Religious Studies 2033A (The New Testament and Its Context) Fall Semester, 2011-2012 Tuesday and Thursday, 12:30 p.m. 1:45 p.m.; SH177 Dr. Barry D. Smith; Office # 218 E-mail: barry.smith@crandallu.ca Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday: 9:00 a.m. 9:45 a.m. 3:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday: 9:00 a.m. 11:15 a.m.; 2:00 p.m. 3:30 p.m. 1. COURSE DESCRIPTION This course has three purposes. First, you will be introduced to the literature of. This means that you will ask the following questions of each New Testament book and seek to answer them: Who wrote it? To/for whom was it written? When was it written? Where was it written? What was written? Why was it written? You are encouraged to interact on a personal level with the contents of. Second, this course aims to introduce you to the historical period out of which emerged, variously called the second-temple period. An understanding of the historical context of is necessary in order to appreciate fully its significance. Third, you will also be introduced to the field of New Testament theology by studying selective theological themes in. The URL of the RS 2033 website is: www.abu.nb.ca/courses/ntintro/indexntintr.htm. On the website you will find nine lectures and an online version with the answers of Introducing the New Testament: A Workbook (see below). The faculty assistant for the semester is Taylor Murray; his email address is taylor_murray@live.com 2. COURSE OBJECTIVES You will accomplish the following objectives in this course: 2.1. You will be introduced to the literature of by asking the six questions of each New Testament book and answering them. 2.2. You will be introduced to the historical period out of which emerged.
2 2.3. You will be introduced to the field of New Testament theology by studying selective theological themes in. 2.4. In accomplishing the above objectives, you will also: 2.4.1. Develop historical research skills by asking the six questions of each New Testament book and answering them; 2.4.2. Develop research and writing skills by doing a term paper; 2.4.3. Grow spiritually by interacting personally with the contents of. 3. TEXTBOOKS 3.1. Barry D. Smith, Introducing : A Workbook. The textbook is designed to provide you with questions and the data necessary to answer these questions. You will be required to purchase a copy of the workbook, which has blanks where the answers to questions are to be written. Available on the Internet is an online version of the workbook that contains the answers to the questions asked in the hard copy of your textbook. You are to resort to this online version of the workbook when you need to check your answers. 3.2. The New Testament (in an easily-understood translation) 4. COURSE REQUIREMENTS 4.1. You will write three tests. The material examined by the material will be drawn from Introducing : A Workbook and the lecture material. For each text, you will be given five questions a week or so in advance, two of which will appear on the test. The two questions will be chosen at random. The three tests will be given in class after you have completed the relevant material (see course outline) (Bolded text = lecture material). 4.1.1. Test One will cover: Brief Historical Background to ; Paul s Work as an Apostle of Christ; Synoptic Problem; Gospel of Mark; Gospel of Matthew; Gospel of Luke; Gospel of John; Book of Acts. 4.1.2. Test Two will cover: Jesus' Proclamation of the Kingdom of God; Jesus Interpretation of the Rejection of the Kingdom of God; The Righteousness of God in Pauline Theology; The Holy Spirit in Pauline Theology; Paul's Travel Letters (Letter to the Galatians; 1 Thessalonians; 2 Thessalonians; 1 Corinthians; 2 Corinthians; Letter to the Romans); Paul's Prison Letters (Letter to the Ephesians; Letter to the Philippians; Letter to the Colossians; Letter to Philemon); Paul's Pastoral Letters (1 Timothy; Letter to Titus; 2 Timothy). 4.1.3. Test Three will cover: The Jerusalem Temple and ; Jesus as High Priest in the Letter to the Hebrews; The Use of the Old Testament in ;
3 General Letters (Letter of James; 1 Peter; 2 Peter; Johannine Letters; Letter of Jude); Letter to the Hebrews; Book of Revelation. 4.2. You will write a term paper in which you will exegete a passage from ; your passage will be somewhere between five and fifteen verses. To exegete means to explain the meaning of a passage. You are expected to consult and interact with at least three secondary sources in your term paper, some of which should be academic commentaries. Your term paper is to be 1,000-1,250 words in length, and is due on or before the last day of classes. Note: Before writing any assignments for this course check the policy on academic dishonesty in the Academic Calendar. 4.3. In the process of working through Introducing : A Workbook, you will read studiously and, if possible, prayerfully. As an incentive to do this, at the time of the writing of the third and final test, you will be required to verify in writing that you have met this requirement. If you do not read you will lose five percentage points from your final grade. 4.4. You will participate in eight tutorial sessions during class time. For each of the eight tutorial sessions, you will be required to verify that you have completed the assignments for the period of time in question. For every tutorial for which there is incomplete work you will lose three marks from the fifteen marks assigned for the completion of the workbooks. The faculty assistant will notify you by email if your workbook is not complete. 4.5. You will be required to fill out and turn in a Lecture Response Form for each lecture. It will be graded as either superior, adequate or inadequate. 5. COURSE EVALUATION 5.1. Tests (3 x 15 %) 45% 5.2. Term paper 30% 5.3. Completion of the Workbook 15% 5.4. Lecture Responses 10% Note Well: You will be allowed to miss three classes for any reason without penalty. For each of the next three classes missed you will be penalized two percentage point for each class missed (3 x 2). After six missed classes you will be penalized three percentage points per class missed to a maximum of nine (3 x 3). Thus, if you miss six classes or more after your allowed three absences from class you will lose fifteen marks.
4 6. COURSE OUTLINE 6.1. Introduction You are expected to work through Introducing : A Workbook on your own. Some of the classes will be used for lectures while others will be used as tutorial sessions in which you shall discuss the relevant sections of the workbook in tutorial groups. In preparation for the tutorials you are expected to complete the assigned chapters of the workbook and to read the relevant books of. 6.2. Schedule of Classes Thurs. Sept. 8 Introduction to the Course; Brief Historical Introduction to Tues. Sept. 13 Brief Historical Introduction to Thurs. Sept. 15 Brief Historical Introduction to Tues. Sept. 20 Tutorial (Synoptic Problem) Thurs. Sept. 22 Paul s Work as an Apostle of Christ Tues. Sept. 27 Paul s Work as an Apostle of Christ Thurs. Sept. 29 Tutorial (Gospels of Mark, Matthew and Luke) Tues. Oct. 4 Jesus' Proclamation of the Kingdom of God Thurs. Oct. 6 Tutorial (Gospel of John and Book of Acts) Tues. Oct. 11 Jesus Interpretation of the Rejection of the Kingdom of God No Class on Oct. 13 Tues. Oct. 25 The Righteousness of God in Pauline Theology Thurs. Oct. 27 Tutorial (1 Corinthians; 2 Corinthians; Letter to the Romans) Tues. Nov. 1 The Holy Spirit in Pauline Theology Thurs. Nov. 3 Tutorial (Letter to the Colossians; Letter to the Ephesians; Letter to the Philippians; Letter to Philemon; 1 Timothy; Letter to Titus; 2 Timothy) Tues. Nov. 8 The Jerusalem Temple and No Class on Nov. 10 Tues. Nov. 15 The Jerusalem Temple and Thurs. Nov. 17 Tutorial (Letter of James; 1 Peter; 2 Peter; Letter of Jude Tues. Nov. 22 Test Two Thurs. Nov. 24 Jesus as High Priest according to the Order of Melchizedek Tues. Nov. 29 Tutorial (Johannine Letters [1 John; 2 John; 3 John]; Letter to the Hebrews; Book of Revelation)
5 Tues. Oct. 18 Tutorial (Letter to the Galatians; 1 Thessalonians; 2 Thessalonians) Thurs. Oct. 20 Test One Thurs. Dec. 1 The Use of the Old Testament in Tues. Dec. 6 Test Three