NT-510 Introduction to the New Testament Methodist Theological School in Ohio Fall 2015 Ryan Schellenberg Thurs., 2:00 4:50pm rschellenberg@mtso.edu Gault Hall 133 Gault Hall 231 (740) 362-3125 Course Description A survey of the writings of the New Testament giving attention to its distinct voices as witnesses to the formative years of Christianity, as sources for theological reflection, and as resources for Christian ministry. Goals for the course are to provide 1) basic knowledge of the content of the New Testament; 2) an introduction to the perennial critical questions concerning these texts; 3) beginning practice in creative, ethical, and intellectually responsible interpretation. Office Hours I am generally in the office Tuesday 2:00 4:30pm, though please feel free to drop in at other times as well. If you want to be sure to catch me, please make arrangements by email, which I check frequently during office hours. Texts Required: Bart D. Ehrman, The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings. 6th ed. Oxford University Press, 2011. (The 5th ed. is fine too, and you may be able to locate inexpensive used copies.) Michael J. Gorman, Reading Paul. Cascade, 2008. Burton H. Throckmorton, Gospel Parallels, NRSV Edition: A Comparison of the Synoptic Gospels. 5th ed. Thomas Nelson, 1992. Recommended: Michael D. Coogan et al., eds. The New Oxford Annotated Bible with Apocrypha: New Revised Standard Version. 4th ed. Oxford, 2010. Please bring a non-digital copy of the Bible with you to class. I will generally use the NRSV. Other acceptable translations include the NASB, NIV/TNIV, ESV, and the NJB. Please do not use the KJV/NKJV (which relies on outdated Greek editions) or paraphrases like The Message or The Living Bible. If you read Greek, please bring both your Greek New Testament and an English Bible that contains the Old Testament. Online Resources The following resources can by accessed on Populi: 1) Formatting and Style Requirements 2) Research Guide for New Testament Studies 3) Course Bibliography (including course reserves) 4) Additional course readings
2 Summary of Assignments and Due Dates 1) Preparation and participation 10% 2) Textual criticism project (Sept. 3) 10% 3) Pauline exegesis paper (Oct. 8) 25% 4) Synoptic pericope study (Nov. 5) 30% 5) Final exam (Dec. 10) 25% Assignment Details 1) Preparation and participation 10% You will be evaluated on your participation in class discussions and group activities. Your participation should demonstrate careful preparation. Please complete the assigned readings prior to each class, and be prepared to discuss what you have learned. Lectures will presuppose and build on not reiterate the knowledge you gain through your reading. It is especially important that you read the assigned NT texts each week. 2) Textual criticism project (Sept. 3) 10% Select one of the textual variants listed below, and, using the apparatus in Throckmorton to locate the necessary data, analyze it according to the following procedure: List each attested reading, and, beside each reading, list the Greek manuscripts in which it is found. Indicate the date of the oldest manuscript in which each is found. (Use Throckmorton s preface to locate the date of each manuscript.) Beside each reading, identify in which text types it is found. (Use Throckmorton s preface to identify the text type of each manuscript.) Weigh the external evidence. Explain which reading you think it favors, and why. Which reading is the more difficult reading (from the perspective of the scribe)? Why? Which reading is the shorter reading? Is it feasible to imagine that the longer readings might have resulted from later additions to the text? Summarize your analysis of the evidence: Which reading do you think is the earliest, and why? A template for presenting your results will be available on Populi. Select your variant from among the following: Matt 5:22 (p. 27, n. D); Matt 6:6 (p. 31, n. M); Luke 11:2 (p. 116, n. D); Mark 8:26 (p. 98, n. Y); Mark 9:49 (p. 108, n. Q); Luke 15:21 (p. 135, n. Z). 3) Pauline exegesis paper (Oct. 8) 25% Select one of the passages listed below, and write a 7 8 page (double-spaced) exegetical paper that accomplishes each of the following: Provides an overview of the logic of Paul s argument. Clarifies the meaning of difficult expressions and/or terminology (with reference to the underlying Greek), and explains the purpose of any quotations of or allusions to Scripture. Outlines the primary theological convictions on which Paul s argument draws. (In other words, ask yourself: What did Paul have to believe in order to write the way he did?) Describes the function of the passage in relation to the overall purpose of the letter. Reflects on the risks and opportunities of reading this passage as Scripture in our very different context. (Having now studied it in depth, what do you find appealing about this passage? What do you find troubling?) Your research for this paper should begin with careful study of the passage itself, as well as a reading of the letter in its entirety. Then you will head for the library! Your paper should demonstrate significant engagement with at least three academic commentaries and one scholarly monograph or peer-reviewed journal article that addresses your passage. (See the Course Reserve list and the Research Guide on Populi for help locating such sources.) Do not use general-purpose websites.
3 Select from the following texts (or request my approval if you prefer to work on a different passage): Gal 3:1 5; Gal 3:15 18; 1 Thess 4:9 12; 1 Thess 5:1 11; Phil 1:18d 26; Phil 3:17 4:1. 4) Synoptic pericope study (Nov. 5) 30% Our study of the Synoptic Gospels will involve learning a number of different methods that scholars utilize in approaching these texts. You will choose one of the pericopae listed below, then demonstrate your competence in each of the methods we discuss by applying it to the text you have selected. Please do not consult commentaries for this assignment. The goal here is for you to do your own analysis of the text. Your study should include the following sections: Form criticism: Comparing the various extant versions, reconstruct, to the best of your ability, the original tradition. (Be sure to explain your reasoning.) Identify its form. Historical Jesus research: Apply to your pericope (in its hypothesized original form) the criteria scholars use for assessing the likelihood that a tradition goes back to the historical Jesus. Then defend either the claim that Jesus did/said what this text attributes to him or the claim that he did not. Synoptic problem: How well does the Two Document Hypothesis (2DH) account for the differences among the versions of your text? Be sure to note any agreements or disagreements that the 2DH cannot account for. Redaction criticism: Choose either Matthew or Luke s version of the story, and list each modification the author made to the story he had in his source. How does this alter its meaning? What theological agenda(s) may have motivated the author to redact the story as he did? (Be sure to provide evidence for these theological agendas from elsewhere in Matthew s/luke s Gospel.) Reflect on the risks and opportunities of reading this passage as Scripture in our very different context. Having now studied it in depth, what do you find appealing about this passage? What do you find troubling? Select from among: Mark 1:40 45 ( 45); Matt 8:7 13 ( 46); Matt 8:18 22 ( 49); Mark 2:1 12 ( 52); Mark 2:23 28 ( 69); Mark 3:31 35 ( 89); Mark 4:10 12 ( 91); Mark 6:1 6 ( 108); Mark 7:24 30 ( 116); Mark 9:14 29 ( 126); Luke 14:15 24 ( 170); Luke 15:1 10 ( 172); Mark 10:46 52 ( 193); Mark 12:1 12 ( 204). 5) Final exam (Dec. 10) 25% The exam will consist of two parts. Part 1 will contain short answer and short essay questions that evaluate your knowledge of course material. Part 2 will consist of an essay topic of your own choosing a subject of particular interest to you. Since you are selecting the topic, I will expect you to be particularly well-informed and well-prepared. Please submit your proposed essay topic by Dec. 3 for approval. Late Assignments Assignments should be handed in at the beginning of class on the day they are due. Late assignments will be subject to a 10% penalty, plus 5% for each additional week that passes without my having received them, to a maximum of 20%. Extended due dates may be granted in exceptional cases (e.g., medical or family emergencies). Course Schedule Chapter numbers for the 5th ed. of Ehrman are in parentheses; * = reading available on Populi. Whenever possible, NT texts should be read in one sitting, and aloud. Week 1 (Aug. 27) What is the New Testament? Ehrman introduction and ch. 1 and 2; after class: Throckmorton xi xix
4 Week 2 (Sept. 3) Contexts and methods: Jews, Greeks, and Romans Ehrman ch. 3 and 4 Textual criticism project due Week 3 (Sept. 10) Paul s life and mission; 1 Thessalonians 1 Thessalonians Ehrman ch. 20 and 21; Gorman ch. 1 3; Davis, The Soil that is Scripture * Week 4 (Sept. 17) Galatians, Romans, and the new perspective Galatians Ehrman ch. 23 and the section on Galatians in ch. 22; Gorman ch. 9 Week 5 (Sept. 24) On the road: The Corinthian correspondence; Philippians; Philemon Philippians; 1 Corinthians Ehrman ch. 22; Gorman ch. 4 8, 10 13 Week 6 (Oct. 1) Paul s legacy Ephesians; 1 Timothy; Acts of Paul and Thecla* Ehrman ch. 25 and 26; Pervo, The Making of Paul, pp. 1 22* Week 7 (Oct. 8) The Synoptic tradition; Mark Mark Ehrman ch. 5 and 7 Pauline exegesis paper due Week 8 (Oct. 22) The Synoptic problem; Matthew Matthew 1 9 Ehrman ch. 8 and 9 Week 9 (Oct. 29) Luke and Acts Luke 1 2, 4, 14 16; Acts 1 4, 10, 13 15 Ehrman ch. 10 and 19 (=5/11) Week 10 (Nov. 5) The historical Jesus; from Jesus to Paul Ehrman ch. 14, 16, 17 (=5/15, 17, 18) Synoptic pericope study due Week 11 (Nov. 12) Johannine literature John; 1 John Ehrman ch. 11 and 12 (=5/12 and 13) Week 12 (Nov. 19) General Epistles Hebrews 1 10; James; 1 Peter Ehrman ch. 27 29 Week 13 (Dec. 3) Revelation and apocalyptic literature Daniel 7; Revelation 1 2, 4 7, 12 22 Ehrman ch. 24 and 30 Final exam essay topic due Final exam (Dec. 10)
5 School Policies (Please see MTSO Student Handbook for sections providing policy details.) ADA MTSO seeks to remove barriers to inclusion in its learning communities. Students who feel they may need an accommodation based on the impact of a documented disability should contact the instructor privately to discuss their specific needs at the beginning of the semester. Please contact the Director of Student Services to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities. Any accommodation must be agreed upon prior to the due date of the affected course requirement. Class attendance Regular attendance is expected in all classes. During unavoidable absences, students are responsible for missed work. An excessive number of absences may result in grade reduction or course failure, despite successful completion of all assigned work. In most cases, a student will not be allowed credit for a course if he or she is absent for 25% of the class sessions. Electronic Devices Turn mobile devices off or vibrate only during class. Browsing the Internet or engaging in email or social network conversations during class is discouraged. Instructors have the right to impose grading penalties for disruptions due to electronic devices. Human Subjects Research Research by MTSO faculty, students, or affiliated personnel that collects nonpublic information from and/or about living individuals or contemporary organizations/groups for purposes of publication or public presentation (including class assignments) must be approved by the Human Subjects Research Committee. MTSO faculty, students, or affiliated personnel should err on the side of caution and apply for committee approval of any activity that may fit this description. Inclusive Language In accordance with MTSO s policy on inclusive language, all students are expected to use gender inclusive or gender neutral language in their writing and in the classroom discussions when referring to human beings. Incompletes To receive a course grade of Incomplete, students must submit the petition form from the Registrar with all signatures to the Dean s Office before the last day of regularly scheduled classes. See Student Handbook for intensive term deadlines. Any petition submitted without a due date for outstanding work will be denied. If work is not complete by the due date the Registrar will record the grade of F for the course. Pass/Fail The decision to exercise this option must be made before the end of the second week of the course by completing the appropriate form available through the Registrar. To receive a grade of "pass" the student must do at least the equivalent of C minus work in the course. Plagiarism Plagiarism is a serious matter of academic, professional, and personal integrity. All students at the Masters level are expected to understand the requirement to provide attribution when the work of others is used. Students are also expected to be familiar with and understand the school s policy on Academic Misconduct found in the Student Handbook. If a student has questions about attribution, citation, and how to avoid plagiarism they should consult the course instructor, the school s writing instructor, or library staff. When in doubt it is better to provide attribution even if one is uncertain about the proper citation form. Plagiarism is a form of academic misconduct that results in disciplinary actions per the Student Handbook that may range from failing an assignment or course to expulsion.