NT/OT 795: Biblical Theology Seminar Syllabus Spring 2016 Professor: Rollin G. Grams E-mail: rgrams@gordonconwell.edu Meeting Times: Module 4: 8:30 am 4:30 pm, only Saturdays: Feb 13, Mar 12, Apr 16 Prerequisites: 600 level OT exegesis course and NT 502 Work for Course Begins: 19 January, 2016 Work for Course Ends: 2 May, 2016 Course Description This seminar focuses on the primary themes and fundamental issues shared by both Testaments. Students present papers for formal critique and discussion on relevant topics within the discipline of Biblical Theology. Prerequisites: At least one 600-level NT exegesis course and, for students taking Hebrew, a 600-level OT exegesis course. Expanded Description This course examines the unity and diversity of Scripture through a series of mini-seminars. To do so, questions of method, proposals for unifying Scripture, and a variety of theological topics in the Bible are explored. The course also has the practical aims of helping students to develop a Biblically grounded theology for life and ministry and to prepare for ongoing reading and research in Biblical theology. Methodologically, the course will examine the appropriate use of Scripture for theological enquiry. Missional, covenantal, and narrative (over against systematic) approaches to Biblical theology will especially be examined. Thematically, the course focuses on the following themes in particular: the mission of God, covenant theology, Christology, Pneumatology, Kingdom, Gospel, Soteriology, and Ecclesiology. Logistically, the flipped classroom approach makes use of online (Sakai) lectures and student interaction so that class time on Saturdays can be conducted as seminars, focusing on discussion of the lectures and reading. (Because students are expected to listen to lectures before coming to class, the course does not meet on Friday nights.) Students will find guided questions for the seminar, the reading, forum posts, and papers on Sakai. Course Prerequisites and Relation to the Curriculum Pre-requisites: Since this is an advanced, capstone course in the curriculum, students will have already taken the two Bible Survey courses, Greek, Hebrew, both OT and NT interpretation courses, and at least one 600 level OT exegesis course. This course is a required part of the Master of Divinity and the Master of Arts degrees in Biblical Studies (Biblical Studies, Old Testament Studies, and New Testament Studies). Be aware that there is an English-based Biblical Theology 1
course, OT/NT517, that is an alternative to this course for students in other degree programs (ones lacking the Biblical languages; both courses should not be taken as they overlap). The course relates to the mission of Gordon-Conwell to train people in a knowledge of the Bible and the correct use of Scripture. Graduates of the seminary are trained to think Biblically, and, since theological study and ministry practice should always proceed from a Biblical theology, this course carries the charge to prepare students accordingly. Course Outcomes The student completing this course of study will: *acquire a greater knowledge of the Bible, including specific texts and, especially, its unity and diversity *be able to analyze, evaluate, and critique proposals for Biblical theology from an understanding of hermeneutical and methodological issues *be able to investigate Scripture theologically in the areas specified in the course description *be able to apply methods of Biblical theology applied to certain topics in the course to other Biblical topics *be able to explain several theological themes in Scripture and state how they are different or related at different times and in different authors *be able to identify and explain ways in which Biblical theology relates to the Christian life and to ministry Course Textbooks/Reading Students will read approximately 2,000 pages for this course from the following resources. Details regarding the reading will appear on the Sakai website. Bauckham, Richard. Jesus and the God of Israel. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2008. ISBN-10: 0802845592. Pages: 336 [not all to be read for the course.] Grams, Rollin. According to My Gospel : The Gospel in Paul s Writings. Unpublished, n.d. Pages: 200 [approximately; this is a work in progress towards publication]. Available for this course only on Sakai. Students will read the entire work. Grams, Rollin. Essays on the Church in Scripture and Today. Unpublished, n.d. Pp. 114. Available for this course only on Sakai and/or on www.bibleandmission.blogspot.com. Students will read chs. 1, 6, 7, and 8 (18 pages). Grams, Rollin. Leadership: Challenging a Paradigm for Christian Ministry. Mostly unpublished blogs and articles available for this course on Sakai and/or on www.bibleandmission.blogspot.com. Students will read 38 pages. Grams, Rollin. Theologising Without Abstractions: Forays in Biblical Theology. Unpublished, 2
n.d. Pages: 236. Collection of published essays and chapters available on Sakai for this course. Students will read chs. 1 and 3 (33 pages). Hafemann, Scott and Paul R. House, eds. Central Themes in Biblical Theology: Mapping Unity in Diversity. Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2007. Pp. 336. ISBN-13: 978-0801034237. Scott J. Hafemann on the covenant relationship Thomas R. Schreiner on the commands of God Frank S. Thielman on the atonement Stephen G. Dempster on the servant of the Lord Paul R. House on the day of the Lord Elmer A. Martens on the people of God Roy E. Ciampa on the history of redemption Niehaus, Jeffrey. Biblical Theology I: The Common Grace Covenants. Wooster, OH: Weaver Book Co., 2014. Pages: 264. Niehaus, Jeffrey. Chapter XX: The Missional Promise and Failure of the Mosaic Covenant. In Biblical Theology II. Forthcoming. [Chapter available on course website.] Pages: 19. Thiselton, Anthony. The Holy Spirit in Biblical Teaching, through the Centuries, and Today. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2013. Pp. 579. ISBN-13: 978-0802868756. In particular, read ch. 1-9 and 24 (202 pages). Wright, Christopher. The Mission of God: Unlocking the Bible s Grand Narrative. Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2006. ISBN-10: 0830825711. Pages: 582in all [not all to be read for this course.] In particular, read chs. 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 14, and 15 (=311 pages). Course Requirements 1. Reading of all assigned materials (see details on Sakai; note that reading and other assignments are related and involve guiding questions). 2. Three forum posts of 400 words each on Sakai (see details on Sakai). 3. Two forum responses of 150 words each on Sakai (see details on Sakai). 4. Interaction in 3 seminars (required attendance). 5. Three papers of 1,250 words each (see details on Sakai). These are submitted on Sakai. Classroom Seminars Students will be placed in seminar groups of about 8 persons. Each Saturday meeting will involve a morning and an afternoon seminar. A student will present the gist of his/her work for the seminar in 15 minutes, followed by discussion. Guiding questions and paper presentations will give structure to the seminars, with the opportunity to pursue additional issues as well. Course Outline and Schedule 3
Details are provided on Sakai. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the details before the course begins. Sections/Dates Topics Requirements 19 Jan. 2 Feb. (Course begins 19 Jan.) Methodology Reading (96) Forum Post and Response by 2 Feb. 3 Feb. 13 Feb. (Class: 13 Feb.) Missional Biblical Theology Reading (Wright, 311; Niehaus, 19; = 330 pages) 14 Feb. 12 Mar. (Class: 12 Mar.) 13 Mar. 16 Apr. (Class: 16 Apr.) 17 Apr. 2 May (No further work after 2 May) Course Marking: Covenant Biblical Theology Evangelical Biblical Theology Christological Biblical Theology Pneumatological Biblical Theology Ecclesiastical Biblical Theology Paper 1 Reading (Niehaus, 264, Hafemann, 45, Schreiner, 41; Ciampa, 54 = 359 pages) Paper 2 Reading (Grams, 200, Thielman, 25, House, 45 = 270 pages) Reading (Bauckham, 336; Dempster, 50 = 427) Paper 3 Reading (Thiselton, 202) Reading (Martens, 29; Schreiner, 35; Grams, 18 = 82 pages) Forum Post and Response by 2 May Grading rubrics will be provided on the Sakai course website to guide students in the assignments. Summary of Course Requirements and Percentages for Final Grade Assignments Percentage of Final Grade Listening to Lectures Pass/Fail Reading, Forum Activity Pass/Fail 3 Seminars Required attendance and engagement Pass/Fail 3 Essays 25% each = 75% total 2 Responses to Other Students Forum Posts 3% each = 6% total 3 Forum Posts 6%, 6%, and 7% = 19% total Meaning of Letter Grades for the Course A A- 93-100% 90-92% Excellent, Well Above Average Very Good and Above Average B+ B B- 88-89% 83-87% 80-82% Fine Work, Just Above Average Good, Average Slightly below average C+ C 78-79% 73-77% Satisfactory for passing, although below average for graduate level work C- 70-71% D+ D 68-69% 63-67% Pass, although inadequate work at the graduate level D- 60-62% F 0-59% Fail 4
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. Since the exegesis paper is submitted electronically, only comments and not the paper will be sent to the student once everything is graded. 5
Virtual Writing Center Free assistance in writing papers is available to students through the Virtual Writing Center at Gordon Conwell. The Virtual Writing Center is staffed by Gordon Conwell graduates, or writing tutors with specialized knowledge in writing and/or ESL. Generally, this service is available to students who have completed or are currently enrolled in one of the following three classes: CT500 (Introduction to Theological Research) CO501 (Introduction to Counseling Research) IS502 (Theological Research and Writing) If you enrolled in GCTS before Fall 2008, you were not required to take one of the three pre-requisites above, and you may request access to the Virtual Writing Center. Also, ESL writing tutors are available to ESL students even if they are not currently enrolled in a degree program. If you do not meet one of these qualifications, but feel you would benefit from using the Virtual Writing Center, contact us and we will evaluate your status. Email writingcenter@gordonconwell.edu for more information. 6