Spring 2017/Houston

NT500

Young

NT500: NEW TESTAMENT INTRODUCTION (4 units: 160 hours). Stephen E. Young.

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 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 is a hybrid+ course, meaning that it is a ten-week course with nine weeks of online instruction and one week of classroom instruction during week six of the quarter. The week of classroom instruction will include four hours daily of lecture and discussion, as well as additional lunch meetings and evening sessions, including participation in vocation and formation groups (required in hybrid+ courses). Classroom and online instruction will include lecture and discussion for a total of 40 instructional hours. The course involves reading, writing, use of libraries and other resources, and interactive discussion. During the nine weeks of online format students and the instructor will interact with the material and with each other through threaded discussion forums.

REQUIRED READING: 1102total pages of books and articles required, including reading the entire NT.

The entire New Testament in English, using the CEB, NRSV or TNIV translations. [298 pp. assigned]

DeSilva, David A. An Introduction to the New Testament: Contexts, Methods, and Ministry Formation. IVP Academic, 2004. ISBN: 978-0830827466, Pub. Price $50.00 [499 pp. assigned].

González, J. L. Santa Biblia: The Bible through Hispanic Eyes. Abingdon, 1996. ISBN: 978-0687014521, Pub. Price $18.99 [124 pp. assigned].

Green, Joel B. Seized by Truth: Reading the Bible as Scripture. Abingdon, 2007. ISBN: 978-0687023554, Pub. Price $25.99 [142 pp. assigned].

Posted lectures online [39 pp. assigned].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. Class participation and readings (1102 total number of pages from books and lectures and including the entire NT) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes # 1-3.] [73 hours of reading including 25 hours to read the entire NT; 20 hours in class].

2. 200-word weekly forum initial posts and 100-word weekly forum replies on NT texts, required readings, and interpretive assignments (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-4] [17 hours]

3. Two Interpretive Working Papers [2 papers; 1,350 words each, or about 2 pages single-spaced] (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-4.] [20 hours preparation and writing].

4. A book review on González, Santa Biblia (1,200-1,400 words, or 3-4 pages one-and-a-half spaced) (25%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #3-4.] [10 hours writing].

5. Final Interpretive Working-Research Paper on an assigned NT passage (2,100 words, or 3 pages single spaced) (25%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes # 2-4.] [20 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.