Fall 2020/Fuller Online

NT500

Davis

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

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: 956total pages of books and articles 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. Not available as an e-book [350 pp. assigned = 29 hours]

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. Not available as an e-book [350 pp. assigned = 29 hours]

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 $47.99. Available as an e-book through the Fuller Library [150 pp. assigned = 12 hours].

Other readings from Scott Bartchy, Dale Bruner, Alan Culpepper, Gordon Fee, Craig Keener, & Ben Witherington will be available in the Canvas Course Modules [106 pp. assigned = 9 hours]

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. Completing assigned readings and keeping a 2-part journal each week. In part 1 record the percentage of assigned reading completed, then compose 1 paragraph recording 1 or 2 insight/s gained from the reading (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1-4].               [104 hours total].                                                                                                  
2. Viewing assigned course lecture videos. In part 2 of your weekly journal record the percentage of assigned videos watched, then compose 1 paragraph recording 1 or 2 insight/s gained from the videos (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1-4]. [20 hours total].                                                                                                                                                         
3. Participating in 2-week discussion forums 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. Completing 2 shorter interpretive papers on assigned NT texts. Each of these papers must be a minimum of 1000-words /2-pages single-spaced/ 4 pages double-spaced (20%/each). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2]. [10 hours total].                                                        
5. Completing 1 longer interpretive paper on an assigned NT text. This paper must be a minimum of 2000-words /4-pages single-spaced/ 8 pages double-spaced (20%). [This assignment is a “Signature Assignment” and is related to learning outcomes #1-4]. [16 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.