Fall 2013/Pasadena

NT500

Downs

NT500: NEW TESTAMENT INTRODUCTION. David J. Downs.

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: Those who desire that a biblical perspective inform their lives and ministries must not only familiarize themselves with the content of the New Testament text, but also become aware of the importance of method and approach for their reading of the New Testament.

STUDENT 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 can 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; (5) can read the New Testament in ways that foster faithful Christian practice.

COURSE FORMAT: The course, which consists of lectures and discussion, will meet weekly for three-hour sessions.

REQUIRED READING:

Either the CEB, NRSV, or TNIV translation of the New Testament.

Achtemeier, P., J. Green, and M. Meye Thompson. Introducing the New Testament: Its Literature and Theology. Eerdmans, 2001. ISBN: 978-0802837172, Pub. Price $44.00 [636 pp.].

Dietrich, Walter, and Ulrich Luz, eds. The Bible in a World Context: An Experiment in Contextual

Hermeneutics. Eerdmans, 2002. ISBN: 978-0802849885, Pub. Price $12.00 [92 pp.].

Green, Joel B. Seized by Truth: Reading the Bible as Scripture. Abingdon, 2007. ISBN: 978-0687023554, Pub. Price $25.00 [185 pp.].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. Two interpretative assignments on select passages (1500 words each; 15% each = 30%)

  2. Participation in Moodle discussion groups (10%)

  3. Integrative Project (4000 words; 35%)

  4. FINAL exam (25%)

PREREQUISITES: None.

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

FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes.


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.