Scribd
Upload
130 views6 pages

22200: Intro To The New Testament Sample Syllabus: Center For Student Success, NRT 154 Telephone: 502-897-4680

This document provides a sample syllabus for an introductory course on the New Testament. The course will provide an overview of the four Gospels, examining historical context, major themes, and methods for interpretation. Students will read each Gospel in its entirety. Assessment includes exams, reading quizzes, assignments analyzing passages and Gospel stories, and a group performance of a Gospel story. The course aims to equip students to understand the life of Jesus and early Church as presented in the New Testament.

Uploaded by

fauno_Scribd
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
130 views6 pages

22200: Intro To The New Testament Sample Syllabus: Center For Student Success, NRT 154 Telephone: 502-897-4680

This document provides a sample syllabus for an introductory course on the New Testament. The course will provide an overview of the four Gospels, examining historical context, major themes, and methods for interpretation. Students will read each Gospel in its entirety. Assessment includes exams, reading quizzes, assignments analyzing passages and Gospel stories, and a group performance of a Gospel story. The course aims to equip students to understand the life of Jesus and early Church as presented in the New Testament.

Uploaded by

fauno_Scribd
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

22200: Intro to the New Testament Sample Syllabus

Center for Student Success, NRT 154


Telephone: 502-897-4680
[email protected]

I. COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course will expose the student to issues concerning how to interpret the Gospels, and provide
an historical and theological survey of each of the four Gospels, culminating with discussion of
how these four Gospels witness to the one Jesus. (3 hours)

II. Official Outcomes and Objectives


Outcomes:
Know the major themes and movements of God’s redemptive work as revealed in the Scriptures.
Objectives:
• Understands the materials of the New Testament canon concerning the life and teachings
of Jesus and the transmission of the gospel in the early Church
• Understands the basic history and doctrines of the early Church as expressed in the New
Testament
• Is able to articulate the basic argument and major contribution of each book of the canon

III. LEARNING OBJECTIVES


By the end of this course the student should be able to:
1. Give a brief description of significant events and writings of the Second Temple period.
2. Summarize the critical and introductory issues concerning studying the four Gospels.
3. Summarize the basic contents and theology of each of the four Gospels.
4. Confidently use a basic methodology for interpreting the Gospel narratives.

IV. REQUIRED TEXTS


Hill, Charles. Who Chose the Gospels? Probing the Great Gospel Conspiracy. Oxford: OUP,
2010. ISBN: 978-0199551231. (Hill)

Strauss, Mark L. Four Portraits, One Jesus. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2007. ISBN: 978-
0310226970. (Strauss)

1
Pennington, Reading the Gospels Wisely, Grand Rapids: Baker, 2012. ISBN: 978-0801039379
(Pennington)

Green, Joel, ed., Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, 2d ed. Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2013.
(DJG)

V. LEARNING ASSESSMENT
1. Exams (midterm and final) 25%
2. Reading Quizzes 10%
3. Gospel Reading Guides 10%
4. Homework Assignments (2) 10%
5. Gospel Story Performance 10%
6. ‘Closer Reading’ Passages (7) 35%

Grading Scale
94% - 100% A 84% - 87% B 74% - 77% C 64% - 67% D
90% - 93% A- 80% - 83% B- 70% - 73% C- 60% - 63% D-
88% - 89% B+ 78% - 79% C+ 68% - 69% D+ 0% - 59% F

Exams
A note on the two exams: The exams will be multiple choice and short answer, but they will
likely be very difficult. They will based on three things: (1) a close reading of the textbooks; (2)
memorization of notes from the lectures; and (3) knowledge of the content of the Four Gospels.
The midterm exam will cover all reading and lectures up until that point. The final exam will be
comprehensive, but it will focus mainly on the information since the midterm.

Reading Quizzes
The student will complete reading quizzes over each chapter of Strauss and Pennington. These
quizzes are not designed to be tricky but to assess a careful reading of each text. These are closed
book and closed notes with a 15-minute time limit. There will be no more than 10 questions per
quiz.

Note: For the Strauss reading the quiz number corresponds to the chapter of Strauss. One quiz for
each chapter of Strauss. For the Pennington quizzes there will be two: one quiz over ch. 1-5 and
another over ch. 6-11. The way the reading schedule works out the quiz over ch. 6-11 will be
before ch. 1-5.

Gospel Reading Guides


The student will read each Gospel in their entirety and complete the reading guide for each
Gospel. These reading guides are graded for completion. These are designed to help aid you in
paying attention to important people, facts, and themes in each of the Gospels. This will also
serve as a helpful guide for the exams.

Closer Reading Assignments


In conjunction with your reading of the Four Gospels in their entirety, you will also be assigned 7
passages for which you will give a “closer look.” For these assigned passages you will use the
Closer Reading Study Sheet found on Canvas. This includes doing a narrative analysis of the text
(as explained in the lecture) and answering a few additional questions. These assignments are due
on the date listed on the syllabus and must be uploaded to Canvas.

2
Homework Assignments – Synoptic Comparison & Gospels Geography
There are two homework assignments. The first requires the student to do an exercise in Synoptic
Comparisons. The handout for the assignment can be found on the Canvas page for this course.

The second assignment is designed to increase your familiarity with the geography of Jesus’
travels. The blank map and instructions are on Canvas.

Gospel Story Performance


All students will be assigned into groups of 3-4 people and will be given a Gospel story to memorize.
During the last several weeks of the course we will take a few minutes out of each class period for students
to perform their memorized story in front of the class. More information can be found on Canvas with a
full description of the assignment and list of passages to choose from.

Special Needs: As an institution, we strive to work with students and any challenges they face to
the full degree possible. If there are any physical or mental challenges that might need special
accommodation, please contact the instructor prior to or on the first day of class.

Course and Syllabus Modification (Disclaimer): This syllabus is intended to reflect accurately
the leaning objectives, instructional format, readings, activities, evaluation criteria, policies and
procedures, and other information necessary for students to complete this course. The instructor
reserves the right to modify any portion of this syllabus as deemed necessary to maintain the
integrity of the learning experience as a result of events and circumstances that occur during the
course.

3
VIII. COURSE SCHEDULE
Strauss = Mark Strauss, Four Portraits, One Jesus
Pennington = JTPennington, Reading the Gospels Wisely
Hill = C. E. Hill, Who Chose the Gospels?
DJG, “xxxx” = Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels (2d ed.), “ENTRY TITLE”

Week Material Covered / Lecture Title Reading/Assignments DUE


Introduction
1 Introduction to the Course Strauss 23-42
Strauss Quiz 1
What are the Gospels and Why
Do We Need Them? Pennington chapters 1-3
The Study of the Gospels Over Strauss 43-65
the Centuries Strauss Quiz 2

Strauss 347-382
Strauss Quiz 11

Hill chapters 1-5

DJG, “Gospels: History of


Interpretation”
2 Hermeneutics 501 for the Pennington chapters 6-7
Gospels
Strauss 67-89
Strauss Quiz 3

Hill chapters 6-11


How to Read the Gospels Wisely Pennington chapters 8-11
Pennington Quiz 6-11

3 The Gospels as History and in Strauss 383-398


their Historical and Redemptive Strauss Quiz 12
Context, Part One
Strauss 93-167
Strauss Quiz 4
Strauss Quiz 5
Strauss Quiz 6

The Gospels as History and in Pennington chapters 4-5


their Historical and Redemptive Pennington Quiz 1-5
Context, Part Two
DJG, “Rabbinic Traditions and
Writings”

4
The Four Gospels
4 Reading Matthew Strauss 213-258
Strauss Quiz 8

All of Matthew
Matthew 1-2 DJG, “Kingdom of God/Heaven”

5 Matthew 3-4

Matthew 5-7

6 Matthew 8-12

Matthew 13-17

7 Matthew 18-23
Matthew 24-28 All of Matthew (again)
Matthew Reading Guide
MIDTERM EXAM DUE
(covering material through
Matthew)
8 Reading Mark Strauss 171-212
Mark 1-3 Strauss Quiz 7

All of Mark

Mark 4

Lecture Topic: Parables


9 Mark 5-16 Mark Reading Guide

Lecture Topic: Eschatology DJG, “Eschatology”


Reading Luke Strauss 259-296
Luke 1-4 Strauss Quiz 9

All of Luke

DJG, “Rich and Poor”


10 Luke 5-15
Gospel Performances 1-5

Luke 16-24 Luke Reading Guide

Lecture Topic: Jesus’ Passion Strauss 493-525


Strauss Quiz 19
Strauss Quiz 20
11 Reading John Strauss 297-343
Strauss Quiz 10

5
All of John
Gospel Performances 6-10
John 1-6 DJG, “I Am Sayings”
DJG, “Light and Dark”

Gospel Performances 11-15


12 John 6-16
Gospel Performances 16-20

John 17-21 All of John (again)


John Reading Guide

Strauss 455-468
Strauss Quiz 17

Gospel Performances 21-25


The One Jesus
13 The One Jesus Strauss 399-409, 435-454, 469-491
Strauss Quiz 13
Strauss Quiz 16
Strauss Quiz 18

Pennington chapter 12

Gospel Performances 26-30

Final Exams FINAL EXAM

You might also like