Spring 2014/Pasadena

NT500

Miller

NT500: NEW TESTAMENT INTRODUCTION (4 Units). Renee Dutter Miller.

DESCRIPTION: New Testament Introduction orients students to the literature of the New Testament in its various literary, historical, and theological contexts, and to New Testament interpretation in service of Christian practice.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Having successfully completed this course, students will have demonstrated that they (1) have an introductory knowledge of the literature, history, and theology of the New Testament; (2) can identify a range of questions (e.g., historical, literary, canonical) that might be addressed to particular New Testament texts and to explore those questions in the process of interpreting particular New Testament texts; (3) can identify significant, critical resources for New Testament study and deploy those sources critically in New Testament study; (4) are able to take into account the varied contexts of both the biblical materials and their contemporary interpreters; and (5) can read the New Testament in ways that foster faithful Christian practice.

COURSE FORMAT: The course meets twice a week for two-hour sessions over the ten week quarter for a total of 40 hours. Class time will be divided between lectures on content and method, and hands-on work with texts. Significant student participation is expected; students will be responsible for preparing assigned passages of the New Testament to discuss online and in class.

REQUIRED READING:

Either the CEB, NRSV, or TNIV translation of the New Testament.

Achtemeier, Paul J., Joel B. Green, and Marianne Meye Thompson. Introducing the New Testament: Its Literature and Message. Eerdmans, 2001. ISBN: 978-0802837172, Pub. Price $44.00 [636 pp.].

González, J. L. Santa Biblia: The Bible through Hispanic Eyes. Abingdon, 1996. ISBN: 978-0687014521, Pub. Price $18.00 [124 pp.].

Green, Joel B. Seized by Truth: Reading the Bible as Scripture. Abingdon, 2007. ISBN: 978-0687023554, Pub. Price $25.00 [185 pp.].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. Completion of assigned reading, including the entire New Testament in the CEB, NRSV, or TNIV translation.
  2. Participation in online and in-class discussions (10%).
  3. Three interpretive exercises on selected passages (2 pages each) (30%).
  4. A critical review of González, Santa Biblia; and Green, Seized by Truth (2 pages each) (20%).
  5. Research essay on an assigned NT text (ca. 10 pages) (40%).

PREREQUISITES: School of Psychology students only.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets NT Seminary Core Requirement (SCR) for MATM, MAICS, MAFS, MACL (effective Winter 2010).

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.


NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change.