Institute of Lutheran Theology

Available courses

MP 201 Proclaiming God's Word

Teacher: Rev. Mark Jamison
Teacher: Rev. John Rasmussen

The student will learn basic techniques and methods for studying Biblical passages and discerning a suitable message for preaching. In particular, the student will be taught the proper place of both Law and Gospel in Biblical preaching. Various approaches to developing and delivering a sermon will be examined. The students will write and deliver sermons as a crucial part of their development of proclaiming God's word. (2 Credits)

EPR 302 God, Logic and Semantics

Teacher: Dr. Dennis Bielfeldt

This course will examine basic principles of logic and
argumentation, including inductive and
deductive inference, formal models of logic, informal
fallacies, and theories of semantics and
reference, especially as they pertain to theological language and
critical reflection. Students are introduced to the power and
limitations of modal logic for clarifying and adjudicating theological
claims. Prerequisite: EPR 301 or permission of the instructor. (3 Credits

BT 490 Isaiah

Teacher: Rev. Dr. Mark Hillmer

An in-depth, word-for-word, study of the book of Isaiah utilizing the insights of modern scholarship in the service of the gospel according to Isaiah. (3 Credits)

HST 351i Lutheran Confessions in Context

Teacher: Rev. John Rasmussen

Study of the Lutheran Confessions.

BT 101 Principles of Biblical Interpretation

This course introduces and defends the Lutheran notion of the internal clarity of Scripture. Over and against much of the preceding tradition, Lutherans have claimed that no intermediary is required to interpret Scripture: Scripture interprets itself. This understanding is defended as the necessary condition of doing Lutheran theology faithfully. Various exegetical and hermeneutical methodologies are introduced and evaluated in light of theological pre-understandings.

BT 202 New Testament Theology and History

Teacher: Dr. Jack Kilcrease

This course introduces the New Testament, giving
careful consideration to matters of interpretation and examining theologically
the Synoptic Gospels, John, Acts, the Pauline Epistles, the Pastoral Epistles,
and the Book of Revelation.

BT 300 Greek

Teacher: Rev. David Knefelkamp

This course gives students the opportunity to learn koine Greek through a study of select New Testament texts. Prerequisite BT 299 or one year of college Greek. (3 credits)

BT 360 The Story of Evangelism

Teacher: Rev. Dr. Fred Baltz
Teacher: Dr. Richard Riley

The history of the church is to a great extent the history of its evangelism. This course follows the evangelistic activity of the church from its roots in the Old Testament through its emergence in the New Testament, and on through the centuries to the present time of unprecedented conversion to the Christian faith. The story includes periods of church expansion as well as decline, movements to celebrate and events to repudiate. Theologies and practices of evangelism will be discussed, and also the related discipline of apologetics. Students will learn lessons from the successes and failures of the past for their evangelical ministry today. (3 Credits)

BT 402 Wisdom and the Prophets

Teacher: Rev. Dr. Mark Hillmer

This course provides introduction both to the Wisdom literature (e.g., Psalms, Proverbs, Job) and the prophetic literature of the Old Testament. Emphasis will be placed on the content, form, composition, and the theological motifs of these books. (3 Credits)

EPR 310 Christian Ethics

Teacher: Dr. Robert Benne

This course’s purpose is to understand and employ a Lutheran Christian vision of the moral life and to examine how it addresses bioethics and political life. (3 Credits)

HST 102 Christian History - 1500 to Present

Teacher: Rev. Doug Morton

This course examines the development of the Christian Church and doctrine in the reformations of the sixteenth century, the Catholic counter-reformation, the rise of Protestant orthodoxies and pietism, the Enlightenment, and nineteenth and twentieth century theological development. Emphasis is placed upon the relevance of church history for Christian proclamation. (2 Credits)

HST 201 Lutheran Reformers & the Book of Concord

Teacher: Rev. John Rasmussen

This course examines the classical theological roots of the Lutheran Reformation, its leading figures, and its key documents -- especially those collected in the Book of Concord. Students are encouraged to think theologically in the way of the Lutheran Reformation. Major theological doctrines forged in the Reformation are carefully considered in light of how they apply to parish ministry today. (2 Credits)

HST 203 Defending and Spreading the Faith

Teacher: John Eidsmoe

HST 302 History of Christian Thought II (the Reformation)

Teacher: Dr. David Yeago

This course is an investigation of the various sixteenth century reformation traditions over and against the basic theological options available within late medieval scholasticism. The Lutheran Reformation is highlighted, and the course of its development is studied through the various inter-Lutheran controversies of the middle sixteenth century, to their closure in the Book of Concord. The nature and method of seventeenth century Lutheran Orthodoxy is also examined. (3 Credits)

HST 310 History of the Lutheran Church

Teacher: Dr. John Cobb
Teacher: Prof. Tom Jacobson

This is an exposé history of the Lutheran Church from the Book of Concord, through Lutheran Orthodoxy, to the Prussian Union of 1817 and beyond. This course investigates the formation of Lutheran constituencies in the nineteenth century and their movement towards union, as well as the twentieth century efforts towards cooperation and merger. The complex relationship between traditional Lutheran trajectories and the twentieth century ecumenical movement will be highlighted. (3 Credits)

HST 402 Christology

Teacher: Dr. Paul Hinlicky

This is an examination of the theology of the person and nature of Christ, including doctrines of incarnation and atonement, with special attention to Lutheran theological understandings of Christ’s significance. (3 Credits)

HST 591 Seminar: Topics in Reformation Theology

Teacher: Dr. David Yeago

This course will study the various elements in Reformaiton Theology. (3 Credits)

MP 102 Pastoral Theology

Teacher: Pr. Tim Swenson

This course investigates the relationship between the office of pastor, the content of historical faith, and concrete issues arising within a context of pastoral counseling. Emphasis is placed upon the methodological and hermeneutical priority of the law/gospel approach within a context of Seelensorge (care of souls). (2 Credits)

MP 320 Lay Education

Teacher: Pr. S. Theiss

This course will explore the pedagogy to convey the study of theology to the, "people in the pew". (3 Credits.)

This course studies the life of Dr. Martin Luther within his historical context. His theological innovations are highlighted and related to our contemporary cultural understandings. Students are taught to think theologically in the way of the Lutheran Reformation. Major theological doctrines forged in the Reformation are carefully considered and applied to parish ministry today. (3 credits)

MP 101 Lutheran Worship

Teacher: Pr. Tim Swenson

This course examines the components of Lutheran corporate worship. Students study the theological foundations of worship by examining selected historical and contemporary worship forms. Contemporary issues impacting worship are also investigated with the purpose of better understanding the presence of God in His Word and Sacrament. (2 Credits)