RLGN 1302-SA02—NEW TESTAMENT HISTORY

Division of Religion and Philosophy

FALL TERM (August 19 to October 28, 2008)

 

Tuesdays, 6:00 pm to 10:10 pm – FSH-AMEDD, Bldg 2841 (Willis Hall), Room 2120

 

John M. Andrewartha, Ph.D., Instructor

 

Phone: 830.980.2404   Fax: 830.980.2405   Email: jmandrew@gvtc.com

Website: http://satx.wbu.edu/john.andrewartha

 

Office Hours: Tuesdays, 5:30-6:00; 9:40-10:10 p.m.

in class room by appointment and by email as needed.

 

I.  COURSE DESCRIPTION: A survey study of the New Testament background, theological content, and application, with special emphasis upon the lives and works of Jesus and Paul.  There are no prerequisites for this course.

 

II.  TEXTBOOKS:  The New Testament, New International Version Study Bible; and Gundry, A Survey of the New Testament.  Optional, somewhat helpful: Thomas and Gundry, A Harmony of the Gospels.

 

III.  COURSE REQUIREMENTS FOR UNDERGRADUATE CREDIT:

 

       1.  Class attendance according to the policies of the current WBU catalog (see appendix)

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

       3.  Alert, active, informed participation in class activities

       4.  Three major exams as indicated below

       5.  Completion of map studies as indicated below

       6.  Occasional informal, unannounced ("pop") quizzes

 

      GRADING:  Students will be graded on their knowledge of the contents of the New Testament, as demonstrated by their performance on exams, quizzes,

      class participation, and map studies.

 

      1.    MAJOR EXAMS:  Three exams will be given, each being "final" over the covered material.

             

      2.    MAP STUDIES:  The instructor will furnish sketch maps of the areas under study which the students will mark and label to identify important events

           and places.

 

      3.    CLASS PARTICIPATION:  Students will be graded on their attendance and participation in class activities.

 

      4.    ASSIGNED READINGS:  A requirement of the course is to read through both the New Testament (with its notes) and the Gundry textbook during the

           term.  Students will be required on the final exam to attest, on their honor, that they did so.  This requirement is to read ALL the assignment; credit

          cannot be given for partial work.

 

      5.    POP QUIZZES:  From time to time the instructor will give an informal, unannounced ("pop") quiz over the material assigned to that date.  The lowest

           quiz grades will be dropped, counting only the best three grades.  Quizzes will not be made up; therefore excess absences will automatically result in a

           lower grade.

      6.    EVALUATION:

Major Exams

70%

 

WBU GRADE SYSTEM:

A

= 90-100%

 

Quizzes

10%

 

 

B

= 80-89%

 

Outside Readings Assignments

10%

 

 

C

= 70-79%

 

Class Participation

  5%

 

 

D

= 60-69%

 

Maps

  5%

 

 

F

Below 60%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTE:  There are "extra credits" and "bonus points" built into the grading elements above.  Please do not ask for additional "extra credit" assignments.  There aren't any.  The time and effort put into a decent "extra credit" project would be better spent

on doing a good job on the regular assignments and study for the exams.

IV.  CLASS OBJECTIVES/OUTCOME COMPETENCIES:  The purpose of this study is to help the student to develop an overall understanding of the New Testament’s basic content and main teachings, to appreciate its value for living, and begin to develop the ability to think critically and theologically about it and to interpret its teachings for him- or herself and demonstrate knowledge of:

 

1.  The historical, social, philosophical, and religious background of the New Testament.  The student will 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 in the first Christian century

 

      2.  The nature, purpose, and manner of writing the NT documents, and the canonical process by which they came together. 

         The student will be able to:

           

            A.          Outline the structure and divisions of the NT

            B.          Describe the way in which the NT documents came to be written

            C.          Discuss the authorship, purpose, theme, and main characteristics of the NT books

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

 

      3.  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

 

      4.  Understanding the nature of the early Christian church.  The student will be able to outline the major events in its

         establishment and development.

 

      5.  Understanding 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 epistles

 

      6.  Understanding the nature of the General Epistles and Revelation.  The student will be able to describe their authorship,    

         purpose, and general themes.

 

        7.  These outcome competencies will be demonstrated by scores of 60 percent or more on exams.

 

V.  SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS:  The Instructor will provide study guides; suggestions for reading through the New Testament in ten weeks; maps to be completed; and various visual aids, including overhead projection cels.  Many of these aids will be posted to Blackboard; students are expected to check often.

 

VI.  CLASS PROCEDURE:  The major class activities will be lectures by the instructor, with guided discussion by the students based upon their reading of the texts and their theological outlook.  The class meets four hours each week for eleven weeks.

 

VII.  SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY: (for additional study if desired, in order of likely usefulness to beginning students):

 

            Alexander, David, and Pat Alexander, eds. Eerdmans Handbook to the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1992.

            Halley, Henry H., Halley's Bible Handbook, Grand Rapids, MI, Zondervan Publishing House, 1965.

            Robertson, A.T. A Harmony of the Gospels. New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1922.

            House, H. W. Chronological and Background Charts of the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Academie, 1981.

            Ward, Kaari, ed. Jesus and His Times: Pleasantville, NY: Readers Digest Association, Inc., 1987.

            Riche, Bo, The New Testament Era, trans David E. Green. Philadelphia, PA: Fortress Press, 1968.

            Lohse, Eduard. The New Testament Environment, trans John E. Steely. Nashville, TN: Abingdon, 1976.

            Bruce, F. F. New Testament History. Garden City, NY: Doubleday and Company, Inc., 1972.

            Frank, Harry Thomas, ed. Hammond's Atlas of the Bible Lands. Mapleswood, NJ: Hammond, Inc., 1977 .

            Gardner, Joseph L, ed. Readers Digest Atlas of the Bible. Pleasantville, NY: Readers Digest Assoc., Inc., 1981.

            Bouquet, Alan Coates, Everyday Life in New Testament Times, New York, NY, Charles Scribner's Sons, 1953.

            Bruce, F. F., Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free, Grand Rapids, MI, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1977.

            Beasley-Murray, G.R., Hobbs, Herschell H., and Robbins, Ray Frank, Revelation: Three Viewpoints, Nashville, TN, Broadman Press, 1977.

            Buttrick, George A., ed, The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible, Nashville, TN, Abingdon, 1962.

            Tasker, R.V.G., ed, The Tyndale New Testament Commentary, Grand Rapids, MI, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1961.

            Allen, Clifton J., ed, The Broadman Bible Commentary, Vols. 8-12, Nashville, TN, Broadman Press, 1969.

            Guthrie, Donald, New Testament Introduction, Downers Grove, IL, InterVarsity Press, 1971.

            Kummel, Werner G., Introduction to the New Testament, Rev ed, trans H.C. Kee, Nashville, TN, Abingdon, 1975.

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 and be able to participate in meaningful discussion of the information given in the assigned readings.

 

DATES

GUNDRY

NIV Learning Bible

(in addition to NT text itself)

MAPS

Week 1 Aug. 19

Introduction to course

Begin your plan for reading through the NT

 

Week 2 Aug. 26

pp. xvii-43

pp. 5-32, 88, 140, 410, 944, 963, 1491, 1727

Greek Kingdoms & Roman Empire

Week 3

Sept. 2

pp. 44-122

Introductions and mini-articles in each book

 

Week 4

Sept. 9

pp. 125-133; 159-173;

207-221; 255-264

Introductions and mini-articles in each book

 

FIRST EXAM over pp. 3-122:  Unit One Study Guide

 

 

in second half of class

Week 5

Sept. 16

pp. 133-146; 173-190;

221-241; 264-280

Same as above, plus Blessed, p. 1026

Palestine in Jesus' Time

Week 6

Sept. 23

pp. 147-151; 191-199;

241-244; 281-283

Same as above, plus Blood, p. 180 and Redeemer, p. 995

Jerusalem in Jesus' Time

Week 7

Sept. 30

pp. 153-158; 200-204;

244-252; 283-297

Introductions and mini-articles in each book

 

Week 8

Oct. 7

pp. 299-372

Same as above

SECOND EXAM over pp. 125-297: Unit Two Study Guide

 

in second half of class

Week 9

Oct. 14

pp. 373-454

Same as above

Paul's 1st & 2nd Mission Tours

Week 10

Oct. 21

pp. 457-531

Same as above, plus Apocalyptic, pp. 1656-57

Paul's 3rd Mission Tour &

Trip to Trial in Rome

Week 11

Oct. 28

 

FINAL EXAM over pp. 299-531:  Unit Three Study Guide

 

COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR EVALUATION ONLINE

 

 

 

Please do not call, email, or come to the office to request your grades.  University policy forbids us to give them out from the office.  Final grades are posted to the University IQ Web as soon as possible—usually by Friday of exam week.

 

This syllabus is only a plan, not a contract.  Though there is no current expectation to do so, the Instructor may

modify the plan during the course.  The requirements for the course, assignments, their due dates, criteria for

measuring student progress and performance, and other aspects of the syllabus may be changed

by the Instructor if, in his professional judgment, it becomes necessary. 

 

 

Wayland 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.

 

 

Use the Blackboard for Class Information:

 

Students must check often at <http://wbu.edu> [note: not a www] / Blackboard to receive the latest posts for the class.  Announcements and lecture notes will be posted each week, so the more often you check, the sooner you will get the information.  Go there

at least every Monday night.  Your User Name is your WBU ID #; your default password, until you change it, is the 1st three letters

of your first and last names (i.e. for me “johand”).  Click on the courses you are taking, Announcements, and Lecture Notes.

 

APPENDIX

 

 

 

Class Attendance—External Campuses:

 

Students enrolled at one of the University’s external campuses should make every effort to attend all class meetings.  All absences must be explained to the instructor, who will then determine whether the omitted work may be made up.  When a student reaches that number of absences considered by the instructor to be excessive, the instructor will so advise the student and file an Unsatisfactory Progress Report with the campus dean.  Any student who misses 25 percent or more of the regularly scheduled class meetings may receive a grade of F in the course.  Additional attendance policies for each course, as defined by the instructor in the course syllabus, are considered a part of the University’s attendance policy.  A student may petition the Academic Counsel for exceptions to the above stated policies by filing a written request for an appeal to the provost/academic vice-president.

 

Wayland Baptist University Catalog, 2007-2008, pg. 78.

 

  • If an instructor fails to appear or fails to send notification of his arrival within the first ten minutes of a class period, students may leave without incurring an absence.  (If I am not in class at 6:00 pm, call my cell phone to see what is up.  Please do not call my cell phone at other times for other reasons; use the home phone instead.)

 

  • Please do not call me to tell me you will not be in class unless you will be absent two or more weeks.

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