Winter 2020/Fuller Online

NT500

Davis

NT500: NEW TESTAMENT INTRODUCTION (4 Units: 160 hours). Jim Davis.

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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 can explore those questions in the process of interpreting particular New Testament texts; (3) are able to take into account the varied contexts of both the biblical materials and their contemporary interpreters; and (4) can read the New Testament in ways that foster faithful Christian practice.

RELATIONSHIP TO PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES: This course will introduce students to content and interpretation of the NT in its historical and contemporary context, which is consistent with the SOT PLO “Students will have demonstrated competence in the practice of biblical interpretation for faithful use of Scripture in their own lives and ministries” (MDiv, MAT, MATM).

COURSE FORMAT: This course will be conducted online on a ten-week schedule aligned with Fuller’s academic calendar for a total of 40 instructional hours. Students are required to interact with the material, with each other, and with the instructor regularly through online discussions, reading, and other assignments that promote active learning.

REQUIRED READING: 1125pages required plus reading the entire NT.

Achtemeier, Paul J. & Green, Joel B. & Thompson, Marianne Meye. Introducing the New Testament: It’s Literature and Theology. Eerdmans, 2001. ISBN: 978-0802837172, Pub. Price $48.00. [350 pp. assigned]

Blount, Brian K. & Felder, Cain Hope & Martin, Clarice J. & Powery, Emerson B. (Editors). True to Our Native Land: An African American New Testament Commentary. Fortress, 2007. ISBN: 978-0800634216, Pub. Price $35.00. [350 pp. assigned]

Carter, Warren and Levine, Amy-Jill. The New Testament: Methods and Meanings. Abingdon Press, 2013. ISBN: 978-1426741906, Pub. Price $39.99. [350 pp. assigned].

Green, Joel B. (ed.) and Lee Martin McDonald (ed.). The World of the New Testament: Cultural, Social, and Historical Contexts. Baker Academic, 2017. ISBN: 978-0801098611, Pub. Price $44.99. Available as an e-book through the Fuller Library [150 pp. assigned].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. Reading assigned textbooks (1125 pages) plus the entire New Testament and keeping a reading journal each week recording the total pages read and a reflection on one of the readings not covered by the online discussion (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1-4]. [110 hours total].              
2. Viewing online video mini-lectures by me and other NT scholars and recording completion and a 1-paragraph response in the reading log (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1-4]. [10 hours total].                                         
3. Participation in discussion forums weekly with an original post (minimum 250-words) in week one and two response posts (minimum 125-words each) in week two (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-4] [10 hours total].             
4. Completion of two short interpretive papers on assigned NT texts (1000-word/2-page single-spaced minimum) =20% of the total grade. [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2]. [10 hours total].                                          
5. Completion of one long interpretive research paper on an assigned NT text (2000-word/8-page single-spaced minimum) = 40% of the total grade. [This assignment is a “Signature Assignment” for assessment purposes and is related to learning outcomes #1-4]. [20 hours].              

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets a core requirement in the 120 MDiv, 80 MAT, 80 MATM, and 80 MAICS Programs (Fall 2015) and the MATM, MAICS, and MACL Programs (Winter 2010).

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.