ADVANCED INTRODUCTION TO THE NEW TESTAMENT

BNEW 410

HARDING UNIVERSITY

FALL 2008

 

MWF  11:00-11:50       MCIN 350

 

Instructor: Dr. K. Stanglin

Office phone: 279-4620

Email: kstanglin@harding.edu

Website: www.harding.edu/kstanglin and www.facebook.com

Office hours: MCIN 209, 1:00-3:00 (MWF), 2:00-4:00 (TR)

Office phone, hours, and email should suffice for class business. 

 

Course Description (from catalog):

The historical and cultural background of the New Testament.  Canon and text.  Introduction to the books. 

Course Objectives:

The objective of this course is to acquaint you with the major themes of each NT book and introduce you to contemporary NT scholarship.

Required Course Textbooks:

Bible.  I prefer that you use either the NIV, TNIV, NASB, or NRSV.  Study Bibles are best.

 

Carson, Donald A. and Douglas Moo. An Introduction to the New Testament. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005.

 

Jeffers, James S. The Greco-Roman World of the New Testament Era. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1999.

 

Bring all these texts to class each day.

Attendance Policy:

Students are expected to attend classes regularly.  In the event of illness, family emergency, a school-sponsored activity, or an extenuating circumstance, it is the responsibility of the student to notify the instructor as soon as possible of the reason for the absence.  A doctor’s note is required for excusing personal illness.  Print a hard copy for my records.  N.B.: Excuses will not be accepted after “dead week.”

 

The official policy of COBR states that the equivalent of one week of unexcused absences (3) is allowed in this class.  Each additional absence above 3 automatically reduces your final grade by three percentage points.

 

You will be considered tardy if you are not present when the roll is checked or if you leave during class.  3 tardies = 1 unexcused absence.

 

Students with Disabilities:

It is the policy for Harding University to accommodate students with disabilities, pursuant to federal and state law.  Therefore, any student with a documented disability condition (e.g., physical, learning, psychological, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations, must contact the instructor and the Disabilities Office at the beginning of each semester.  (If the diagnosis of the disability occurs during the academic year, the student must self-identify with the Disabilities Director as soon as possible in order to get academic accommodations in place for the remainder of the semester.)  The Disabilities Office is located in Room 102 of the Lee Academic Center, telephone, (501) 279-4019.

 

Assessment:

Harding University, since its charter in 1924, has been strongly committed to providing the best resources and environment for the teaching-learning process. The board, administration, faculty, and staff are wholeheartedly committed to full compliance with all criteria of the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The university values continuous, rigorous assessment at every level for its potential to improve student learning and achievement and for its centrality in fulfilling the stated mission of Harding. Thus, a comprehensive assessment program has been developed that includes both the Academic units and the Administrative and Educational Support (AES) units. Specifically, all academic units will be assessed in reference to the following Expanded Statement of Institutional Purpose: The University provides programs that enable students to acquire essential knowledge, skills, and dispositions in their academic disciplines for successful careers, advanced studies, and servant leadership.

Academic Honesty:

Harding University places a high priority on honesty and a biblical commitment to truth.  Incidents of cheating, plagiarism, or any other activities deemed dishonest will result in penalties.  These penalties may range from receiving a zero (0%) on the assignment to failing the course or dismissal from the school.  (According to Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, to “plagiarize” is to steal and use as one’s own the ideas, words, etc., of another.  Collaborating on written assignments that should be done individually would fall under this category of dishonesty.)

Classroom Expectations and Decorum:

I expect your best effort and cooperation.  I expect all students to behave in a Christian manner in and out of the classroom.  Appropriate behavior includes abiding by the conduct and dress codes set by the university.  Turn off all cell phones and pagers.  Do not even bring them on test or quiz days.  Do not eat food in the classroom. Only drinks in spill-proof containers are allowed in class.  If you make a mess, it is your responsibility to clean it up or pay for it to be cleaned.

 

Class will be dismissed when I finish, not necessarily when the bell rings.

 

Course Requirements:[1]

1. Every student should carefully (re-)read the entire NT as well as the other required texts.  The student is responsible for all the information in these texts.  Questions over the CM text are available at my website.  These will help guide your reading and your preparation for exams.  On the final exam, you will be asked to sign a statement indicating how much of the NT and textbooks you actually read. 

 

Be prepared to discuss and answer questions about the material in class. 

 

2. Complete a Synoptics assignment.  20 pts.  You have two choices.

            a. Study Allan Barr, Diagram of Synoptic Relationships (on reserve), for one hour.  Write a 200-300 word paper on your observations, reflections, comments.

            b. Underline lexical agreement in Mark 4 and parallels using the following scheme:

            -Black- all 3

            -Red- Matthew and Luke (Q)

            -Blue- Mark and Luke

            -Green- Mark and Matthew

            -Solid line- exact

            -Broken line- same word, different forms

Write a 200-300 word paper on your observations, reflections, comments.

 

3. Each student must read and report on Jeffers’ book.  60 pts. (20 pts. for each of three reports)

            a. In your own words, give a 150-word summary of each chapter.

            b. Turning in the assignment serves as a declaration that you have read the assignment.  This is not a group project.  At the top of each assignment, write and sign your name to the following statement: “I have read this assignment.  I have neither given nor received aid on this assignment.”

            c. For full credit, reports must be carefully written, detailed, and free of typos.

            d. A late penalty of 10% per class period will be assessed.

            e. See class schedule for due dates.

 

4. The student should keep a notebook containing all lecture notes and handouts. 

 

5. Four major exams (including the final) will cover the CM questions, test study guides, and class lecture notes.  The format is generally fill in the blank, listing, and essay questions.  400 pts. (100 pts. each)

 

*N.B.: I want you to do well in this course.  Completing the readings, the reading guides, and test study guides, in addition to taking thorough notes, will help ensure your success.

 

6. Research paper.  Each student will write an original research paper on a topic related to the field of NT Introduction.  See the website for a list of possible paper topics.  Here are some guidelines:

a. 8-10 pages (Times New Roman, double-spaced, not including bibliography).

b. Not optional.  A course grade of “F” will be assigned to anyone not turning in a paper.

c. Use Turabian style footnotes and proper, academic English style.

d. Read the handouts in my syllabus on writing papers, along with the section in the packet on how to write a research paper.  Assessment criteria will include such things as: clearly stated purpose, logical organization, faultless style, evidence of research and interaction with secondary sources.

e. No less than 15 sources are to be used.  These sources should include relevant commentaries, special monographs, and peer-reviewed journal articles.  Do not cite sources in the bibliography unless they are used in the paper.

f. Your paper topic must be turned in to me by Sept. 3.  A drawing on Sept. 5 will determine your paper’s due date.

g. Papers are due at the beginning of class.  A penalty of 10% each class period will be assessed to late papers.

 

In addition to the hard copy, you must also submit the paper electronically before the deadline.  Go to www.turnitin.com.  The class ID is 2356961, and the password is advnt.  Click “submit” and follow the instructions.  Papers not submitted through this website will not be accepted.  200 pts.  Papers are due at the beginning of class.  Late papers will be reduced by 10% each class day late. 

 

8. Extra credit: Read either Everett Ferguson, Backgrounds of Early Christianity, 3rd ed. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003), or E. P. Sanders, Paul and Palestinian Judaism (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1977).  Give a short summary and then evaluation of the book.  Double-spaced, 3 pages.  Up to 20 pts. on final exam.

 

Grading Scale:      680 points total.

 

90-100% = A     80-89 = B     70-79 = C     60-69 = D      0-59 = F

 

Although it is your responsibility to keep up with your grades and absences, I will periodically post them on my website.  Check your grades with last name and password (H number).

 

Course Schedule:

Wk. 1, 8/25                 Syllabus.  Introduction to course. 

 

8/27                            NT Background.  CM 1.

 

8/29                            Synoptic Gospels.  CM 2.

 

Wk. 2, 9/1                   Synoptics assignment due.  Jesus Seminar and Historical Jesus

 

9/3                              Matthew.  CM 3.  [turn in term paper topics]

 

9/5                              Matthew.  [draw for term paper due dates]

 

Wk. 3, 9/8                   Matthew.

 

9/10                            Mark.  CM 4.

 

9/12                            Mark.

 

Wk. 4, 9/15                 Mark.

 

9/17                            Luke.  CM 5.

 

9/19                            Luke.

 

Wk. 5, 9/22                 Luke. 

 

9/24                            Exam 1 (CM 1-5)

 

9/26                            John.  CM 6.

 

Wk. 6, 9/29                 John.  Jeffers 1-5 due.

 

10/1                            John.

 

10/3                            Acts.  CM 7.

 

Wk. 7, 10/6                 Acts.

 

10/8                            NT Letters.  CM 8.

 

10/10                          Paul: Apostle and Theologian.  CM 9.

 

Wk. 8, 10/13               Romans.  CM 10.

 

10/15                          Romans.

 

10/17                          READING BREAK 

 

Wk. 9, 10/20               1 Corinthians.  CM 11. 

 

10/22                          2 Corinthians.

 

10/24                          Exam 2 (CM 6-11)

 

Wk. 10, 10/27             Galatians.  CM 12. 

 

10/29                          Ephesians.  CM 13.  Jeffers 6-10 due.

 

10/31                          Philippians.  CM 14.

 

Wk. 11, 11/3               Colossians.  CM 15.

 

11/5                            1-2 Thessalonians.  CM 16.

 

11/7                            Pastorals.  CM 17.

 

Wk. 12, 11/10             Pastorals. 

 

11/12                          Philemon.  CM 18. 

 

11/14                          Exam 3 (CM 12-18) 

 

Wk. 13, 11/17             Hebrews.  CM 19.

 

11/19                          Hebrews. 

 

11/21                          James.  CM 20.

 

THANKSGIVING BREAK

 

Wk. 14, 12/1               1-2 Peter.  CM 21-22.

 

12/3                            1-3 John.  CM 23.

 

12/5                            Jude.  CM 24.

 

Wk. 15, 12/8               Revelation.  CM 25.  [Optional: Extra Credit report due]

 

12/10                          Revelation.

 

12/12                          NT Canon.  CM 26.  Jeffers 11-Appendix A due.

 

Final Exam: Thursday, Dec. 18, 10:30-12:30.  Half of Final will be comprehensive (from previous study guides; the other half will cover CM 19-26.

 


[1] Course requirements and schedule are subject to change.