CHR 150: Introduction to the New Testament

• An understanding of the various writings of the New Testament in terms of their respective literary genres, historical contexts, and theological themes.
• Familiarity with biblical scholarship dealing with the literary and historical study of the New Testament.
• An understanding of the development of the text and canon of the New Testament.
• An understanding of the origins and development of Christianity within the context of the first-century world as reflected in the New Testament.
• An understanding of the major events in the life of Jesus and their significance as reflected in the New Testament.
• An understanding of the teachings of and about Jesus found in the New Testament.
• An appreciation for the role of the New Testament in the development of Christian faith and its impact on western civilization.  

GRADING CRITERIA: Course grades will be assessed based on the following assignments:

Quizzes (100 points). At least thirteen daily quizzes (10 points each) will be given during the semester. They will not be announced in advance, and no makeup quizzes will be administered for any reason. Daily quizzes will be drawn from the assigned readings for the day and/or the previous day's lecture and discussion. The student's ten highest scores will be computed in the final grade.

Fishbowl (150 points). Students who do not choose to write the optional paper (see below) will participate in one of three fishbowl sessions. The purpose of the fishbowl is to engage in an intelligent, productive conversation about a given theme in New Testament interpretation, which the rest of the class can "overhear." This will require participants to read the assigned biblical text as well as all assigned MDOB articles. The "see also" sections at the end of each listed article may also prove helpful. The "stellar" participant will demonstrate a grasp of the text in its overall context, with an eye toward understanding what the text would have meant to first-century Christians as well as its continuing relevance for today. For purposes of the fishbowl, it is more important to understand the questions than to have arrived at conclusive answers. Interested students are encouraged to seek the help of the professor in guiding their preparation.

Optional Paper (150 points). Students may choose to write a "characterization" paper instead of participating in a fishbowl. This paper should be a character study based on either a figure in the Gospels or Acts (such as Mary Magdalene or Stephen) or a biblical author (such as Paul or Luke). If you choose this option, you must inform the professor of your intention no later than the end of class on August 26. Papers are due on November 13 (the date of the final fishbowl exercise). Topics are to be negotiated with the professor in person or via email on or before September 25. Papers should be three to five pages long (single spaced, double space between paragraphs) and employ at least three additional sources besides MDOB.

Exams (2 x 200 points). Two exams will be administered on the dates listed in the course schedule. The professor is under no obligation to arrange a make-up exam for any student who misses a scheduled exam, although a make-up exam (a type and format decided by the professor) may be possible in cases of dire family emergency or other catastrophic events. Exams will be drawn from readings, lectures, and fishbowl discussions and will consist of a variety of objective, short answer, and essay type questions. Essays are to be written on paper provided by the student.

Final Exam (350 points). The Final Exam will be a comprehensive exam in the same general format of the two periodic exams. It will be administered on Friday, December 14 from 2:00 to 5:00 pm, as scheduled by the Registrar. There will be no provision for a make-up exam.

The final grade will be computed by simple addition of all accumulated course grades:

               (Quizzes grade, 100 points possible)
            + (Fishbowl grade OR research paper grade, 150 points possible)
            + (Exam 1 grade, 200 points possible)
            + (Exam 2 grade, 200 points possible)
            + (Final exam grade, 350 points possible)
            = Final course grade, 1000 points possible

The grading scale for this course is:

Any student who receives failing grades during the course is urged to arrange to meet with the professor to discuss such work.

CONDUCT: The College's academic misconduct policy (Honor Code) will be followed.

ATTENDANCE: Each student is required and expected to be present for each scheduled class session. Since class lectures and discussions are the foundation for quizzes and examinations, attendance is crucial. Students absent from 25% or more of the scheduled class sessions will not receive credit for the course.

CLASS POLICY ON CELL PHONES AND PAGERS: Out of courtesy for all those participating in the learning experience, all cell phones and pagers must be turned off before entering the classroom. Students who have legitimate reasons to have phones or pagers activated during class should set them to silent or vibrate settings. If a necessary call or page is received, students should quietly exit the class and not return for the remainder of the class period.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT STATEMENT: Students with a documented disability should inform the instructor at the close of the first class meeting or as soon as possible. If you are not registered with Disability Services, the instructor will refer you to the Student Support Services for consultation regarding documentation of your disability and eligibility for accommodations under the ADA/504. In order to receive accommodations, eligible students must provide each instructor with a Faculty Accommodation Form from Disability Services. Students must return the completed and signed form to the Disability Services office on the 3rd floor of the Connell Student Center. Students with a documented disability who do not wish to use accommodations are strongly encouraged to register with Disability Services and complete a Faculty Accommodation Form each semester. For further information please contact Disability Services at 301-2778 or visit the website at http://www.mercer.edu/stu_support/swd.htm.

SCHEDULE OF READINGS, ASSIGNMENTS, AND EXAMS: Each class session will have a particular focus. In preparation for lectures and discussions students should read the assigned biblical texts and articles from the MDOB. Optional MDOB articles are noted in [brackets].

Aug 19 A BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

Aug 21 THE GRECO-ROMAN CONTEXT

Primary Sources: Galatians 4:4-5; 1 Maccabees 1
MDOB: Alexander; Hellenistic World; Religions, Hellenistic and Roman; Roman Empire; Septuagint
[Last Day for Late Registration and Drop/Add is Aug 22]

Aug 26 THE JEWISH CONTEXT

Primary Sources: Galatians 4:4-5; 1 Maccabees 2; Pirqe Aboth 1
MDOB: Old Testament; Postexilic Period; Maccabees; Messiah/Messianism; Pharisees; Sadducees; Essenes; Zealot

Aug 28 THE QUESTS FOR THE HISTORICAL JESUS

MDOB: Jesus; Gospels, Critical Study of; Form/Gattung

Sep 2    THE PRE-HISTORY OF THE GOSPELS

Primary Sources: Luke 1:1-14; John 20:30-31; 21:24-25
MDOB: Genre, Gospel; Gospel; Agrapha; Literary Criticism; Synoptic Problem; Q; Redaction

Sep 4    THE FOURFOLD GOSPEL

Primary Sources: Mark 2:1-3:6; Matthew 5-7; Luke 4:16-44; John 2:1-11; 4:43-54
MDOB: Gospel; Matthew, Gospel of; Mark, Gospel of; Luke, Gospel of; John, Gospel and Letters of

Sep 9    THE BEGINNING OF JESUS' MINISTRY

Primary Sources: Matthew 3:1-4:11
MDOB: Baptism; Desert; John the Baptist; Repentance; Temptation of Jesus [Essenes]

Sep 11  THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Primary Sources: Mark 1:14-15; Matthew 10:1-23, 13:1-53; Luke 10:1-24
MDOB: Kingdom of God; Messiah/Christ [Satan in the Old Testament; Satan in the New Testament]

Sep 16  JESUS' MINISTRY OF TEACHING

Primary Sources: Mark 7:1-23; Matthew 5-7; Luke 6:12-7:1
MDOB: Alms; Fasting; Lord's Prayer, The; Sermon on the Mount; Beatitudes; Ethics in the New Testament

Sep 18  THE PARABLES OF JESUS

Primary Sources: Mark 4:1-20; Matthew 20:1-16; 25:14-30; Luke 10:25-37; 14: 15-24; 15:1-32
MDOB: Parables; Samaritans; Neighbor; Banquet [Kingdom of God; Pearl; Publicans]

Sep 23  THE MIRACLES OF JESUS

Primary Sources: Mk 5; Mt 8-9; Lk 7:1-17; Jn 9
MDOB: Miracles; Miracle Story; Demon in the New Testament; Disease and Healing [Form/Gattung]

Sep 25  FISHBOWL 1: GROWING OPPOSITION

Primary Sources: Mark 2:1-3:6; 12:1-40
MDOB: Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, Forgiveness, Publicans

Sep 30  FIRST EXAM

Oct 2    THE DEATH OF JESUS

Primary Sources: Mark 11:1-15:47; John 18-19
MDOB: Passion, The; Passion Narrative; Passover; Lord's Supper; Gethsemane; Trial of Jesus; Pilate; Crucifixion [Maundy Thursday]

Oct 7    THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS

Primary Sources: Mark 16; Matthew 28; Luke 24; John 20
MDOB: Resurrection in the New Testament; Mark, Long Ending of [Easter]

Oct 9    FALL BREAK

Oct 14  THE BIRTH OF THE CHURCH

Primary Sources: Acts 1-12
MDOB: Antioch; Apostles, Acts of the; Holy Spirit; Seven, The; Christian; Barnabas; Jerusalem Council [We-Sections; Apostle/Apostleship]

Oct 16  THE JERUSALEM PILLARS: JAMES

Primary Sources: Gal 2:1-14; James
MDOB: General Epistles; James; James, Letter of; Wealth; Poor; Justification [Wisdom Literature; Abraham]

Oct 21  THE JERUSALEM PILLARS: PETER

Primary Sources: Matthew 14:13-33; 16:13-20; John 21:15-23; 1 Peter
MDOB: Peter; Peter, Letters of; Persecution in the New Testament [Descent into Hell; Judgment, Day of]

Oct 23  APOCALYPTIC CHRISTIANITY

Primary Sources: Mark 13; Revelation 4-6, 21; Jude; 2 Peter
MDOB: Apocalyptic Literature; Revelation, Book of; Jude, Letter of; Parousia/Second Coming; Millennium; Eschatology in the New Testament [Patmos]
[Last Day for Course Withdrawal is Oct 24]

Oct 28  FISHBOWL 2: THE GENTILE MISSION

Primary Sources: Acts 10:1-11:18; 15:1-35
MDOB: Gentile/Gentiles in the New Testament; Circumcision; Cornelius

Oct 30  EARLY HELLENISTIC-JEWISH CHRISTIANITY

Primary Sources: Acts 6-7, Hebrews
MDOB: Hebrews, Letter to the; Hope in the New Testament; Suffering in the New Testament; Apostasy; New Testament Use of the Old Testament [Atonement, Day of; Rest; Melchizedek]

Nov 4   PAULINE CHRISTIANITY: PAUL THE MISSIONARY AND LETTER-WRITER

Primary Sources: Acts 13-19; 1 Corinthians
MDOB: Paul; Corinthian Correspondence; Opponents of Paul [Food Offered to Idols; Thessalonians, Letters to the; Philippians, Letter to the]

Nov 6   PAULINE CHRISTIANITY: PAUL THE APOLOGIST

Primary Sources: Galatians
MDOB: Apostle/Apostleship; Galatians, Letter to the; Faith; Grace; Law in the New Testament; Abraham; Hagar; Justification; Circumcision

Nov 11 PAULINE CHRISTIANITY: PAUL THE THEOLOGIAN

Primary Sources: Romans
MDOB: Grace; Flesh and Spirit; Justification; Romans; Letter to the; Redemption in the New Testament; Body in the New Testament [Salvation in the New Testament]

Nov 13 FISHBOWL 3: WORSHIP IN THE EARLY CHURCH

Primary Sources: 1 Corinthians 11-14
MDOB: Gifts of the Spirit; Worship in the New Testament; Lord's Supper; Sacraments

Nov 18 PAULINE CHRISTIANITY: PAUL AND THE GNOSTIC THREAT

Primary Sources: Acts 20; Ephesians; 1 Timothy
MDOB: Gnosticism; Prison Epistles; Ephesians, Letter to The; Pastoral Epistles; Timothy; Titus; Scripture in the New Testament [Colossians, Letter to the; Philemon, Letter to; Deacon]

Nov 20 SECOND EXAM

Nov 25 JOHANNINE CHRISTIANITY: THE GOSPEL

Primary Sources: John1-4, 6, 13-17, 21
MDOB: Incarnation; John, Gospel and Letters of; Signs and Wonders; Lamb of God; Logos/Word; Beloved Disciple [Woman Taken in Adultery]

Nov 27 THANKSGIVING

Dec 2   JOHANNINE CHRISTIANITY: THE LETTERS

Primary Sources: 1-3 John
MDOB: Love in the New Testament; Elder; Antichrist

Dec 4   FORMATION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CANON

Primary Sources: 2 Peter 3:14-16; Didache 1-6
MDOB: Bible; Bible, Authority of; Canon; Marcion; Muratorian Canon; New Testament as Literature

Dec 12 FINAL EXAM 2:00-5:00 pm