BI 102 New Testament Survey
Spring 2014 Syllabus
J. Michael Lester
I.
Course Description
This class will give each student an overview of the New Testament. Special emphasis is placed on
authorship, date, and purpose of each book. The student will develop a broad outline for each book. This
course will also examine the background and content of each book. Briefly mentioned will be the intertestament period to place the ministry of Jesus Christ into a historical context. In other words, we are
dealing with “big picture” items.
Within this inter-testamental period we find the “400 Silent Years.” It is within this time period that many of
the extra books found in a Catholic Bible were written. Also found within this time would be two notable
historical characters: Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar. Each of these men, and the empires they
represent, cast a shadow over the New Testament that we should seek to understand.
II.
Course Objectives:
At the end of this semester, the student should be able to:
1. List the 27 books of the New Testament in order.
2. List the key word, verse, and author of each New Testament book.
3. Quote from memory 24 Bible verses coming from these New Testament books.
4. Discuss the differences in style and purposes of the four gospel records.
5. State chronologically and geographically the major events of the NT with at least 80% accuracy.
6. Trace the major cities in which Christ ministered.
7. Compare and contrast the different local churches who received epistles from Paul.
8. Develop teaching outlines giving a survey of the major contents of each book.
9. Relate the founding of the churches mentioned in the Epistles to the book of Acts.
10. List the major events that happen during the Intertestamental period.
11. Pass a final examination with at least 85% accuracy.
III.
Course Requirements:
1. Be familiar with the textbook (New Testament Bible History, H. Richard Hester). Submit a 2-page typed
synopsis of the book due March 5. Preferable method of submission is email. Follow the template at
http://lester.wcbc.edu
2. Read through the entire New Testament by the end of the semester. There will be weekly reading
quizzes to insure progress. We will follow the calendar at the end of the syllabus.
a. Quizzes will follow this schedule:
1)
February 5
Read through Matthew 17
2)
February 12
Read through Mark 5
3)
February 19
Read through Luke 4
4)
February 26
Read through Luke 16
5)
March 5
Read through John 9
6)
March 12
Read through Acts 6
7)
March 21
Read through Acts 27
8)
March 26
Read through Romans 16
9)
April 2
Read through 2 Corinthians 12
10) April 9
Read through 1 Timothy 2
11) April 16
Read through 1Peter 1
12) April 25
Read through Revelation
NOTE: The combined weight of your reading for this class is 36%. It is
recommended that you do not fall behind.
3. Be ready for a quiz each week. It is your responsibility to make up quizzes that are missed. Do not
assume that missed quizzes will not count against you. Quizzes not made up within the allotted time will
be marked as a “0.”
4. Write a brief teaching outline for each NT book. These should be no longer than ½ page typed. These
are due April 11 in class. For sake of illustration, assume you are to teach through each book of the
New Testament in only one setting per book. Obviously, you will not have a verse-by-verse exposition.
These outlines are “big picture” outlines. This should be your own work.
5. A research paper of 750-1000 words due February 21 on one of the following topics:
a. History of the Maccabees and their relation to the context of the New Testament
b. Jesus’ teaching on finances and how it relates to our current recession
c. Roman Emperors of New Testament importance
d. Life of Herod the Great
e. Study of life of Timothy
f. Paul’s teaching on salvation
g. Jesus’ teaching on the church
h. James’ teaching on faith and works
i. Summary of the Parable teachings of Christ
j. An overview of Paul’s Missionary Journeys
k. The Role of Women in the New Testament Church
l. An overview of Ephaphroditus
m. A study of Onesimus
n. A study of a quitting finisher – John Mark
o. The First Martyr – Stephen
p. Trades and Occupations of New Testament Characters
q. A Survey of the 12 Apostles
r. A Geographical Study of Major New Testament Cities
s. The doctrine of Fasting
t. Paul’s Infirmity – dealing with God-given limitations
u. How to deal with Pagan religions
v. Spiritual gifts – Practical Application
w. Influence of Pharisees and Sadducees
x. Who were the Zealots?
y. Death by Crucifixion – an analysis
z. The Ministry of Barnabas
i. The following guidelines will help shape your paper:
1. It must be emailed to me
2. It must be coherent
3. It must have a purpose other than fulfilling an assignment
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It must discuss what you have learned in your research
It must be in a format that you can use for future ministry
It must include an outline and a bibliography
It must cite all sources, three of which should be from a theological journal.
It must conform to the template found at http://lester.wcbc.edu
It must be Times or Times New Roman font and no larger than “12”
It must be the product of your own work.
6. Learn the following Bible verses:
1. Matthew 4:4
2. Mark 10:45
3. Luke 24:49
4. John 14:6
5. Acts 13:1
6. Romans 6:6
7. 1 Corinthians 3:11
8. 2 Corinthians 4:7
9. Galatians 2:20
10. Ephesians 4:11-12
11. Philippians 3:10
12. Colossians 2:9
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Memory Verse Tests
1. February 21
2. March 28
3. April 18
IV.
V.
Grading Factors
1. New Testament Reading
2. Projects
3. Quizzes/Tests
4. Exams
1 Thessalonians 4:16
2 Thessalonians 2:13
1 Timothy 2:5
2 Timothy 2:15
Titus 3:5
Hebrews 11:1
James 1:5
1 Peter 1:2
2 Peter 3:16
1 John 2:15
Jude 3
Revelation 3:20
First 8 verses
Second 8 verses
Final 8 verses
36%
25%
19%
20%
Spiritual and Academic Integrity
Classroom Behavior
As part of this class, you are an integral part of a learning community. Please be aware of your behavior
and its effects on others. Talking, coming in late, leaving early, sleeping in class, and being discourteous
can all diminish classmates’ learning experiences. Realize that everyone in this class might be in a
position someday to recommend you professionally. Earn and keep their respect.
Attendance Policy
In your student portal, you are able to track your attendance. You should be checking this daily. If you
miss more than fifteen (15) percent of this class, you will be automatically dropped from the roster and
receive an “F” for the course. The amount missed contains the accumulation of tardies, cuts, and any
other absences.
If you are absent on a quiz or test day, it is your responsibility to know what you have missed. Each
student will have 48 hours (excluding weekends) from the end of class to make up his missed test or
quiz. If these are not made up within that time frame, they will be recorded as a 0. Make-up tests may be
more difficult and comprehensive than the test given in class.
Late Testing times are 6:45am Tuesday through Friday and 1:00pm Monday through Friday. Late Test
forms must be filled out in advance.
Academic Honesty
Cheating, plagiarism, collusion, and any act designed to give an unfair advantage to the student (such as,
but not limited to, submitting the same written assignment for two courses or providing false or
misleading information in an effort to receive a postponement or an extension on a test, quiz, exam, or
other assignment) is considered cheating and will not be tolerated.
Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is “the unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author
and the representation of them as one’s own original work.” Common forms of plagiarism are copying
words or ideas and not giving the author credit for them by providing proper reference.
Another author’s specific words must be placed within quotation marks with an appropriate reference
given. Another author’s ideas must include an appropriate reference.
You may choose to use appropriate footnotes, endnotes, or parenthetical references.
VI.
Contact Info
I hope you enjoy this course as much as I enjoy teaching it. If you are having problems, questions, or just
want to talk, I encourage you to contact me in person, on the phone, or via email. I WANT TO TALK TO
YOU! Don’t let small problems during a semester grow to a crisis at the end. It is always easier to repair
anticipated difficulties than to untangle a mess!
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Email
Cell
Office Hours
Additional Resources
mike.lester@wcbc.edu
661.466.3429
In office every weekday until 5pm
http://lester.wcbc.edu
New Testament Reading Schedule
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Friday, January 31, 2014
Saturday, February 01, 2014
Sunday, February 02, 2014
Monday, February 03, 2014
Tuesday, February 04, 2014
Wednesday, February 05, 2014
Thursday, February 06, 2014
Friday, February 07, 2014
Saturday, February 08, 2014
Sunday, February 09, 2014
Monday, February 10, 2014
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Friday, February 14, 2014
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Monday, February 17, 2014
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Friday, February 21, 2014
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Monday, February 24, 2014
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Friday, February 28, 2014
Saturday, March 01, 2014
Sunday, March 02, 2014
Monday, March 03, 2014
Tuesday, March 04, 2014
Wednesday, March 05, 2014
Thursday, March 06, 2014
Friday, March 07, 2014
Saturday, March 08, 2014
Sunday, March 09, 2014
Monday, March 10, 2014
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Friday, March 14, 2014
Matthew 1–4
Matthew 5-7
Matthew 8-9
Matthew 10-12
Matthew 13-14
Matthew 15-17
Matthew 18-19
Matthew 20-22
Matthew 23-24
Matthew 25-26
Matthew 27-28
Mark 1-3
Mark 4-5
Mark 6-7
Mark 8-9
Mark 10-11
Mark 12-13
Mark 14-15
Mark 16-Luke 1
Luke 2-4
Luke 5-6
Luke 7
Luke 8-9
Luke 10-11
Luke 12-13
Luke 14-15
Luke 16-18
Luke 19-20
Luke 21-22
Luke 23-24
John 1-3
John 4-5
John 6-7
John 8-9
John 10-11
John 12-13
John 14-16
John 17-19
John 20-Acts 1
Acts 2-3
Acts 4-6
Acts 7-8
Acts 9-10
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Saturday, March 15, 2014
Acts 11-13
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Sunday, March 16, 2014
Monday, March 17, 2014
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Friday, March 21, 2014
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Monday, March 24, 2014
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Friday, March 28, 2014
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Monday, March 31, 2014
Tuesday, April 01, 2014
Wednesday, April 02, 2014
Thursday, April 03, 2014
Friday, April 04, 2014
Saturday, April 05, 2014
Sunday, April 06, 2014
Monday, April 07, 2014
Tuesday, April 08, 2014
Wednesday, April 09, 2014
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Friday, April 11, 2014
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Sunday, April 13, 2014
Monday, April 14, 2014
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Friday, April 18, 2014
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Monday, April 21, 2014
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Friday, April 25, 2014
Acts 14-15
Acts 16-17
Acts 18-20
Acts 21-22
Acts 23-25
Acts 26-27
Acts 28-Romans 2
Romans 3-6
Romans 7-9
Romans 10-13
Romans 14-16
1 Corinthians 1-5
1 Corinthians 6-9
1 Corinthians 10-12
1 Corinthians 13-15
1 Corinthians 16-2 Corinthians 3
2 Corinthians 4-8
2 Corinthians 9-12
2 Corinthians 13-Galatians 3
Galatians 4-Ephesians 1
Ephesians 2-5
Ephesians 6-Philippians 3
Philippians 4-Colossians 3
Colossians 4-1 Thessalonians 5
2 Thessalonians 1-1 Timothy 2
1 Timothy 3-2 Timothy 1
2 Timothy 2-Titus 3
Philemon 1-Hebrews 4
Hebrews 5-8
Hebrews 9-11
Hebrews 12-James 1
James 2-1 Peter 1
1 Peter 2-5
2 Peter 1-1 John 1
1 John 2-5
2 John 1-Revelation 1
Revelation 2-6
Revelation 7-10
Revelation 11-15
Revelation 16-18
Revelation 19-22