Winter 2011/Houston

NS500

Davis

NS500: NEW TESTAMENT 1: GOSPELS and ACTS. Dr. Jim Davis.           

                                                                                                                                                           

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course constitutes an introduction to the nature, structure, and message of the New Testament Gospels and the Book of Acts in their historical, literary, and canonical contexts.

 

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: The fourfold gospel together with the Book of Acts informs and forms Christian faith, life, ministry, and proclamation. Familiarity with its content and background provides a crucial foundation for interpretation, teaching, preaching, and pastoral ministry. This course will help to form that foundation for students.

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Having successfully completed this course, students will have demonstrated that they (1) can articulate the character of the Gospels and Acts as witnesses to Jesus Christ; (2) are familiar with the historical background, content, structure, and message of each of the Gospels and the Book of Acts; and (3) have skill in the interpretation of the Gospels and Acts as appropriate for effective leadership in Christian communities.

 

COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet for 3.5 hours on Tuesday evenings, 6:00-9:30pm. Students will be expected to keep their reading current and come to class prepared for discussion.

 

REQUIRED READING:

The New Testament in NRSV or TNIV translation.

Gerd Theissen. The Shadow of the Galilean. Minneapolis: Augsburg/Fortress, 2007. ISBN: 9780800639006. $13.80. 224 pp.

Mark Allan Powell. Introducing the New Testament: A Historical, Literary and Theological Survey, Grand Rapids: Baker, 2009. ISBN: 9780801028687. $44.99. 250 pp.

Burridge, Richard. Four Gospels One Jesus, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2005 (2^nd edition). ISBN: 978-0-8028-2980-1. $16.00. 216 pp.

Kurt Aland, ed. Synopsis of the Four Gospels, Greek-English, 10th edition, United Bible Societies, 1994. ASIN:

B004QQRHO6. $44.00. 360 pp. (OR) Synopsis of the Four Gospels, English-only edition, United Bible Societies, 1982.

ISBN: 978-3438054050. $44.00. 360 pp.

 

RECOMMENDED READING:

Joel B. Green and Scot McKnight, eds. Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels. Madison WI: InterVarsity Press, 1992. ISBN:

ISBN: 978-0-8308-1777-1. $48.00. 934 pp.

Howard Clark Kee. Understanding the New Testament. Madison NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1993. ISBN: 978-0-13-948266-3.

$110.00. 400 pp.

D.A. Carson and Douglas J. Moo. An Introduction to the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005 (2nd edition).

ISBN: 9780310238591. $39.99. 784 pp.

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. Readings from course texts and corresponding journal entries will be assigned. (20%)

2. There will be short written exams on the contents of Mark at the start of class sessions #2-#8. (40%)

3. A 10-12 page research paper will be assigned and due at the end of finals week. (40%)

 

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets M.Div. core requirement in New Testament 1 (NT1); MAT and MACL: NT core requirement.

 

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.

 

This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification.           (Revised 01/11)