Winter 2018/Fuller Online

NT500

Hansen

NT500: NEW TESTAMENT INTRODUCTION (4 Units: 160 hours). Bruce Hansen.

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: ±800pages required, plus reading the entire NT.

The entire NT in English (using the NRSV, TNIV, or CEB) [25 hours].

Achtemeier, Paul J., Joel B. Green, and Marianne Meye Thompson. Introducing the New Testament: Its Literature and Theology. Eerdmans, 2001. ISBN: 978-0802837172, Pub. Price $46.00 [608 pp.].

Powell, Mark Allan. What Do They Hear? Bridging the Gap Between Pulpit and Pew. Abingdon, 2007. Pages 11-27. ISBN: 978-0687642052, Pub. Price $16.99 [16pp., available on Fuller eReserves]

Wright, N.T. Jesus and the Victory of God. Vol. 2 of Christian Origins and the Question of God (Fortress Press, 1996), 125-131. [6 pp., available on Fuller eReserves]

Choose one of the following three books to review:

Bond, Helen K. The Historical Jesus: A Guide for the Perplexed. Bloomsbury T&T Clark, 2012. ISBN: 978-0567033178, Pub. Price $25.95 [174 pp.].

González, Justo L. The Story Luke Tells: Luke's Unique Witness to the Gospel. Eerdmans, 2015. ISBN: 978-0802872005, Pub. Price $14.00 [129 pp.].

Longenecker, Bruce W. The Lost Letters of Pergamum: A Story from the New Testament World. 2nd. Ed. Baker, 2016. ISBN: 978-0801097966, Pub. Price $19.99 [182 pp.].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

Weekly online mini-lectures and articles to read via Canvas. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3]. [15 hours].
250-word weekly forum posts followed by 150-word weekly forum responses (25%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2-4] [30 hours].
±800 total pages of required reading, plus the entire NT. [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1-4]. [76 hours, including 25 hours of reading the entire NT].
Two interpretive exercises on assigned NT texts (750 words each) (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2 and 3]. [16 hours].
Critical review of one book: Bond, The Historical Jesus, González, The Story Luke Tells, or Longenecker, The Lost Letters of Pergamum) (750 words) (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2 and 3]. [7 hours].
A research essay on an assigned NT text (1,500 words) (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #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.