THESSALONIANS
COURSE SYLLABUS
Zion Bible College
NT 3246-01, 2 Credits
Spring 2011
Tuesdays, 3:45 PM—5:35 PM – Classroom Bldg. 103
Pastor Charles A. Berkley Jr., BS, Adjunct Professor
Office: Classroom Bldg. Room 211
Office Phone: 401-413-2791
E-mail: charlesberkley@cox.net
Office Hours: by appointment
Zion’s mission is to teach and train students for excellent Pentecostal ministry, in
fulfillment of the Great Commission.
Course Description:
This course is an exegetical study of I and II Thessalonians focusing on their historical
background, purpose, and occasion for writing. Attention is given to their thematic
elements: the Lord’s return, eschatology, the Christian life, and Paul’s gospel and
ministry. Pauline vocabulary is also emphasized.
Course Objectives:
1. The student will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the historical backround,
purpose and occasion for writing Thessalonians as well as how the church was
birthed in Thessalonica.
2. The student will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the
key thematic elements which include; the Lord’s return, eschatology, the
Christian life as well as Paul’s gospel and ministry.
3. The student will be able to identify the major eschatological events and relate
those events to 1 & 2 Thessalonians.
4. The student will gain a greater appreciation for the eschatological hope and
heritage that Christians have in Christ.
5. The student will have the ability to apply the content of these epistles to 21st
century lives.
6. The student will be led to desire the coming of the “the day of the Lord” and the
“transformation” of our bodies to one like that “spiritual” body of Jesus.
Textbooks:
The Holy Bible. Suggested Bible Translations: NKJ, NASB, NIV
Couch, Mal. The Hope of Christ’s Return: Premillennial Commentary on 1 & 2
Thessalonians. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2001
Recommended Text:
Hiebert, Edmond D. 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Winona Lake, IN: BMH Books, 2007
Requirements:
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1. Examinations: There will be two examinations of roughly equal length.
a. Intro. and 1Thessalonians (Mid-term Exam)
b. 1 & 2 Thessalonians (Final Exam)
2. Study Questions: The study questions at the end of several chapter will be
used as quizzes at the discretion of the teacher. There will be at least three!
3. Scripture Reading: Students will be required to read 1 & 2 Thessalonians
during the time period designated for this class. Reading a given book past its
test date will not be accepted. A verification question will be provided on each
exam.
4. Text Book: Students will be required to read the Mal Crouch’s book in its
entirety as well as relevant sections from Edmond Hiebert’s book as assigned.
The above stipulation regarding completion time applies. Again, a verification
question will be provided on each exam.
5. Assignments:

Exegetical Paper: Write an 8-10 page paper (body only) from one of the
following passages in Thessalonians:
-1Thess. 2:1-12 – Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica
-1Thess. 2:13-16 – Thessalonians’ Reaction to Paul
-1Thess. 3:6-10 – Joy over Good News brought by Timothy
-1Thess. 4:1-8 – Exhortation to Holy Living
-1Thess. 4:13-18 – Instructions regarding Second Coming
-2Thess. 1:5-10 -0- The Righteous Judgment of God
-2Thess. 2: 3-12 – The Man of Lawlessness and that which Restrains
-2Thess. 3:6-15 – the Treatment of Disorderly Members
Follow the exegetical procedure below, and closely approximate the
suggested length for the section coverage. There should also be
interaction with at least 6 scholarly sources, appropriately footnoted.
Your choice of text must be approved. To assist the student, there are
three stages of the paper’s due date, the first two which will be
accomplished during class time: 1) Text selected and approved, 2)
Sources selected and a tentative Bibliography written (according to
Turabian), and 3) The Final draft. The exegetical procedure below will be
explained several times in class. Below is a guide for basic format and
approximate section length:
1. Translation –1 page
2. Historical Context –1 -2 pages
3. Literary Context –1 page
4. Biblical Context –1-2 pages
5. Theology –1 -2 pages
6. Application –1-1 ½ pages
7. Bibliography –1 page (approx.)
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Paper Due Date Grading: The paper is due at the beginning of class on
Tuesday, April 26. There no exceptions. Extensions will only be granted
for the following four reasons: 1) hospitalization for illness. A doctor’s
note confirming such is required; 2) extended serious illness that
prevents a student from attending class. This requires a doctor’s note
and signature of verification from the student’s Resident Director; 3)
funerals or family emergencies granted as an approved absence by the
Academic Dean and Dean of Students; 4) school-approved activities. If
the student meets one of these exceptions, a “Request for Extension
Form” must be filled out. The form can be obtained from the Office of
Admissions or the Office of the Academic Dean. If your paper is turned in
after attendance is taken on April 9, you will receive an automatic point
deduction of five (5) points. For each twenty-four hour period (this
included Saturday’s, Sunday’s and school breaks) the paper is not turned
in, there will be a forfeiture of five (5) points from the total points. If the
paper is not turned in within five twenty-four hour periods after the due
date and time, an automatic score of zero (0) will be entered for the grade
with no chance of making up the paper/grade. If a hard copy cannot be
presented by the specified time and hour, an email copy may be
presented for verification of completion with a hard copy following.
6. DVD Reflection Paper: There will be one DVD shown in class from the Left
Behind Series. Each student will be responsible to write a 1-2 page reflection
paper.
Grading Procedures:
Intro. and 1Thessalonians Mid-Term……………20%
Final Exam……………………………………………..30%
Quizzes………………………………………………….10%
Exegetical Paper……………………………………….25%
DVD Reflection Paper………………………………….5%
Reading………………………………………………….10%
Policies:
Attendance: Students are expected to attend all class periods. Please be aware that
absences are granted for illness, personal matters, or for emergencies. It is important
for students to keep track of their own absences and late arrivals carefully. Please see
the Student Handbook for the Absence Policy. There will be a very short (10 min.)
mid-class break. Students are expected to remain in class at other times except for
medical reasons.
If a student arrives late to class, it is their responsibility to inform the teacher after
class that they are present. Otherwise, they may be marked absent for the class.
It is a good idea to date your notes each class in case attendance discrepancies should
arise.
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In order to be declared present in class, students must present themselves in an
appropriate manner, following the guidelines of the Student Handbook.
Assignments: All assignments are due at the beginning of class on the due date. All
others will be considered late. Assignments should be written in Turabian format.
All late assignments are to be turned into the instructor, not placed in campus mall.
There are no exceptions to this policy unless mandated by the Office of the Academic
Dean.
Examinations: any missed exam may be made up if the exam was missed due to
illness or other excused absence (see Student Handbook). A make-up exam will also
be allowed if the circumstances are urgent and approved by the instructor prior to the
exam.
Extension and Late Paper Policy: See above “Paper Due Date Grading”.
Plagiarism: A student who submits written material as his/her own work which has
been copied in whole or in part from another person’s work without acknowledgement
is guilty of plagiarism. Material, whether published or unpublished, copied from
another writer, must be identified by the use of quotation marks and documentation
with specific citation of the source. Paraphrased material must likewise be attributed
to the origin author.
Copying another student’s paper, with or without permission, or using his/her ideas
with only minimal reworking, is plagiarism, as is the copying from printed books and
magazines without giving credit to the original source. Any student who submits a
plagiarized paper or who permits another person to copy his/her work is subject to
any of the following actions: a grade of “zero” or “F” for the work, failure in or
expulsion from the class, being reported for further disciplinary action.
Cheating: a student who engages in dishonest behavior such as: using unauthorized
notes or material when taking an examination, copying answers to examinations
questions, or engaging in securing unauthorized copies of examination questions
(including aiding another person in doing so), is subject to the action or penalty
indicated above. Copying another person’s class work and/or homework and
submitting it as one’s own, or having another person perform an assignment and
submitting it as having originated from themselves personally is guilty of plagiarism—
which is cheating. Such students will, therefore, be subject to the above discipline.
Faculty members are to submit all such cases on the appropriate “Plagiarism Form” to
the Office of the Academic Dean.
Course Schedule next page:
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Course Schedule:
(Tuesdays)
Part 1: Intro to the Thessalonian Letters
Jan 25………….Syllabus & Chapter 1 & 2: The Importance of the ThessalonianLetters;
The Canonicity, Authorship, and Date of the Thessalonian Letters
Feb 1……………Chapters 3 & 4: Background to the Thessalonian Letters; Outlines :
1Thessssalonians and 2Thessalonians
Part 2: First Thessalonians Commentary
Feb 8…………… Chapter 5: Paul’s commendation of the Thessalonians;
Feb 15…………. Chapter 6: Paul’s Care for the Thessalonians (Text for paper
approval deadline; type out text and put name on paper. Hand in at beginning of
class: 2 point deduction for late texts)
Feb 22…………. Chapter 7: Paul Continues his Words of Concern; (Bibliography for
paper due in class; Full Turabian style w/cover page; 2pts deducted if late)
March 1………..Chapter 8: More on Christian Living and the Rapture of the Church
March 4-13……Spring Break
March 15………Chapter 9: Reason for the Rapture
March 22………Chapter10: Bible Study Outline of 1Thessalonians
Part 3: Second Thessalonians Commentary
March 29……….Chapter 11: Paul’s Greetings; Mid-term
April 5…………..Chapter 12: Concern and Questions about the Day of the Lord
April 12…………Chapter 13: Paul’s concluding Remarks
April 19…………Chapter 14: Bible Study Outline of 2Thessalonians
April 21-25…….Easter Break
April 26…………DVD “Left Behind”; (Exegesis paper due!)
May 3……………Review; Reflection Paper Due!
May 4 - 10………….Final’s Week: Final Exam1& 2 Thessalonians date & time TBA
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Selected Bibliography:
Bruce, F.F. 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Volume 45 in theWord Biblical Commentary. ed. D.A.
Hubbard, G.W. Baker et al. Waco, Texas: Word Books, 1982
Couch, Mal. The Hope of Christ’s Return: Premillennial Commentary on 1 & 2
Thessalonians. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2001
Hiebert, Edmond D. 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Winona Lake, IN: BMH Books, 2007
Horton, Stanley M. 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Volume 8 in part 1 of The Complete Biblical
Library. ed. R. Harris, S. Horton, G. G. Seaver et al. Springfield, Missouri: The
Complete Biblical Library, 1989
Rhodes, Ron. Life Change Series:1Thessalonians. Colorado Springs, CO:
Navpress,1995
Gruen, Dietrich. Life Change Series:2 Thessalonians. Colorado Springs, CO:
Navpress,1997
Marshall, Alfred. The Interlinear Greek-English New Testament: the Nestle Greek text
with a new Literal English Translation. London, England: Samuel Bagster and
Sons Limited, 1959
Weatherly, Jon A. 1 & 2 Thessalonians. The College Press NIV Commentary. ed. J.
Cottrell, T. Ash et al. Joplin, Missouri: College Press Publishing Co., 1996
Weima, Jeffrey and Baugh, S.M. 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus. Grand
Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2002
Spring 2011