RLGN 1302—NEW TESTAMENT HISTORY
WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY, SAN ANTONIO
SUMMER TERM (26 MAY 2008-09 AUGUST 2008)
Wednesdays, 6:00 pm-10:10 pm; Room 102, Wayland
Baptist University
THOMAS W. FISHER, Ph.D., INSTRUCTOR
Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 am-5:00 pm
Telephone: (210) 826-7595
e-mail address: fishert@wbu.edu
I.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: A survey of New Testament
backgrounds, theological content, and application.
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 will be
docked one letter grade on their score for that exam.
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!
3.
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 OBJECTIVES: 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
28 MAY INTRODUCTION
TO COURSE
04 JUNE pp.
xvii-89 pp.1819-46
11 JUNE pp. 91-157 pp.
1847-1963
18 JUNE pp.
159-252 pp.
1964-2099
25 JUNE pp.
255-344 pp.
2010-2170
02 JULY pp. 347-51; 373-411 pp. 2171-2247
09 JULY pp.
351-60; 413-14; 416-437 pp.
2248-2289
16 JULY pp.
360-71; 439-54; 414-15 pp. 2290-2328
23 JULY pp.
457-501 pp.
2329-2402
30 JULY pp.
505-29 pp.
2329-2442
06
AUGUST FINAL
EXAM
IX. EXAMINATION DATES: 25 JUNE 08, 16 JULYmm 08, 06
AUGUST 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.
1.
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. A
FINAL WORD: This syllabus is a plan for the course. The instructor reserves the right to modify
this plan as circumstances warrant.