The Leadership Institute at Allen Temple Baptist Church

Introduction to New Testament I

Fall Semester Syllabus
Reverend Jackie Brown, Instructor
September 2002
10:40 am – 12:00 noon Room 113

DESCRIPTION

Introduction to New Testament I is designed to assist Christian stewards with deepening their understanding of the New Testament and to position themselves to hear more clearly what the Holy Spirit is that is revelant to current situations of life.  This will be accomplished by asking critical questions of the text then performing the exegesis necessary to arrive at an understanding that transcends time, situations, and language.
This course covers the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles.  Students will learn about the writers of the Gospel text, when they wrote, where they wrote from, to whom they wrote  and their original purpose in writing.   The ultimate objective of the course is to help students show themselves approved unto God, men and women, that rightly divide the eternal word of truth.

SPECIFIC COURSE OBJECTIVES

• To learn how, why, and when the New Testament books were canonized.
• To introduce the basic principles and techniques of Biblical exegesis.
• Explore Biblical Criticisms and how they are use in studying the Bible.
• To discuss and understand the Synoptic Problem and possible solutions
• To learn the author, history, theme, and purpose of each book.
• To examine the cultural and sociological context from which the New Testament emerged.
• To learn the structure, content, style and messages of the Gospels and the Book of Acts.
• To take a critical look at the character, life, work, mission and ministry of Jesus.
• To review the miracles and parables of Jesus Christ
• To explore the themes of salvation, grace, reconciliation, eternal life.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

1.   Attendance at all class sessions is required.  All classes begin promptly at the designated time.  If it is 
absolutely necessary to be absent, the student is still responsible for all material covered in that session.

2.   Careful and timely reading of the assigned texts are strongly recommended.  Each student should keep a
Reading Log or journal to record your reflections and questions on what has been read.

3.   Weekly quizzes are possible.  The quizzes cover materials in lectures as well as the assigned reading. 
The first quiz may be given at the second session.  Quizzes are given at the beginning of the class period.  See Professor Brown for makeup quizzes.  There will be no quiz at the first (9/14/2002) or  last  (12/14/2002) session.

• A brief writing assignment will be given bi-weekly (no more than one page, typewritten, double-spaced).  

5.   A mid-term exam will be given on October 26th, 202. A final examination is given on the final day of the semester.   Each exam will consist of  true/false, multiple choice, fill in the blank, and at least one essay question .

GRADING                                          SCALE               
Oral Presentation          10%                 92 – 100          A
Quizzes                         15%                 84 – 91                         B
Term Paper                  20%                 75 – 83             C
Mid Term                     25%                 68 – 74             D
Final Exam                    30%                

REQUIRED TEXTS

The Holy Bible                     Preferably the New International Version (NIV), Amplified, New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) with Apocrypha or King James.

Gundry, Robert H.                A Survey of the New Testament, Third Edition. 

• Grand Rapids, MI  Zondervan Publishing House

Additional Texts (not required but will be used by the instructor):

Additional New Testament References:
Hayes, HolladayAland, Kurt and Barbara           The Text of the New Testament
Brown, Raymond                                              Introduction to the New Testament
Bruce, F. F.                                                      New Testament History
Bultmann, Rudolf                                               History of the Synoptic Tradition
Carson, D.A.; Moo, Douglas J.; Morris, Leon     An Introduction to the New Testament
Griffith-Jones, Robin                                          The Four Witnesses
Gromacki, Robert G.                                          New Testament Survey
Herzog, William                                     The Parables as Subversive Spech
Johnson, Luke Timothy                                      The Writings of the New Testament
Johnson, Luke Timothy                                      The Living Jesus
Johnson, Luke Timothy                                      The Real Jesus
Kummel, Werner Georg                                     Introduction to the New Testament
Lindars, Barnabas                                             Jesus Son of Man
Lohse, Edward                                                  The New Testament Environment
Myers, Ched                                                         Binding the Strong Man:  A Political 
Reading of Mark’s Story of Jesus
Neill, Stephen                                                    Jesus Through Many Eyes
Neuhaus, Richard John                                      Death on A Friday Afternoon
Nickle, Keith                                                     The Synoptic Gospels – An Introduction
Nolan, Albert                                                    Jesus Before Christianity
Pelikan, Jaroslav                                                Jesus Through Many Centuries
Powell, Mark Allan                                            What Are They Saying About Acts?
Price, Reynolds                                                 Three Gospels
Prior, David                                                      Jesus and Power
Schillebeeckx, Edward                                       Jesus An Experiment in Christology
Soards, Marion L.                                              The Speeches in Acts
Somerville, James M.                                         The Mystical Sense of the Gospels

READING/LECTURE SCHEDULE

The Leadership Institute at Allen Temple Baptist Church

Introduction to New Testament I Attendance Roster


9/14/2002

Day One

Why are you taking this class?
What do you hope to get from this class?
What is you favorite book in the New Testament?
What book, in the New Testament do you have the most trouble with?
What Spiritual Gift/s do you have?
Write a short story that you remember from your childhood.

September 15                                                                                       November 17 – Writing Assignment #4

Bible – Gospel of Mark 1-8                                                 Bible – Acts 10-19
Gundry – Chs. 1-3                                                                               

September 22                                                                                       December 1

Bible – Gospel of Mark 9-16                                                               Bible – Acts 20-28
Gundry – Chs. 4-6                                                                               
 

September 29 – Quiz #1                                                                    December 8

Bible – Gospel of Matthew 1-14                                                        Discussion and Review
Gundry – Ch. 7

October 6 – Writing Assignment #1                                              December 15

Bible – Gospel of Matthew 15-28                                                      FINAL EXAM

Gundry – Ch. 8

October 13 – Quiz #2

Bible – Gospel of Luke 1-12
Gundry – Ch. 9

October 20 – Writing Assignment #2
Bible – Gospel of Luke 13-24
Gundry – Ch. 10

October 27  - Quiz #3

Bible – Gospel of John 1-10
Gundry – Ch. 11

November 3 – Writing Assignment #3
Bible – Gospel of John 11-21

November 10 – Quiz #4

Bible – Acts 1-9