Fall 2015/Pasadena

NT500

Downs

NT500: NEW TESTAMENT INTRODUCTION (4 Units: 160 hours). 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.

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) 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 twice weekly for two hour sessions for a total of 40 instructional hours in the classroom for lecture and discussion.

REQUIRED READING: 1200 pages.

Either the CEB, NRSV, or TNIV translation of the New Testament. [ca. 250 pp.]

Achtemeier, P., J. B. Green, and M. Meye Thompson. Introducing the New Testament: Its Literature and Theology. Eerdmans, 2001. ISBN: 978-0802837172, Pub. Price $46.00 [608 pp.].

Green, J. B., ed. Hearing the New Testament: Strategies for Interpretation. 2d. ed. Eerdmans, 2010. ISBN: 978-0802864208, Pub. Price $30.00 [ca. 200 pp. assigned].

Longenecker, B. W. The Lost Letters of Pergamum: A Story from the New Testament World. Baker, 2002. ISBN: 978-0801026072, Pub. Price $19.99 [182 pp.].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. 1,200 pages of required reading. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-4.] [80 hours].

  2. Book Review [1,000 words] (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1 and 4.] [4 hours].

  3. Moodle Discussion Groups (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #3-4.] [10 hours].

  4. Interpretative Working Papers [2 papers; 1,500 words each] (40% total; 15% for the first, 25% for the second). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-4.] [16 hours].

  5. FINAL Exam (40%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1-4.] [10 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: 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.

For your convenience, order these texts online through the Archives Bookshop.