ET/NT647 Biblical Ethics Summer, 2017: Tuesday, May 30 Monday, August 21 Professor: Dr. Rollin Grams E-Mail: rgrams@gordonconwell.edu Prerequisites: Both OT500, and NT501, and either NT/OT517, OT511, or NT502. Description This course explores ethics within Scripture, both Old and New Testament. Biblical ethics is concerned with the interpretation of texts, Biblical authors, and the unity and diversity of Scripture in ethics. Building on previous work in Biblical interpretation, students will turn their attention to ethical issues in Scripture. Ethical topics in Biblical genre and authors are considered in reading, lectures, discussion, and papers. The relationship between the Old Testament and the New Testament and hermeneutical issues in the interpretation and use of Scripture for ethics are also explored in this course. Textbooks Students will read from the following books a total of 1571 pages. Additional reading in primary sources is also required for the course. Richard Bauckham, The Bible in Politics: How to Read the Bible Politically (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2011). ISBN-10: 0664237088 ISBN-13: 978-0664237080. Pp. 1-150=150 total. S. Donald Fortson and Rollin G. Grams, Unchanging Witness: the Consistent Christian Teaching on Homosexuality in Scripture and Tradition (Nashville, TN: B&H Press, 2016). ISBN-13: 978-1433687921. Pp. 448. ISBN-13: 978-1433687921. Pp. 9-26; 167-385 = 237 pages. Rollin Grams, Biblical Catechism on Sex and Marriage (2017). Available on Sakai. Andreas Köstenberger, God, Marriage, and Family, 2 nd ed. (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2010). ISBN-10: 1433503646 ISBN-13: 978-1433503641. Read pp. 21-116 (chapters 2-6 on marriage, sex, and family), pp. 167-198 (ch. 9 on singleness), pp. 223-238 (ch. 11 on divorce and remarriage) = 144 pages total. James W. Thompson, Moral Formation According to Paul (Baker, 2011). ISBN- 10: 0801039029; ISBN-13: 978-0801039027. Read all, pp. 1-214 = 214 pages total. Gordon Wenham, Psalms as Torah: Reading Biblical Song Ethically, Studies in Theological Interpretation (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2012). ISBN-10: 0801031680 ISBN-13: 978-0801031687. Pp. 1-208= 208 pages. Bruce Winter, After Paul Left Corinth: The Influence of Secular Ethics and Social Change 1
(Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2001). ISBN-10: 0802848982; ISBN-13: 978-0802848987. Pages 364 total. Read pp. 1-163 (chs. 1-7), pp. 184-301 (chs. 9-13) = 282 pages total. Christopher Wright, Old Testament Ethics for the People of God (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2013). ISBN-10: 9780830839612 ISBN-13: 978-0830839612. Available on Kindle. Read: pp. 17-102 (introduction plus all of part one), pp. 146-386 (chs. 5-11; economics and the poor, ethics of the land, politics and the nations, justice and righteousness, the law and the legal system, culture and family, the individual), and pp. 472-480 (appendix on the Canaanites) = 336 pages total. Course Structure This course has three parts: 1. Independent reading prior to the week of intensive classes: May 30 July 9 2. Intensive Week of Classes: July 10 14 3. Post-Intensive reading and research: July 15 21 August The course outline will be found on Sakai under Lessons. It contains dates, topics, reading, and assignment instructions to guide you through the course. Course Requirements and Assignments for Assessment 1. Reading: Students will complete a report that includes: (a) a reading grade report (self-graded) and (b) take-away points from the reading (completion grade). Use the following two charts. Upload the second chart in dropbox on the course website each week by midnight on Saturday. This constitutes 20% of the final grade. Guide for Self-Grading Reading Participation in the Course Grade A B C D E Explanation I read all the reading for the course on time and took detailed notes. I read all the reading for the course and took fairly good notes on most of it. I read all the reading for the course and took a few notes. I read 90% of the reading for the course and took a few notes. I read less than 90% of the reading for the course. Weekly Self-Grade Reading Report Reading Week 1 Self-Grade Take-Away Points on Methodology & Topics) 2
2. Week Intensive: Attendance during the week intensive for this course is required for passing the course. Anyone not able to attend this should not take the course. Pass/Fail for course. 3. First Essay: Students are to write an essay worth 35% of the final grade that is 2,500 words (plus or minus 10%) in length. The essay is to be on a topic in Biblical sexual ethics and should engage the reading for the course, including Scripture. The essay should show concern for methodology and issues of Biblical interpretation as well as address the chosen topic. No additional reading or research than the reading on the course is required. 4. Research Essay: Students are to choose a narrow topic in Biblical Ethics other than sexual ethics for research. This essay will be worth 45% of the final grade and should be 3,500 words (plus or minus 10%) in length. An example might be Paul s Use of the Law for Ethics, A Comparison of the Mosaic Law to Other Ancient Near Eastern Law Codes, Law and Spirit in Paul, Genocide in the Old Testament, Paul s Apostolic Ethic, Jesus and the Law in Matthew s Gospel, Catechesis for New Believers in the New Testament, etc. Summary of Course Requirements Reading completion (self-grade): 20% of final grade. Forum posts on take-away points: 7 before intensive week and 2 after: completion grade Week Intensive: Attendance and Course Work During the Week First Essay: 35% of final grade Second Essay: 45% of final grade Bibliography A bibliography for further reading and research will be found under Resources on the course website. 3
Syllabus Addendum Academic Standards Cheating and plagiarism are considered serious breaches of personal and academic integrity. Cheating involves, but is not necessarily limited to, the use of unauthorized sources of information during an examination or the submission of the same (or substantially same) work for credit in two or more courses without the knowledge and consent of the instructors. Plagiarism involves the use of another person s distinctive ideas or words, whether published or unpublished, and representing them as one s own instead of giving proper credit to the source. Plagiarism can also involve over dependence on other source material for the scope and substance of one s writing. Such breaches in academic standards often result in a failing grade as well as other corrective measures [they will for this course]. For more information, please consult the Student Handbook. ADA Policy The seminary complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. A student with a qualifying and authenticated disability who is in need of accommodations, should petition the seminary in accordance with the stated guidelines in the Student Handbook. Cancellation of Class In the event the seminary has to cancel a class meeting (impending storm, professor illness, etc.), the Registration Office will send out an email (via the GCTS email account) notification to all students registered in the respective course. If the cancelation occurs the day of the scheduled meeting, the Registration Office will also attempt to contact students via their primary phone contact on record. The professor will contact the students (via GCTS account) regarding make-up. If a weekend class is cancelled, the class will be made up during the scheduled Make- Up weekend (see the academic calendar for the designated dates). For more info, consult your Student Handbook. Extension Policy Arrangements for submission of late work at a date on or before the last day to submit written work, as noted on the seminary s Academic Calendar, are made between the student and professor. Formal petition to the Registration Office is not required at this time. This includes arrangements for the rescheduling of final exams. However, course work (reading and written) to be submitted after the publicized calendar due date, must be approved by the Registration Office. An extension form, available online, must be submitted to the Registration Office prior to the last day to submit written work. Requests received after this date will either be denied or incur additional penalty. For a full discussion of this policy, please consult the Student Handbook. Grades Grades are posted on-line within twenty-four hours of receipt from the professor. Students are expected to check their CAMS student portal in order to access posted grades. Those individuals who need an official grade report issued to a third party should put their request in writing to the Registration Office. Faculty have six weeks from the course work due date to submit a final grade. Returned Work Submitted course work will be returned to the student provided s/he provides a self-addressed and postage paid envelope with his/her final work. Work submitted without the appropriate envelope will be destroyed once the grade has been assessed and issued. 4
Since the exegesis paper is submitted electronically, only comments and not the paper will be sent to the student once everything is graded. 5