Bachelor of Theology
Overview
THE BIBLE
The first step of the Bachelor’s is an introduction to the Bible, in particular, the issues of its historicity and “truth”. Students are initiated to spiritual reading in order to truly savor the Bible’s meaning in the manner of the fathers of the Church. This implies learning to distinguish between the text’s different meanings: literal, spiritual, and moral. Scientific exegesis also enables understanding of various books according to their inner history, their structure, their literary genre.
PHILOSOPHY
A thorough understanding of philosophy is essential for theology. Indeed, many theological concepts are rooted in philosophical tradition. For example, what do we mean when we say that in Jesus Christ there is only one person, but two natures: human and divine? The word “person” can be understood in various ways according to whether one expresses oneself in Greek (hypostasis) or Latin (persona)? The same goes for the word “nature” (phusis or natura).
The first year of Bachelor’s includes an introduction to the history of philosophy, from the Presocratics to Plato and Aristotle, and an introduction to metaphysics.
TRINITARIAN THEOLOGY AND THE HISTORY OF EARLY CHRISTIANITY
The first year of theology is also devoted to the study of the Triune God, both one and three, following the history of Christian thought through the great ecumenical councils and the development of Christianity in the first centuries.
PROPHETS AND THEOLOGY
During the second part of the first year, students further explore the Bible through discovery of the prophets. The curriculum also covers an Introduction to Theology as well as courses in Fundamental Theology and Moral Theology.
SECOND YEAR OF THE BACHELOR’S IN THEOLOGY
The second year of theology deepens the development of the intelligence of faith, through the great Christological councils, concerning the identity of Jesus, recognised as Christ, Son of God, Word and God’s revelation.
THIRD YEAR OF THE BACHELOR’S IN THEOLOGY
The third year of theology presents the mystery of the Church in its missionary zeal, its fundamental unity and sacramental life.
It is also possible to take modules from other disciplines and/or in a different language (one course per year may be taken in a foreign language for which the student will be required to have a passive knowledge of the language in question).