Department

Historical and Constructive Theology

The department studies the history of the Christian faith and its contemporary challenges, bringing historical, theological and contextual perspectives into conversation with African, South African and global contexts.

Academic focus Historical and constructive theology
Core areas Church history, theology and ethics
Study levels Undergraduate and postgraduate
Campus Bloemfontein

About the department

Historical Theology examines developments in the Christian faith across different historical periods, including the early and medieval periods, the Reformation and modern periods, and the twentieth century. The history of Christianity is also studied in African and South African contexts.

Constructive Theology considers how the traditional faith of the church is expressed in the present and how theology engages contemporary questions. The department's work includes Systematic Theology, Theological Ethics and Church Polity, alongside contextual and African theological engagement.

Areas of study

Historical Theology

Church history across historical periods, including the history of Christianity in Africa and South Africa.

Church Polity

The organisation and governance of the church, including questions concerning ecclesial structures and the relationship between church and society.

Systematic Theology

The content of Christian faith and its responsible interpretation in dialogue with biblical, contemporary and contextual voices.

Theological Ethics

Theological engagement with complex moral questions and ethical challenges in contemporary society.

Postgraduate studies

Advance your theological scholarship

The Faculty offers postgraduate qualifications supporting advanced theological study and research. Historical and Constructive Theology includes postgraduate specialisation in Church History and Polity and Systematic Theology.

Honours

Bachelor of Theology Honours

Specialisation in Church History and Polity is available at honours level.

Master's

Master of Theology

Discipline-directed specialisation includes Church History and Polity and Systematic Theology.

Church History and Polity

This field considers the development and history of the Christian church, including historical developments in Africa and South Africa, together with questions of church organisation and polity.

At postgraduate level, Church History and Polity includes advanced study of historical hermeneutics, contemporary South African historiography and current historical and church-political trends.

Systematic Theology

Systematic Theology studies the content of Christian faith in dialogue with the Bible and contemporary voices, providing a responsible account of the traditional doctrines of the church.

The Faculty's postgraduate offering includes a discipline-directed Master of Theology specialisation in Systematic Theology.

Theological Ethics

Theological Ethics engages questions of morality and the relationship between theological reflection and complex contemporary challenges.

Postgraduate study may engage the relationship between systematic theology, ethics and context, including theological responses to questions affecting personal, congregational and public life.

African and contextual theology

The department's work engages theology in African and South African contexts, bringing historical and theological scholarship into conversation with contemporary realities.

This contextual orientation supports critical engagement with African theological thought and with questions facing Christianity and society today.

Undergraduate education

A strong foundation in theological education

Undergraduate study introduces students to theological disciplines and the historical, systematic and contextual study of Christian faith. The Faculty's current academic information should be consulted for programme structures and module requirements.


FACULTY CONTACT

Academic Adviser
T: +27 51 401 2786
E: theology@ufs.ac.za

Teologie foto vir langs contact

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