New Testament Interpretation II (B1502)
This course is the second installment of New Testament (NT) Interpretation I. It continues the general survey of NT literature, methods of interpretation, and various questions of critical study. It focuses on the life of Paul and his letters, and the rest of the NT. We will look at some of the extra-canonical writings that relate to the foundational period of Christianity, such as the works of the Apostolic Fathers, NT Apocrypha, and the Nag Hammadi Library.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY:
The course is designed to help students acquaint themselves with the history, social, philosophical, and religious contexts of the Greco-Roman world and of Judaism contemporaneous with the beginnings of Christianity. An understanding of Christian origins will enhance students’ teaching and preaching of the NT.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Students who successfully complete this course will:
Gain competence in biblical studies for vocational ministry and leadership in other public life settings.
Gain a deeper understanding of the NT books as primarily faith—and to a less extent as historical—documents of early Christianity.
Be furnished with a critical understanding of the theological, historical, and ethical content of the NT.
Be equipped with the capacity to use their knowledge of the NT to interpret, critique, and transform the culture in which they find themselves.
SLOs: 1.1.1-2, 1.2.2, 1.3.1, 1.4.1-2, 1.5.1-3, 1.6.1-2, 2.1.1, 2.2.2, 2.3.1, 2.4.1-2, 2.5.1-2, 3.1.1-2, 3.2.2, 3.3.1, 3.4.1-2, 3.5.1-2
COURSE FORMAT:
Class time is a blend of lectures, dialogues, and discussions of how to integrate insights from this course in ministry application. Students should expect to work 3 hours each week for each credit hour of class taken—a total of 9 hours on the coursework.
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Hybrid (online option) for Virginia and Pennsylvania students
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