EP 138 New Testament I
EP 138 New Testament I
Fall 2013
The first course in New Testament centers on the Gospels and the Book of Acts, the foundation of Christian scripture and tradition. The main focus is the historical Jesus and his
teachings, and how he was understood and presented by his followers, the authors of the canonical Gospels and Acts. The course includes readings from wide-ranging sources in the
contemporary world of the early Christians.
Prof. Gregory J. Riley
Office Hours: before, during, and after class
e-mail: griley@cst.edu
Craig Building 105
Student Learning Objectives:
1) Content: Students know and understand the basic concepts and content of the New Testament Gospels and Book of Acts.
2) Context: Students understand the historical and cultural context of the various New Testament communities in their diversity.
3) Interpretation: Students interpret New Testament literature accurately according to the
historical-critical method [see below, page 4].
4) Application: Students apply the lessons of the New Testament literature in positive and
healing ways, understanding and avoiding exclusivism and triumphalism.
Required Readings
The Gospels and the Book of Acts in the New Testament (Read these texts at least three
times. The NRSV will be used in class).
Ehrman, B. The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings.
New York and Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press, 2011.
Koester, Helmut. Ancient Christian Gospels: Their History and Development. Philadelphia:
Trinity Press International, 1990.
Riley, Gregory J. One Jesus, Many Christs. Harper San Francisco, 1997 (hardback); Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 2000 (paperback).
Suggested Readings
Apuleius, The Golden Ass. Translated by Robert Graves. New York: F, S and G, 1951.
Eusebius: The History of the Church: From Christ to Constantine. Penguin Classics.
Kloppenborg, J., et al. Q Thomas Reader. Sonoma, Calif.: Polebridge Press, 1990.
Tertullian: Apology and De Spectaculis. Minucius Felix: Octavius. Loeb Classical Library
No. 250. English and Latin Edition.
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EP 138 New Testament I
Riley, Gregory J. The River of God: A New History of Christian Origins. Harper San Francisco, 2001.
Available in the Library as Reference Materials
Anchor Bible Dictionary for articles on all specifically Biblical subjects.
Encyclopedia Britannica for the article on Zoroastrianism.
Encyclopedia of Religion for the two articles on Zoroastrianism and Scripture.
Reading Assignments:
Begin reading Koester, Ancient Christian Gospels, especially the introductory material
and the essay on the word "gospel." Continue reading as applicable throughout
the semester. This will serve as a textbook on many subjects addressed in the
class.
Read Apuleius, The Golden Ass, early in the semester [it will help especially with the
Gospel of Mark].
Read Riley, One Jesus, Many Christs, the first five chapters in the first five weeks.
Read the articles in Britannica and Encyclopedia of Religion on Zoroastrianism. Read also the article on “Scripture” in Encyclopedia of Religion.
Read Ehrman, The New Testament: A Historical Introduction, as applicable. It will serve
as a secondary textbook on the Historical Jesus and the individual Gospels and
Acts.
Read the portions of the New Testament to be discussed in class before that particular
class meeting, and both Koester’s and Ehrman's discussion of the texts.
Read the Gospels and Acts at least three times through (the more the better).
Calendar Schedule of Class Meetings:
August 23
Introduction to the Course: Books, assignments, expectations.
Historical Survey: Adam to the Second Century
Historical Jesus and the Christ of the Church
September 6
Jesus the Teacher
Oral Traditions and Early Written Sources
Sayings of Jesus in the writings of Paul
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EP 138 New Testament I
Diversity of Understanding: "Denominations"
September 20
Gospel of Mark
September 27
Gospel of Mark
Exegesis Paper #1: Mark 4:1-20 The Parable of the Sower.
Please include discussion of:
Mark 8:36 What does it profit if you gain the world and lose your soul?
Mark 10:38 Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with
the baptism that I am baptized with?
Mark 13:13 The one who endures to the end will be saved.
October 11
Gospel of Matthew
October 18
Gospel of Matthew
Exegesis Paper #2: Matt 7:16 "You will know them by their fruits."
Please include discussion of:
Matt 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart. [23:25-26 First clean the inside of
the cup.]
Matt 12:33-35 A tree is known by its fruit.
Matt 25:31-46 Sheep and the Goats
November 1
Gospel of Luke and Acts
November 15
Gospel of Luke and Acts
Exegesis Paper #3: God's Plan of the Ages in Luke and Acts.
Please include discussion of:
Luke 6:21 Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled.
Luke 16:16 The law and the prophets were in effect until John came.
Acts 17:30-31 God, having overlooked the times of ignorance, now commands all people everywhere to repent.
November 22
Gospel of John
December 13
Gospel of John
Exegesis Paper #4: John 15:1-10 The Vine and the Vinedresser.
Please include discussion of:
John 7:37-38 Let the one who believes in me drink. Out of one's innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.
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EP 138 New Testament I
John 8:12 I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never
walk in darkness but will have the light of life.
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.
December 20
Take Home Final Exam Due: "The Kingdom of God in the Gospels and Acts."
Explanation of Graded Course Requirements:
Exegesis Papers:
"Exegesis" is a transliterated Greek word that means "explanation." One exegetes, that is
explains, the meaning of a Biblical text in its historical context, using all the tools
available to the scholar: language, history, archeology, sociology, culture, and especially ancient literature. These help to understand what the author meant and
intended, including helping to evaluate the author's assumptions and biases. That
is the historical-critical method used by all competent scholars.
There are four exegesis papers assigned in the syllabus. Students may choose three out of
the four. Students are encouraged to do all four and will receive extra credit if
they do so, but only three are required. Paper #3 on Luke-Acts is required of all
students.
Each exegesis paper should be approximately four pages in length, but there is no upper
limit. Four pages are sufficient, but in graduate school, the Spirit sometimes inspires one to greater lengths and depths. Be filled with the Spirit.
An exegesis paper has several parts: a title page, four pages of text with footnotes, and a
bibliography page, making [at least] six pages in all. The body of the paper must
include a thesis statement about the Biblical text addressed, a logical argument
explaining the thesis in the explanation [exegesis] of the text, and a conclusion
that sums up your argument. Please include descriptions and comparisons of the
opinions of three or more secondary sources that relate to your thesis, and your
own evaluation of the contributions and value of these secondary sources. These
secondary sources should be commentaries, articles, and books of a scholarly nature, not notes in your study Bible or from the Internet. Look them up in the Library. Type font is to be 12 point Times New Roman (as is this Syllabus).
In summary, this assignment is to include:
1) A title page.
2) Four pages of text; more is allowed if you are inspired, but four pages are sufficient.
3) At least three footnotes to three sources in secondary scholarly literature (i.e., books
and articles written by respected modern scholars found in the CST library).
Scholars use books and articles in the CST library [and elsewhere]. These footnotes may not include devotional literature, your pastor’s sermons, your professor’s lectures, your Bible or its notes. Strive to be a scholar, and engage other
scholars. No web-sites are allowed at all. Go to the CST library, or online to the
library's resources, read commentaries, books, and articles, and cite them.
4) A formal Bibliography page. This is six [or more] pages in all.
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EP 138 New Testament I
Please follow the Chicago Manual of Style for footnote and bibliography style.
Do not make unsupported assertions, but cite texts that back up what you claim (i.e., do not
write anything that resembles “I think, for no apparent reason, that this means …”, as opposed to, “Paul states in 1 Cor 4:1 that this means …”).
Do not plagiarize. If you are dependent on a source (as you often will be), either restate the
author’s material in your own words and then cite the author in a footnote, or quote the
author directly (using quotation marks), and then cite the author in a footnote. The footnote is an absolute “must” in either case.
Do not put your papers in folders. Simply staple them in the upper left hand corner once.
The point is twofold:
a) You will learn about early Christian texts and traditions that matter most.
b) You will learn how to write a research paper that follows the form used by all educated
persons, a paper that includes a title page, footnotes, and a bibliography in the proper
style, gaining the respect of all who read your work.
Take-Home Final Examination:
A Do-at-Home one-hour “examination” is required at the end of the course to be e-mailed
in one week after the final day of class [due on December 20]. The general subject will be:
“The Kingdom of God in the Gospels and Acts.”
The exam is designed for one hour. You sit and write for one hour. That is eight pages
or less; six pages are typical. You, however, may take as much time as you wish to prepare.
You may use all of your notes, books, and helps of any kind. You may even discuss your exam with your classmates. Open books, open notes, open discussion, but individual composition. No collaboration in writing the exam is allowed. You must write your own exam in
your own words with your own ideas.
"The gifts he gave were that some would be ... pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for
the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ...." [Eph 4:11-12]
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