Wayland Baptist University
Amarillo Campus
RLGN 1302
New Testament History
Syllabus: Winter Term, 2015
Thursday 6 PM – 10:10 PM
Instructor: Mr. C. Scott Curry
Phone: 806.736.0342 (cell)
E-mail: scurryfbc@att.net
Required Texts:
 Gundry, Robert H. A Survey of the New Testament, 5th edition
 The NIV Study Bible, published by Zondervan
Course Description:
A general study of the geography, background, theological content, and application of the
New Testament.
Course Objectives: Students will be able to…
 Explain the beginnings and early history of the Christian movement.
 Describe the historical/cultural milieu of the New Testament era.
 Distinguish between the various types of literature in the NT corpus.
 Know the major ideas of the New Testament writings.
Course Requirements:
 Students will be expected to read the assignments in the textbook and in the Bible.
Students may expect a short quiz at the beginning of class over the assigned reading in
the textbook and Bible for the week. The two lowest quiz grades may be dropped. No
quizzes may be made up or retaken for any reason.
 Three major exams will be given during the term. These exams will cover reading
assignments, class lectures, work performed in class, class discussion, and other handouts
and materials. In class assignments may be expected (if time permits and if deemed
prudent by the instructor). Interpretive reports will be completed in class and turned in
for extra credit. Students may not make up in-class work for any reason.
 Outside of the aforementioned, no extra credit work will be accepted.
 Missed lecture notes may be secured from other students.
 The instructor reserves the right to make any and all changes to this course syllabus as
deemed prudent and necessary without notice.
Grading and Evaluation
Weekly quizzes
Major Exams
In class reports
25%
75% (3 x 25%)
Valued as extra credit
1
Grading for the Course
Symbol
Percentage
A
90 – 100
B
80 – 89
C
70 – 79
D
60 – 69
F
Below 60%
I
An incomplete may be given to a student who is passing,
but has not completed some required work for reasons
beyond the student’s control.
Students shall have protection through orderly procedures against prejudices or capricious
academic evaluation. A student who believes that he or she has not been held to realistic
academic standards, just evaluation procedures, or appropriate grading, may appeal the final
grade given in the course by using the student grade appeal process described in the Academic
Catalog. Appeals may not be made for advanced placement examinations or course bypass
examinations. Appeals are limited to the final course grade, which may be upheld, raised, or
lowered at any stage of the appeal process. Any recommendation to lower a course grade must
be submitted through the Executive Vice President/Provost to the Faculty Assembly Grade
Appeals Committee for review and approval. The Faculty Assembly Grade Appeals Committee
may instruct that the course grade be upheld, raised, or lowered to a more proper evaluation.
Attendance Policy
Students enrolled at one of the University’s external campuses should make every effort
to attend all class meetings. All absences must be explained to the instructor, who will then
determine whether the omitted work may be redeemed.
When a student reaches that number of absences considered by the instructor to be
excessive, the instructor will so advise the student and file an unsatisfactory progress report with
the chair of the division in which the course is offered. Any student who misses 25% or more of
the regularly scheduled class meetings will receive a grade of “F” in the course. Additional
policies for each course, as defined by the instructor in the course syllabus, are considered a part
of the University’s attendance policy.
o Please turn off/silence all electronic equipment that makes a sound during class (e.g., cell
phones, PDA alarms, and beepers).
o Students must discuss absences with the instructor in advance.
Accountability
University students are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the highest
standards of academic honesty. Academic misconduct for which a student is subject to penalty
includes all forms of cheating, such as illicit possession of examinations or examination
2
materials, forgery, or plagiarism. (Plagiarism is the presentation of someone else’s work as
one’s own work.) See current catalogue for sanctions.
Disability Statement
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), it is the policy of
Wayland Baptist University that no otherwise qualified person with a disability be excluded from
participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any educational
program or activity in the university. The Coordinator of Counseling Services serves as the
coordinator of students with a disability and should be contacted concerning initial enrollment,
scheduling and requests for accommodations. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate contact
with the coordinator of counseling services and it is to the student’s advantage to do so as soon
as possible before registration to ensure that accommodations requested are delivered in a timely
manner. Contact the Coordinator of Counseling Services at 806.291.3765.
3
Course Outline
Date
Subject
Nov 12
Introduction to Course
Historical background of
the NT
Nov 19
Historical background;
Secular/Religious and
philosophical settings;
Texts and Translations
Reading Assignment
Chapters 1 - 4
Dec 3
Jesus’ life and early
ministry
Dec 10
EXAM #1
Jesus’ teaching and later
ministry
Dec 17
The parables; Passions
week; Crucifixion;
Resurrection/Post res.
appearances
Jan 7
The Acts of the Apostles;
The growth of the
church; The conversion
of Saul
Jan 14
EXAM #2
The witnessing church;
Paul’s first and second
missionary journeys
Jan 21
Paul’s third journey,
arrest and imprisonment;
The Prison Epistles; The
Pastoral Epistles
Chapters 13 – 15
1 Cor. 12-14; Rom. 8, 10;
Acts 26-28; Phil. 2-4;
Eph. 5
The General Epistles:
Heb.; James; 1-2 Pet.;
The Letters of John;
Jude & Revelation
Chapters 16 – 18
Heb. 11-12; James 1-3;
1 Jn. 1-2; Rev. 1-4, 20-21
Jan 28/Feb 4
Wrap Up
Feb 11
EXAM #3
Chapters 5 – 6
Matt. 1-4; Lk. 1-5; Mk. 3;
Jn. 1-5
Chapters 7 – 10
Chapters 7 – 10
Mk. 11-14; Lk. 14-20;
Matt. 24-26; Mk. 15-16;
Matt. 27-28
Chapter 11
Acts 1-12
Chapter 12
Acts 13-15; Gal. 1, 5-6;
1 Thes. 4-5; 2 Thes. 3
4