FAULKNER UNIVERSITY
Syllabus
for
Course Number and Name:
BI 5321 New Testament Theology
Catalog Description:
An examination of the major theological themes in
the New Testament including an evaluation of
various approaches to theological interpretation of
the New Testament writings..
Prerequisites:
College standards and consent of the instructor.
Number of Hours Credit:
Three semester hours.
Submitted by: ______________________________
Approved by: ______________________________
Dean, School of Biblical Studies
______________________________
Academic Vice-President
Semester:
Spring, 2006.
Date:
Jan. 17-May 1-4
Instructor:
Floyd Parker, Jr.
Office:
HP Building
Phone:
Ext. 7503 (office)
1 (334) 271-5825
(home; for
emergencies
only).
Office Hours:
M,Th, W – 4:00–
5:00 p.m.
F – 7:00 a.m. –
12:00.
The Center for Special Services (Student Support Services and Project Key) serves as the central contact
point for students with disabilities and seeks to ensure equal access for students with physical,
psychological , and/or *cognitive disabilities. Students are responsible for informing the University of their
needs for accommodations and services.
Contact Pat Worley, Coordinator, Center for Special Services, 334/260-6185, 1/800-879-9816.
*Learning Disabilities, Attention Deficit Disorder, etc.
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I. Purpose of the Course. The purpose of this course is to provide the student with basic knowledge of
major theological themes of the writings of the NT and the history of their interpretation.
II.
Course Objectives.
A. To provide the student with a basic understanding of the themes and concepts found in the
New Testament (with an emphasis on the Synoptic, Johannine, and Pauline literature) .
B. To introduce the student to the various theologians, terms, concepts, trends, and writings
pertaining to the study of New Testament theology.
III. Course Content and Outline.
Session 1 (1/17/06) – Overview of syllabus. – General: Christological titles in the New
Testament.
Session 2 (1/24/06) – Christological titles (continued); The Kingdom of God.
Session 3 (1/31/06) – The Gospel of Mark; the Gospel of Matthew.
Session 4 (2/07/06) – The Gospel of Luke; the book of Acts.
Session 5 (2/14/06) – John and the Synoptics; Signs in John.
Session 6 (2/21/06) – Dualism in John; the Johannine epistles.
Session 7 (2/28/06) – The search for the central theme of Paul’s theology.
Session 8 (3/07/06) – Lecture Week (classes will meet): Midterm Exam (Exam 2); Book
Review Due (Wright). Discussion of Wright’s What Saint Paul Really Said.
Session 9 (3/14/06) – Book Review Due (Wright). Discussion of N. T. Wright’s, Jesus
and the Victory of God. Presentation of student papers (draft).
Session 10 (3/21/06) – Justification in Pauline theology: traditional views (Pelagian, Roman
Catholic, Protestant) and covenantal nomism (E. P. Sanders; N.T. Wright).
Session 11 (3/28/06)– Spring Break (classes will not meet).
Session 12 (4/4/06) – Hebrews: various themes.
Session 13 (4/11/06) – Revelation: a theology of martyrdom. Discussion of Josef
Tson’s, Suffering, Martyrdom, and Rewards in Heaven.
Session 14 (4/18/06) – Origins of resurrection belief: dying and rising gods and dependency on
afterlife beliefs of other ancient cultures (Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece).
Session 15 (4/25/06) – Research Paper Due. Resurrection in the OT and intertestamental period;
resurrection in the NT.
Session 16 (5/5/06) – Final Exam; Book Reviews Due (Tson/Sanders).
IV. Evaluation:
A. Exams. Midterm and final exams count 50% of the grade (2 exams; 25% each).
B. Critical Book Reviews. The student will write a critical book reviews of the following
works: Sander’s The God Who Risks, Wright’s Jesus and the Victory of God and What Saint
Paul Really Said, and Tson’s Suffering, Martyrdom, and Rewards in Heaven. The reviews
will be averaged and will count for 25% of the grade. The due dates are specified for each
work above (no late work will be accepted). The reviews should meet the following
requirements:
1. Length. The body of the book review should be 5 pages in length (give or take 5 lines).
This does not include the front matter (title page).
2. Format.
a. Typed. The review must be typed in order to receive a passing grade.
b. Title Page. Should include the name of the university, the exact title of the paper,
the course (dept. and number), the date, and the name of the writer. These be
centered and be placed in the order just given from the top to the bottom of the page.
c. Body. The paper should use the default settings for margins in Microsoft Word. Do
not squeeze the margins in order to make the paper seem longer. The text should be
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d.
double-spaced. Spelling, grammar, and logic are required in this section. The
student will be allowed flexibility in writing this review, except in the following
matters: 1) the review should begin with a half page summary of the entire book
(single-spaced in italic font); 2) evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the book.
Remember, this is not a book report; it is an analysis; 3) give a final, overall
evaluation of the book at the end of the review; and; 4) include a paragraph at the
end giving key biographical information about each author. It is not sufficient to
restate the material written on the back of the book.
Font. Use Times New Roman, font size 12.
C. Short Research Paper. Paper counts 25% of the grade. A draft must be prepared for
presentation on class session 9 (failure to present on this date will result in a deduction of 10
pts. from the grade of the final draft). The paper is due on class session 15 (no late work will
be accepted). The research paper should meet the following requirements:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Length. The body of the paper should be precisely ten pages in length (give or take 5
lines). This does not include the front matter (title page, table of contents) or the
bibliography. A grade will be based on the first ten pages.
Format.
a. Typed. The paper must be typed in order to receive a passing grade.
b. Font and Font Size. The paper must be written in Times New Roman font. The
font size must be ten.
c. Title Page. Should include the name of the university, the exact title of the paper,
the course (dept. and number), the date, and the name of the writer. These be
centered and be placed in the order just given from the top to the bottom of the page.
d. Body. The paper should use the default settings for margins in Microsoft Word. Do
not squeeze the margins in order to make the paper seem longer. The text should be
double-spaced. Spelling, grammar, and logic are required in this section.
e. Notes. Some form of notation within the body of the text is required (i.e. footnotes,
endnotes, or notes within the text).
f. Bibliography. The paper should include a bibliographical listing of all materials
consulted in the paper.
Topic. The student will write a research paper on a theme related to NT theology (the
student must get professor’s approval).
Sources. The student must cite and utilize at least two biblical commentaries, one
encyclopedia article, and one journal article (church bulletins and popular journals are not
permitted). Not only should these sources appear in the bibliography and notes of the
paper, they must be worked into the paper in a logical fashion. Extended quotations from
these sources should be avoided since they would take up too much space in such a short
paper. If a student plagiarizes at any point, he or she will receive and “F” for the entire
project. None of these sources may come from the internet. Five points will be deducted
for each of the four sources not employed in the text or listed in the bibliography.
D. Attendance. Poor attendance will reduce the final grade as specifically outlined in
“Attendance Policy” below.
V. Calendar.
A.
Session 8. Midterm; Book review due (Wright, What Saint Paul Really Said).
B. Session 9. Book review due (Wright, Jesus and the Victory of God). Presentation of student
papers (draft).
C. Session 15. Paper due.
D. Session 16. Final exam. Book reviews due (Tson and Sanders).
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VI. Course Requirements.
A. Exams. Pass exams on lectures.
B. Written Projects. Four book reviews, one research paper.
C.
VII.
Attendance. Regular attendance.
Resources.
A. Bible. Although the student may bring any translation of the Bible to class, he or she is
encouraged to use one of the following versions for serious study: the New King James
Version, the American Standard Version, the New American Standard Version, or the English
Standard Version.
B. Handouts. Handouts supplied by the instructor (e.g. outlines, notes, or maps).
C. Required Reading. The required texts for the course are:
Ladd, George Eldon. A Theology of the New Testament. Eerdmans. Although
the student will review this work, he will be expected to keep up with the
readings each week.
Sanders, John. The God Who Risks. InterVarsity, 1998.
Tson, Josef. Suffering, Martyrdom, and Rewards in Heaven. The Romanian Missionary
Society. 2000
Wright, N. T. Jesus and the Victory of God. Fortress.
_______. What Saint Paul Really Said. Eerdmans
VIII. Attendance Policy.
A.
Faulkner’s Policy. Basic attendance guidelines are outlined in the student handbook:
Regular class attendance by all students is a requirement of the University. Class attendance is an
academic matter, and excessive absences result in academic penalty. Absences which occur
because a student is away from campus to represent the University, or because of a serious illness
of the student, or because of a death in his or her family must be excused through the Academic
Vice President’s Office. While a student may be excused for a specific test or assignment and
offered makeups for such after the approval of the Academic Vice President, all absences for
whatever reason will be counted toward the 25% rule, which requires that a penalty “F” be
recorded for any class in which the student misses more than 25% of the total class meetings of
that course.
B. Professor’s Policy. The professor’s attendance policy is rooted in the following beliefs that:
1) Christian education involves development of character that will later serve the student in the
Church and in the workplace; 2) that class attendance and participation play as much a role in the
education process as do research papers and exams; and, 3) that a Christian educator has a
responsibility to make certain that the student’s patron gets their money’s worth (i.e. a student is
definitely more likely to get an education if they come to class).
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Consequently, three (3) points will be deducted from the final grade for each unexcused absence.
For instance, if a student has an average of 100 (A) and has 4 unexcused absences (12 pts.), he or
she will have a final grade of 88 (B). Points will not be deducted from the final grade for excused
absences so long as they meet the specifications given below (see E). The professor reserves the
right to ask sleeping or disruptive students to leave the classroom. Such students will receive an
unexcused absence for that session even if they have been present the majority of the period.
C.
Three tardies equal one unexcused absence (3 pts.).
D. Tardy students are responsible for making certain their name is recorded in the roll book
prior to leaving the classroom. If a student fails to do so that day, they will be marked absent. No
changes will be made on the roll for any reason after the class session has ended, except for
absences that fall under the rubric of items in section E below.
E.
Excused absences will be granted in the following cases.
Illness. Requests for excused absences due to illness will not be granted unless
accompanied by: 1) an official, dated doctor’s excuse (campus nurse does not qualify);
2) a dated statement written by the student describing in detail the reasons for the
absence; 3) a dated list of signatures from the student’s other professors indicating that
the student was also absent from their classes on the day of the illness; and, 4) a dated
and signed statement from one of the deans indicating that the student was absent from
chapel on that day. If a student is well enough to go to classes or chapel later in the day,
then they are well enough to come to this class. The student will not be excused from
class for anything that would not be excused by the professor’s employer. Examples of
absences that will not be excused include sinus problems, allergies, or an upset stomach.
2. Other. Absences due to missions trips or athletic/choral events will not be granted
unless accompanied by: 1) an official email or letter is sent by the director/leader of such
activities; 2) a dated and signed statement by the director/leader of the event indicating
that the student was actually present at the event. In cases of absences due to death in the
immediate family, details must be worked out with the professor. The student will not be
excused from class for anything that would not be excused by the professor’s employer.
Examples of absences that will not be excused include failure of alarm clock to ring, lack
of sleep, missing a meal, working on a project for another professor during that time, or
lack of preparation of that day’s exam.
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F. Each student is responsible for regularly scheduled exams. If a student does not have a
legitimate reason for being absent from an exam, he or she will receive an “F.”
G. If for some reason a student is allowed to take a make-up exam, the exam must be taken
within one week (except for special or unusual cases). Makeup exams may differ in content
and difficulty from regularly scheduled exams. No makeup exam will be given for the final.
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