RLGN 1302 SA01—NEW TESTAMENT HISTORY

WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY

SAN ANTONIO CAMPUS

FALL TERM (18 AUGUST 2008-01 NOVEMBER 2008)

 

Mondays, 6:00 pm-10:10 pm; Room 37, Building  208

 

THOMAS W. FISHER, Ph.D., ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

 

Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 am-5:00 pm, Main Campus

Telephone: (210) 826-7595

e-mail address: fishert@wbu.edu

 

MISSION STATEMENT: Wayland Baptist University exists to educate students in an academically challenging, learning-focused and distinctively Christian environment for professional success, lifelong learning, and service to God and humankind.

 

I.               COURSE DESCRIPTION: An introductory survey of the historical literature with special attention to the background and origins of Christian beliefs and practices, and to the life of Jesus Christ and the early Christian community.

 

II.               TEXTBOOKS: THE LEARNING BIBLE: New International Version; Gundry, Robert H.,  A Survey of the New Testament, 4th ed.

 

III.               COURSE OUTLINE:       Part One: New Testament Backgrounds

          Part Two: The Life and Teachings of Jesus, the Christ, as presented in the Gospels

                                                      Part Three: Acts

                                                      Part Four: The Pauline Corpus

                                                      Part Five: The General Epistles

                                                      Part Six: Revelation

 

IV.               COURSE REQUIREMENTS: 

1.          Attendance according to current Wayland Baptist University Catalogue

2.          Reading of ALL assigned passages in the New Testament and Gundry

3.          Participation in classroom discussion

4.          Three major exams

5.          Pop quizzes over reading material

 

V.               GRADING:  Students will be graded on their knowledge of the contents of the New Testament and the Gundry text as demonstrated by performance on exams, quizzes, and class participation.

 

1.           MAJOR TESTS:  Three major exams will be given, each final over the covered material.  The average of these exams will comprise 60% of the final grade.  Those who miss an exam without informing the instructor PRIOR to the class meeting may be docked one letter grade on their score for that exam.  Under no circumstances will any student be allowed to take more than one exam as a make-up.

 

2.           POP QUIZZES:  Unannounced pop quizzes over the reading assignment for the class period will be given from time to time at the discretion of the professor.  These will comprise 30% of the final grade.  These quizzes will be given PROMPTLY at 6:00 p.m.  Those who are late miss the quiz.  THERE WILL BE NO MAKE-UPS FOR THESE QUIZZES!

 

1.           ASSIGNED READING: Each student is expected to read through BOTH the New Testament (with its notes) and the Gundry text during the term.  Students should read the New Testament in coordination with the Gundry text.  Students will be required on the final exam to attest, on their honor, that they did so.  The requirement is to read ALL the assignment; no credit will be given for partial work.  Reading will comprise 10% of the final grade.

 

VI.               COURSE OUTCOMES: The purpose of this study is to help the student develop an overall understanding of the New Testament, appreciate its value for daily life, develop the ability to think critically and theologically about its content, and interpret its teachings accurately and personally by:

 

1.          Demonstrate knowledge of the historical, social, philosophical, and religious background of the New Testament.  The student should be able to:

 

A.    Outline the history of the Hebrew people and the Roman Empire during the Intertestamental and New Testament periods;

B.    Describe the social and moral climate of the Roman Empire;

C.    Describe the major religious and philosophical systems current in the first Christian century;

D.    Describe the features and sects of Judaism and Jewish life.

 

2.       Demonstrate knowledge of the nature, purpose, and manner of the writing of the documents that comprise the New Testament.  The student should be able to:

 

                    A.    Outline the structure and divisions of the New Testament;

                    B.    Describe the way the New Testament documents came to be written and included in the canon;

                    C.    Discuss the authorship, purpose, theme, and main characteristics of the New Testament documents.

 

          3.       Demonstrate knowledge of some of the critical methods used in New Testament studies.

 

4.       Demonstrate knowledge of the life and teachings of Jesus.  The student will be able to:

 

                    A.    Relate the major events in the life of Jesus;

                    B.    Discuss the ministry and teachings of Jesus.

 

5.       Demonstrate knowledge of the nature of the early Christian church.  The student will be able to outline the major events in its establishment and development.

 

6.       Demonstrate knowledge of the life and ministry of the Apostle Paul.  The student will be able to:

 

                    A.    Relate the major events in Paul’s life and ministry;

                    B.    Discuss the nature, purpose, and major doctrines of Paul’s letters.

 

7.       Demonstrate knowledge of the nature of the General Epistles and Revelation.  The student will be able to describe their authorship, purpose, and general themes.

 

VII.               ATTENDANCE: In accordance with WBU policy as elucidated in the 2001-2002 WBU catalogue, no student who is absent from 25% or more class meetings will receive a passing grade.  For every week of class missed without an excuse deemed adequate BY THE INSTRUCTOR, a student’s grade will be lowered by on letter grade.

 

 

 

VIII.               CLASS ASSIGNMENTS: Students are expected to have read the text materials PRIOR to the dates assigned for discussion and to be prepared to answer questions on the assigned material.

 

          DATES                              GUNDRY                                                         NEW TESTAMENT                        

 

          18AUG                               INTRODUCTION TO COURSE

 

          25 AUG                              pp. xvii-89                                                        pp.1819-46

 

          01 SEP                               pp. 91-157                                                        pp. 1847-1963

 

          08 SEP                               pp. 159-252                                                      pp. 1964-2099

 

          15 SEP                               pp. 255-344                                                      pp. 2010-2170

 

          22 SEP                               pp. 347-51; 373-411                                        pp. 2171-2247

 

          29 SEP                               pp. 351-60; 413-14; 416-437                           pp. 2248-2289

 

          06 OCT                             pp. 360-71; 439-54; 414-15                             pp.  2290-2328

 

          13 OCT                             pp. 457-501                                                      pp. 2329-2402

 

          20 OCT                             pp. 505-29                                                        pp. 2329-2442

 

           27 OCT                            FINAL EXAM

         

  IX.   EXAMINATION DATES: 15 SEP 08,  06 OCT 08,  27 OCT 08

 

   X.   EXTRA CREDIT: This course will have three opportunities for extra credit.  Extra credit will be awarded through points added to the final averaged grade.  The requirements these extra credit opportunities and their respective point values are:

 

                    1. Perfect attendance: 2 pts.

 

                              2. Recitation from memory of the books of the New Testament in canonical order: 3 pts.

 

3. Memorization and recitation of all of the following passages: Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8; Romans             6:23, and Romans 10:9-10: 4 pts.

 

2.              Completion of the end of course critique validated by the legibly signed confirmation sheet submitted at the time of the final examination: 1 pt.

       

XI.  Disability Statement: It is university policy that no otherwise qualified disabled person be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any educational program or activity in the university.  Students should inform the instructor of existing disabilities the first class meeting.

 

XII.        A FINAL WORD: This syllabus is a plan for the course.  The instructor reserves the right to modify this plan as circumstances warrant.