Introduction to New Testament
Spring Semester 2003
101 Addison Academic Center — Thursday Evenings, 7:30–10 pm

Course Description

An introductory overview of the New Testament, with special attention to how the New Testament authors sought to apply the Good News of Jesus Christ to the issues and concerns of first-century Jews and Gentiles. Incorporating the most recent archaeological and textual discoveries, the course will seek to lay a firm foundation for a prayerful and responsible use of the New Testament in contemporary theological reflections.

Required Texts

The Bible. Since the Bible contains not only the New Testament, but also the books that formed the Scriptures of the first Christians—viz., the Old Testament—the importance of the student's familiarity with these texts cannot be overstated. Accordingly, select passages from the Bible will be assigned to most class sessions, along with readings from the course text. When studying these, students should consult two or more recent English translations such as The New Revised Standard Version, The Revised Standard Version, or The New International Version, among others.

Achtemeier, Paul J., et al. Introducing the New Testament: Its Literature and Theology. Grand Rapids: Eerdmands Publishing Company, 2001. A new arrival among NT texts, this volume combines a balanced yet thoroughgoing presentation of recent historical research on the New Testament with a sensitivity to the theological concerns of contemporary Christians. Moreover, it supplies helpful background information about the Greco-Roman-Jewish milieu of the first two centuries of the present era. Referred to as Text in the list of assignments below.

Other Resources

New Testament Resources. Online: faculty.smu.edu/dbinder/resources.html. Initially composed by the Instructor for his Undergraduate Students at SMU, this site has since been used by students in college and seminary classes around the world. It contains links to a wealth of primary sources related to the New Testament, as well as to other sites that offer some interesting commentary on the New Testament. It is part of a larger site that comprises the Internet companion to the Instructor's volume, Into the Temple Courts: The Place of the Synagogues in the Second Temple Period (Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 1999), both of which provide cutting edge information and analysis about synagogues as they existed prior to the Jerusalem Temple's destruction in 70 AD.

Readings from the two required texts are noted in the outline of class meetings, below. Since class presentations and discussions will draw from these readings, with the exception of the first class meeting, students should complete these assignments before the scheduled session.

Course Requirements

I. Class Attendance, Participation and Readings

Since we will be covering a voluminous amount of material in this course, regular attendance in class is essential. While lectures will be the focus of these sessions, class time will also be devoted to an analysis and discussion of the materials associated with the evening's topics. Consequently, students are expected to "read, mark and inwardly digest" the required readings assigned for the dates specified below in preparation for class discussions. Students may miss no more than two class sessions in order to receive credit within the Lay School.

II. Midterm Paper (50% of Final Grade)

A five-page, double-spaced paper, dealing with any topic or biblical passage covered in Parts I or II and approved by the Instructor in advance. Due in class on March 27.

III. Final Paper (50% of Final Grade)

A five-page, double-spaced paper, dealing with any topic or biblical passage covered in Parts III or IV and approved by the Instructor in advance. Due in Instructor's Mailbox in Aspinwall (or via email attachment) by Thursday, May 8.

Outline of Class Meetings

I. The Context of Early Christianity (February 13–20)

Class sessions:

February 13 (Reading: text, pp. 1–20, 41–47) notes

First Hour

• Good Housekeeping, Textual Criticism and Dates to Remember
• Geography: Finding the Holy Land on the Map
• Sources: The Written and the Unwritten
• A Question of Methodologies

Second Hour

• Judaism: Returning Home after Exile
• Jewish Institutions: The Temple and the Synagogues

February 20 (Reading: text, pp. 21–41, 47–51) notes

First Hour

• Athens meets Jerusalem
• Judas the Hammer: Forerunner of Jewish Independence
  

Second Hour

• The (Roman) Empire Strikes Back
• Jewish Groups: From Essenes to Zealots

II. The Birth of the Gospel (February 27–March 20)

Class sessions:

February 27 Class Canceled: Inclement Weather

March 6 (Reading: text, pp. 53–86) notes

First Hour

• The Historical Jesus: Will the Real Jesus Please Stand up?
• Reconstructing a Historical Jesus: Critiquing Criteria

Second Hour

• Synoptic Problems and Solutions
• Parallel Columns and Redactional Tendencies

March 13 (Reading: Matt 1–2; 5–7; 23; 26–28; Luke 1–2; 4:16–30; 22–24; text, pp. 89–121, 149–174) notes

First Hour

• Matthew's Jesus: A New Moses?
  

Second Hour

• Luke's Jesus: An Orderly Account

March 20 (Reading: Mark 1–4; 13; 14:12–16; John 1–3, 18–21; text, pp. 123–146, 175–244)
notes

First Hour

• Mark's Jesus: The Suffering Servant
  

Second Hour

• John's Jesus: The Logos Became Flesh
• The Life of Jesus

III. The Spread of the Gospel (March 27–April 24)

Class sessions:

March 27 (Reading: Acts 1–2; 8; 10; 15–19; James 1–5; Heb 5–10; text, pp. 245–269, 465–512) notes

First Hour

• Acts: An Orderly Account, Part II
  

Second Hour

• Jewish Christianity: Grappling with Torah
• Jewish Christianity: After the Order of Melchizedek
  

Midterm Papers Due in class

April 3 (Reading: Gal 1–4; 1 Thess 1–5; text, pp. 271–297, 355–375, 427–439) notes

First Hour

• Pauline Christianity: A Correspondence Course
• Galatians: Quarreling Rabbis
  

Second Hour

• 1 Thessalonians: A Need for Hope

April 10 (Reading: 1 Cor 1–3; 11:17–15:58; 2 Cor 10–12; Rom 1–2; 14–15; text, pp. 299–354) notes

First Hour

• 1 & 2 Corinthians: A Preoccupation with Gnosis
  

Second Hour

• Romans: Being Weak and Strong in Faith

April 17: No Class: Maundy Thursday

April 24 (Reading: Philemon; Phil 1–4; Col 1–4; Eph 5–6; text, pp. 377–426) notes

First Hour

• Philemon & Philippians: Rejoicing in Chains
  

Second Hour

• Colossians & Ephesians: The Cosmic Christ & the Household of God

IV. Trials & Tribulations before the Eschaton (May 1)

Class sessions:

May 1 (Reading: 1 Tim 2–3; 2 Tim 1; 1 John 1–5; Rev 1–3, 21–22; text, pp. 447–464, 535–587) notes

First Hour

• The Pastorals: Need for Leadership
• Conflict in the Community of the Beloved Disciple
  

Second Hour

• Revelation: Apocalypse Now!

Final Papers Due in Instructor's Box in Aspinwall (or via email attachment)
by Thursday, May 8