Winter 2009
FSW – Phoenix
NS501
McDonald

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. Issues related to the authorship, purpose, structure, date, and occasion of each of these documents are considered as well as how they aid our understanding of the New Testament and contribute to our grasp of the theology of those writings.  These documents proclaim the Good News of what God has done in Christ in their own way and have an ecclesiastical/pastoral setting.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:  Students completing this course will have demonstrated (1) a fundamental knowledge of the content of the NT documents studied in this part of the course; (2) an acquaintance with a cultural and historical matters that may inform our understanding of the faith of early Christianity; (3) 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 as a result; (4) an appreciation of how these documents bear witness to the Risen Lord; and (5) a focus on how and why these documents were included in the Christian biblical canon.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY:  An understanding of the New Testament writings is foundational for developing a biblically informed theology that equips one for preaching and teaching as well as for thinking carefully and creatively about Christian faith in today’s world.  A careful understanding of the New Testament is essential for responsible Christian discipleship.

COURSE FORMAT: This class will meet for 30 hours over the quarter.  Meeting times will include lectures and discussion of the assigned primary and secondary readings.

REQUIRED READING:
• A careful reading of Acts, Pauline Epistles, Hebrews, and General or Catholic Epistles) and Revelation in the NRSV translation, preferably the New Oxford Annotated Bible with Apocrypha or The New Interpreter’s Study Bible: New Revised Standard Version with the Apocrypha (Abingdon). [387 pp.]
• Johnson, Luke Timothy. The Writings of the New Testament, Revised Edition (Fortress Press, 1999). [720 pp.] ISBN: 0334029112.
• Special assigned primary texts provided in class. [50 pp.]

RECOMMENDED READING: 
• Achtemeier, Paul, Joel Green, and Marianne Meye Thompson, Introducing the New Testament: Its Literature and Theology (Eerdmans, 2001)
• De Silva, David. An Introduction to the New Testament: Contexts, Methods, and Ministry Formation (InterVar-sity Press, 2004)
• Holladay, Carl R. A Critical Introduction to the New Testament. Expanded Version (Abingdon Press, 2005)
• Evans, Craig A. Ancient Texts for New Testament Studies. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2005.
• Hawthorne, Gerald F., and Ralph P. Martin, eds. Dictionary of Paul and His Letters. Downers Grove: InterVar-sity Press, 1993.
• Martin, Ralph P. and Peter H. Davids, eds. Dictionary of the Later New Testament and Its Developments. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1997.

ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Mid-term examination - 30%
2. Final examination - 30%
3. In class report on one assigned reading - 10%
4. One exegetical essay on a chosen passage (8-10 pages) - 30%

PREREQUISITES:  None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: MDiv.: NT2; MAT: NT2/NS; MACL: NT/NS
FINAL EXAMINATION:  Yes.

This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification.