Course Syllabus

Course title: ST 602 Man & Sin

Course description: A systematic study of creation and providence; the origin, identity, and constitution of
man; the fall; the nature and consequences of sin; common grace.
Course instructor: Greg Nichols was ordained as a pastor in 1978. He is a graduate and former professor
of Trinity Ministerial Academy, Montville, NJ. He has a Master of Divinity degree
(M.Div.) from Reformed Baptist Seminary and is the author of Covenant Theology: A
Reformed and Baptistic Perspective (Solid Ground Books, 2011). He is a pastor of
Grace Immanuel Reformed Baptist Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Greg and his
wife Ginger have 4 children.
Course credit: 3 credits
Course requirements: Student must satisfactorily complete the following course requirements:
(1) Lectures The student must listen to all 31 lectures by Greg Nichols on Man & Sin either live or
via audio/video format.
COURSE OUTLINE
THE ORIGINAL CREATION
PART 1: ITS FORMATION: CREATION
PART 2: ITS OVERSIGHT: PROVIDENCE
PART 3: ITS APEX: MAN
SECTION 1: The Nature of Man
! Unit 1. The Origin of Man
! Unit 2. The Identity of Man
! Unit 3. The Constitution of Man
SECTION 2: The Ordinances and Relations of Man
! Unit 1. Marriage: Sexual and Social Relations
! Unit 2. Labor: Economic Relations
! Unit 3. Sabbath: Religious Relations
! Unit 4. Government: Political and Civic Relations
SECTION 3: The States of Man
! Unit 1. The State of Innocence
! Unit 2. The State of Sin
! Unit 3. The State of Grace
! Unit 4. The State of Glory
PART 4: ITS RUIN: SIN
PART 5: ITS FORBEARANCE: COMMON GRACE
(2) Reading The student must read completely the assigned reading in the following textbooks
(approx. 1,048 pages):
Bavinck, Herman. In the Beginning: Foundations of Creation Theology (Baker
Books, 1999). Read the entire book [approx. 260 pages].
Louis Berkhof, Systematic Theology (Eerdmans, 1941). Read pages 165-261
[approx. 92 pages].
G. C. Berkouwer, Man: The Image of God (Eerdmans, 1962). Read pages 67-
147, 194-309 [approx. 194 pages].
Anthony A. Hoekema, Created in Gods Image (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans,
1986). Read the entire book [approx. 240 pages].
John Murray, The Imputation of Adams Sin (Presbyterian & Reformed, 1977).
Read the entire book [approx. 95 pages].

The following reading is available in PDF format on Virtual Campus:
John Murray, Collected Works, vol. 2 (Banner of Truth, 1982). Read pages 3-
119 [approx. 114 pages].
B. B. Warfield, Biblical and Theological Studies (Presbyterian & Reformed,
1968). Read pages 238-61 [approx. 22 pages].
London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689. Read chapter 9 [1 page].

The substitution of another work for those listed above must be approved by the course
instructor in advance of its being read.
(3) Exams After completing the lectures through part 3, section 1, unit 3, the student should take
the midterm exam, which is worth 100 points and accounts for 45% of the students
final grade. After completing the remaining lectures, the student should take the final
exam, which is also worth 100 points and accounts for 45% of the students grade.
A study guide is provided on Virtual Campus to help the student preparing for the
exams. The student should direct any questions about the exam to Greg Nichols ([616]
249-7336; ggbrown2006@mac.com) or the seminary dean (dean@rbseminary.org).
Course grading: Lectures and reading = 10% / Midterm exam = 45% / Final exam = 45%