Two: “The Doctrine of Man in Relation to God”.
    Deadline: September 7 (by the beginning of the course)

• COURSE PAPER
  • Each student will be expected to write a five-page paper on the biblical understanding of the “image of God” (image Dei). In the paper, the student should interact with the position of Anthony Hoekema (The Doctrine of Man, chapters 3-5), and also state his/her own view.
    Deadline: September 29

• FINAL EXAM
  • An exam study guide will be provided in due time.
    Deadline: September 22

INFORMATION:

Andrejs Prieditis, e-mail: aprieditis@brts.edu.lv,
Phone: (371) 26177539.

COURSE OUTLINE:

1. Introduction to the Doctrine of Man
   1. Knowledge of God and of ourselves
   2. Survey of the doctrine of man
2. The Creation of Man: Man as a Covenant Creature
   1. The creation of man
   2. Man in the image of God (imago Dei)
   3. Covenant of works
3. The Fall of Man: Man, as Fallen Covenant Breaker
   1. Introduction
   2. Confessions and the doctrine of original sin
   3. The doctrine of original sin
   4. The essential nature of sin
   5. The issue of man’s “self-image”
   6. Common grace and the restraint of sin
4. The Restoration of Man to Covenant Fellowship
   1. Introduction to the doctrine of the covenant
   2. Covenant of grace
   3. Covenant of redemption