Rels 102 - Introduction to New Testament Studies

COURSE SYLLABUS TRINITY WESTERN UNIVERSITY RELS 102 - INTRODUCTION TO NEW TESTAMENT STUDIES

Summer 2013 Mon., Tues, Thurs., Fri. 6:30-9:30 pm Credit Hours: 3 Instructor: T. R. Hatina, Ph.D. Office: Seal Kap; e-mail: [email protected] Office Hours: Mon, Thurs 5:00-6:00 pm (appointment preferred)

Course Description The New Testament is a collection of twenty-seven writings from the first century of the Common Era. The collection forms the second half of the Christian bible, the first half being what Christians call the Old Testament and what people of the Jewish faith call the Tanakh (an acronym for the Hebrew rendering of the Torah, the Prophets and the Writings). Aside from the obvious religious authority of the New Testament for some one and a half billion Christians in the world today, it has been and continues to be a highly influential collection of writings in Western culture. This course is an introduction to the field of modern New Testament studies, which has thrived as an academic discipline since the Enlightenment period. It is not, strictly speaking, a survey course that covers every writing in the New Testament. The first third of the course will be devoted to issues of social, literary, and religious backgrounds, canon and interpretation. This part of the course aims to provide an understanding of the context within which the New Testament was originally written and later canonized. The remaining two thirds of the course will cover the major writings of the New Testament—namely the Pauline letters, Synoptic Gospels, Acts, and the Johannine writings—from socio-historical and literary perspectives. We will examine issues pertaining to authorship, purpose, genre, and major religious themes.

Course Objectives 1. To gain an overview of the content of the New Testament. 2. To foster sensitivity for the social and religious environment of the New Testament. 3. To appreciate the differences and the similarities among the New Testament writings. 4. To develop an awareness of and appreciation for the modern academic discipline of New Testament Studies. 5. To enhance a desire for further study of the New Testament for religious, cultural, literary, and historical reasons. Textbooks 1. A Bible of your choice (e.g. New International Version, New Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Version). Please bring to class. 2. Thomas R. Hatina. A Digital Introduction to the New Testament. Oxford: Stone Face Press, 2013.

Rcommended Reading 1. Bart D. Ehrman, The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings (4th edn.; Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008. 2. Gary M. Burge, Lynn H. Cohick, and Gene L. Green, The New Testament in Antiquity: A Survey of the New Testament within its Cultural Contexts (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2009.

Course Requirements 1. Read the writings of the New Testament as they are listed below. Structure your reading according to the course outline. 2. Read the digital textbook as outlined below. 3. Two Midterm Exams (30% each). These will consist of two components: (A) multiple choice questions and (B) short answer questions, both based on the lectures and the digital textbook. Note: Scan-Tron cards will be provided. Please bring pencils and erasers for the Scan-Tron portion and a pen for the short answer questions. 4. Comprehensive Final Exam (40%). This will consist of multiple choice questions and a short answer component based on the lectures and the digital textbook. Please bring pencils and erasers for the Scan-Tron portion and a pen for the short answer questions.

Grading Scale A+ 90-100% B 73-76% C- 60-62% A 85-89% B- 70-72% D+ 57-59% A- 80-84% C+ 67-69% D 53-56% B+ 77-79% C 63-66% D- 50-52%

Lecture and Exam Outline

Day Topic Textbook

1 (Mon. May 26) Introduction to the Course Political Background Ch. 1 2 (Tues. May 27) Social Background Ch. 2 3 (Thurs. May 29) Religious Background Ch. 3-4 4 (Fri. May 30) **** Midterm Exam 1 **** 5 (Mon. June 2) Early Christianity Ch. 5 Formation of the Canon Ch. 7 Inspiration of Scripture 6 (Tues. June 3) Jesus Ch. 8 7 (Thurs. June 5) Gospels Ch. 9 8 (Fri. June 6) **** Midterm Exam 2 **** 9 (Mon. June 9) The Gospel of Mark Ch. 10 The Gospel of Matthew Ch. 11 10 (Tues. June 10) The Gospel of John Ch. 14 Paul and Letter Writing Ch. 15 Romans Ch. 18 Galatians 11 (Thurs. June 12) 1-2 Corinthians Ch. 18 Hebrew Revelation Ch. 21 12 (Fri. May 13) **** Final Exam ****

TWU CORE VALUE STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:

Simplistic answers and indoctrination that curtails in-depth scrutiny are incompatible with a Christian respect for truth, a Christian understanding of human dignity, and quality Christian educational techniques and objectives (excerpt from Pursuing Faith- Based and Faith Affirming Learning, p. 4).

TWU Campus Closure Policy:

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