Syllabus

Course objectives:

1. To understand the history and cultural setting of the New Testament.

2. To identify the major theological issues in the New Testament.

3. To inspire a passion for further study of the New Testament.

1. Reading assignments will be given each week from the New Testament. The goal of the assignments is to familiarize students with the variety of biblical literature and theme development in the New Testament. For each book read, students are to write chapter titles that summarize the major theme of each chapter. Chapter summaries are to be turned in each week. They account for 50% of the course requirement.

2. A final test will be given on the fifth week. A review sheet will be given on the fourth week. The test will cover readings and class presentations. The test is worth 50% of course requirements.

Week One

Course introduction

Relationship of Old to New Testament

Historical and cultural setting of the New Testament

Jesus prior to his ministry

Week Two

The life of Christ

The works of Jesus

Miracles

Death and resurrection

The teaching of Jesus, part one

Week Three

The teaching of Jesus, part two

Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)

Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24)

Upper Room Discourse (John 14-16)

Parables of the Kingdom (Matthew 13)

Week Four

The early church

Acts and the expansion of Christianity

Christianity and Judaism

Jerusalem Council

Galatians

James

Week Five

New Testament "occasional" letters

Christianity and Paganism

The problem of Greek dualism

Revelation, speculation or mysticism

Citizens of heaven, ambassadors on earth

New Testament test