Spring 2008

FNW-Seattle

NS501

Spinks

NS501: NEW TESTAMENT 2: ACTS-REVELATION. D. Christopher Spinks.

DESCRIPTION: This course provides an introduction to the study of the book of Acts, the letters of the New Testament, and the book of Revelation. Questions such as the authorship, purpose, structure, date, and occasion of each of these documents are considered insofar as they aid our understanding of the New Testament and contribute to our grasp of the theology of each of these documents.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: A student successfully completing this course will have a (1) a vivid sense of the historical and cultural setting(s) out of which these ancient documents arose and were recognized as “canonical”; (3) a fundamental knowledge of the content of the NT documents Acts to Revelation; (4) an understanding of some of the factors contributing to the growth and development of the early church, the various struggles it faced, and the theological positions that emerged and are recorded in the NT documents Acts to Revelation. All of this is essential for faithfully proclaiming the New Testament's significance for the church and the world today.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: An understanding of these documents is foundational for developing a biblically informed theology that equips one for preaching and teaching, for thinking carefully and creatively about Christian faith in today's world, and for faithful Christian discipleship.

COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet on four different Saturdays for 7.5 hours at a time. Class time will consist of lectures, group exercises, and class discussions. The course will also contain an online component that students will be required to participate in on a weekly basis.

REQUIRED READING:

• Achtemeier, P. J., J. B. Green, and M. M. Thompson. Introducing the New Testament: Its Literature and Theology. Eerdmans, 2001, pp. 1-51, 245-608. [415 pp.] ISBN: 9780802837172.
• Witherington, B., III. New Testament History: A Narrative Account. Baker Academic, 2001. [400 pp.] ISBN: 9780801027697.
• Wright, N. T. What Saint Paul Really Said: Was Paul of Tarsus the Real Founder of Christianity? Eerdmans, 1997. [175 pp.] ISBN: 9780802844453
• Portions of the following dictionaries: [approx. 200 pp.]
• Hawthorne, G. F., R. P. Martin, and D. G. Reid, eds. Dictionary of Paul and his Letters. IVP, 1993. ISBN: 0830817786.
• Martin, R. P., and P. H. Davids, eds. Dictionary of the Later New Testament and its Developments. IVP, 1997. ISBN: 0830817794.

RECOMMENDED READING:

• Ferguson, Everett. Backgrounds of Early Christianity. 3rd ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003.
• Harink, Douglas. Paul among the Post-Liberals. Grand Rapids: Brazos Press, 2003.
• A more extensive list of recommended reading will be provided in class and posted on the course’s online page.

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. Weekly assignments

· 10 short essays of 200-250 words (10%)

· at least 2 online interactions per week with classmates’ essays (10%)

· 10 journal entries containing students' own interpretive questions, theological reflections on assigned texts, and/or responses to provided questions (10%)

2. A final exam (40%)

3. A final paper of 2000-2500 words (approx. 8-10 pages) on an assigned topic (30%)

PREREQUISITES: None

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in New Testament 2 (NT2).

FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes.