Spring 2020/Fuller Online

NT500

Razafimanantsoa

NT500: NEW TESTAMENT INTRODUCTION (4 Units: 160 hours). Edmond Razafimanantsoa.

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: 970 total pages of books and articles required, plus reading the entire NT.

The CEB, NRSV or TNIV translation of the New Testament [25 hours].

Achtemeier, Paul, Joel B. Green, and Marianne Meye Thompson. Introducing the New Testament: Its Literature and Theology. Eerdmans, 2001. ISBN: 978-0802837172, Pub. Price $48.00. [608 pp.].

De La Torre, Miguel. Reading the Bible from the Margins. Orbis Books, 2002. ISBN: 978-1570754104, Pub. Price $24.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [180 pp.].

Longenecker, Bruce W. The Lost Letters of Pergamum: A Story from the New Testament World. 2nd ed. Baker, 2016. ISBN: 978-0801097966, Pub. Price $21.99. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [182 pp.].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. Weekly online mini-lectures and articles to read via Canvas. [This assignment relates to learning outcomes #1-3]. [15 hours]
2. 250-word weekly forum posts followed by 150-word weekly forum responses. (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2-4]. [20 hours].
3. 970 pages of required reading, plus reading the entire NT. [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1-4]. [90 hours, including 25 hours of reading the entire NT].
4. An interpretive exercise on an assigned text (1200-1400 words) (25%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2]. [10 hours].
5. A 1000-word critical review of De La Torre’s book (Reading the Bible from the Margins) (15%). This assignment is related to learning outcome #3]. [5 hours]
6. A 2500-word research paper on an assigned passage (interpretive assignment for assessment purposes) (40%). [This assignment 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.

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. Copyright 2019 Fuller Theological Seminary.