NT SURVEY, BBL 1022 D/E Spring, 2004 D 9:00-9:50 T, Th - WSC 223 E 1:15-2:05 T, Th - WSC 224 Dr. James R. Blankenship, Assistant Prof. of Biblical Studies Office: 218 A Walker Student Center Office Hours: M, W, F - 9:00-9:50 AM T, Th - 8:00-8:50 AM M-F - 3:00-4:00 PM & by appointment Description: A brief introduction to the history and message of the New Testament. A general survey of the content of each book and certain significant themes stressing relevance to Christian living. May be expanded to a three-hour module, 1023, for students in the Adult Education program only. No prerequisites. Objectives: 1) Read the entire NT. 2) Become familiar with the NT s historical and cultural contexts and its literary forms. 3) Understand the meaning the NT had for its original audience. 4) Understand what the NT means today. REQUIRED TEXTS: 1) The NT itself, in any translation. Recommendations about Bible Translations: Try to get a modern, easy to read translation. If you can t read & understand Shakespeare in the original, odds are that you really do not understand the KJV either, but merely use passages as reminders of what you have been told that particular passages mean. Try to find a translation that prints poetry in verse form; which will make recognizing, reading and understanding poetry much easier. Finally, remember that NONE of the original authors used chapter or verse numbers. While these help us find and talk about the same particular text, these divisions can get in the way of understanding the text as God inspired the original authors to write it. Try to find a translation that prints the Biblical text in paragraphs, ideally without verse divisions. When reading, try your best to ignore these very, very late additions to the Biblical text. 2) Keener, Craig S. The IVP Bible Background Commentary. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993. BIBLIOGRAPHY: (For your reference. You do NOT need to buy the below books for this class.) General Bible Reference Bromiley, Geoffrey W. et. al., eds. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. 4 vols. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1979-1988. Fee, Gordon D. & Douglas Stuart. How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth. 2d ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1993. Freedman, David Noel et. al., eds. Anchor Bible Dictionary. 6 vols. New York: Doubleday, 1992. General NT Reference Brown, Raymond E. An Introduction to the New Testament. New York: Doubleday, 1997.
Carson, D. A., Douglas Moo and Leon Morris. An Introduction to the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1992. Fee, Gordon D. New Testament Exegesis. Rev. ed. Westminster/John Knox Press, 1993. Gundry, Robert H. A Survey of the New Testament. 4th ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2003. McKnight, Scot. Introducing New Testament Interpretation. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1989. re: Gospels & Acts Aland, Kurt, ed. Synopsis of the Four Gospels. [no city]: United Bible Societies, 1982. Blomberg, Craig. The Historical Reliability of the Gospels. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1987. Burge, Gary. Interpreting the Gospel of John. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1992. Green, Joel B., Scot McKnight and I. Howard Marshall, eds. Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1992. Liefeld, Walter L. Interpreting the Book of Acts. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1995. McKnight, Scot. Interpreting the Synoptic Gospels. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1988. Stein, Robert H. The Synoptic Problem: An Introduction. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1987. re: Pauline Epistles Bruce, F. F. Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free. Exeter: Paternoster Press, 1977. Davies, W. D. Paul and Rabbinic Judaism. London: SPCK, 1948. Fee, Gordon D. God s Empowering Presence: The Holy Spirit in the Letters of Paul. Peabody, MA: Hendricks, 1994. Francis, Fred O. and J. Paul Sampley. Pauline Parallels. 2d ed. [no city]: Fortress Press, 1987. Hawthorne, Gerald F., Ralph P. Martin and Daniel G. Reid, eds. Dictionary of Paul and His Letters. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993. Longenecker, Richard. The Ministry and Message of Paul. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1971. Sanders, E. P. Paul and Palestinian Judaism. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1977. Schreiner, Thomas R. Interpreting the Pauline Epistles. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1990. Latter New Testament Bruce, F. F. Peter, Stephen, James and John. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1979. Gaebelein, Frank E., ed. Expositor s Bible Commentary, vol 12. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1981. Michaels, J. Ramsey. Interpreting the Book of Revelation. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1992. Martin, Ralph P. and Peter H. Davids, eds. Dictionary of the Later New Testament and its Developments. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1997. The New Interpreter's Bible: Hebrews - Revelation, vol 12. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1998. Trotter, Andrew H., Jr. Interpreting the Epistle to the Hebrews. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1997. CLASS EXPECTATIONS & POLICIES Attendance & Punctuality: I will take attendance. Every three unexcused absences will cause your final course grade to drop by 1/2 a letter. Excused absences are: 1) participation in school sponsored extra-curricular activities for which JBU encourages professors to excuse students from attendance, 2) illnesses needing medical treatment (for which I will need to see a doctor s note), 3) the death of immediate family members, including grandparents, 4) you or your spouse is giving birth. Habitual lateness is disrespectful to your fellow students as well as to the teacher. Avoid it. Spring Break and Easter Weekend: Friday, March 12 and Thursday, April 8 are regular class days. Students should not make travel plans for Spring Break or Easter weekend until after their regularly-scheduled classes have ended.
Do NOT expect accommodation of travel plans to leave before scheduled breaks, or to return late afterwards. Class Contribution & Participation: Classroom contributions (as opposed to mere discussion) in the forms of questions, observations and discussion are welcome, and may benefit your grade. Late Assignments: Assignments may be turned in up to one week late. Late assignments receive an automatic D. Exams & Quizzes: MUST be taken with the rest of the class, except in cases of excused absences. FINAL EXAMS will follow JBU policies, including: All classes are required to meet during finals week at the designated times for examination and/or for other recapitulations of the semester s work. (Exam periods must be used by faculty unless exemptions are arranged with the Provost). All final examinations should be held in the classrooms normally used for regular class sessions. Students are required to take their final exams at the designated times. Reasons such as a ride leaving early, flight availability and schedules, participation in wedding, family vacation plans, etc. will NOT be considered viable excuses to request early exams. The only reasons for a modification in the exam schedule would be: a death or a serious illness in the immediate family or illness of the student as certified by the University nurse or other responsible person. It is the students responsibility to present request for change in exam to the Office of the Provost. The penalty for not taking a final examination will be limited to a grade of zero for the test, to be averaged with other grades for the final grade in accordance with the grading system printed in the course syllabus. It is the responsibility of each student to know his or her exam schedule. This information is distributed with the class schedule. Other exams are noted in the syllabus. Every effort will be made either to adhere to this schedule, or to give the class both input and advanced warning of any changes. As a rule, make-up exams will be allowed only for the same reasons as finals (again, documentation may be required). Do NOT expect accommodation of travel plans to leave before scheduled breaks, or to return late afterwards. Statement on Academic Integrity: As a Christian institution of higher education, JBU seeks to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. Violations of these standards will result in substantial penalties. Any instance of cheating or plagiarism will result in a zero for the assignment and a report submitted to the academic dean. Further infractions will result in failure of the course. For additional information and examples, refer to the Academic Integrity section on page 4 of your JBU Student Handbook. Again, failure to give proper credit will result in a failing grade on that assignment. A second offence will probably include failing the course. I will also report all offences to the academic dean. Plagiarism is a serious offense. The use of another person's academic work without proper citation falsely presents another person s work as your own (a lie) and deprives the other person of proper credit (a form of theft). All quotations, paraphrases, and summaries of another s work should be credited to the original author or speaker. Allusions that would not generally be
recognized should also be credited. (When in doubt, check one of the standard writing stylebooks. If still in doubt, cite.) Policy on Students with Disabilities: Students with documented disabilities who need academic accommodations should make an appointment with the Director of Academic Support and Disability Services (524-7217) to begin the accommodation process. They also are encouraged to make an appointment with the instructor as soon as possible. Students without documented disabilities who feel they may have difficulty with this course are also encouraged to make an appointment with the instructor to discuss what steps need to be taken to be successful. Extra Credit: will NOT be an option in this class. GRADING in this class will be on a Points system Your score Test 1 - Gospels/Acts 150 points Test 2 - Acts/Paul 150 points Test 3 - Latter NT 200 points Other points 500 points 1000 total points possible. Test 2 will be non-cumulative. Test 3 is worth more points than the other tests because it will include some questions from earlier sections of the course. Other points Pop Quizzes: 180 points There will be 5 to 10 question quizzes throughout the term. I will try to have at least one quiz each week. Most weeks there will be more than one quiz. Making up a missed quiz will only be allowed for excused absences. Questions for these quizzes will be drawn from: the reading assigned for the day of the quiz, the prior lecture, and the glossary found in Keener, pages 822-831. Questions will also be drawn from the list of SBL abbreviations for NT books at the end of this syllabus. Library Assignment: 50 points. A worksheet will be provided. Outline: 100 points each. Matt 11.2-28.20 1 Cor Map Quiz: 20 points. A worksheet will be provided. Synoptic Exercise: 50 Points. Assume someone first reads 2 Pet 2, and then reads Jude. List everything Jude adds (or makes more specific) & everything that Jude leaves out. A worksheet will be provided. A+ = 970-1000 A = 931-969 A- = 900-930 B+ = 870-899 B = 831-869 B- = 800-830 C+ = 770-799
C = 731-769 C- = 700-730 D+ = 670-699 D = 631-669 D- = 600-630 F = 0-599 NOTE: This Syllabus is not a contract but a guideline, and may be changed. COURSE READINGS & ASSIGNMENTS Read both the NT passage and the material from Keener before class on the day for which it is assigned. Readings from Keener are given both by page number and by (biblical text discussed). Jan 12 Mon 1/12 Classes Begin Jan 13 Intro, Literary Context Keener, pp 9-18; 26-32 Jan 15 Historical & Theological Contexts Keener, pp 32-37; 38-42 Jan 20 Mark Keener, pp 132-134; 135-137 (1.1-20); 155-158 (8.14-9.13): 182-183 (16.1-20) Jan 22 Matt 1-13 Keener, pp 43-45; 55-66 (ch 5-7) Jan 23 Fri 1/23 Last Day to Add a Course Jan 27 Matt 14-28 Keener, pp 87-88 (15.1-20); 94-95 (18.15-20); 99-102 (19.23-21.17); 107 (22.41-46); 130-131 (28.16-20) Jan 29 Luke 1-9 Keener, pp 185-186; 187 (1.1-4); 198-200 (4.1-37); 202-203 (5.27-39); 214 (9.34b-50) Feb 3 Luke 10-24 & Synoptic Gospels Keener, pp 225-226 (12.41-53); 227-229(13.10-14.6); 231-234 (15.1-32); Feb 5 John 1-12 Keener, pp 259-263; 264-265 (1.1-18); 275-277 (5.1-29); 278-283 (6.1-7.39); 285 (8.12-29); 291 (10.22-42) Feb 10 John 13-20 & Jesus (& Q) Seminar(s) Keener, pp 296-297 (13.1-20); 299-301 (14.8-31); 307-310 (18.28-19.3); 319 (21.15-25) Feb 12 Acts 1-8 Keener, pp 320-323; 325-327 (1.12-2.4); 336-338 (5.3-42) Feb 17 TEST 1 - Gospels & Acts 1-8 Keener, pp 407-410; (8+4) Feb 19 Acts 9-28 Keener, pp 351-354 (10.9-11.18); 364-366 (15.1-35); 386-387 (21.17-26); 319-392 (22.30-23.10); Feb 20 Fri 2/20 Last Day to Drop a Course Feb 24 1-2 Thess Keener, pp 583-604
Feb 26 Gal Keener, pp 517-518; 520-521 (1.6-17); 533-537 (5.2-6.18) Mar 2 Rom Keener, pp 411-413; 416-421 (1.18-3.31); 443-444 (14.1-23) Mar 3 Midsemester Grade Reporting Mar 4 1 Cor Keener, pp 451-452; 469-470 (8.1-13); 474-481 (10.14-14.20); Mar 9 2 Cor Keener, pp 491-492; 508-516 (10.7-13.14) Mar 11 Eph Keener, pp 538-555 Mar 15 Mon 3/15 - Fri 3/19 Mar 22 Mon 3/22 - Fri 4/2 Spring Break Registration for Fall Term Mar 23 Phil & Col Keener, pp 556-557; 560-1 (2.1-11); 568-569; 572-573 (1.14-2.3); 216-577 (2.16-23) Mar 25 Phlm Keener, pp 642-646 Mar 30 1-2 Tim, Titus Keener, pp 605-607; 610 (2.1-7); 622-523; 634; 635-639 (1.5-2.14) Apr 1 TEST 2 - Acts 9-28 & Letters attributed to Paul (10) Apr 5 Mon 4/5 - Fri 4/9 Registration for Summer Terms Apr 6 Heb 1-6 Keener, pp 647-650; 657-661 (4.14-6.12); Apr 8 Heb 7-13 Keener, pp 673-678 (11.1-12.3); 682-684 (13.1-17) Apr 9 Fri 4/9 Good Friday; Classes Cancelled Apr 13 Jas Keener, pp 686-704 Apr 15 1 Pet Keener, pp 705-722 Apr 20 2 Pet-Jude Keener, pp 723-733; 752-756 Apr 22 1-3 John Keener, pp 734-751 Apr 27 Rev (Apoc) 1.3 Keener, pp 757-775 Apr 29 REVIEW TEST 3 - Latter New Testament during Examination Week Mon 5/3 - Fri 5/7 Examination Week NT Survey Finals Section D (9:00) on Th at 8:00-10:00 Section E (1:15) on Th at 1:30-3:30 Sat May 8 Commencement Exercises Keep track of your other points in the space below. You can then add them to your test points in the chart above and keep track of your grade.