I. COURSE DESCRIPTION

Transcription

1 The Rt Rev. Dr. Grant LeMarquand (cell) or SPRING TERM 2019 COURSE SYLLABUS Department: Biblical Course Title: Introduction to the New Testament Course Number: NT500 Credit Hours: 3 I. COURSE DESCRIPTION This course is a survey of the story God s self-revelation in Jesus Christ and formation of a new covenant people in the church as this is found in the books of the New Testament. The course will emphasize biblical content, knowledge of the historical backgrounds to the New Testament events and documents, and acquaintance with basic concepts of New Testament theology. II. REQUIRED TEXTS The New Testament (any translation [i.e. not a paraphrase] or read in Greek if you so wish!) Paul Achtemeier, Joel Green & Marianne Meye Thompson. Introducing the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, ANY TWO of the following (for review): Gordon Fee. Jesus the Lord according to Paul the Apostle (Baker, 2018). Michael Gorman. Abide and Go: Missional Theosis in the Gospel of John (Wipf & Stock, 2018). Michael Gorman. Reading Revelation Responsibly (Wipf & Stock, 2011). Richard Hays. Reading Backwards: Figural Christology and the Fourfold Gospel Witness (Baylor, 2014). Martin Hengel. Between Jesus and Paul (Fortress, 1983). Craig Keener. Paul, Women & Wives (Hendrickson, 1992). Douglas Moo & Jonathan Moo. Creation Care: A Biblical Theology of the Natural World (Zondervan, 2018). N.T. Wright. The Challenge of Jesus (IVP, 1999). N.T. Wright. Paul: In Fresh Perspective (Fortress, 2005). John Howard Yoder. The Politics of Jesus (Eerdmans, 1972).

2 III. COURSE DESIGN Meeting weekly the class will work its way through the documents of the New Testament. Although we will begin with Paul (the earliest of the New Testament books) we will not follow a strictly chronological sequence (for example, the book of Revelation was probably the last book of NT to be written, but we will examine it before we look at the non-pauline letters). Each class session will examine a text or a set of texts from the NT looking at its probable context, issues of introduction (dating, authorship), and major theological concerns of each book. Most of the class time will be given to lecture, but there will also be some small group discussion. Students should read the text book in coordination with the lectures. Note that much of the grading is based on quizzes and quizzes will be written with both the text book and lecture material assumed. IV. STUDENT OUTCOMES TSM has identified desirable student outcomes as follows: MDiv (1)The student will recognize and identify the biblical theology evident in the course work. This course will endeavor to understand three biblical texts - the purpose of this exercise is to help the student to become a careful reader of texts within the flow of the entire biblical story. (2) The student will be able to articulate an Anglican understanding of biblical, historical, systematic, and pastoral theology. Anglican worship and Anglican formularies (i.e. especially the 39 Articles) commit Anglican Christians to understanding the Bible in its canonical context. This course will help the student to achieve a greater understanding of this Anglican commitment. (3) The student will be able to communicate effectively the Christian message to a diversity of people in order to advance the mission of God. The biblical story is the story of God s rescue mission in and for the good but fallen creation that he loves. Communicating this story will only be done effectively if those in lay and ordained ministry have a deep understanding of the text which reveals this story. (4) The student will be prepared to effectively lead in a variety of Christian communities. In whatever position of leadership the student eventually finds himself or herself, a deep knowledge of the Bible and how to understand it will be crucial and so this course attempts to equip the student to better equip others to read, understand, and live out the biblical story.

3 MAR 1) The student will recognize and identify the biblical theology evident in the course work. This course will endeavor to understand three biblical texts - the purpose of this exercise is to help the student to become a careful reader of texts within the flow of the entire biblical story. 2) The student will be able to articulate an Anglican understanding of biblical, historical, systematic, and pastoral theology. Anglican worship and Anglican formularies (i.e. especially the 39 Articles) commit Anglican Christians to understanding the Bible in its canonical context. This course will help the student to achieve a greater understanding of this Anglican commitment. 3) The student will be able to communicate effectively the Christian message to a diversity of people in order to advance the mission of God. The biblical story is the story of God s rescue mission in and for the good but fallen creation that he loves. Communicating this story will only be done effectively if those in lay and ordained ministry have a deep understanding of the text which reveals this story. 4) The student will be equipped to apply scholarship to the life of the church in his or her chosen theological discipline. In whatever position of leadership the student eventually finds himself or herself, a deep knowledge of the Bible and how to understand it will be crucial and so this course attempts to equip the student to better equip others to read, understand, and live out the biblical story. V. COURSE GRADING Grades will be awarded for class participation, book reviews and a final paper. [It should be noted that absence from more than three classes will result in a failure.] 1. Weekly class participation. 5% Students should come to class prepared to engage in discussion about the day s text. Please note that being absent from more that three classes WILL result in a failing grade. 2. Book reviews (2) [25% each] 50% The two book reviews should each be approximately 5 pages in length, one and a half spaced. These reviews should both summarize the arguments and raise critical questions. Critical does not necessarily mean negative. Critical questions are questions of evaluation: What is the main point of the book. Are the arguments of the book consistent? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the presentation? How can what we learn from the book help us to understand scripture, our own lives, or God s mission in the world? [Due dates for these reviews are February 26 and April 16.] 3. Quizzes [15% each] 45% There will be three quizzes during the semester: one on Paul, one on the Gospels and Acts and one on Hebrews - Revelation. Each quiz will take about a

4 half an hour to complete. The questions on each quiz will that the student has paid attention to and taken notes on the relevant lectures and that the student has read the relevant sections of the text book. As you are choosing review books please note that information you glean from those books may also help in the quizzes, so time your review reading appropriately (i.e., reviewing a book on Paul at the end of the semester is certainly acceptable, but reading it early in the semester may help you with your quiz on Paul!). Late course work will be received provided that the student supplies a believable and verifiable (!) excuse. However, late work will be graded down. NO INCOMPLETES will be accepted. VI. A FEW NOTES ABOUT VARIOUS CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS These are a few things that perhaps should go without saying but, sadly, do need to be said. 1. Please silence all cell phones during class sessions. Phones going off during class are a distraction to everyone. If you have a real emergency that might happen during class time (for example - I did give permission for a student whose wife was about to give birth to keep his phone on during class in case the ride to the hospital needed to happen asap ) please check with the instructor before class. 2. Please take notes with a pen (or pencil) and paper. I know it sounds ridiculously old school, but there are two reasons for this. First, I am told on good authority that actually writing notes, rather than typing them, is a better vehicle for committing data to memory. Second, I am aware (because I ve witnessed it enough times) that there will be some students who simply cannot resist the temptation to get on the internet during class time. Sometimes this is innocent enough - some might want to fact check something said in class, for example. Often, though, being on the internet will involve catching up on , or doing Christmas shopping. So please keep your computers shut during class. 3. Please be aware that plagiarism is a punishable offense. It is a form of breaking the 8th command of the decalogue (Exodus 20.15). Trinity School for Ministry has developed policies dealing with plagiarism and cheating. 4. Food and drinks are not usually allowed in the classroom - an exception is if you have a cup with a lid. 5. Grades: In the past I have had a reputation as being a hard marker. I actually think I am pretty generous. Here are my basic principles. I don t assume that everyone begins with a A and that students are entitled to that grade unless they make some egregious error. I assume that every student starts with no grade at all and needs to earn whatever mark they receive. This mean that in most of my classes there will only be a few A s or A minuses - these marks are for exceptional work. B marks mean above average. C means you have missed some important aspects of what was expected. D and F are varieties of failure with differing results - see the student handbook for consequences.

5 VII. TENTATIVE SCHEDULE Date Topic of lecture Reading to do Assignment to do Jan 22 The NT as the climax of the Biblical story Skim: Achtemeier, Green and Thomson, chapters 1 &2 Jan 29 The earliest NT documents: Paul (1): 1. Paul as a letter-writer; 2. Paul s theology in outline; 3. Pauline communities; 4. Galatians, Thessalonians and Corinthians Skim: A, G & T, chapter 10. s 11, 13,14,18 Feb 5 Paul( 2): 1. The captivity letters (Philippians, Colossians, Philemon Ephesians) 2. The crown of Paul s letters: Romans Read carefully: A,G,T chapters 12, 15,16,17 Feb 12 Paul (3): 1.The pastoral epistles (1 & 2 Timothy, Titus); 2. Jewish theology (monotheism, election, eschatology) transformed by Jesus and the Spirit Read carefully: A,G,T chapter 19 Feb 19 The Gospels +: 1. The synoptic problem 2. Mark Skim: chapter 3 5 Quiz #1: Paul Feb 26 The Gospels+ Matthew 4 Review #1 due March 5 The Gospels+ Luke-Acts s 6 & 9 March 12 Reading week so read! and write March The quest of the historical Jesus 8

6 March 26 The Gospels 1. John 2. Other Gospels 7 April 2 The Revelation 24 Quiz #2: Gospels and Acts April 9 Hebrews 20 April 16 James, 1 & 2 Peter, Jude s 21 & 22 Review #2 due April 23 1,2,3 John 23 April The formation of the canon 2. Other sources for reconstructing early Christianity Skim: chapter 25 Quiz #3: Hebrews - Revelation