Each year, Dr. Ryan M. McGraw gives a weeklong intensive course on Reformed Scholasticism. This year, the course will take place on August 16-19. This course is open to both students and auditors.
Instructor
Dr. Ryan M. McGraw the Morton H. Smith Professor of Systematic Theology and a minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC). He holds degrees from the California State University at Fullerton (BA), Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary (MDiv, ThM), and University of the Free State (PhD). He has pastored churches in California and South Carolina.
Dr. McGraw did his PhD research on the trinitarian theology of John Owen, who figures prominently in this class. In addition to his labors in the classroom and in the pulpit, Dr. McGraw also serves as the Seminary’s Academic Dean.
Course Description
This course introduces students to the theological method of historic Reformed orthodoxy and to research methodology. This was the most important period in history for the formulation and codification of Reformed theology. Studying it will better enable students to ground contemporary Reformed theology on a classic foundation. The course invites students into the subject through primary source reading, research, and writing, with heavy emphasis on Latin authors and texts in systematic theology. The course aims to train students to study Reformed scholasticism in its historical context and to express themselves well in writing on this topic. Those interested in learning sound research methodology and writing as well as the content and contributions of classic Reformed theology will benefit from this course.
Course Objectives
- To understand the significance of Reformed Scholastic theology for historical and contemporary theology.
- To learn proper historiography and research methods.
- To put proper methodology into practice through writing a major paper in historical theology.
- To appreciate the value of a contextually oriented historical theology.
- To distinguish and to separate historical theology from contemporary uses.
- To develop the skill of learning from historical theology in order to make contemporary applications.
- To recover Reformed theological method and not merely Reformed theological content.
- To understand the content of the Westminster Standards and other Reformed creeds in their international historical and theological contexts.
Course Schedule
Monday, August 16 (9AM-4PM)
Tuesday, August 17 (9AM-4PM)
Wednesday, August 18 (9AM-4PM)
Thursday, August 19 (9AM-4PM)
How to Register
Spots are available for purchase on this page (see below). For information on how to register “offline,” please contact Mrs. Kathleen Curto (Registrar) at registrar@gpts.edu or call the Seminary at 864.322.2717.
