Fall 2015/Fuller Online

NT500

Stigall

NT500: NEW TESTAMENT INTRODUCTION (4 Units: 160 hours). Joshua Jay Stigall.

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.

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: 1,375 (approx.) pages required.

One of these translations of the New Testament: CEB, NRSV, or TNIV [approx. 400 pp.].

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 [608 pp.].

Green, Joel B. Seized by Truth: Reading the Bible as Scripture. Abingdon, 2007. ISBN: 978-0687023554, Pub. Price $25.99 [185 pp.].

Longenecker, Bruce W. The Lost Letters of Pergamum: A Story from the New Testament World. Baker, 2002. ISBN: 978-0801026072, Pub. Price $19.99 [182 pp.].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. Weekly course lectures. [20 hours approx.]. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1, 2 and 3].
2. 1,375 [approx.] pages of required reading including reading the entire NT. [90 hours] [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1-4]. Completion of reading will be assessed in assignments below.
3. Active participation in course discussion forums (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1, 2 and 3] [20 hours]. Students will be expected to refer to their course reading as evidence of completion of the reading.

4. Two 600-800 word interpretive assignments on assigned NT texts (25%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1, 2, and 4.] [8 hours].

5. Critical review of and response to Seized by the Truth, 900-1000 words [6 hours preparing and writing]. (20% of course grade).

6. A final research project on an assigned topic [15-20 hours preparing &writing]—addresses learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, and 4 (40% of course grade). The project may be a research paper (2,000-2,500) or another project that is appropriate to the student’s professional interests. This may include, but is not limited to, preparing (and recording) a sermon, creating a work of art, video presentation, etc. In all cases, students must demonstrate thoughtful interaction with the topic, primary literature, and secondary (i.e., scholarly discussion) literature related to the issue. Students will determine a topic in consultation with the professor not later than the fourth week of the course.

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.