BIBLE V: Acts, Epistles, and Revelation
Illinois Great Rivers Conference and Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary
Extension Course of Study for Part-time Local Pastors
Springfield, IL
COS 521 – Bible V: Acts, Epistles, and Revelation
Fall, 2015
Instructor
Rev. Keith Anderson
PO Box 19207
Springfield IL 62794
217-529-3221
kanderson@igrc.org or kanderson0803@gmail.com
Goals and Objectives
This course focuses on the content and context of these writings, and the theological emphases of
their writers. In addition to Acts and Revelation, Romans, I Corinthians, Hebrews, James, and I
John will receive special attention. Students will articulate a theology of scripture.
Objectives include:
1. Distinguish these genres of biblical literature, and understand the major theological themes in
these writings.
2. Faithfully exegete these forms of biblical literature.
3. Apply exegesis to preaching, other pastoral responsibilities, and issues of the present day.
4. Articulate the unity and authority of Scripture as a whole.
Texts
Warren Carter/ Amy-Jill Levine, The New Testament: Methods and Meanings.
Jouette Bassier, Navigating Paul: An Introduction to key Theological Concepts..
Fee, Gordon. New Testament Exegesis: A Handbook for Students and Pastors.*
Achtemeier, Paul, ed. Harper’s Bible Dictionary.*
May, Herbert and Bruce Metzger, eds. The New Oxford Annotated Bible with Apocrypha:
NRSV. *
* Students will have the book from a previous class or Licensing School
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Supplementary Texts:
Victor Furnish, The Moral Teaching of Paul
N T Wright, Revelation
Mark Allen Powell, Introducing the New Testament: A Historical, Literary, and Theological
Survey*
* Students will have the book from a previous class or Licensing School
The following books are not required but will be referred to by the Instructor (they are great
books to have in your library and are highly recommended):
Malina, Bruce and Rohrbaugh, Richard. Social-Science Commentary on the Synoptic Gospels.
Malina Bruce and Pilch, John J. Social-Science Commentary on the Book of Acts.
Malina Bruce and Pilch, John J. Social-Science Commentary on the Deutro-Pauline Letters.
Malina Bruce and Pilch, John J. Social-Science Commentary on the Book of Revelation.
Instructions: how to format your homework – please read and follow!
1. Read the assigned pages, take notes, and answer the questions completely in your own
words, using complete sentences (unless otherwise noted). Do not quote extensively
from the texts you read. Digest the ideas and information, and then put them in your own
words. Please read the question carefully and ANSWER THE QUESTION. In the
past the most common mistake that students have made in the written work was giving
an answer that did not relate to the question asked.
2. Follow approximate length given for each item of written work.
3. Print your written work on 8½ X 11 white paper, one side only, double-spaced, with a
one-inch margins all around. On computer use a 12-point font, either Times New Roman
or Arial. One page equals approximately 250 words. If typewriter is your only option, use
10 pitch (pica), or 12 pitch (elite). Do not use script, condensed, or all caps print.
4. On each page of your work, include a header with your name, the class number, and
the page number. Begin each numbered item on a new sheet of paper, writing that
number at the beginning of your answer. Do not type the questions before your answers.
5. If you quote from a printed text, you must use quotation marks and note the source
(including pages) in parentheses at the end of each usage. Quotations should never be
more than a sentence or two long. Ideas and information should be stated in your own
words, not in the words of the authors you have read. For assigned texts, you may
abbreviate the titles by using the first letter of each word in the title. For example, if the
source is Harper’s Bible Dictionary, then use (HBD, p. 34-35). If you refer to books that
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are not listed on the class reading list, then you must give full bibliographic information.
The Proper Citations page will give you more information about how to present
bibliographic information in your work.
6. Staple all of the pages for each question together, if there is more than one page, and
put them in a sequential manner in a 9 X 12 clasp mailing envelope and write your name
and address on the envelope so that it may be used to mail your written work to you.
When stapling, try to use only one staple in the upper left-hand corner. Do not staple
together papers for more than one course. Do not bind your homework or turn in 3-ring
binders or plastic/paper report covers.
7. Add a title page to each course of each module that includes a) the name of the course,
b) your name, and c) the date of the first day of class.
8. The due date for written work is listed on the homework main page. Late work is only
accepted with prior approval of the Director of the Course of Study School.
9. Make a copy of your material and bring it with you for your own use during the
school.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Using other people’s materials without documentation, whether from a book, journal,
teacher, another student, sermon service, or lectionary aid, is unacceptable behavior.
Such activity, otherwise known as plagiarism usually means failure for the course with
notification sent to the Conference Course of Study Registrar and the Division of
Ordained Ministry. Instructors will report all instances of plagiarism to the Director of
the Course of Study. The Director will arrange for a meeting with the instructor and
the student, and the student will be given opportunity to explain the situation. The
Director, in consultation with the instructor, will make a decision about what action is
appropriate for a first instance of plagiarism. Such action could include, rewriting the
material, or failure of the course. A brief summary of the meeting will be prepared by
the Director and placed in the student’s file in the Course of Study Office and kept
there until the student completes the Course of Study Curriculum. If a second instance
of plagiarism is documented, the student will fail the course and the Director will
determine what other consequences may apply.
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Assignments
Your answers to Assignments # 1-10 are due at the beginning of the first class of the course.
Question #11 is due the beginning of the first class of the second weekend of the course.
1. Read Carter and Levine’s New Testament Introduction section. Summarize their
presupposition of “the questions we ask the text and the reading strategies we approach it,
will lead to different interpretations.” Include items such as your own loyalties,
historical-critical approaches, social-science, etc. Do you agree or disagree with their
presupposition and why. (Total of 2 pages.)
2. Read Carter and Levine’s New Testament section on the Book of Acts. What are the
major themes of the Book of Acts? (1 page). Give a 1-page outline of the book. (Total
of 2 pages.)
3. Read Carter and Levine’s New Testament section on the book of Romans. What are the
major themes of Romans? (1 page). Give a 1-page outline of Romans. (Total of 2
pages.)
4. Read Carter and Levine’s New Testament section on the book of I Corinthians. What are
the major themes of I Corinthians? (1 page). Give a 1-page outline of I Corinthians.
(Total of 2 pages.)
5. Read Carter and Levine’s New Testament section on the book of James. What are the
major themes of James? (1 page). Give a 1-page outline of James. (Total of 2 pages.)
6. Read Carter and Levine’s New Testament section on the book of I John. What are the
major themes of I John? (1 page). Give a 1-page outline of I John. (Total of 2 pages.)
7. Read the Epistle to Philippians and Basssler’s Navigating Paul in its entirety.
Write a 4 page essay on the key themes of Paul’s letters. On the first 3 pages, discuss the
issues that you find most important to understanding Paul’s writings and how Bassler
provided greater understanding to these issues. On the 4th page, discuss how
understanding these issues clarifies the message of the Epistle to the Philippines. (Total
of 4 pages)
8. Read Chapter 7 of Bassler’s Navigating Paul and Carter’ and Levine’s New Testament
section on the book of Revelation.
Compare and contrast (show the similarities and differences) between Paul’s view of the
end of times and John’s view in Revelation. You may also use N.T. Wright’s Revelation
as well if you wish. (2 pages total)
9. Read Gordon Fee’s New Testament Exegesis, “Guide for Full Exegesis,” pp. 5-39. Write
a summary of the steps Fee suggests for exegesis of our texts. (Total of 2 pages.)
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10. Read Gordon Fee’s New Testament Exegesis, “Historical-Cultural Background,” pp. 96111. Answer the question, “How does one discover the historical-cultural background of
our texts?” (Total of 1 page.)
EXEGESIS AND HERMENEUTICS – 1 Corinthians 12:12-27
11. Read Gordon Fee’s New Testament Exegesis, “Short Guide for Sermon Exegesis,” pp.
133-154. Using this model or the model presented in class or any other model which
addresses the basic exegetical issues such as authorship, date, audience, theological
themes, textual issues, signs of redaction, word study, traditional and contemporary
interpretations, use of the passage in the life of the NT church and possible uses in
the contemporary church.
Be sure to answer the exegetical question of "what did this passage mean to its
original audience?" and the hermeneutical question of "what can it mean to us
today?"
Total of 6-8 pages.
D. Grading System
A=exceeds expectation for Course of Study)
B= expected quality for COS
C=passing work but not of expected quality
D=unacceptable quality (no credit)
F = fail.
Your grade for this course will be based on the following:
50% assignments completed before the beginning of class
25% on the exegesis paper
25% on class participation
Please review our conference rules with regard to plagiarism, the use of inclusive language,
and sexual harassment and abide by these rules.
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