DE LA SALLE ARANETA UNIVERSITY

College of Arts, Sciences and Technology

Theology and Philosophy Department

COURSE SYLLABUS FOR SCHOOLYEAR: 2015 2016 1st TERM

History of Salvation with

Christology

Course Title:
Course No.:
Credit Unit:
Course
Facilitator:

TEOL101A
3 units (lecture)
Prof. Jasper T. Suquila, M.A.

School Year:

2015 - 2016

Trimester:
Prerequisite:
Class
Schedule:

1st Term
None
See Plotting Form

Course Description:
The course is a critical and reflective look into the different moments of Gods intervention in the history of
humanity, gradually disclosing Himself & His plan of salvation through persons & events in the life of
Israel until His Revelation reaches its fullness in the incarnation of His Son, Jesus Christ. The whole history
of salvation has for its central figure the person of Jesus Christ. Hence, salvation history in its very nature is
Christocentric. It is in Jesus that the entire history of humanity finds meaning. Thus, all events & persons in
the history of salvation are seen in the light of the person of Jesus, apart from whom they have no value.
The course shall make use of the Sacred Scriptures as its primary textbook since it is the Bible that contains
the record of Gods interventions with humanity & the testimonies of the members of the early Church
about their encounters with Jesus.
The course is divided into three parts. Part 1 is the Introduction; Part 2 is the Old Testament; Part 3 is the
New Testament.

Major Competencies:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

6.

The students demonstrate the expected familiarity with the books of the Holy Bible.
Demonstrate an understanding of the basic tools for Biblical interpretation.
Exhibit a better appreciation of Salvation History as Gods loving work and His personal
involvement in the life of faith of every believer.
Exhibit an active involvement and personal witnessing of their faith by aligning their daily life
according to the Divine plan.
Know and understand the importance of the Bible in the Christian prayer life.
Demonstrate an active involvement in the churchs liturgical celebrations especially in the
proclamation of Gods Word.

Course
Objectives:
1
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Know the nature of Theology & its relationship with faith, revelation, evangelization & catechesis.
Identify & describe the different books of the Holy Bible or Sacred Scriptures.
Be equipped with basic tools for understanding Sacred Scriptures.
Know the meaning & characteristics of salvation & salvation history.
Identify the significant events and personalities in the Old Testament & their respective roles in
salvation history.
6. Recall and describe the progressive covenants in Israel that pave the way for the new covenant in
Christ.
7. Appreciate that Jesus Christ is the fullness of Gods revelation & the Savior of the world.
8. Summarize the teachings of Jesus as presented in the beatitudes & parables.
9. Describe & interpret the miracles of Jesus.
10. Discover & discern the meaning & significance of Jesus passion, death & resurrection.
11. Discover & discern the role of Mary in the history of salvation.
12. Discover how the message of the Holy Bible is fulfilled in everyday life.

Value Objectives:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Realize the value of the Holy Bible in the life of the Church & of individual Christians especially
in encountering the person of Jesus.
Appreciate the efforts of the Church in preserving through her living traditions the teachings of the
Holy Bible.
Gratitude for the immensity of Gods love as manifested in creation, in the history of Israel &
made concrete in Jesus Christ.
Respect for the dignity of every person who is created in the image & likeness of God.
Respect & cultivate the natural environment & thus become good stewards of Gods creation.
Love for Jesus & gratitude for his ultimate sacrifice in liberating us from the bondage of sin.

7.
8.
9.
10.

Trust & confidence in Gods providence.

Patience & perseverance in times of trials & difficulties.
Live a simple lifestyle & be compassionate to the needy & marginalized.
Live a prayerful life.

Course Content:
Specific Objectives

Content Outline

Time
allotment

Unit One: Introduction

Chapter I Theology & Faith
A. On Theology
1. etymology & definition
2. as a science
1. Know the distinction
& relationship of
Theology with
Revelation, Bible,
evangelization &
catechesis.
2. Identify the different
dimensions of faith.
3. Compare and contrast
the distinction
between Christian
faith & Catholic faith.

B. On Faith
1. Faith in general
* Three dimensions of faith
(CFC)
* Paradoxical characteristics
of Faith (CFC)
2. On the Faith of Christians
* Essential characteristics
(PCP II)
3. On the Faith of Catholics
* characteristics
4. On College Theology
* Professional Theology
* Evangelization
* Catechesis
Chapter II Word of God: Revelation
A. Revelation in human experience

1. Discover the different

avenues & kinds of
revelation.
2. Recognize that Jesus
is the fullness of
Gods revelation.

B. Revelation as the Word of God

C. Avenues of Revelation
D. Kinds of Revelation
E. The transmission of Revelation

Week 1
(4 hours)

Chapter III Word of God: The Bible

A. The etymology of the word Bible
B. The Bible as the Word of God
C. The Books of the Bible
1. The two Testaments
2. Arrangement & Classification
* Old Testament
a. The Torah / the Pentateuch
b. The Historical Narratives
c. Wisdom Literature
d. Prophetic books
1. Identify, classify &
describe the books of
the Bible.
2. Know the basic
principles in biblical
interpretation.

* New Testament
a. The four Gospels
b. The Acts of the Apostles

Week 2
(4 hours)

* Letters / Epistles
a. Pauline
b. Catholic
* Book of Revelation
D. Inspiration of the Bible
* Wrong notions
* Catholic understanding
* Effects of inspiration
E. Inerrancy of the Bible
F. The stages in the formation of Sacred
Scriptures
G. Criteria for Canonicity
H. Interpretation of the Bible

1. Know the meaning &

characteristics of
salvation history.
2. Accept that Jesus is
the Savior of
mankind.

Chapter IV - Word of God:

Jesus Christ
A. Salvation in Jesus
B. Characteristics of salvation
C. Salvation history
1. The unfolding of Gods plan
2. Characteristics of salvation
history

Week 3
(4 hours)

Unit Two: The Old Testament

SALVATION HISTORY
1. Read, compare &
interpret the creation
accounts.
2. Discover the
fundamental truths of
our faith conveyed in

Chapter V - The Beginnings

A. Introduction to the Book of Genesis
1. The 1st creation account
2. The 2nd creation account

Week 4
(4 hours)

the first eleven

chapters of Genesis.
3. Know the nature &
the consequences of
the fall of man for
humanity.

3. The fall & other sin stories

- nature & meaning of sin
- consequences of sin
4. Promise of salvation

4. Explain the promise of

salvation in Genesis
3:15.
1. Know the significant
role of the patriarchs
of Israel in the history
of salvation.
2. Reflect & discern why
Abrahams faith is
unparalleled in preChristian history.
3. Discover the three
elements of divine
activity w/c started w/
Abraham as God
brings salvation to all
men.

Chapter VI - The Faith of our

Fathers & Mothers
A. The patriarchs of Israel, our ancestors in
faith
1. Abraham & the threefold promise
2. Isaac, the Son of promise
3. Jacob / Israel & his 12 sons from
whom the 12 tribes of Israel take
their descent.
4. The Patriarch Joseph

Chapter VII - Exodus

1. Appreciate the role of
Moses as Gods
instrument in
liberating Israel from
Egyptian slavery.
2. Discover the
significance of the
disclosure of Gods
name.
3. Summarize Moses
legacy of faith.
4. Discover the
significance of the
exodus from Egypt &
the covenant at Sinai
for Israel & for
Christians

A. Introduction to the book of Exodus

B. Israel in Egypt
1. Life & call of Moses
2. The disclosure of Gods name
3. The Plagues
4. The Passover
C. Israel in the wilderness
1. The crossing of the sea
2. Life in the wilderness

Week 5
(4 hours)

D. Israel at Sinai
1. Establishment of the Covenant
- The Ten Commandments
- The ritual ratification
- The Ark of the Covenant &
Tabernacle
- Sacrificial worship
E. Moses legacy of faith
F. Significance of the Exodus & Sinai events

1. Know the significant

role of Joshua, the
judges, kings &
prophets in the life of
Israel.

Chapter VIII - Judges, Kings

and Prophets
A. Pre-monarchic history
1. Joshua & the conquest of the
Promised land

Week 6
(4 hours)

2. The judges of Israel

a. The great judges (Ehud,
Deborah, Gideon, Jephthah &
Samson)
3. Israels cycle of infidelity

2. Describe the cycle of

infidelity depicted in
the book of Judges.
3. Discover why King
David is considered as
the King after Gods
own heart.
4. Know the major
themes emphasized by
the prophets

B. The united monarchy

1. King Saul
2. King David
3. King Solomon
C. The Split of the Kingdom
D. The Prophets of Israel.
1. Prophetic writings
2. Major prophetic themes
3. Prophets of the Northern
Kingdom
4. Prophets of the Southern
Kingdom
E. The Babylonian Exile
F. The prophets of the Exile
G. The post-exilic prophets
H. The Greek & Roman rule
MIDTERM EXAMINATIONS

Week 7

Unit Three: The New Testament

CHRISTOLOGY
1. Discover the world
into which Jesus was
born.
2. Know the nonChristian sources that
attest to Jesus
historical existence.
3. Identify the different
titles of Jesus w/c
reflect what the early
Christians believed
about him.
4. Trace the stages in the
formation of the
Gospels.
5. Identify the four
Gospels in terms of
authorship, date and
place of composition,
content,
characteristics &
themes emphasized.

Chapter IX Jesus & the Gospels

A. The world of Jesus
1. The land of Jesus & its people
2. Politics & economy
3. The Religion of Jesus & the
different groups within Judaism.
B. Titles of Jesus
C. The Gospel & Gospels
1. Stages in the formation of the
Gospels
2. Classification of the Gospels
D. The Incarnation
1. The divinity of Jesus
2. The humanity of Jesus

Weeks 8 and
9
(8 hours)

6. Know the meaning &

significance of the
incarnation of Jesus.
7. Discern the important
role of Mary in the
history of salvation.
1. Differentiate the
meaning of the
kingdom of God for
the Jews from the
teachings of Jesus.
2. Explain the
significance of Jesus
baptism & temptation
in the desert.
3. Identify the 12
apostles & their role
in the saving ministry
of Jesus.
4. Know the meaning of
the beatitudes & the
parables.
5. Recognize the
significance of Jesus
miracles.
1. Enumerate the reasons
why Jesus came into
conflict with the
religious & secular
authorities of the
Jews.

E. The Infancy Narratives

F. Mary in the Gospels

Chapter X - The Public Ministry of

Jesus
A. The royal messianic hope in Jesus
B. Jesus baptism
C. The temptation of Jesus
D. The call of the Twelve
E. The kingdom of God in the words of
Jesus.
1. The beatitudes
2. The parables of the kingdom

Weeks 10 and
11
(8 hours)

F. The kingdom of God in the works of

Jesus
1. The Miracles
2. Table - fellowship

Chapter XI - The Passion and the

Resurrection
A. Prelude to the passion

2. Recognize the
importance of the
Washing of the feet
3. Discern the deeper
meaning of the main
events w/c constitute
the passion & death
narratives.
4. Explain the proofs of
Jesus resurrection.
5. Know the significance
of the resurrection in
the teachings of the
Church.

B. The week of the passion

1. The last supper
2. The washing of the feet
3. The passion & death narratives
C. Teachings of the Church on Jesus
passion & death.
D. The Resurrection narratives & the
Proofs of Jesus resurrection.
E. Teachings of the Church on the
meaning & significance of the
resurrection

Chapter XII - The time of the Church

1. Describe the 1st
Christian community

Week 12
(3 hours)

A. The Pentecost

Week 13
(3 hours)

B. The early Church

as depicted in the Acts
of the Apostles.
2. Discover the
significant role of
Peter in the life of the
early Church.
3. Discuss Pauls role in
the spread of
Christianity among
the non-Jews.

C. Peter & Paul

D. The Letters
1. Pauline letters
2. Catholic letters
E. Parousia
1. Jewish eschatology
2. Christian eschatology

4. Compare & contrast

the Jewish & Christian
understanding of the
Parousia
Week 14
FINAL EXAMINATIONS

Instructional Learning Model and Strategy:

1. Formal lectures
2. Lecture Forum
3. PowerPoint presentation
4. Film showing
5. Reflection / reaction papers
6. Scripture reading (Bible Sharing Groups)
7. Silent reflection
8. Discussion
9. Brainstorming
10. Song analysis
11. Composition of prayers
12. Paraliturgical service

Course References:
Basic Readings:

The Holy Bible (NAB, NABRE or NRSV)

Textbook Salva Vida: Salvation Story & Study for College.
Victoria G. Esma & Richard Pazcoguin. Manila: UST
Publishing House. 2008.

Extended Readings:

ECCE. Catechism of the Catholic Church. Makati: Word and

Life Publications. 1992.
CBCP. Catechism for Filipino Catholics. Makati: Word of Life
Publications. 1997.
Web References:
www.ust.edu.ph
www.cbcponline.net

Instructional Media:

LCD
Computer
Films
Documentations

Grading System:
CLASS STANDING
Attendance (5%)
Assignment (5%)
Project
(15%)
Report
(15%)
Recitation
(30%)
Quizzes
(30%)

20%

MIDTERM EXAMINATION (100 items)

30%

FINAL PERIOD EXAMINATION (100 items)

30%

FINAL PRODUCT: DASAYAWIT 2016

Or Alternative Final Product:
Book Review and Analysis:
Voices In The Theater by A.S. Santos

20%

___________
100%

Prepared by:

Asst. Prof. Jasper T. Suquila, M.A.

Theology Instructor, TEOL101A

Approved by:

Prof. Sherwin A. Cabalsa, M.A.

Chair, Theology & Philosophy Department

Noted by:

Dr. Rosario Chu, Ph.D.

Dean, College of Arts, Sciences and Technology
De La Salle Araneta University