BBST 110 — New Testament History and Literature
Summer 2014
PROFESSOR/CLASS INFORMATION Eddie Shepard Th.M.
Course Code: BBST 110
Course Title: New Testament History & Literature
Term/Year: Summer 2014
Credit Hours/Units: 3 credits
Office Location: Gym – Upper Level
Class Days/Time/Classroom Location:
Office Phone: 562-944-0351, ext. 5946
Online
Office Hours: By Appointment
Meeting with Professor: Schedule via Email
Professor E-Mail: edmond.e.shepard@biola.edu B&TS Administrative Staff: Tammy Felix & Karen Kim
Course Website: https://canvas.biola.edu
B&TS Office Phone: 562-903-4819
University Website: http://www.biola.edu
B&TS Webpage: http://www.biola.edu/academics/undergrad/bibstud/
B&TS on Facebook: Biola Biblical & Theological Studies
BIOLA UNIVERSITY MISSION STATEMENT TRUTH~TRANSFORMATION~TESTIMONY
The mission of Biola University is biblically-centered education, scholarship, and service; equipping men
and women in mind and character to impact the world for the Lord Jesus Christ.
BIOLA UNIVERSITY POLICY STATEMENTS DISABILITY SERVICES: Disability Services exist to assist any student who thinks he or she may need such assistance.
Students desiring accommodations for this class on the basis of physical learning, psychological and/or emotional
disabilities are to contact The Learning Center which houses both learning assistance and disability services. The
Learning Center is located in the Biola Library, Upper Level, Room U-137, and this department can be reached by
calling 562.906.4542 or by dialing extension #4542 if calling from on campus.
NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY: As Christian scholars, we are keenly aware of the power of language, and
believe in treating others with dignity. As such, it is important that our language be equitable and prejudice free.
Good writing and speech do not make unsubstantiated or irrelevant generalizations about personal qualities such as
age, disability, economic class, ethnicity, marital status, parentage, political or religious beliefs, race, sex, or sexual
orientation. Respectful use of language is particularly important when referring to those outside of the religious and
lifestyle commitments of those in the Biola community. By working toward precision and clarity of language, we
mark ourselves as serious and respectful scholars, and we model the Christ-like quality of invitation.
Avoid the use of stereotypes or terminology that demeans persons or groups based on age, disability, ethnicity,
gender, race, language or national origin. Avoid drawing attention to irrelevant identifiers of race or gender.
Avoid gender-specific language when referencing people in general. Avoid terms that assume the universality of
human experience, and in particular presume the normativity of the socially dominant group.
Course Syllabus
Page 2
ACADEMIC HONESTY: Biola University is committed to ethical practice in teaching, scholarship, and service. As such,
plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Please see the undergraduate/graduate
student handbook and/or the departmental/program/school policy on academic honesty. It is imperative that you
present all written, oral, and/or performed work with a clear indication of the source of that work. If it is completely
your own, you are encouraged to present it as such, taking pleasure in ownership of your own created work.
However, it is also imperative that you give full credit to any and all others whose work you have included in your
presentation via paraphrase, direct quotation, and/or performance, citing the name(s) or the author(s)/creator(s)
and the source of the work with appropriate bibliographic information. To do otherwise is to put oneself in jeopardy
of being sanctioned for an act or acts of plagiarism that can carry serious consequences up to and including
expulsion from the university. See http://studentlife.biola.edu/handbook/policies-procedure/academic-integrity/
and http://plagiarism.org/plagiarism-101/overview/.
DIVISION OF BIBLICAL & THEOLOGICAL STUDIES (B&TS) MISSION STATEMENTS A strong emphasis in Biblical & Theological Studies has always been at the core of Biola's curriculum. It is
intended that all students regardless of major will graduate with a working knowledge of the Scriptures
and a Christian worldview, integrated with academic learning as well as personal and professional living.
The mission of Biola’s Biblical and Theological Studies Minor is to teach Christian undergraduate students to
view all of God’s world through the perspective of God’s Word, the Bible. This biblical worldview involves
understanding and applying the Bible as the foundation of the Christian faith, values, and virtues—both
historically and presently. The goal is that students will lead lives of integrity and will engage the world of
ideas, their vocations, their local church communities, and their society as responsible citizens, being faithful
stewards of God’s gifts to them and, empowered by His Spirit, carrying out Christ’s commission to make
disciples of all nations.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Biola Catalog Course Description: BBST110 — NT History and Literature: An overview of the New
Testament with emphasis on the purpose of the writers; history and culture; literary genre, structure, and
themes; persons and events; and practical application for Christian living.
Offered every semester
COURSE ALIGNMENT WITH B&TS PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES
BBST 110 — New Testament History and Literature is a required core, lower-division course for the Bible
Minor designed to be ideally taken within the first year of the program. Successful completion of this
course, as outlined in this syllabus, will prepare students to demonstrate a beginning (B), developing (D), or
mastery (M) level of proficiency toward the accomplishment of the following program learning outcome(s)
of the Bible Minor:
Learning Outcomes for the Biola Bible Minor (30 Units of Bible)
D
M
M
1. BIBLE: Identify the basic contents of all books of the Old and New Testaments, and apply the
biblical teaching for Christian faith and practice through reliable and faithful methods of
interpretation (ULO 1).
2. THEOLOGY: Explain the major doctrines of Christianity from an evangelical perspective,
including their biblical basis and contemporary relevance (ULO 1).
3. INTEGRATION: Examine their academic disciplines through critical evaluation of the
knowledge, skills, and values of the discipline according to Christian faith and practice (i.e., a
biblical worldview) (ULO 3).
Course Syllabus
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D 4. SPIRITUAL FORMATION: Describe a personal relationship with God in a maturing Christian
faith and practice, and demonstrate the ability to serve the church and the world for Jesus
Christ’s purposes of redemption (ULO 2).
COURSE OBJECTIVES AND STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the completion of this course including class participation, class assignments (referred to as "Tasks"),
class readings and group interaction, the following objectives and learning outcomes will be assessed and
demonstrated (these are from the IDEA course evaluation tool used at the end of the course):
IDEA Objective #1: Gaining factual knowledge (terminology, methods, background, trends) about the
setting and content of the New Testament (Essential emphasis).
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (The learner will demonstrate that he or she has satisfactorily fulfilled
IDEA Objective #1 by being able to):
•
•
•
•
Explain the significant events that occurred during the Intertestamental Period and what impact
these events had on the world of the New Testament. (Fulfilled by Tasks 1, 2, 3, 4, and course
lecture videos)
Identify the most important people and sections of the New Testament (Fulfilled by Tasks 1, 3, 4,
and course lecture videos)
Describe many of the different cultural, social, and political systems present in the first century that
help enlighten our understanding of the New Testament. (Fulfilled by Tasks 1, 2, 3, 4, and course
lecture videos)
Describe the significant aspects of the life/ministry of Jesus Christ and the Apostle Paul (Fulfilled by
Tasks 1, 2, 3, 4, and course lecture videos)
IDEA Objective #2 Learning fundamental principles, generalizations, and theories about New Testament
studies (Essential emphasis)..
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (The learner will demonstrate that he or she has satisfactorily fulfilled
IDEA Objective #2 by being able to):
•
•
•
Explain the different arguments for and against the resurrection of Jesus Christ. (Fulfilled by Task 3
and course lectures)
Explain the arguments for and against the historical accuracy of Acts (Fulfilled by Task 3, and
course lectures)
Describe the five different viewpoints on the book of Revelation (Fulfilled by Task 3, and course
lectures)
IDEA Objective #3: Learning to apply course material to improve thinking, problem solving, and decisions
(Essential emphasis).
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (The learner will demonstrate that he or she has satisfactorily fulfilled
IDEA Objective #3 by being able to):
•
•
Use the material covered in class to help guide situations in your own personal life (Fulfilled by
Task 1, 2, 3, 5, and class lecture videos).
Examine how the content of the New Testament can be applied to your personal life (Fulfilled by
Task 1, 2, 3, 5, and class lecture videos).
Course Syllabus
•
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Apply the lessons derived from the New Testament to your lives in order to improve yourselves,
and your relationship with God (Fulfilled by Task 1, 3, 5, and class lecture videos).
REQUIRED TEXTS & RESOURCES
Required Textbooks/Resources (Each of the following is required and will be used in this course):
Book #1 - The Bible. NIV, NASB, or ESV are recommended.
Book #2 - Kenneth Berding & Matt Williams, What the New Testament Authors Really Cared About: A
Survey of Their Writings, Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2008.
ONLINE AND OTHER COURSE RESOURCES
Throughout the academic term, any number of hard-copy documents or various other resources (electronic
or otherwise) may be made available to students registered for this course. Those resources may be
presented in class or could alternately be posted on Biola’s Canvas system or in the electronic reserves
area of the library’s catalog for viewing and download. It is the student’s responsibility to make himself or
herself aware of such materials, and to electronically save, physically print, archive, read, reference, and
bring such items to class as necessary or required.
These course resources may include, but are not limited to, syllabi, rubrics, worksheets, protocols, and the
like. Prior to and after the beginning of the term, students should take responsibility to periodically check
the course site on the university learning management system. This will ensure he or she is in possession of
all necessary items for the successful completion of course objectives. If failing to have such items on hand
affects the student’s participation in class, s/he should anticipate that reality impacting her/his
participation score and, potentially, final grade. To access online materials that may be available, log on
to https://canvas.biola.edu.
In addition, the Biola University Library’s website at http://library.biola.edu provides access to thousands
of electronic books and journal articles for your research.
LEARNING TASKS (Assignments) & ASSESSMENT (Grading)
The following tasks are important learning experiences in this course and are utilized for assessing the
student’s achievement of the learning outcomes as described above. These tasks are not necessarily in
sequential order: please take note of their varying due dates.
Task 1: Reading of the New Testament, Berding/Williams, and Quiz Study Guide
Weighting: 10%
Possible Points: 10 pts. per reading
Description: Throughout the Course, students will read through the entire New Testament as well as the
Berding/Williams textbook. This reading must be done before the time that it is due. They will also fill out
a quiz study guide while they complete their reading. See Course Calendar for reading due dates.
Assessment: Students will be held accountable for their reading by reporting their reading on Canvas on
a regular basis. Each reading assignments will be worth 10pts. Reading that is done late will receive half
credit. Students will also be asked if they completed the quiz study guide, but will not be required to turn
the guide in.
Course Syllabus
Page 5
Task 2: Online Discussion Posts and Interactions
Weighting: 36%
Possible Points: 6 @ 10pts each
Description: Students will interact within a group of 5-6 students on six different discussion questions
throughout the course. Students will post an initial post interacting in depth with the given questions.
Following their initial post, students will interact with a minimum of two of their group members post. They
will also respond to any comments that are posted on their thread. The goal is to promote thoughtful
discussion about each topic and create meaningful discussions. See course calendar for due dates and
times.
Assessment: Each discussion question is worth a total of 10 points. The initial post is worth 5 points.
Consideration is given to depth of the post, critical interaction with the material, and demonstrating that the
student has a basic understanding of the material. Interactions with at least two group members posts is
worth 4 points. Consideration is given to depth of interaction, length of response, and ability for post to
contribute to meaningful discussion. The final 1 point is awarded for successfully replying to posts on
students thread with meaningful responses.
Task #3: Tests
Due Date: See Course Schedule
Weighting: 2 @ 10% = 20%
Description: Two exams covering only the content from the video lectures will be given during the course.
Students are encouraged to fill out the video notes as they watch the lectures in order to prepare for the
exams. There will be no makeup exams except in the case of a documented emergency.
Assessment: It is expected that the student will know everything that is covered in the video lectures. The
exams will consist of M/C, T/F, Matching, and Short Answer questions all based on the lecture material.
Assessment will be based on the scores from the exams.
Task #4: Quizzes
Due Date: See Course Schedule
Weighting: 24%
Description: Six quizzes will be given throughout the course covering the biblical content read that week,
along with the content of the Quiz Study Guide. Again, except for in the case of an emergency, the
quizzes must be taken before the date given on the weekly schedule.
Assessment: It is expected that the student will know everything that is covered in the study guides. The
quizzes will consist of M/C, T/F, and Matching all directly based upon the study guide. Assessment will be
based on the score from the exams.
Task #5: Character Development Project
Due Date: See Course Calendar
Weighting: 10%
Possible Points: 100 pts.
Description: Each student is asked to reflect on the readings and video lectures as we progress through
the course. The last day, the student is asked to turn in a character reflection paper following the
guidelines below. The paper will be submitted through Canvas. The student is asked to reflect on his/her
heart and how they have been impacted this semester through class to better understand and love God
Course Syllabus
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and neighbor and fulfill His mission. In order to prepare for writing the essay the student should do the
following:
a) Spend one hour meditating and praying over 2 Corinthians 2:5-6:2.
b) Write a 2-page essay (12pt Times New Roman, double spaced) summarizing your thoughts,
emotions, insights as you sought the Lord during this time. This character essay can discuss specific
ways that God met you thought the semester, or during your time of meditation on 2 Cor. I am
looking for your sincere thoughts, and feelings, on how God has been working in your life.
c) Submit your paper though the link provided on Canvas
Assessment: Students are graded on the sincerity of their reflections, the grammatically quality of their
paper, and the length of their paper. A good paper will demonstrate that the student spent the required
time reflecting on the course and that the student made an honest effort to connect with God through the
time spent on this reflection. Late papers will be graded down 10% for every day that they are late.
CLASS POLICY INFORMATION
1. Class Attendance Philosophy and Attendance Policy:
Attendance
Because of the nature of this online course, students will need to log in and complete assignments every
day. Students who fail to log into Canvas and engage regularly will have an extremely hard time being
successful. Your instructor wants to see you exceed to the best of your ability, and has made attendance
mandatory because of the importance of the material covered in class lectures.
It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that they will have sufficient Internet access to complete and
submit assignments. Lack of access to the Internet or a computer is not an excuse for missing an assignment
or failing to engage in required course material. It is also the student’s responsibility to ensure that any
submitted assignments/posts have actually uploaded to the Canvas website. Saying, “I submitted it but I
don’t know what happened to it” is not sufficient. Please check and ensure your posts/uploads are actually
submitted prior to logging off of Canvas.
2. General Requirements for Written and Oral Projects:
Biola University desires to maintain the highest standards with respect to the composition of all work,
whether written, oral, or otherwise performed. As such, student projects should follow the recommended
procedures and be presented in the required format(s). Any student paper exhibiting poor grammar,
spelling errors, typographical errors, colloquialisms-slang, or any other egregious substandard academic
expression shall have the overall grade for that paper reduced accordingly. Generally, a paper will be
deemed substandard and ineligible to receive an “A” grade when it averages three or more compositional
errors per page, not including weaknesses in the overall paper content.
Students deficient in writing skills may seek assistance at the Biola Writing Center which is located on the
middle level of the Biola Library.
3. Submission of Assignments:
•
All assignments should be typed and submitted online via Canvas in either .doc, .docx, or .pdf
format. Assignments not submitted in one of these three formats will not be graded and will be
considered late.
Course Syllabus
•
•
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Assignments are due at the beginning of class unless otherwise stated.
Every assignment must be original to this class and may not have been used for credit in another
class.
4. Professional Courtesy:
Students are expected to uphold the highest standards of courtesy and professionalism toward the
professor, classroom guests, and fellow collegians. This includes the employment of institutional and
academic titles when addressing faculty, administrators, and other university personnel or classroom
guests. Students should refrain from behaviors that negatively affect the teaching environment or its
facilities. This includes any potentially distracting action that could inhibit the primary purposes of the
classroom, namely, learning and personal transformation. Students should conduct themselves as
professionals who give, and are worthy of, a high level of respect. Classroom dress, proper grooming,
behaviors, and hygiene should all be such that they are not distracting from the learning endeavors of
the course, offensive to classmates, or dishonoring to the Lord Jesus Christ and this institution.
5. Respect for Divergent Viewpoints:
In Christian higher educational institutions, it can be assumed that each believing learner is at a
different place of personal maturity and educational preparedness. For reasons such as these, it is
requested and expected that each student exhibit mutual respect, even when divergent viewpoints are
expressed in the classroom. Such respect, even if accompanied by frustrated silence, does not require
or imply agreement with or acceptance of any such perspectives. No matter what the divergence in
viewpoints might be, we desire that all will seek to be submissive to the Word of God.
6. Technology Use in an Online Course:
Students are encouraged to use whatever technology they can in order to participate in the course.
Some features of canvas are not available via the mobile app. When an assessment says that no
notes/books/help are permitted, it is assumed that the student will uphold these standards. Academic
honesty is very important to both Biola University and our Christian worldview. Students who are
tempted to cheat on assessments should consider finding a person to hold them accountable while
taking quizzes/exams.
7. Computation of Final Grade:
Reading of the NT and Berding/Williams
Discussion Posts
Exams (2 @ 10% each)
Character Development Project
Quizes
Total
10%
36%
20%
10%
24%
100%
8. Grade Scale: Final course grades will be awarded according to the following scale.
94-100
90-93
A
A-
87-89
83-86
80-82
B+
B
B-
77-79
73-76
70-72
C+
C
C-
67-69
63-66
60-62
D+
D
D-
00-59
F
Course Syllabus
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GENERAL INFORMATION
1. The GPA system used by the University Registrar’s Office is:
A = 4.0
B = 3.0
C = 2.0
D = 1.0
A- = 3.66
B- = 2.66
C- = 1.66
D- = 0.66
B+ = 3.33
C+ = 2.33
D+ = 1.33
F = 0.0
2. Report Delay:
In virtually every case that students do not meet the course requirements and when required course
tasks are not submitted to the professor, such students should anticipate receiving a failing grade. In
rare and unusual situations (e.g., serious illness of the student or illness or death of a student’s
immediate family), the student may formally request a report delay (RD) through the Vice Provost’s
Office. Details can be found at http://studentlife.biola.edu/campus-life/student-handbook/absences
3. Instructional Methods:
The following methods of instruction will be included in this course:
1. Use of the Internet
4. Other Audio/Visual Resources
2. Reading
5. Group Discussions
3. Written Reports
5. Posting of Final Grades:
The professor does not post, calculate, nor provide final grades to individual students. Final grades
are delivered by the Registrar’s Office, whose responsibility it is to perform that task.
6. Extra Credit:
As a general rule, extra credit will not be given to students in this course. Students are encouraged
to keep in mind that every assignment is an important part of this class, and should be given their
best effort.
Course Syllabus
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COURSE CALENDAR
While the course calendar is intended to provide an overview of the term’s schedule, the professor
reserves the right to make adjustments to the schedule to meet responsively the needs of this class.
Week 1 – June 23-­‐29 Monday Tuesday Read Berding -­‐ Intertest. Read Berding -­‐ Matthew Wednesday Thursday Friday Watch Intertest. # 5-­‐7 Read Berding -­‐ Mark Read Berding -­‐ Luke Watch Intertest. # 1-­‐2 Watch Intertest. # 3-­‐4 Read Matthew 15-­‐28 Read Mark Read Luke Introductions Due Read Matthew 1-­‐14 Discussion Q# 1 Due Watch Jesus # 1-­‐2 Watch Jesus #3-­‐4 Quiz 1 Week 2 -­‐ June 30-­‐July 6 Monday Discussion Q# 2 Due Read Berding -­‐ John Discussion Q# 3 Due Thursday Read Berding -­‐
Revelation Watch Jesus #5-­‐8 Read John Watch John #4-­‐9 Read Revelation Watch John #1-­‐3 Quiz 2 Week 3 -­‐ July 7-­‐13 Tuesday Wednesday Read Berding -­‐ Letters of John Thursday Friday Read Berding -­‐ James, 1 & 2 Peter, Jude Monday Tuesday Read Berding -­‐ Acts Read Acts 15-­‐28 Wednesday Exam 1 Friday Holiday! Read Acts 1-­‐14 Watch Teaching #5-­‐8 Read 1, 2, 3 John Discussion Question 5 Read James, 1 & 2 Peter, Jude Watch Teachings #1-­‐4 Discussion Question 4 Quiz 3 Read Berding -­‐ Hebrews Quiz 4 (by end of weekend) Read Hebrews Watch Prodigal Son videos 1-­‐4 Week 4 July 14-­‐20 Monday Read Berding -­‐ Intro to Paul Tuesday Read Berding -­‐ Romans Wednesday Read Berding 1 & 2 Corinthians Thursday Read Berding -­‐ Galatians, Ephesians Friday Read Berding -­‐Philippians Colossians Discussion Question 6 Read Romans Read 1 & 2 Corinthians Read Galatians, Ephesians Read Philippians, Colossians Watch Paul #1-­‐2 Watch Paul #3-­‐4 Discussion Question 7 Quiz 5 Watch Paul #5-­‐6 Course Syllabus
Page 10
Week 5 -­‐ July 21-­‐25 Monday Tuesday Read Berding -­‐ 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon Read 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon Wednesday Thursday Friday Discussion Question 8 Reflection Paper Due Final Exam Quiz 6 Read Berding -­‐ 1 & 2 Thessalonians Read 1 & 2 Thessalonians Watch Paul #7-­‐8