DESCRIPTION:

The first course in New Testament Introduction, NS500, deals with the Gospels; this course, NS501, studies all the rest of the New Testament. These books will be examined against their historical and geographical backgrounds. Then their literary structure, purpose, and message will be taken into account. Acts is the book where Christianity begins its tradition from the Jewish to the Gentile world, but in this process it does not lose its distinctively Old Testament and Jewish orientation. However, the message is adapted to the Gentile (Hellenistic) environment in a cogent way. The course will begin with a brief introduction to the experience at Pentecost and the establishment of the Church. Some attention will be given to pertinent geography. Where necessary important critical problems will be addressed. In the study of the Revelation the whole historical and theological process of God's redemptive plan will come to a fitting climax.

The manner in which the New Testament treats the presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ from the Jewish to the Gentile world will help the students in this course to be wise and knowledgeable in making that Gospel relevant in the modern world, wherever that might be for them. They will see how the Gospel of our Lord, given in an oriental context, is adapted to a totally different Gentile context. This will be extremely helpful to Hispanic students, who are themselves faced with the adaptation of their preaching, more than likely, in a different Hispanic world to that in which they were brought up. We might speak here of re-contextualization.

The class will meet Tuesday mornings, 8:00-9:50 and 10:50-12:15, for ten weeks.

The Acts, all the Epistles, and the Revelation are to be read twice during the quarter, preferably doing as much reading as possible at one sitting, and in an acceptable modern version. (Maximum number of pages for this reading is 225.)

Bruce, F.F. Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free. Eerdmans, 1977.

Johnson, Luke Timothy. The Writings of the New Testament. Fortress, 1986.

Martin, Ralph. New Testament Foundations II. Rev. ed. Eerdmans, 1986.

Moule, C.F.D. The Birth of the New Testament, 3rd rev. ed. Harper & Row, 1982. Also in Spanish.

Bruce, F.F. New Testament History. Nelson, 1969.

________. Peter, Stephen, James, and John. Eerdmans, 1980.

Davies, W.D. Invitation to the New Testament. Doubleday, 1965. In Spanish: Aproximación al Nuevo Testamento. Ediciones Cristiandad (Madrid).

Kümmel, W.G. Introduction to the New Testament. Abingdon, 1975.

Robert, A. and Feuillet, A. Introducción a la Biblia, Tomo II (NT). Herder, 1965.

Wikenhauser, Alfred. Introducción al NuevoTestamento. Herder, 1966.

(Consult the Reserved Book section in the Library for more books.)

A report of all reading is to be turned in at the last class, including all reading done for the paper. Occasional quizzes will be given. A paper of 14-16 pages is to be written and turned in not later than the 10th class. Some other short pieces of work will be required.

NS500 recommended, and Spanish.

Meets M.Div. core requirement in New Testament 2 (NT2).

Yes.