United Theological CollegeZimbabwe
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Christian Theology

Short courses you can take from anywhere, with a certificate at the end.

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The major doctrines of the Christian faith, from God and Christ to the last things

Beginner · 5 hours · Free · Certificate on completion · Taught by M. Mujinga

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This course is for pastors, evangelists, lay leaders and anyone who wants a clear, ecumenical introduction to Christian doctrine. It begins with what theology is and where it comes from, then walks through the great doctrines of the faith: God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Trinity, creation and humanity, sin, salvation, the church, the sacraments and the last things.

Each lesson explains how a doctrine grew out of Scripture and the debates of church history, presents the views of different Christian traditions fairly, and asks what the doctrine means for faith and ministry in Africa today, especially in contexts of poverty, suffering and injustice.

What you will learn

  • Explain what theology is and how Scripture, tradition, reason and experience inform it
  • Describe the historical development of the doctrines of Christ, the Spirit and the Trinity
  • Compare major views of sin, salvation, the church and the sacraments across traditions
  • Discuss the problem of evil and suffering from a Christian perspective
  • Distinguish realised, futurist and inaugurated eschatology
  • Apply Christian doctrine to ministry in an African context

Course outline

Unit 1: Prolegomena: What Is Theology? (2)
  • Prolegomena: What Is Theology? 10 min
  • Unit 1 quiz 10 min
Unit 2: The Doctrine of God (2)
  • The Doctrine of God 10 min
  • Unit 2 quiz 10 min
Unit 3: Christology I: Development and the Arian Controversy (2)
  • Christology I: Development and the Arian Controversy 10 min
  • Unit 3 quiz 10 min
Unit 4: Christology II: The Person of Christ and His Titles (2)
  • Christology II: The Person of Christ and His Titles 10 min
  • Unit 4 quiz 10 min
Unit 5: The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit (2)
  • The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit 10 min
  • Unit 5 quiz 10 min
Unit 6: The Trinity I: Biblical Foundations and Historical Development (2)
  • The Trinity I: Biblical Foundations and Historical Development 10 min
  • Unit 6 quiz 10 min
Unit 7: The Trinity II: East, West, Perichoresis and Appropriation (2)
  • The Trinity II: East, West, Perichoresis and Appropriation 10 min
  • Unit 7 quiz 10 min
Unit 8: The Doctrine of Creation and Humanity (2)
  • The Doctrine of Creation and Humanity 10 min
  • Unit 8 quiz 10 min
Unit 9: The Doctrine of Sin and the Concept of Han (2)
  • The Doctrine of Sin and the Concept of Han 10 min
  • Unit 9 quiz 10 min
Unit 10: Theodicy: God and the Problem of Evil (2)
  • Theodicy: God and the Problem of Evil 10 min
  • Unit 10 quiz 10 min
Unit 11: Soteriology: The Doctrine of Salvation (2)
  • Soteriology: The Doctrine of Salvation 10 min
  • Unit 11 quiz 10 min
Unit 12: Ecclesiology: The Doctrine of the Church (2)
  • Ecclesiology: The Doctrine of the Church 10 min
  • Unit 12 quiz 10 min
Unit 13: The Doctrine of the Sacraments (2)
  • The Doctrine of the Sacraments 10 min
  • Unit 13 quiz 10 min
Unit 14: Eschatology: The Doctrine of the Last Things (2)
  • Eschatology: The Doctrine of the Last Things 10 min
  • Unit 14 quiz 10 min

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