Introduction
to the Bible II: New Testament
|
REL 223: Spring 2010 CRN 36032 Professor Daniel K. Falk Web site: Office
hours: |
|
GTFÕs: Danielle Knapp dknapp@uoregon.edu; Derek Moyer dmoyer@uoregon.edu
|
COURSE
DESCRIPTION This course is an introduction to the literature of the New Testament and some other early Christian writings. The goal will be to understand the message and major themes of the various writings, in light of the historical and cultural contexts to which they were addressed. Students will also be introduced to the major methods and theories of scholarly study of the New Testament and early Christianity. The course satisfies the Arts and Letters requirement. |
|
COURSE
REQUIREMENTS The workload expectation is 2 hours work outside class to
every hour in class. That is, you should plan to devote up to 8 hours per
week to this course beyond class time. 1. Required Reading: There will be about 100 pages of reading per
week. Quizzes will be based on readings as well as lectures. The two required
textbooks will be available at the University Bookstore. á Bart Ehrman, A Brief Introduction to the New Testament. Second Edition. Oxford University Press, 2009. (Abbreviated: Introduction) á The HarperCollins Study Bible, NRSV. Read the introduction to each book. o (Professor approval is required to use a different Bible version) á
on-line readings linked from the web syllabus and/or
posted to blackboard. The readings are mostly available from http://www.gnosis.org/library.html
(under Christian Apocrypha) or http://wesley.nnu.edu/biblical_studies/noncanon/
(under New Testament Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha) 2. Written work: á
3 short papers. Unless otherwise specified, these
should be 3 pages each and based on careful and detailed examination of the
texts rather than surface reflections on the readings. Students must choose 3
assignments from the list posted on blackboard, and sign up on a sheet
circulated in discussion section. Papers must be submitted by the BEGINNING
of the class on the due date. The purpose of the assignment is to have
students wrestle with the texts and questions in advance of the class and
come primed for discussion. Late papers will therefore not be accepted
because it would defeat this purpose and be unfair to those students who
completed the assignment before the class lecture on the topic. 35% of
final grade (10 points for first two, 15
points for the third). 3. Examinations: offered only at date and time specified. á Mid-term examination: 20% of final grade. á Final examination, exam week: 30% of final grade. The final exam will be a combination of short answer (match, fill in blanks, multiple choice) concerning details of people, places and events, discussion of selected passages (short essays), and topical essays. 4. Discussion Group
Presentation: Each
student will be responsible for giving a presentation in their discussion
section, as part of a small group (2-3 students). The purpose is to introduce
one of the assigned readings and lead a discussion. Students must sign up for
their presentation in their discussion group, and they are responsible to
present in the week they sign up for. Instructions will be posted on
blackboard. Worth 10% of final grade. 5. Participation: Attendance and active
participation are essential. 5% of the final grade. COURSE POLICIES 1. Participation. Students are expected to attend classes, to have read the assigned readings in advance, and be prepared to participate actively by discussing and asking questions on the readings. Preparation includes reading the assignment question and related passages even if you are not writing that paper. If you must miss class for any reason, please notify your GTF in advance. Beyond two unexcused absences, one letter grade deducted per absence. 2. Grading. To receive credit for the course, all requirements must be met. Failure to complete all requirements will result in an F, unless student has approved a contract for an Incomplete with the professor in advance of the end of term. The grading scale is as follows: A = excellent; B = good; C = satisfactory; D = inferior. Assignments will be graded on the basis of content (1) coverage and accuracy), (2) technical (form, grammar, style), and (3) creativity (originality, insight). 3. Academic honesty. All work submitted in this course must be your own and produced exclusively for this course. The use of sources (ideas, quotations, paraphrases) must be properly acknowledged. Cases of plagiarism or cheating will be treated according to the University of Oregon's Policy on Academic Dishonesty . If you are in doubt regarding any course requirements, please consult with the instructor. 4. Special Needs: Students with special needs requiring academic accommodations should 1) register with and provide documentation to Services to Students with Disabilities (SSD); 2) bring a letter to the instructor from the SSD indicating that you need academic accommodations, and we will arrange to meet them. This should be done during the first week of class. |
|
|
COURSE OUTLINE |
|
3/29 |
What is the New Testament? |
|
3/31 |
The World of Early Christianity; Read: Introduction chs. 2-3 |
|
4/2 |
Study of the New Testament Read: Introduction
ch. 4 |
|
4/5 |
The Gospel of Mark: Jesus the Suffering Son of God |
|
4/7 |
The Synoptic Problem: Why Four (and more) Gospels? Read: Mark 1:1-15 cp Matthew 1-3 cp. Luke 1-3; Matthew 5-7 cp. Luke 6:12-38; 11:1-13; Mark 1:16-20 cp. Luke 5:1-11 cp. John 21:1-11; Mark 16:1-8 cp Matthew 28 cp Luke 24 cp John 20-21. Assignment #2 due |
|
4/9 |
The Gospel of Matthew: Jesus the Jewish Messiah Assignment #3 due |
|
4/12 |
The Gospel of Luke: Jesus the Savior of the World |
|
4/14 |
The Gospel of John: Jesus the One Sent from Heaven |
|
4/16 |
Themes in the Gospels |
|
4/19 |
The Historical Study of Jesus Read: Introduction
ch. 9; Mark 13. Assignment #6 due |
|
4/21 |
From Jesus to the Gospels; Different Views of Jesus Read: Introduction ch. 10. Read 1 John 4:1-3; 2 John 7; Read online: Gospel of Thomas; Gospel of Peter (translation of Raymond Brown). Assignment #7 due |
|
4/23 |
The Acts of the Apostles: Part 2 of LukeÕs Gospel:
Birth of the Church Read: Introduction ch. 11; Acts 1-8; Assignment #8 due |
|
4/26 |
The Acts of the Apostles: Gospel to the Gentiles Read: Acts 9-15; Assignment #9 due |
|
4/28 |
The Acts of the Apostles: the Mission of Paul Read: Acts 16-28; Assignment #10 due |
|
4/30 |
Paul the Apostle and his Mission Read: Introduction ch. 12; Acts 7:54-8:3; 9:1-31; 11:19-30; 12:24-28:31; Galatians 1:11-2:14; Philippians 3:2-10; Romans 7:14-24 Assignment #11 due |
|
5/3 |
Paul and his Churches: Thessalonians |
|
5/5 |
Paul and his Churches: The Corinthian Correspondence Assignment #13 due |
|
5/7 |
Mid-Term Exam |
|
5/10 |
Paul and his Gospel: Galatians Assignment #14 due |
|
5/12 |
Paul and his Churches: Philippians, Philemon Assignment #15 due |
|
5/14 |
Paul and his Churches: Romans Read: Introduction
ch. 16; Romans. Assignment #16 due |
|
5/17 |
The Influence of Paul Read online: Acts of Paul and Thecla Assignment #17 due |
|
5/19 |
From Paul to the Church: The Pastoral Epistles Read Introduction:
ch. 18; 1-2 Timothy; Titus. Assignment #18 due |
|
5/21 |
Christians and Jews |
|
5/24 |
Christians and Pagans |
|
5/26 |
Christians and Christians |
|
5/28 |
Christians and the Cosmos Read Introduction:
ch. 21; Revelation. Assignment #22 |
|
5/31 |
MEMORIAL DAY: No Class |
|
6/2 |
Order in the Church; New Testament Canon Read online: Didache (early 2nd c. CE); PolycarpÕs Letter to the Philippians (110-140 CE); 1 Clement (80-140 CE); Papius (110-140 CE); Read on canon: Marcion (mid-2nd c. CE); Muratonian Canon (3rd c. CE); Athanasius (d. 373 CE); ancient authorities on canon; summary table; ancient canon lists Assignment #23 |
|
6/4 |
Topics in the New Testament |
|
6/11 |
Final Exam: 10:15 am. Bring 2 Green Books |