Spring 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, which is outlined below in the assignment and assessment section. 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: 1017total 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 [594 pp. assigned].

Course e-reader. [Selected readings on NT history, cultural contexts, genre, canonization]. [423 pp.].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. Ten weekly online ‘micro-lecture’ introductions (Prezi or PPT). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3]. [5 hours].

  2. 1017 pp. of required reading from textbook plus articles 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, e.g., NT historical and cultural contexts, NT genres, literary context, canonization, and their relation to NT texts. (25%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes # 1, 2, 3, 4]. [20 hours].

  4. Four threaded online group discussions of selected NT texts and proposed analyses (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3, 4]. [20 hours].

  5. Ten weekly 200-word journal entries reflecting on the student’s ongoing learning in the course, submitted to the instructor. (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2, 4]. [5 hours].

  6. A 1200- to 1500-word close-reading analysis of a selected text from New Testament (student’s choice with approval of instructor) addressing, e.g., historical and cultural contexts, genre, and literary context, and incorporating consideration of scholarly discussion. (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.


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.

For your convenience, order these texts online through the Archives Bookshop.