West Texas A&M University RELI New Testament Studies TR 11:00 AM 12:15 AM, OM 312

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1 West Texas A&M University RELI New Testament Studies TR 11:00 AM 12:15 AM, OM 312 INSTRUCTOR: Kent Mereness Director of the West Texas A&M Church of Christ Bible Chair Office Address: th St. (west of PPHM) Office Hours: TR 10:30-11:30, or by appointment Phone: COURSE OBJECTIVE: Upon successfully completing RELI New Testament Studies, a student will be able to comprehend the literary, political, social, economic, and religious background of the New Testament. The student will be able to trace the life and ministry of Christ as well as the development of the early church. She or he will also be able to identify the main theological themes of each of the books of the New Testament. COURSE REQUIREMENTS: TEXTS: Each student will be expected to attend class and read in advance the texts to be discussed. Every lecture and class session will be covered on the tests. If, for some valid reason, the student is unable to attend a particular class session, she or he will be expected to obtain notes from another student in the class. Habitual absences will result in the student failing or having to drop the class. Required: Bible, preferably NIV (New International Version). Powell, Mark Allan. Introducing the New Testament: A Historical, Literary, and Theological Survey. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, Suggested Readings: Various English versions of the Bible. Ferguson, Everett. Backgrounds of Early Christianity. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, Greenlee, J. Harold. Introduction to New Testament Textual Criticism. Peabody: Hendrickson Publishers, 1995.

2 Johnson, Luke Timothy. The Writings of the New Testament: An Interpretation. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, Matyszak, Philip. Ancient Rome on Five Denarii a Day. New York: Thames & Hudson, Robertson, A. T., and John Albert Broadus. A Harmony of the Gospels for Students of the Life of Christ: Based on the Broadus Harmony in the Revised Version. New York: Harper & Bros, ASSIGNMENTS and GRADING POLICY: A B C D 0 64 F Tests (50%) The course consists of four tests comprised by multiple-choice, true/false, fill-in-the-blank, short-answer and/or essay questions based on materials from the assigned readings and class lectures. The content and grade percentage of each test is as follows: Test #1 Intro, Jesus, and the Gospels (10%), Test #2 Acts and Paul: Romans-Colossians (10%), Test #3 Paul: I Thessalonians-Philemon and Hebrews-Jude (10%), and Test #4 - Comprehensive Final (20%). Students will be allowed to make up Test #1, #2, or #3 BEFORE the next class period at the expense of a letter grade. Except for extenuating circumstances deemed worthy by the instructor, students will not be allowed to make up the final. Weekly Quiz (20%) Students will be given 11 quizzes on special assignments, readings, and/or lecture materials from the previous classes. Except for extenuating circumstances deemed worthy by the instructor, if a student is absent during a quiz period they will not be able to make up the quiz. Reading Responses (30%) Students will have assigned readings from the New Testament every week beginning Week 1. They are required to type a 3/4 page (200 word) personal response to each week s total reading assignment (combine readings from Tuesday and Thursday of each week) stating something they liked/disliked or agreed with/disagreed with, or addressing something that challenged them. They SHOULD NOT simply summarize the reading the assignment beckons personal reflection! Format each entry as follows: 1 pg., double-spaced, 1 inch margins, 12 pt., Times New Roman, last name and date (of the journal entry) in a single line in the top right of the page. The reading responses are to be stapled to a cover page and submitted in 3 installments: Journal #1 (5 entries or Weeks 1-5), Journal #2 (4 entries or Weeks 6-10), and Journal #3 (5 entries or Week 11-15). Please Note: Students will not be graded according to her or his theological perspective.

3 AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT STATEMENT West Texas A&M University seeks to provide reasonable accommodations for all qualified persons with disabilities. This University will adhere to all applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations as required to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student's responsibility to register with Student Disability Services (SDS) and to contact faculty members in a timely fashion to arrange for suitable accommodations. Contact Information: Student Success Center, CC 106; < ; phone ACCEPTABLE STUDENT BEHAVIOR Classroom behavior should not interfere with the instructor's ability to conduct the class or the ability of other students to learn from the instructional program (Code of Student Life). Unacceptable or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. Students engaging in unacceptable behavior may be instructed to leave the classroom. Inappropriate behavior may result in disciplinary action or referral to the University's Behavioral Intervention Team. This prohibition applies to all instructional forums, including electronic, classroom, labs, discussion groups, field trips, etc. EVACUATION STATEMENT If you receive notice to evacuate the building, please evacuate promptly but in an orderly manner. Evacuation routes are posted in various locations indicating all exits, outside assembly area, location of fire extinguishers, fire alarm pull stations and emergency telephone numbers ( or 911). In the event an evacuation is necessary: evacuate immediately do not use elevators; take all personal belongings with you; report to outside assembly area and wait for further information; students needing assistance in the evacuation process should bring this to the attention of the instructor at the beginning of the semester.

4 SCHEDULE Week/Date INT Bible Reading Quiz/Journal Quiz/Test; Class Topic Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Quiz #1 1 Matthew 1-14 The New Testament World 2 Matthew Quiz #2 The New Testament Writings 3, 4 Mark Jesus and The Gospels 5 Luke 1-12 Quiz #3 Matthew 6 Luke Mark 7 John 1-10 Quiz #4 Luke 8 John John and Review Test #1 Intro to NT, Jesus and the Gospels 9 Acts 1-14 Acts 10, 11 Acts Journal #1 New Testament Letters and Paul 12 Romans Romans 13 I Corinthians Quiz #5 I Corinthians 14 II Corinthians II Corinthians 15 Galatians Quiz #6 Galatians 16, 18 Ephesians/Colossians Ephesians/Colossians Week 9 Spring Break Spring Break University Closed University Closed Week 10 Week 11 Week Philippians Philippians and Review Test #2 Acts and Paul: Romans-Colossians 19, 20 I/II Thessalonians Journal #2 I/II Thessalonians I/II Timothy, Titus Quiz #7 The Pastoral Letters 22 Philemon Quiz #8 Philemon

5 23 Hebrews Hebrews Week 13 Week 14 Week 15 Week 16 Week James Quiz #9 James None Shack-A-Thon (TBA) 25, 26 I/II Peter Quiz #10 I/II Peter 27 I, II, III John Johannine Letters 28 Jude Jude and Review Test #3 Paul: I Thess.-Phil., Heb.- Jude 29 Revelation Journal #3 Revelation Quiz #11 Course Evaluations Dead Day None Test #4 Comprehensive Final Time and Location TBA