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BNT500 New Testament Foundations ONLINE

Spring, 2008

Dr. William R. Baker

James Sedlacek (Assistant)

COURSE DESCRIPTION

An introduction to the history, literature, and interpretation of the New Testament for students without requisite academic preparation in New Testament studies. This course or the equivalent is a prerequisite for all other BNT courses and is not for credit in the M.A. Biblical Studies program.

RATIONALE

Several windows must be opened into the exciting world of New Testament studies in order for the student to thrive. Understanding the historical development of the canon and text, the Hebrew and Greek worlds into from which the New Testament documents emerge, matters involving the relationships between the gospels, the history, genre, and concerns of each individual NT book require a basic platform from which upper level courses may build. This course constructs this vital platform for students unable to do so in their undergraduate preparation.

OBJECTIVES

By the end of the course, the student will:

1)Demonstrate knowledge of the basic content of each New Testament book.

2)Demonstrate knowledge of the key critical issues for each New Testament book.

3)Demonstrate knowledge of the culture from which the New Testament emerged..

4)Demonstrate research and critical thinking skills by developing a position paper on a critical issue in New Testament studies.

5)Show integrity by doing the reading preparation each week and actively engaging in interactive discussion.

REQUIRED TEXTS

Marshall, I. Howard, Travis, Stephen, and Paul, Ian. Exploring the New Testament, Volume Two: A Guide to the Letters & Revelation. Downers Grove: IL: InterVarsity, 2002.

Patzia, Arthur. The Making of the New Testament. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1995.

Wenham, David, and Walton, Steve. Exploring the New Testament, Volume
One: A Guide to the Gospels & Acts. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2001.

BNT500 COURSE PACK

Recommended:

Basic and Intermediate:

Achtemeier, Paul, Green, Joel, and Thompson, Marianne Meye. Introducing the New Testament: Its Literature and Theology. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001.

Elwell, Walter, and Yarbrough, Robert. Encountering the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1998

Gundry, Robert. A Survey of the New Testament. Third Editon. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994.

Johnson, Luke Timothy. The Writings of the New Testament: An Interpretation. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1986.

Upper:

Carson, D. A., Moo, Douglas, Morris, Leon. An Introduction to the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1992.

Kummell, Werner. Introduction to the New Testament. Translated by Howard Clark Kee. Nashville: Abingdon, 1973.

MAJOR LEARNING EXPERIENCES

Questions from Reading

Reading will be assigned for each weak. Three types of questions are usually required for students to answer. Reading Questions are questions written with the idea that the objective answer is in the assigned reading and is intended to assist students to notice important information. Think Questions are from the Exploring textbook, designated by page number, and give student the opportunity to interact personally with ideas in the reading (should take no more than 30 minutes each). Interactive Questions are usually found as bullet points in the contemporary application section of each chapter in Exploring and are intended to spark stimulating discussion between students as might occur in a normal classroom. Sometimes Think Questions will also be used as Interactive Questions.

Course Notes

Extensive course notes are provided for each section each week. Students are to read these and become very familiar with them since they form the basis of the two major exams for the course.

Oral Presentations

Oral presentations from the instructor will be required listening each week. Though drastically shorter (around 10 minutes each), these attempt to provide online students the essence of what students in a normal class hear in lecture and commentary from the instructor. While listening, online students will want to add to their Course Notes as normal classroom students would. Although these comments will vary on their subjects, they will normally concern the texts noted in the focus section at the end of the Course Notes for each NT book.

Pre-Test Questions

Each week pre-test questions will be offered. These are intended to help prepare students for the major exams that will take place mid-way through the course and at the end of the course. These are self-tests that may be evaluated by the students themselves. These could also be used as review for the major exams.

Deeper Study Paper

Each student will prepare a 5-page paper delving into one of the Deeper Study Assignment Topics listed later in the syllabus. These will be due on the 15th week. Topics are to be chosen by the 10th week.

Major Exams

Two major exams occur as a part of this course. The first, occurring on the 8th week, focuses on the Introductory issues and the Epistles of Paul. The second, occurring on the 16th week, focuses on the General Epistles and the Gospels. The major focus of both exams requires students to show they know basic facts about each biblical book as provided in the Course Notes. Study Guidelines for both exams are available later in this syllabus. Students will be invited to come to campus to take the exams on the 8th and 16th week at a date and time to be determined in discussion with students. This will be on a weekday evening from 7:00-8:00 with a lite fellowship (potluck) meal occurring at 6:15. The day and date (probably Monday or Thursday will be discussed early in the course, so plans can be made Those living too far away will need to provide the Name and address of a proctor must be provided by the 6th week of class. The exam will be mailed to the proctor, sealed and signed by the proctor when you are finished, and mailed back in for grading.

GRADING

Reading and Think Questions25%

Into and Pauline Epistles Exam25%

General Epistles and Gospels Exam30%

Digging Deeper Paper10%

Interactive Questions and Participation10%

ODDS AND ENDS

Attendance Policy: No absences are allowed with for this online course. By design, an online course allows maximum flexibility for students to adjust to time obstacles.

Late Work Policy: No late work is acceptable. Appropriate grade reductions will be assessed, usually one letter grade per week. .

Extensions: See the seminary office for official extension for course work beyond the final due date.

Social Activity: Fellowship meal on exam dates.

Contact: My office is in lower level of the grad building. Stop by anytime, but best Monday and Tuesday. Please e-mail me at or call me at my home office (513-683-6058) for direct communication.

COURSE SCHEDULE

Week One Inspiration, Canon, and Text

Week TwoJewish and Roman World of the New Testament

Week ThreeIntroduction to Paul and Galatians

Week Four1 and 2 Thessalonians and 1 Corinthians

Week Five2 Corinthians and Romans

Week SixColossians, Philemon, Ephesians, Philippians

Week Seven1 Timothy, Titus, 2 Timothy, Theology and Interpretation of Paul

Week EightExam One: Introduction material and Epistles of Paul

Week NineJames and Hebrews,

Week Ten1 Peter, Jude, 2 Peter

Week ElevenEpistles of John, Revelation, Gospels Intro

Week TwelveUnderstanding the Gospels, Mark

Week ThirteenMatthew, John

Week FourteenLuke, Acts

Week FifteenDigging Deeper Paper

Week SixteenFinal Exam: General Epistles and Gospels

DEEPER STUDY ASSIGNMENT

BNT500 New Testament Foundations

Direction: Write a 5-page paper (double-spaced) which examines one of the topics listed below. Regardless of the directions in Exploring2, each study should include at least four resources (not counting Exploring), two of which may be Bible Dictionaries. Other sources should be obtained from the bibliography listed at the end of each chapter, or by examining commentaries available in libraries. This is not a full-blown research paper. So don’t get carried away! In each case, you are essentially summarizing evidence/arguments and offering your own perspective/decision on the matter. There is a huge variety of topics to choose from, so you should have no trouble finding something you are interested in exploring. Please, NO DUPLICATIONS; one topic per student. Pay attention to the Term Paper Guidelines attached. You will give your choice by number the 10th week of the course.

Exploring 2, chapter 1 (First Century World)

1) Digging Deeper, p. 18 (philosophies)

2) Intermediate Essay topic, p. 19 (women or slaves)

Exploring 2, chapter 3 (Letters in the NT)

3) Digging Deeper, p. 32 (Acts of Paul)

4) Digging Deeper, p. 35 (pseudonymnity)

5) Intermediate Essay, p. 44 (portrait of Paul)

Exploring 2, chapter 4 (Galatians)

6) Gather evidence which supports the North Galatia theory for the recipients of Galatians and evaluate it in light of South Galatia evidence.

7) Examine the arguments for Gal 2:1-10 referring to the Jerussalem Council in Acts 15 or the famine visit of Acts 11 and their importance for determining the dating of Galatians.

Exploring 3, chapter 5 (Thessalonians)

8) Digging Deeper, p. 67 (persecution)

9) Introductory Essay Topic, p. 71 (authorship)

10) Intermediate Essay Topic, P. 71 (after death)

Exploring 2, chapter 6 (1 Corinthians)

11)Intermediate Essay Topic, p. 89 (Corinth)

Exploring 2, chapter 7 (2 Corinthians)

12)Digging Deeper, p. 98 (Titus)

13)Intermediate Essay Topic, p. 104 (chs 10-13)

14)Examine the arguments surrounding 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 regarding its origin and placement in 2 Corinthians. Use the box on p. 99 as a starter.

Exploring 2, chapter 8 (Romans)

15)Digging Deeper, p. 112 (Jesus’ death)

16)Digging Deeper, p. 115 (Rom 7)

17)Intermediate Essay Topic, p. 126 (Romans as central to Paul’s gospel)

18)Examine the evidence and arguments surrounding Romans 16 and its origins.

Exploring 2, chapter 9 (Philippians)

19)Introductory Essay, p. 140 (Phil 2)

20)Intermediate Essay, p. 141 (formed piece)

21) Examine arguments regarding origin of the Philippians using the box on p. 131 as a starter.

Exploring 2, chapter 10 (Philemon)

22)Intermediate Essay, p. 148 (slavery)

Exploring 2, chapter 11 (Colossians)

23)Digging Deeper, p. 158 (household codes)

24)Intermediate Essay, p. 161 (opposed teaching)

Exploring 2, chapter 11 (Ephesians)

25)Digging Deeper, p. 170 (Colossians/Ephesians)

26)Examine the arguments for and against Paul’s authorship of Ephesians

Exploring 2, chapter 12 (Timothy and Titus)

27)Digging Deeper, p. 183 (diversity of opinion)

28) Examine the arguments for how to understand 1 Timothy 2:11-15 and its application to the role of women in leadership ministry. Use the box on p., 181 as your starting point.

29) Examine the arguments for and against Paul’s authorship of the Pastorals. Use material on pp. 184-190 as your starting point.

Exploring 2, chapter 14 (Paul the Theologian)

30)Digging Deeper, p. 204 (trinity)

31)Digging Deeper, p. 206 (New Testament Christianity)

32)Digging Deeper, p. 208 (the law)

33)Introductory Essay, p. 211 (apostle of liberty)

Exploring 2, chapter 15 (Interpretation and Authorship)

34)Digging Deeper, p. 220 (rhetorical tactics)

Exploring 2, chapter 16 (Hebrews)

35)Digging Deeper, p. 238 (high priesthood)

36)Intermediate Essay, p. 246 (OT Interpretation)

37)Examine the arguments involved in the authorship of Hebrews. Use p. 244 as a starting point.

Exploring 2, chapter 17 (James)

38)Digging Deeper, p. 257 (speech ethics; See also Baker, Sticks and Stones)

39)Intermediate Essay, p. 259 (wealth and poverty)

40)Examine arguments about the dating of James.

Exploring 2, chapter 18 (1 Peter)

41)Digging Deeper, p. 263 (wives and husbands

42)Digging Deeper, p. 264 (aliens and exiles)

43)Digging Deeper, p. 267 (church and Israel)

44)Digging Deeper, p. 271 (Petrine authorship)

45)Intermediate Essay, p. 272 (civil authorities)

Exploring 2, chapter 19 (2 Peter/Jude)

46)Intermediate Essay, p. 286 (early Catholicism)

47)Examine arguments for and against Petrine authorship of 2 Peter. Use pp.281-283 as a starting point

48) Examine arguments and evidence concerning the relationship between Jude and 2 Peter. Use p. 276 as a starting point.

Exploring 2, chapter 20 (Letters of John)

49)Digging Deeper, p. 293 (know)

50)Intermediate Essay, p. 301 (false teaching)

51)Evaluate arguments surrounding the dating of the Epistles of John and their relationship to the Gospel of John.

Exploring 2, chapter 21 (Revelation)

52)Digging Deeper, p. 320 (repeated phrases)

53)Digging Deeper, p. 322 (numbers)

Study Guidelines

Exam One: Intro and Paul

BNT500 NT Foundations

I. Inspiration and Canon

  1. Reproduce the definition (from handout)
  2. Distinguish between infallible and inerrant
  3. Relationship between canon and inspiration
  4. Significance of Jer. 31
  5. The key circumstances requiring a written text and canonized scripture.

F. Criterion for canon, key date

  1. Textual Criticism
  1. Key terms, like autograph, biblos, parchment, codex, uncial, minuscule, lectionary, etc
  2. Key people, like Constantine, Erasmus, Tischendorf
  3. Key texts, Vaticanus, Sinaiticus
  4. Significance for KJV
  5. Evaluation rules
  1. History
  1. Key names, Ptolomies, Seleucids, Menelaus, Judas Maccabeus, Herod the Great, Herod Antipas
  2. Key distinctions of Pharisees, Saducees, Essenes, Zealots
  1. Paul
  1. Trace out 2nd missionary journey (A map will be provided)
  2. Add date, place, and one subject area for each book listed (supplied in chronological order as provided in the Course Pack Notes).
  3. Occasions for each letter from multiple choice
  4. Theological emphasis of each book (from Course Pack Notes)
  5. Articulate significance of Gallio inscription, evidence for the South Galatian theory, imprisonment for prison epistles, Ephesians a circular letter, time-frame of Pastoral Epistles.

NOTE: This document is to aid you in preparation but does not exhaust entirely the limits of what can be asked on the exam. If you are prepare in the areas suggested, you will do well.

Study Guidelines

Final Exam: General Epistles, Gospels, Comprehensive

BNT500 NT Foundations

  1. General Epistles
  2. Fill in date, place, destination/recipients, one subject area
  3. Occasions/purposes in other objective format
  4. Essay/List
  5. authorship of Hebrews
  6. reasoning which concludes that John is the author of Epistles
  7. authorship of 1 and 2 Peter
  8. date for James
  1. Gospels
  2. Fill in date, place of writing, recipients, evangelistic purpose
  3. Characteristics of the four gospels in objective format
  4. Key terms, people, concepts in understanding gospels study in matching plus Revelation “isms” of interpretation
  5. Essay/List
  6. History, Gospels, skepticism
  7. Two-Source Hypothesis
  8. Kingdom of God (See Exploring 1:161-165)
  1. Comprehensive
  2. Matching questions which distinguish certain features from each NT book.
  3. Mystery Essay Question covering the entire course, NT.

GUIDELINES FOR TERM PAPERS

Dr. William R. Baker

Cincinnati Bible Seminary

This is not intended to replace all the information graduate students receive in the “Mini-Manual of Form and Style Rules at CBC&S.” It is intended as a supplement to clarify particular concerns that may puzzle students. It only applies to my courses as standards for grading.

The Best Guide for Term Papers in Biblical Studies

The Chicago Manual of Style, which is the official manual for most graduate schools, is not itself readily available. Most schools depend on books that explain this standard, including especially the Manuel of Form and Style by Kate Turabien, which has been edited and revised many times. In biblical studies, however, the most helpful adaptation of Chicago is the SBL Handbook of Style, edited by Patrick Alexander et al. (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1999). This provides how to’s for various footnote/bibliography issues but also supplies standard abbreviations for biblical and extra-biblical books commonly employed in the field. Not only that, but a student can look at copies of the Journal of Biblical Literature on any library shelf for examples of how everything is done. If you plan to do an M.A. thesis in biblical studies and continue on in this field you absolutely must purchase a copy of this. It is worth your while to get used to doing things according to the stylebook as soon as possible. I will include their biblical book abbreviation guide with this document.

Changes from CBC&S Guide

1)Please use Times New Roman font at either 11pt or 12pt size.

2) Please use Ibid when a footnote source is exactly the same as the source in the previous footnote. You simply write Ibid. or Ibid, with the different page number if that is not the same.

3) Put books, journals, etc in italics not underlined.

Form Expectations (Points taken off if not followed)

1)Include a title page plus one blank page (for my comments) at the beginning. The title page should include the student’s e-mail address and postal address. This includes papers turned in attached from e-mail.

2) Repeat the title of the paper on the first page.

3)Number each page, except the title page and blank page. It is very common for students to turn in unnumbered term papers since this must be inserted in documents and is not done automatically.

4)Use a one-inch margin all around the paper. Word automatically does 1 ¼” on the left and right, but this is not necessary unless you plan to have your paper bound (as you would a thesis). The only exception is the first page, which should have a two-inch top margin.

5)If a paper is more than 5 pages in length, it should have subdivisions: Introduction, Body, Bibliography, Conclusion. The introduction should orient readers to the subject plus contain a thesis statement (what you think or what you will prove) plus a layout of how this thesis will be proved or examined (subsection titles.). The Conclusion should summarize what the paper has done, reaffirm or state a modified form of the thesis based on the results in the paper, and then look to wider areas of application, theologically, biblically, in the church, personally, or for current culture.

Style Expectations (Points taken off if not followed)

1)Use SBL abbreviations for Bible books. Do not use a period after the abbreviation.

2)When referencing a single psalm do not use the plural: Psalm 140:1

2)When starting a sentence with a biblical reference, write out the name of the book in full: First Timothy 3:4 is a great verse. Otherwise, it may be abbreviated: I love 1 Tim 3:4. When mentioning the chapter only, you must write out book name: I love 1 Timothy 3

3)Do not capitalize pronouns that refer to God.

4)Capitalize Bible and Scripture but not biblical and scriptural,

5)Do not punctuate a subordinate clause as if it is a complete sentence.

6)Do not begin sentences with “but” or “and.” Change “but” to “However,” Eliminate “And”.

7)When using “but” in a complex sentence, do not precede it with a comma, unless the subsequent clause is complete (has a subject and a verb): He went to the store but did not buy bread. He went to the store, but he did not buy bread.