Intro to the New Testament

***Update: Please

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Tuesday March 15th

10:45 a.m

11:30 a.m.

12:15 p.m Nate Clark

Wednesday March 16th

12:45 p.m. Kris Eisele

1:30 p.m. Tina Clark

2:15 p.m. Sophia Hayden

4:00 p.m. Tyler Orion

4:45 p.m. Erica Trisler

Friday March 18th 

10:15 a.m. Adam Rosener

11:00 a.m. Ross Janovec

for your "final conversation"***

Instructor: Pamela Eisenbaum

* ***Note: The best way to reach me is to email me through Canvas.****

Course Synopsis

This course serves as a broad introduction to the New Testament, its literature, historical context, origins and early development, as well as its importance to the Christian tradition.  It is required for students in the M.Div Program, has no prerequisites, and serves as the foundation for any upper level, more specialized courses you wish to take.

Course Objectives

1. To provide a basic knowledge of the contents of the New Testament and its central interpretive issues.
2. To understand the New Testament as a resource for understanding the origins of Christianity.
3. To help you become critical interpreters of scripture in general and the Gospels and Pauline Epistles in particular.
4. To develop an appreciation for the biblical text and the scholarly resources that can be used to deepen one’s understanding of it.

5. Degree Learning Goals

   Iliff Academic Degree Learning Goals (MTS):

   This course will contribute to the MTS learning goals 1 and 3 below:

   1. Within a broader awareness of the academic study of religion, articulate the complexities emergent in the interdisciplinary study of religious traditions.
   2. Formulate a viable research question that puts the student into conversation with historic and contemporary thinkers in the study of religion and that fosters transformative possibilities for humanity and the world.
   3. Identify theological resources that would broaden and deepen their thinking about these questions.
   4. Organize their response to a research question, both in written and oral format, in such a way as to establish themselves as a competent public voice within the interdisciplinary study of religion.

   Iliff Academic Degree Learning Goals (MDiv, MASJE, or MAPSC):

   This course fulfills at CT requirement for students completing the MDiv, MASJE, or MAPSC degree programs:

   Constructive/Systematic Theology (CT): critically engage historical and contemporary theological expressions of religious traditions and articulate one's own constructive theological position in relation to contemporary events and/or situations.

Required Books:

Stephen Patterson, Beyond the Passion: Rethinking the Life and Death of Jesus (Fortress, 2004). ISBN-13: 978-0800636746

Krister Stendahl, The Final Account: Paul’s Letter to the Romans (Fortress, 1995) ISBN-10: 0800629221

Bart Ehrman, A Brief Introduction to the New Testament ( Fourth Edition; Oxford, 2016) ISBN-13: 978-0190276393 Note: This text may be rented from Amazon or Chegg Books—considerably cheaper than the purchase price.* Note2: This is NOT the most recent edition of Ehrman's book.

Pamela Eisenbaum, Paul Was Not A Christian (HarperOne, 2009/10) ISBN-10: 0061349917 or ISBN-10: 0060722916

Marc Brettler and Amy-Jill Levine (eds.), The Jewish Annotated New Testament (Oxford, 2011); ISBN-10: 0195297709  Abbreviated JANT.

A Bible in one of the following versions: NRSV (recommend HarperCollins Study Bible, but any NRSV will do); New International Version (Updated 2011); New American Bible (Revised 2011); New American Standard Bible (Updated 1995); Note: Pay attention to the date and edition; older versions are not acceptable, though anything published later than the stated date is fine if it is the same version.

If you prefer electronic versions (e.g. Kindle) of any books, that is fine.

Intro NT 2020 Assignments and Evaluation - Simplified Overview

Recitation Assignment 10%

Memorization, recitation, and reflection on a short passage of your choice from the NT (5-10 verses--must be consecutive)

Mini Practice Quiz 0%

            Multiple Choice on Terms

            Multiple choice on scripture I.D.s

Midterm 30%

Multiple Choice on Terms + Multiple choice on Scripture I.D.s = 10%

Essays – 20%

Final 40%

            Multiple choice questions based on terms = 10%

            Final Conversation (Oral Exam based on questions distributed        

               in advance) = 30%

Participation 20%

 Attend class. Prepare for class by completing assigned reading in advance and any other assignments for the week. Engage in discussion and participate in class activities as instructed.  Missing more than one class may result in make-up work. Missing more than two classes will result in a one-degree reduction of your grade (.e.g., if final grade averages out to a B+, it will be reduced to a B).