Core

Natural Law and Scriptural Authority

Although Protestants are familiar with the doctrine of sola Scriptura, they are less familiar with the equally important Reformation teaching that God reveals himself through the “two books” of Scripture and nature, and how the two relate. This course, with readings from Aquinas, Calvin, Hemmingsen, and Hooker, along with key Scriptural passages, will help students understand the meaning of sola Scriptura and the use of moral reason in classical Protestantism.

Taught by Dr. Brad Littlejohn and Dr. Alastair Roberts.

Runs 9/27-12/10/21.

This course is now full. However, as it is possible that some students may need to withdraw due to scheduling conflicts, please email registrar@davenantinstitute.org if you would like to be put on the waiting list.

Description

Taught by Dr. Bradford Littlejohn and Dr. Alastair Roberts, this course will run from September 27 through December 10. The syllabus is available to view here.

Although Protestants are well-familiar with the classical Protestant insistence on the doctrine of sola Scriptura, they are less familiar with the equally important teaching of the Reformers that God reveals himself through the “two books” of Scripture and nature. As Paul teaches in Romans 1 and 2, God has revealed enough of his nature to render us “without excuse” and given us a moral law “written on our hearts.” In an age that is in rebellion not merely against Scripture but against nature, it is urgent for us to recover both, and to understand a right how each serves to illuminate the other, and to help us walk faithfully in the midst of uncertainty.

This course, making use of classic readings from Aquinas, Calvin, Hemmingsen, and Hooker, along with meditation on key passages of Scripture, will help the student gain a right understanding of the meaning of sola Scriptura and the use of moral reason in classical Protestantism.

Dr. Bradford Littlejohn (Ph.D, University of Edinburgh) is a scholar and writer in the fields of political theology, Christian ethics, and Reformation history. He is the author of several books, including The Peril and Promise of Christian Liberty: Richard Hooker, the Puritans, and Protestant Political Theology (Eerdmans, 2017).

Dr. Alastair Roberts (Ph.D, University of Durham) is a Teaching Fellow of the Theopolis Institute and the Davenant Institute, a leading evangelical blogger and writer, and one of the hosts of the Mere Fidelity podcast. His personal podcast is Alastair’s Adversaria, where he produces daily reflections upon Scripture. He is the author of Echoes of Exodus: Tracing Themes of Redemption Through Scripture (2018).

 

Online only, runs 10 weeks, meeting 2hr/wk. via Zoom. Students will also have the option to participate in class discussion in the Davenant Common Room Discord server. Register now to reserve your spot. The course will proceed contingent on sufficient enrollment; on rare occasions, a class has to be cancelled due to insufficient interest. Once the registration period closes, the class meeting time will be set on the basis of a poll of availability from registrants. In case of cancellation or scheduling conflicts, students will be eligible for a refund or a transfer to another course.

 Although a Bachelor’s degree is not a necessary pre-requisite for this course, students should come prepared to do graduate-level work.