Spring 2018/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 class meets for four Saturdays for a total of 30 hours of classroom instruction for lecture and discussion plus 10 hours of directed learning activities for a total of 40 instructional hours.

REQUIRED READING: 1,147 total pages 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 [540 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 [185 pp. assigned].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. Class participation and readings (1,147 total number of pages including the entire NT) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes # 1-4.] [73 hours of reading including 25 hours to read the entire NT; 30 hours in class].
  2. Two Interpretive Working Papers [2 papers; 1,350 words each, or about 2 pages single-spaced] (35%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-4.] [20 hours preparation and writing].
  3. A book review on González, Santa Biblia (1,200-1,400 words, or 3-4 pages one-and-a-half spaced) (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #3-4.] [10 hours writing].
  4. Forum discussion on González, Santa Biblia (625 words including posts and replies) (5%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2-4.]. [5 hours of DLAs].
  5. Forum discussion on one of the Interpretive Working Papers (625 words including posts and replies) (5%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-4.]. [5 hours of DLAs].
  6. 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.] [17 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.

NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change.