Theology and Biblical Studies

Our Approach

Conservative, Ecumenical, Historical

As a classical Christian school, Capstone is committed to Christian orthodoxy and is particularly interested in cultivating the unity of various Christian traditions around the historic creeds. The school utilizes the Nicene Creed as well as Christian cultural and lifestyle commitments when hiring its faculty. At Capstone, the Bible is the rule and authority that governs school life and teaching. Capstone parents, students, and teachers from various Christian traditions respect one another out of reverence for Christ. We unite around the Gospel and the Jesus Christ. Where we disagree with one another, we do so charitably. We do not pretend that mutually exclusive claims can both be true. Instead, we engage in civil discourse in a shared pursuit of the Truth. We pray for unity, but not at the expense of truth. In the words of the apostle Paul, "Only let us live up to what we have attained. If on some point we differ, that too God will make clear to us." We study the Scriptures from beginning to end, and we read great believers and theologians across the history of the Church who bear witness to the truth and set examples for us to follow.

Lower School Biblical Studies Curriculum

The lower school approach to biblical studies is rooted in the great stories of the Bible. Using the Bible itself, teachers gather students around the biblical narratives that shape our understanding of the character of God by studying his relationship to his creation, and particularly mankind, their worth and purpose as his image-bearers, their moral imagination--particularly with regard to fulfillment of the greatest commands to love God and to love neighbor, and the wisdom and inspiration they can gain from the saints who have gone before them.

The lower school approach to biblical studies includes a great deal of memorization of Scripture, biblical geography, history, and textual organization that gives students the context and tools needed for upper school and a lifetime of personal and scholarly study of Scripture and theology.

Upper School Theology Sequence

Theology of the Bible, 6th Grade

 Our foundational course in theology for upper school is a 6th grade class intensive on the book of Hebrews.  Because Hebrews reveals how the Old Testament persons, events, and institutions foreshadow Jesus, students completing this course will have an excellent overview of how Jesus is the beginning, middle, and focal point of God’s creation and redemption as the perfect high priest, the faithful prophet, and the victorious king.  1 credit (2 semesters).

Apostolic Hermeneutics, 7th Grade

 7th graders will be introduced to the interpretive principles guiding the situational letters of Paul, Peter, and John (including Revelation) and used through the first few centuries of the Church.  By learning why, not merely what, the New Testament and Patristic fathers read the Scriptures as they did, students will be equipped for life-long personal study and the broader theological classes in our upper school.  1 credit (2 semesters).

Theology Proper and Anthropology, 8th Grade

 As students prepare to enter high school and use their foundational skills of reading and interpretation learned in 7th and 8th grade, they’ll learn the priceless value of systematic and hierarchical ordering of the biblical witness.  Logically beginning with the doctrine of God (theology proper), they’ll conclude the year with a look at themselves and human civilization (anthropology). The vital necessity to distinguish the Creator from the creature will be taught throughout (cf. Romans 1:16-23).  1 credit (2 semesters).

Theology of the Church and the Spirit, 9th Grade

 While the nature and necessity of God, alongside the nature and dependency of Man, will be studied in 8th grade, 9th grade’s theology of Christ as redeemer and head of the Church, and the Spirit’s fruitful presence among his people, will establish a powerful motive to love one another well, pursue faithfulness in local churches, and establish spiritual disciplines that will become life-long habits. 1 credit (2 semesters).

Biblical Theology, 10th Grade

 Having received the most essential aspects of systematic theology in previous years, our 10 graders will trace how God has revealed himself from one garden-temple in Eden to the last Garden-Temple in the New Jerusalem (cf. Rev 22). The logic and humility of God’s slow-unveiling of all aspects of our salvation will be examined through careful primary and secondary reading, student projects and presentations, and various written assessments.  This course completes the biblical focus of our theology classes before 11th and 12th grade applied theology classes in ethics and apologetics.  1 credit (2 semesters).

Applied Theology I, 11th Grade

 Having grounded discussions of Faith and Tradition in the biblical and historical evidence, students begin to apply those truths to modern competitors. A significant focus will be on major arguments for and against God’s existence, economic and biomedical ethics, and how rejections of Christianity have led to dramatically different systems of human civilization. 1 credit (2 semesters).

Theology II, 12th Grade

 Students will close their theological studies at Capstone with careful reading, discussion, and debate over competing views of the universe, human nature, technology, and the future. Socratic debate around primary texts and video clips will challenge seniors to firmly embrace and clearly apply what they have learned in their time at Capstone.  1 credit (2 semesters).