RLGN 1302--NEW TESTAMENT HISTORY
RLGN 1302--NEW TESTAMENT HISTORY
John M. Andrewartha, Ph.D., Instructor
Office: FSH: Bldg. 2248, Rm. 112; phone 270-9988 (Monday thru
Friday: 9:00-12:00 & 1:00-4:00)
E-mail address:
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.II. TEXTBOOKS:
The New Testament, New International Version Study Bible; and Gundry, A Survey of the New Testament. Optional, somewhat helpful: Robertson, A Harmony of the Gospels.III. COURSE OUTLINE:
| Part One: | The Background of the New Testament |
| Part Two: | The Life and Teachings of Jesus, who is called the Christ |
| Part Three: | The Apostolic Age, Paul, and the Epistles |
IV. 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 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 TESTS:
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 will not 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 grade will be dropped. These will not be made up; therefore excess absences will automatically result in a lower grade.6. EVALUATION: WBU GRADING SCALE:
| Major Exams | 70 % | A = | 90-100 | |
| Quiz Grades | 10 % | B = | 80-89 | |
| Map Studies | 5 % | C = | 70-79 | |
| Class Participation | 5 % | D = | 60-69 | |
| Outside Reading | 10 % | 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.
V. CLASS OBJECTIVES:
The purpose of this study is to help the student develop an overall understanding of the New Testament, 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 by:1. Understanding 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
2. Understanding the nature, purpose, and manner of writing of the NT documents. 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
3. Understanding the life and teachings of Jesus. The student will be able to:
A. Relate the major events of 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.VI. 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 cells.VII. 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.VIII. SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
(for additional study if desired, in order of usefulness to beginning students):Alexander, David, and Pat Alexander, eds. Eerdmans Handbook to the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1992.
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.
Smith, Marsha A. Ellis, ed. Holman Book of Biblical Charts, Maps, and Reconstructions. Nashville, TN: Broadman and Holman, 1993.
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.
Pfeiffer, Charles F., ed. Baker's Bible Atlas. Grand Rapids, MI, Baker Book House, 1961.
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.
Halley, Henry H., Halley's Bible Handbook, Grand Rapids, MI, Zondervan Publishing House, 1965.
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.
Aland, Kurt et al, eds, The Greek New Testament, New York, NY, The American Bible Society, 1968.
IX. 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: | (1) GUNDRY |
(2) NIV Bible Notes (in addition to NT text itself) |
(3) MAPS |
| MAY 30 |
Intro. to course/pp.15- 55 |
pp. xv-xx, 1422 | |
| JUNE 6 | pp. 56-124 | pg. 1431 | Greek Kingdoms & Roman Empire |
| JUNE 13 | pp. 125-133; 159-174; 205-219; 252-261 | pp. 1433-1435; 1486-1490; 1529-1532; 1588-1589 | Palestine |
| (after break) |
FIRST EXAM |
over pp.15-124: Unit One Study Guide | Class time extended 70 minutes to make up July 4th |
| JUNE 20 | pp. 133-146; 174-193; 219-240; 262-279 | Jerusalem in Jesus' Time | |
| JUNE 27 | pp. 147-152; 193-200; 240-244; 279-281 | ||
| JULY 4 | CLASS WILL NOT MEET. | TIME TO BE MADE UP BY EXTENDING | TEST NIGHT TIMES BY 70 MINUTES EACH |
| JULY 11 | pp. 153-158; 200-204; 244-251; 281-293 | ||
| JULY 18 | pp. 295-358 | ||
| (after break) |
SECOND EXAM |
over pp. 125- 293: Unit Two Study Guide | Class time extended 70 minutes to make up July 4th |
| JULY 25 | pp. 359-420 | Paul's 1st & 2nd Missionary Tours | |
| AUG. 1 | pp. 421-81 | Paul's 3rd Mission Tour & Trip to Rome | |
| AUGUST 8 FINAL EXAM over pp. 295-481: Unit Three Study Guide; COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR EVALUATION Class time extended 70 minutes to make up July 4th | |||
Please do not call or come to the office to request your grades. University policy forbids us to give them out from the office. All students receive official grade notices by mail from the University.
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.
APPENDIX
The University has adopted an absence policy that applies in all cases in all classes, as follows:
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 satisfaction of 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 will receive a grade of F for that 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. |
|
Wayland Baptist University Catalog, 2001-20001, pg. 77. |
| For every week of absence, a student’s final grade may be lowered by one letter grade. |
| 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. |
| A student may petition the Academic Counsel for exceptions to the above stated policies. |
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.
ANY STUDENT WHO NEEDS SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS TO MEET THE COURSE REQUIREMENTS SHOULD INFORM THE INSTRUCTOR IMMEDIATELY UPON ENTERING THE COURSE.
ADDENDUM AND COMMENTS
Please do not assume that you can miss almost 25%
of the class meetings with no penalty at all. Very few students can be absent that much and still pass the course. Almost inevitably, students who miss class perform less well than they expect, and their grades are lower.NOTE THAT THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AN EXCUSED ABSENCE FROM ANY CLASS. IF YOU ARE NOT IN CLASS, YOU ARE ABSENT. If you are obviously ill, especially if your illness may be contagious, please stay home until you have recovered. Anyone who is ill 25% of the time probably needs to drop the course and rest to get well. If your situation is special, discuss it with the instructor. He will make every effort to be reasonable and helpful.
The philosophy behind this policy is twofold: we believe that attendance in class indicates that you are serious about getting a quality education and that such attendance greatly increases your chances to succeed. On the other hand, tuition covers only about one-third of the cost of delivering a course to you. Since we have to find the other two-thirds from the gifts and offerings of the Baptist people of Texas and friends of the university, we have twice the investment in you that you have in us. We want to see you succeed!
So there will be no doubt, 3 weeks of a course lasting 11 weeks is more than 25%, and attendance in a class means being present from the time it is called to order until it is dismissed by the instructor. Being tardy means arriving after the class has been called to order. Leaving before class is dismissed counts as a "tardy" also. Leaving at break time means being absent for half the class. Two such half-absences equals one week of absence.
PRINCIPLES THAT APPLY IN THIS CLASS (AND MOST OTHERS):
This is a University
. It will be harder and require more commitment of time and effort from you than high school, technical school, or most community colleges. We are a Christian University. That doesn’t mean we require less; it means we expect more. The average university course expects you to put in two hours of outside work (homework, study, research, writing projects, etc.) for every hour of class time. A class that meets four hours a week thus will require about eight additional hours of preparation time, a total of twelve hours a week! If you cannot give this much time, you probably won’t do well in the course.We will do everything academically and ethically permissible to help you reach the standards of excellence we set, but the ultimate responsibility is yours. We cannot, must not, lower the standards for someone’s "special circumstances." That would reduce the value of a university education for everyone.
Decide upfront that you are here to get an education, not just a diploma, and that you will do whatever it takes to succeed.
Come to class prepared to learn and participate. Have your assigned readings, papers, etc. done before class begins. Listen, read, and take notes. A short pencil will beat a long memory every time! Focus your thoughts, not just on the facts, but also on what the facts mean. Grasp the "Big Picture," and the facts will be more easily remembered. Learn and understand the concepts, not just memorize the facts. The details will change, or you can look them up when you need them.
Class attendance is expected, encouraged, and greatly desired. Students who miss class always have a more difficult time with the material and fare less well than they would otherwise (see Appendix Comments).
At any time you have a question, ASK IT. The only dumb question is the one you have but don’t ask. We are all ignorant about something. Being ignorant is no shame; staying ignorant is!
Like every other class, this is a course in communicating, orally and in writing. Your arguments need to be logical, make sense, and be clearly understandable. Most of us use language loosely in everyday life. Theology (and other subjects) uses language very precisely. Learn to speak (and thus to think) with precision. Make the dictionary one of your best friends.
The course content you learn in most courses will probably be obsolete by the time you graduate, if it is not already! The real value of a college education is in the discipline, dedication, and commitment you gain; in learning how to learn and keep on learning; in finding out how to find out what you need to know when you need to know it (we call that "research"); in learning how to read and listen critically and with understanding; and in practicing and perfecting your "people skills," cooperating and getting along with others. These are some of the skills people expect of a college graduate, and they will help you in whatever career or endeavor you choose to enter!
A LEARNER'S CREED
I am free to learn.
No one can make me, but it is my right.
I am responsible for my own education. I am in control.
Because learning so greatly affects my future, I will make
it a priority in my life.
Therefore, I will be a lifelong learner.
Nothing can stand in my way.
No one has the right to hinder my educational pursuit,
and I will respect the same right for others.
No longer are there excuses for not learning.
When I need assistance, my teacher will help me.
Problems I encounter along the way are only challenges to
overcome.
I will seek the truth, and the truth will set me free.
No longer will I say I can't, because I can!
I will remember that I am here for one reason--
I am here to learn!
