NT 5000 – Introduction to New Testament (4 cr.) TEDS Madison Extension Spring Semester 2016 Jan. 8-9; Feb. 5-6; Mar. 4-5; Apr. 8-9, Apr. 29-30 Fri. 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM, Sat. 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM Garwood P. Anderson, PhD Phone: 262-434-0919 (M); 262-646-6523 (O) Email:
[email protected]
Course Syllabus Catalog Description Introductory survey of the New Testament, including the life and ministry of Christ, apostolic history, New Testament literature, principal critical issues, and the unity and diversity of New Testament theology. This course meets the NT General Comprehensive requirement for MA students and the English Bible competency requirement for MDiv students, who must meet the SBCT requirement. Not for credit in the MA/NT or MA/OT programs. Elective credit in MDiv program. Auditors are not permitted in General Comp courses unless they have taken previous undergraduate coursework in the subject or are not intending to complete the MA program. (p. 203)
Course Objectives Students successfully completing this course will
Will have a broad acquaintance with the historical and social environment in which the NT was written;
Will have a confident grasp of the content of each NT writing and an introductory comprehension of the historical setting and critical questions related to each;
Will be able to articulate the primary theological leitmotifs of the diverse corpora of the NT.
Required Texts Wenham, David, and Steve Walton. Exploring the New Testament, Volume One: A Guide to the Gospels and Acts. 2d ed. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2011. Marshall, I. Howard, Stephen Travis, and Ian Paul. Exploring the New Testament, Volume Two: A Guide to the Letters and Revelation. 2d ed. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2011. Wright, Christopher J. H. Knowing Jesus through the Old Testament. 2d ed. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2014. Longenecker, Bruce W. The Lost Letters of Pergamum: A Story from the New Testament World. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2003.
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Course Requirements and Assessment 1. Reading and Quizzes (40%) a. Reading Content Quizzes (5% each). For each weekend following the January 8–9 weekend, there will be a content quiz on both the assigned NT reading and the assigned reading from the Exploring textbooks. A written study guide, defining the proficiency expected for both sections (terms, texts, etc.) will be supplied in the preceding course meeting. b. Reflection papers (10% each). Students will write a short reflection paper (3–4 pages) on each of the two auxiliary books: i. Knowing Jesus through the Old Testament is due on February 5. ii. The Lost Letters of Pergamum is due on March 4. 2. Exegetical Exercises (30%; 10 % each). Students will have three exegetical exercises on different passages and genre of the NT, each focusing on a different exegetical skill or method. Specific instructions and materials will be supplied for each of the following. a. Comparing synoptic accounts of a gospel pericope (due on February 5) b. Engaging commentaries of varied confessional perspectives (due on April 9) c. The use of extra-biblical background material (due on April 29) 3. Final Essay Exam (30%) a. Students will be given four questions from a 10-question study guide, from which they will choose three to answer. b. The time-limit for the exam will be three hours; that is, students must return their exam within three hours from it being sent to them by email (at a time and date, TBD). c. The exam is open-book, open-note, open-Bible—open everything. Students may write their answers to the questions in advance; they may outline their answers carefully in advance and do the writing within the three-hour span; they may even do no advance preparation and hope that they can write coherent essays under pressure (though this is strongly discouraged). d. Strong essays will be about 1,000 words in length; well-organized; synthetic of class reading and lectures. Answers that merely repeat the course reading or lecture material will be judged less proficient than those in which the student critically synthesizes that material.
Course Policies 1. Attendance. Because we meet only five weekends, each course meeting is absolutely critical. Students should not register for the course if they are aware of a conflict with any of the scheduled weekends. If an unforeseen occurrence absolutely requires missing any class sessions, students should make arrangements to have the class sessions recorded. Assignments will still be due at the beginning of class (students may submit them via Moodle), and quizzes should be made up immediately. 2. Late work. Occasional late work is a regrettable fact of life, usually avoidable, sometimes not. In order to be fair to the professor and to all the students in the class, the standard policy for late work will be as follows: a. For each weekday late, there is a 5% penalty subtracted from the grade. Weekend days NT 5000 – Introduction to the New Testament | Spring 2016 | TEDS Madison Extension Page 2
do not count individually, so a paper due on Friday but turned in on Monday would be penalized only by 5%. b. In emergency cases or in the face of an unusual hardship, a grace period can be worked out on an individual basis. Emergencies would include disabling medical issues―personally or in the family―deaths of loved ones, etc. Unusual hardship is a catch-all for circumstances beyond a student’s control that prevent the completion of work on time. Neither procrastination nor even general busyness count as an unusual hardship. Once the alternative deadline has been set by mutual agreement, the 5% penalty becomes effective with respect to the new deadline. 3. Assignment submission. Except for the final exam, students should submit written assignments in hard copy form upon arrival at class. Students may use Moodle as a backup when 4. Plagiarism and Academic Integrity. Any instance plagiarism—representing material as your own that is taken from another source—is strictly forbidden. The course follows the policy of the TEDS Catalog and Academic Handbook. 5. Course PowerPoints and handouts will be made available on Moodle, normally after the lecture rather than before for pedagogical purposes.
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Course Schedule January 8–9: Preparing to Study the New Testament and Introduction to the Gospels Topics
Reading
Assignments
The historical setting for Jesus and the Gospels Introduction to Jesus and the Gospels
Get started on Knowing Jesus through the Old Testament ENT1: ix–xv, 3–197
None
February 5–6: Gospels Continued Topics
Reading1
Assignments
The fourfold gospel canon The literary and theological distinctives of each of the four gospels
Synopsis assignment Reflection on Knowing Jesus through the Old Testament Quiz on Gospels and ENT1:201-79
Mark Matthew Luke John ENT1: 2o1–79
March 4–5: Acts and Introduction to Paul Topics
Reading
Assignments
Acts as Luke’s second volume Paul’s Career Paul’s early letters
Lost Letters of Pergamum reflection Quiz on Acts, Galatians, 1-2 Thessalonians, 1-2 Corinthians and ENT1:283–317, ENT2:3–136
Acts ENT1: 283–317 Galatians 1–2 Thessalonians 1–2 Corinthians ENT2:3–136 Lost Letters of Pergamum
April 8–9: Paul Continued Topics
Romans The question of pseudonymity Paul’s prison epistles The pastoral epistles Paul’s theology: retrospective
Reading
Assignments
Commentary comparison exegetical assignment Quiz on Romans, prison, pastoral epistles, and ENT2:137–239
Romans Philippians Philemon Colossians Ephesians 1-2 Timothy, Titus ENT2:137–239
April 29–30: Hebrews to Revelation Topics
Canonical counterpoint in the nonPauline letters Revelation and apocalyptic literature
Reading
Assignments
NT Backgrounds exegetical assignment Quiz on Hebrews, “Catholic” epistles, Revelation, and ENT2:243346
Hebrews James 1 Peter 2 Peter Jude 1–3 John Revelation ENT2:243-346
Essay Exam: TBD 1
When reading the NT texts and introductions to them, it is recommended to read the corresponding ENT selection first and let it serve as an initial guide to the NT text, which you will read slowly and carefully. NT 5000 – Introduction to the New Testament | Spring 2016 | TEDS Madison Extension Page 4
