Spring 2013/Houston

NT500

Chung

NT500: NEW TESTAMENT INTRODUCTION. Michael Chung.

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.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: The New Testament provides us with authoritative testimony to the saving acts of God accomplished in Christ and the significance of these acts for the life and mission of God’s people.

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 to 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: The course will meet weekly for a three-hour session. Class time will be devoted to exploration of the cultural and historical contexts of the New Testament, close readings of selected biblical texts, and discussion of key exegetical and theological matters in the canonical documents. Students will meet in small groups for one hour outside of class for discussion (assignment 3).

REQUIRED READING:

The New Testament (TNIV, NRSV, or CEB). 450 pp.

Carson, D. A. and Douglas J.Moo.An Introduction to the New Testament. 2^nd edition. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005. ISBN: 9780310238591. $39.99. (Approximately 500 pp. of material will be assigned for reading).

Choose one from the following list for a critical book review:

Harner, Philip B. What Are They Saying About the Catholic Epistles? Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 2004. 144 pp. ISBN: 978-0809141883. $12.95.

Moloney, Francis J. Mark: Storyteller, Interpreter, Evangelist. Peabody: Hendrickson, 2004. 224 pp. ISBN: 978-1565635135. $19.95. (Include section on Mark from Carson and Moo).

Walhout, Edwin. Revelation Down to Earth: Making Sense of the Apocalypse of John. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000. 262 pp. ISBN: 978-0802848895. $20.00.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT

1. Attendance and active participation in class discussions (10%).
2. Journals. Students are to keep a journal on their reading of the NT and the required textbook and will turn in a three-page or more interaction of their reading of each week’s assignment. Questions that are examples to help guide your interaction are: What key things did I learn? What do I not understand? How did this affect me personally? Etc. Five journal submissions should be submitted total, one every other week or until five is reached. Journals due by 6 PM Friday evening, reading log will be recorded at end of class (20%).
3. Community Group. Students will be organized in small groups and will meet one hour per week to discuss the New Testament, class lectures and their readings, and their application to Christian faith (10%).
4. Research paper on a specific passage of the New Testament; 6-8 pages (35%).
5. Five-page review of a book from list above. (25%).

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets Seminary Core Requirements (SCR) for MATM, MAICS, MAFS, MACL (effective Winter 2010).