Winter 2013/Pasadena

NS501

Sechrest

NS501: NEW TESTAMENT 2: ROMANS–REVELATION. Love L. Sechrest.

DESCRIPTION: This course constitutes an introduction to the nature, structure, and message of the New Testament letters and the Apocalypse of John in their historical, literary, and canonical contexts.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: Better comprehension of the contents and theology of this portion of the New Testament is foundational for faithful witness in today’s world. Students will gain additional insight on moving from text to theological reflection on issues facing the modern church.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Having successfully completed this course, students will have demonstrated that they: (1) are familiar with the historical background, genre, content, structure, and message of the writings from Romans through Revelation; (2) have skill in the interpretation of these writings as appropriate for effective leadership in various contexts; and (3) can articulate the character of the NT letters and the Apocalypse of John as witnesses to the significance of Jesus Christ for the life and mission of his church.

COURSE FORMAT: The class meets once a week for three-and-a-half--hour sessions.

REQUIRED READING:

NRSV, CEB, or TNIV Bible: Romans–Revelation.

Achtemeier, Paul, Joel Green, and Marianne Meye Thompson. Introducing the New Testament: Its Literature and Theology. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001. ($40.00; ISBN-10: 978-0802837172)

Blount, Brian, Can I Get a Witness: Reading Revelation through African American Culture. Louisville: Westminstrer John Knox, 2005. ($25.00; ISBN-10: 978-0664228699)

Gorman, Michael, Apostle of the Crucified Lord: A Theological Introduction to Paul and his Letters. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004. ($42.00; ISBN-10: 978-0802839343)

______. The Elements of Biblical Exegesis. Baker, 2008. ($21.99 ISBN-10: 978-0801046407)

Marchal, Joseph A., ed. Studying Paul's Letters: Contemporary Perspectives and Methods. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2012. ($32.00; ISBN-10: 978-0800698188)

RECOMMENDED READING:

Bauckham, Richard. Theology of the Book of Revelation. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1993. ($26.99; ISBN 0521356911)

Hawthorne, Gerald F., and Ralph P. Martin, eds. Dictionary of Paul and His Letters. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1993. ($60.00; ISBN: 978-0830817788)

Bible Concordance: Select one of the following:

  1. Bibleworks© 9 - Bible software

  2. Kohlenberger, John R. III and Richard Whitaker, eds. The Analytical Concordance to the New Revised Standard Version of the New Testament. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000.

  3. CEB Common English Bible Concise Concordance.

  4. Kohlenberger, John R. III and Richard Whitaker, eds. The Concise Concordance to the New Revised Standard Version. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1993.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. Attendance (10%)

  2. Journal: Interpretive questions and reading reflections on assigned texts (1-2 pp./week; 15%)

  3. Working Paper: Paper identifying the key interpretive issues in an assigned passage (3 pp.; 25%)

  4. Moral Analogy Assignment: Group project identifying the way that the historical message of an assigned passage can be appropriated by the church today. (2 pp.; 15%)

  5. Interpretation Paper: Interpretation of an assigned passage, along with a moral analogy for appropriation of the text (5-8 pp.; 35%)

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in New Testament 2 (NT2); meets MAT (2010) program requirement.

FINAL EXAMINATION: No.


NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification.