Calvary Bible Academy BI-201 Bible Introduction SYLLABUS Instructor: Sean Doyle Email: Sean@welcome2Calvary.com Work: (973) 226-5272 I. COURSE DESCRIPTION This course seeks to examine the inspiration, canonization and translation process giving the student confidence in modern Scripture translations. II. COURSE OBJECTIVES A. The student will be able to explain the process by which we obtained the Bible in its present form. B. The student will be able to articulate why the Bible is credible and authoritative in our lives. C. The student will be able to define the various views of inspiration, the progression in and present ramifications of historical events in so much as they pertain to the development of orthodoxy and recognition of heterodoxy. D. Students will become conversant regarding the history of Biblical translation, issues within textual criticism, and the various theories of translation. E. Students will be able to distinguish between the various modern translations regarding the goals, biases, translation principles, strengths and weaknesses of each. F. Students will write on spiritually and contextually relevant topics relating to Bible Introduction to help them make the transition from raw information intake into becoming concise, accurate, persuasive disseminators of truth for the church and community. G. Students will begin to evaluate how their own church can be actively involved in local, regional and international missions. III. COURSE TEXTBOOKS A. REQUIRED: Geisler, N. & Nix, W. 1986 (Revised & Expanded Edition) A General Introduction to the Bible. Chicago: Moody Press. Calvary Bible Academy BI-201 Bible Introduction Syllabus Page 1 of 7
B. REQUIRED: The Bible The instructor will be using the NIV & ESV. Please bring your Bible to class every session. Tucker does not need to be brought to class. IV. COURSE PROCEDURES Classes will primarily involve media assisted lecture. Questions are welcomed. Both the Mid-Term and Final Examinations are cumulative. Students should bring their Bible s to class every week. V. COURSE REQUIREMENTS A. READING ASSIGNMENTS. Read the Geisler and Nix chapters as per the reading schedule, reporting what percentage you read by its due date on each reading assignment, and correctly answer the questions available at CalvaryBibleAcademy.com by clicking the Giesler & Nix link and printing out said reading assignments. B. STUDY ASSIGNMENTS. There will be 10 study assignments given in this course. They will be based on the previous weeks lecture. Students may use their notes to fill out these assignments. Students are responsible for material missed in the event of absence. Please print these study assignments by clicking the Study Assignments link available at CalvaryBibleAcademy.com. C. SPIRITUAL FORMATION PAPER. Students shall write a brief paper following the guidelines delineated on the Spiritual Formation Paper Guidelines worksheet attached to the syllabus. D. CONTEXTUALIZATION PAPER. Students shall write a brief paper following the guidelines delineated on the Contextualization Paper Guidelines worksheet attached to the syllabus. E. FINAL EXAM. The final exam is cumulative and shall be derived from questions previously covered in the student s study assignments. The final exam is closed book, closed notes and shall be taken the last day of class within the normal class period. F. GRADING Readings Assignments 10 @ 10 pts each 100 pts 10% Study Assignments 10 @ 30 pts each 300 pts 30% Spiritual Formation Paper 150 pts 15% Contextualization Paper 150 pts 15% Final Exam 300 pts 30% Calvary Bible Academy BI-201 Bible Introduction Syllabus Page 2 of 7
G. GRADING SCALE: A 80-100% (Excellent Work) B 70-79% (Very Good Work) C 60-69% (Average Work) D 50-59% (Below Average Work) F 49% and below (Unsatisfactory Work) VI. CLASS SCHEDULE Date Lecture RA Due Geisler Chs SA Due Jan 15 Syllabus Shock & Introductory Issues Jan 22 Inspiration I: Various Views 1-3 1 Jan 29 Inspiration II: Internal Evidence for 7-10 2 Inspiration Feb 5 Super Bowl Sunday No CBA Tonight Feb 12 Inspiration III: External Evidence for 4-5 3 Inspiration Feb 19 Canonization I: The Old Testament 6 & 11 4 & Apocrypha Feb 26 Canonization II: The New Testament & the Psuedepigrapha Mar 5 Language & Manuscripts 16-17 6 Mar 12 Biblical Criticism 18-21 7 Mar 19 Calvary s Spring Fest No CBA Tonight Mar 26 Translation Theory & Translations Part I 22-26 8 Major Assignment Due 12-15 5 Spiritual Formation Paper Apr 2 Translations Part II 27-29 9 Contextualization Paper Apr 9 Final Examination Due No Lecture (or snow day / catch up if needed) 30-32 10 THE INSTRUCTOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS OR REVISIONS TO THE SYLLABUS AS HE DEEMS APPROPRIATE. Calvary Bible Academy BI-201 Bible Introduction Syllabus Page 3 of 7
Spiritual Formation Paper Guidelines Purpose: The purpose of this paper is for the student think through the doctrines of the inerrancy & inspiration of Scripture on a personal spiritual formation level. This means: Students must articulate their positions on the inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture using basic exegesis (explaining from the Scriptures) in 1-2 typewritten pages (2-3 legibly handwritten pages). Students must then write a 2-3 page typewritten (4-6 legibly handwritten pages) reflection explaining how these positions are an encouragement to them in their personal life, preaching, counseling, leadership, and other ministry functions. Length of the paper: Students are to submit a paper with a body that is 5-7 typed pages (6-9 legibly handwritten). Word processed papers must be in Times New Roman 12 point font or Arial 12 point font. Regrettably, handwritten papers must be clearly legible or they will not be accepted. Referencing: Use the Harvard Method as seen in the instructor s notepacket. When using your own thoughts and words, no citation needed. When using another s thoughts in your own words no quotation marks are needed but please cite the source as: (author year:page number) i.e. (Giesler & Nix 2012:26). When using another s thoughts and their words please use quotation marks to indicate where the original authors words begin and end followed by the citation (author year:page number) i.e. (Giesler & Nix 2012:26). Include a bibliography page at the end. For books this would be as follows: Authors last name, initials. Year of publication. Title of book in italics. Publishing city: Publisher. i.e.: Geisler, N. & Nix, W. 2012 (revised & expanded version). From God to Us: How We Got Our Bible. Chicago: Moody Press. See instructors notepacket for other types of citation examples. Formatting: Please include a title page with your name, assignment and date Please included the aforementioned bibliography. Please printout and staple after the bibliography the below grading sheet. Calvary Bible Academy BI-201 Bible Introduction Syllabus Page 4 of 7
Grading Sheet Spiritual Formation Paper Required Components: Excellent Average Poor Does the paper begin with a clear statement of the issue to be discussed? 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Are the references properly written and is the bibliography correct? Does the student use correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation? 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 30 24 21 18 15 11 8 5 3 Does the paper have a well written conclusion? 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Does the student adequately explain and defend their positions on the doctrines of the inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture? 40 34 32 30 28 26 21 17 13 9 6 3 1 Does the student explain how their positions on the inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture are an encouragement to them personally and ministerially? 50 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 Other Comments: Total Score: /150 pts possible Calvary Bible Academy BI-201 Bible Introduction Syllabus Page 5 of 7
Contextualization Paper Guidelines Purpose: The purpose of this paper is for the student to contextualize their theology so that it is relevant to modern concerns. This means: 1. Students must be able to Scripturally answer common theological questions arising in their community in a way that is Biblically accurate, respectful, and persuasive. 2. The answers are to be written in the student s own words and be appropriate to respond to the target person mentioned in each scenario one should not speak above a layperson, child, or beneath an educated professor depending on each scenario s description. 3. Students do not have to use any resources outside of the Scriptures for this paper, but if they do, those sources need to be properly cited and in the bibliography. Topic: The student must answer three of the following questions in the below scenarios: 1. A Catholic friend wants to know why your Bible does not have the Apocrypha. She thinks that Protestants deliberately omit these texts because they want to deny the doctrine of purgatory. Respond. 2. A new Christian needs to purchase a Bible of his own. He goes to the bookstore and sees that there are multiple shelves worth of different translations and that there are different types of Bible s such as study Bibles, women s Bibles, even an Archeological Bible. He is utterly overwhelmed and asks for your advice. Respond. 3. A neighbor attended a church in which the preacher told the audience that the King James Bible is the only pure translation and that modern translations are corrupted. She has trouble reading Old English and now is very frustrated. Respond. 4. A teenager in your church saw television program that argued that the church conspired to omit certain writings from the New Testament while keeping others. He now is worried if he can trust his Bible and if he should read the hidden gospels mentioned on TV. Respond. Length of the paper: Students are to submit a paper with each scenario s question answered in 1-2 typewritten pages (or 2-4 legibly handwritten pages), thus the entire contextualization paper will have a body which is 3-6 typewritten pages (or 6-12 legibly handwritten pages) when all three questions have been answered. Word processed papers must be in Times New Roman 12 point font or Arial 12 point font. Regrettably, handwritten papers must be clearly legible or they will not be accepted. Formatting: Students must attach the Contextualization Paper Grading Sheet to the last page of their papers for marking purposes. Calvary Bible Academy BI-201 Bible Introduction Syllabus Page 6 of 7
Grading Sheet Contextualization Paper Required Components: Excellent Average Poor Does the student use correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation? Is the first question adequately answered? 30 24 21 18 15 11 8 5 3 Is the first question s answer persuasive and respectful? 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Is the first question s answer appropriate to the intended recipient? Is the second question adequately answered? 30 24 21 18 15 11 8 5 3 Is the second question s answer persuasive and respectful? 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Is the second question s answer appropriate to the intended recipient? Is the third question adequately answered? 30 24 21 18 15 11 8 5 3 Is the third question s answer persuasive and respectful? 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Is the third question s answer appropriate to the intended recipient? Other Comments: Total Score: /150 pts possible Calvary Bible Academy BI-201 Bible Introduction Syllabus Page 7 of 7