Winter 2016/Fuller Online

NT500

Black

NT500: NEW TESTAMENT INTRODUCTION (4 Units: 160 hours). Stephanie L. Black.

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: 1006total number of pages of books and articles required, plus reading the entire NT.

The entire New Testament in English, using the NRSV, TNIV or CEB translations.

Achtemeier, P., J. Green, and M. Meye Thompson. Introducing the New Testament: Its Literature and Theology. Eerdmans, 2001. ISBN: 978-0802837172, Pub. Price $46.00 [600 pp. assigned].

González, J. L. Santa Biblia: The Bible through Hispanic Eyes. Abingdon, 1996. ISBN: 978-0687014521, Pub. Price $18.99 [124 pp.].

Green, Joel B. Seized by Truth: Reading the Bible as Scripture. Abingdon, 2007. ISBN: 978-0687023554, Pub. Price $25.99 [142 pp.].

Course reader. [Readings from, e.g., Elizabeth S. Malbon, Peter Nyende, Mark Allan Powell, Thomas R. Schreiner, F. Scott Spenser, R. S. Sugirtharajah, Justin S. Ukpong, Kevin J. Vanhoozer, David Wenham and Steve Walton, Bruce W. Winter]. [140 pp.].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. Weekly online ‘micro-lecture’ introductions (Prezi or PPT) and PDF lecture readings. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3]. [10 hours].

2. 1006 pp. of required reading from textbooks and book chapters on e-reserve. Reading report to be submitted at end of course. (10%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3, 4]. [90 hours, including 25 hours of reading the entire NT].

3. Six threaded online learning activities or forum discussions, focusing on genres and texts in the NT. Contributions include student’s initial activity participation or discussion response posted to group forum (~250 words), followed by a 150-word reply to the work of other classmates and a 100-word summary statement. (25%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2, 3, 4]. [15 hours].

4. Two interpretive exercises on assigned NT texts [2 papers; 1200 words each] (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-4] [20 hours].

5. Brief book review of González, Santa Biblia [forum posting of 500 words, plus 150 reply] (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #3, 4] [5 hours].

6. Final research paper on a NT passage, subject to instructor’s approval [2000 words] (25%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2, 3, 4] [20 hours research and writing].

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.