NEW TESTAMENT HISTORY
RLGN 1302
COURSE SYLLABUS
WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY
Sierra Vista Campus
DIVISION OF RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
Summer 2013
Mission: Wayland Baptist University exists to educate students in an
academically challenging, learning-focused and distinctively Christian
environment for professional success and service to God and humankind.
Instructor: Dr. James D. Harms
Address: 1447 S. 7th St. Sierra Vista, AZ 85635
Phone: Home: 520-803-1523; Office: 520-458-2273
Email: james.harms@wayland.wbu.edu
Course Number and Title: RLGN 1302, New Testament History
Class Time and Location: Friday 5:30-9:10pm, Saturday 8:00-5:00 WBU, Landmark
Catalog Description: An introductory survey of the historical literature with special
attention to the background and origins of Christian beliefs and practices, and to the life
of Jesus Christ and the early Christian community.
Prerequisite: None
Textbooks and Lecture Slides:
Required Text: Encountering the New Testament, Walter A. Elwell & Robert W.
Yarbrough, 2nd Edition, Baker Academic, ISBN#0-8010-2806X
Students will also need a copy of the NIV (New International Version) Bible. Students
are expected to have their own personal copies of this translation of Scripture. If you do
not have an NIV Bible, you can access an online version via http://www.crosswalk.org or
http://www.BibleGateway.com. For further assistance, please see the instructor.
Students are strongly encouraged to download and print out the PowerPoint Presentation
Lecture Slides for the class. These are located at the WBU Virtual Campus Blackboard
site. You will need your Power Campus ID Number and Password. If you have any
questions about your ID and Password, please contact the WBU Sierra Vista office.
Download the available files and then print them using the options you believe will be
best for you to take notes on.
Note: The lectures are based on content, not weeks. As a result, each student is
encouraged to prepare a notebook with All of the lecture slides for the course. This
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notebook should be brought to class each week, thus ensuring that the student will have
the necessary slides for each lecture.
Course Outcome Competencies:
Students will:
 Demonstrate knowledge of the historical, religious, and social context of the New
Testament world.
 Demonstrate knowledge of some of the critical methods used in New Testament
studies.
 Demonstrate an understanding of the basic content of the New Testament and its
main teachings (theological content).
 Demonstrate knowledge of the canonical process producing a more complete
understanding of the New Testament.
Course Requirements:
Students will read, agree to, and sign a “course covenant” on the first night of class.
During the duration of the term, each student will be individually responsible for
knowing the contents of, and adhering to the requirements of the “course covenant.”
Students will complete the various reading assignments. Students will take eight
objective reading quizzes via Blackboard during the course of the term (see schedule for
due dates). Each quiz will be “open note” and/or “open book.” NOTE: There is a -10
point penalty for each week that a quiz (or quizzes) is/are submitted late.
An attendance grade will be given at the close of the semester. The student begins with
100 pts. and loses 10 pts. for each absence. The attendance grade will be considered
another reading quiz grade.
Three major proctored exams will be given during the term. The exams may be taken at
either the Landmark office or the Wayland office on post. Each exam is to be taken in
one setting. The student is responsible for making sure there is enough time to complete
the exam before the office closes. Once the exam (or any portion) is turned in to the
office that exam will be considered finished. There is a -10 point penalty per week for
exams submitted late. These exams will cover class lectures only. In order to assist
students in preparing for the examinations, a review sheet will be provided before each
exam. (See Course Covenant for additional course requirements.)
In the unlikely event that a student makes a grade of 69 or lower, he or she may retake the
exam once, in order to raise the grade to a 70. The maximum score possible for a retake
exam is 70 (there is no retaking of the bonus questions). There are no retakes allowed for
exams submitted late. All retake exams must be completed before the next exam due
date or the original grade will stand. There are no retakes on the final exam.
Scheduling of retake exams is the responsibility of the student.
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Grading and Evaluation:
Quizzes (8) 2.8% plus attendance (1) 2.6%
Each Major Exam (3) 25% x 3
Grading for Course:
Symbol
Percentage
A
90-100
B
80-89
C
70-79
D
60-69
F
below 60
25% of total grade
75% of total grade
Symbol
I
Cr
NCr
WP
WF
W
Incomplete**
For Credit
No Credit
Withdrawal Passing
Withdrawal Failing
Withdrawal
**A grade of incomplete is changed if the deficiency is made up by midterm of the next
regular semester; otherwise, it becomes "F". This grade is given only if circumstances
beyond the student's control prevented completion of work during the semester enrolled
and attendance requirements have been met. A grade of "CR" indicates that credit in
semester hours was granted but no grade or grade points were recorded.
Class Attendance: Students enrolled at one of the University’s external campuses should
make every effort to attend all class meetings. Roll will be checked each class meeting
and all absences must be explained to the instructor, who will then determine whether the
omitted work may be made up. 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 campus dean. Any student who misses 25
percent or more of the regularly scheduled class meetings will receive a grade of F in the
course. Additional attendance policies for each course, as defined by the instructor in the
course syllabus are considered a part of the University’s attendance policy. A student
may petition the Academic Council for exceptions to the above stated policies by filing a
written request for an appeal to the provost/academic vice president.
Academic Honesty (Plagiarism): University students are expected to conduct
themselves according to 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 materials, forgery, or plagiarism.
Plagiarism is the presentation pf the work of another as one’s own work. It is the
student’s responsibility to be familiar with penalties associates with plagiarism stated in
the catalog.
Statements:
“This class will adhere to zero tolerance for using someone else’s work as your own.”
“It is university policy that no otherwise qualified disabled person be excused from
participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any
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educational program or activity in the University. Students should inform the instructor
of existing disabilities at the first class meeting”
Statements (Cont.):
“Students are responsible for reading, understanding, obeying, and respecting all
academic policies, with added emphasis being placed upon academic progress policies,
appearing in the Wayland Baptist University Academic Catalog applicable to their
curriculum and/or program of study.”
Services for the Disabled:
“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 accommodation requests at (806) 291- 3765. Documentation of a
disability must accompany any request for accommodations.”
Proctor Hours:
Landmark Office:
Monday – Wednesday 8 AM – 9 PM
Thursday – 10 AM – 9 PM
Friday 8 AM – NOON
Fort Huachuca Office:
Monday – Wednesday 8 AM – 5 PM
Thursday – 10:30 AM – 5 PM
Friday 8 AM – NOON
No proctors are available on dates that the offices are closed. Please arrive early enough
to complete the exam prior to the close of business.
Course Outline Calendar: (Next page)
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Course Outline/Calendar
Unit #1 (Classes, Subjects and Assignments for Examination #1)
Weekend
June 14 - 15
Subjects
Introduction to the
course
Lecture One: An
Introduction to the
New Testament
Lecture Two: The
New Testament in
Our Modern World
Lecture Three:
Palestine in the
World of Jesus
Lecture Four: The
Roman Empire in
the World of Jesus
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Assignments: All
due Friday, June 21
Read Encountering
the New
Testament: pp. 1968; 153-179 (for
Quiz A)
Take Reading Quiz
A via Blackboard
Read Encountering
the New
Testament: pp. 6996; 181-207 (for
Quiz B)
Take Reading Quiz
B via Blackboard
Read Matthew 1-4;
Luke 1-2 (for Quiz
C)
Read Encountering
the New
Testament: pp. 97136 (for Quiz C)
Take Reading Quiz
C via Blackboard
Study Review
Sheet
Take Proctored
Examination #1
by June 21
Course Outline/Calendar (cont.)
Unit #2 (Classes, Subjects and Assignments for Examination #2)
Weekend
June 28-29
Subjects
Lecture Five:
Jesus’ Childhood
and Early Ministry
Lecture Six: The
Great Galilean
Ministry Part One
Lecture Seven:
The Great Galilean
Ministry Part Two
Lecture Eight:
Passion Week
Assignments: All
due Friday, July 19
Read Mark 3; John
1-5; Matthew 5-7;
Luke 4-5, 6:20-36
(for Quiz D)
Read Encountering
the New
Testament: pp.
137-151 (for Quiz
D)
Take Reading Quiz
D via Blackboard
Read Matthew 1421; Luke 14-17;
Matthew 24-28;
John 7-9 (For Quiz
E)
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Take Reading Quiz
E via Blackboard
Study Review
Sheet
Take Proctored
Examination #2
by July 19
Course Outline/Calendar (Cont.)
Unit #3 (Classes, Subjects and Assignments for Examination #3)
Weekend
July 19-20
Subjects
Lecture Nine: The
Book of Acts
Lecture Ten: Paul
and the Pauline
Epistles
Lecture Eleven:
The General
Epistles and the
Book of Revelation
Assignments: All
due Fri. Aug. 9
Read Acts 1-5, 15
(for Quiz F)
Read Encountering
The New Testament:
pp. 209-250 (for
Quiz F)
Take Reading Quiz F
via Blackboard
Read Romans 8, 10,
12; I Corinthians 1214; Galatians 5-6;
Philippians 2-4; I
Thessalonians 4-5; II
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Thessalonians 3 (for
Quiz G)
Read Encountering
the New Testament:
pp. 253-344 (for
Quiz G)
Take Reading Quiz
G via Blackboard
Read I Peter 1-2;
Hebrews 11-12;
James 1-5;
Revelation 4, 12, 2021 (for quiz H)
Read Encountering
the New Testament:
pp. 347-393 (for
Quiz H)
Take Reading Quiz C
via Blackboard
Study Review Sheet
Take Proctored
Examination #3 by
August
8
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