Fall 2017/Fuller Online

NT500

Parris

NT500: NEW TESTAMENT INTRODUCTION (4 Units: 160 hours). David Parris.

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) can identify significant, critical resources for New Testament study and deploy those sources critically in New Testament study; (4) are able to take into account the varied contexts of both the biblical materials and their contemporary interpreters; and (5) 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: 1,100 pages required, plus reading the entire NT.

Read the New Testament (CEB, NRSV, or TNIV).

Carter, Warren. Seven Events That Shaped the New Testament World. Baker Academic, 2013. ISBN: 978-0801039164, Pub. Price $22.00 [150 pp. assigned].

Green, Joel B. and Lee Martin McDonald, eds. The World of the New Testament: Cultural, Social, and Historical Contexts. Baker, 2013. ISBN: 978-0801039621, Pub. Price $49.99 [130 pp. assigned].

Kierspel, Lars. Charts on the Life, Letters, and Theology of Paul. Kregel, 2012. ISBN: 978-0825429361, Pub. Price $26.99.

Osiek, Carolyn, Margaret Y. MacDonald and Janet H. Tulloch. A Woman's Place: House Churches in Earliest Christianity. Fortress, 2005.ISBN: 978-0800637774, Pub. Price $21.00 [250 pp. assigned].

Parris, David Paul. Reading the Bible with Giants: How 2000 Years of Biblical Interpretation Can Shed New Light on Old Texts. 2nd ed. Cascade Books, 2015. ISBN: 978-1625647283, Pub. Price $28.00 [190 pp. assigned].

Spivey, R.A., D. Moody Smith and C. Clifton Black. Anatomy of the New Testament. 7th ed. Fortress, 2013. ISBN: 978-0800699710, Pub. Price $60.00 [450 pp. assigned].

Subscription for St. John’s Timeline Project [http://www.stjohnstimeline.co.uk]. Price £25.00 [See online course page for info].

RECOMMENDED READING:

Brown, Raymond E. An Introduction to the New Testament. Yale University Press, 1997. ISBN: 978-0300140163, Pub. Price $75.00.

deSilva, David A. An Introduction to the New Testament: Contexts, Methods and Ministry Formation. InterVarsity Press, 2004. ISBN: 978-0830827466, Price $50.00. (highly recommended)

Ferguson, Everett. Backgrounds of Early Christianity. 3rd ed. Eerdmans, 2003. ISBN: 978-0802822215, Pub. Price $42.00.

Fiensy, David A. and James Riley Strange, eds. Galilee in the Late Second Temple and Mishnaic Periods. Vol 1: Life, Culture, and Society. Fortress, 2014. ISBN: 978-1451466744, Pub. Price $69.00.

Ladd, George Eldon. A Theology of the New Testament. Rev. ed., Edited by Donald A. Hagner. Eerdmans, 1993. ISBN: 978-0802806802, Pub. Price $39.00.

Wright, N.T. The Challenge of Jesus: Rediscovering Who Jesus Was and Is. InterVarsity, 1999. ISBN: 978-0830822003, Pub. Price $20.00.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. Reading the New Testament and assigned Textbook (1,300pages required). [97 hours].

2. Viewing the video lectures on St. John’s Timeline [8 hours].

3. Viewing video lectures from the professor [5 hours].

4. Weekly online quizzes based on reading and content of that week (18%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1-3] [5 hours total].

5. Contributions to six discussion forums (12%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1-4] [5 hours].

6. Three shorter assignments (one book review, a timeline, and travel agent assignment) of 3-5 page each (10% each) [These assignments are related to learning outcomes 1-4.] [18hours].

7. Outline and Argument paper on one of the epistles [signature assignment] (10 pages) (25%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 2-4.] [20 hours].

8. Online final exam based on content of the course and quizzes (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1-3] [2 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: Yes.