UNIT 1:  BACKGROUNDS

 In the first unit, we’ll study the various cultures that are crucial for understanding the New Testament:  Judaism after the Old Testament period, the Greek world, and the Romans. 

             Historical backgrounds

The Bible and the Apocrypha:  Tobit [pages 1295-1312]; Susanna [pages 1471-1473]; Sirach 1 [pages 1380-1382]; Harris 2-11, 22-26 (Wed Aug 26 – Fri Aug 28)

First-century Judaism:  Harris 40-63 (Mon Aug 31)

Greek thought and culture:  Harris 65-81 (Wed Sep 2 - Fri Sep 4)

Greek empires and the Roman Empire:  1 Maccabees 1-4 [pages 1480-1490]; Harris 83-99 (Mon Sep 7 – Wed Sep 9)

Review & discussion – the Dead Sea Scrolls:  Harris 50-55 (Fri Sep 11)

            Review program:  www.ehcweb.ehc.edu/faculty/fkellogg/132u1.htm 

Test 1, including the books of the New Testament  (Mon Sep 14)

UNIT 2:  THE GOSPELS

In this unit we’ll look thoroughly and carefully at the portrayal of Jesus’ life and teachings in the Gospel of Mark.  We’ll supplement that account with key sections from Matthew, Luke, and John.

            Gospel study 

The gospels in modern scholarship:  Harris 105-124 (Wed Sep 16 – Fri Sep 18)

            Mark's portrait of Jesus’ ministry

Jesus’ baptism and temptation:  Mark 1; Matthew 4; Harris 126-134 (Mon Sep 21)

Ministry in Galilee:  Mark 2-10; Harris 134-144 (Wed Sep 23 – Fri Sep 25)

            Holy Week    

Palm Sunday and Fig Monday:  Mark 11-12; Harris 144-145           (Mon Sep 28)

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Maundy Thursday:  Mark 13-14; Harris 146-147 (Wed Sep 30)

 Good Friday and Easter Sunday:  Mark 15-16; Harris 148-151 (Fri Oct 2)

             Portraits of Jesus by Matthew and Luke

Birth narratives:  Matthew 1-2; Luke 1-3; Harris 161, 164-165, 192-195 (Mon Oct 5)

The Sermon on the Mount:  Matthew 5-7; Harris 167-169 (Wed Oct 7)

Parables:  Luke 10 and 15-16; Harris 198-205 (Fri Oct 9)

            4  Log 1 on a passage from Matthew, Mark, or Luke (Fri Oct 9)

            John’s portrait of Jesus

The Word and the wedding:  John 1-3; Harris 224-229 (Mon Oct 12)

            [Fall break Wed Oct 14 – Fri Oct 16]

Dialogues and resurrection:  John 4, 8, 11, and 20-21; Harris 230-233, 236-238 (Mon Oct 19) 

Review & discussion – the Gospel of Thomas:  Harris 245-250 (Wed Oct 21)

            Review program:  www.ehcweb.ehc.edu/faculty/fkellogg/132u2.htm 

Test 2, including map of Israel (Fri Oct 23)

UNIT 3:  PAUL AND THE EARLY CHURCH

The third unit will give us an opportunity to see how Christians moved out of their mother religion of Judaism and formed Christian churches, with the leadership of such people as Simon Peter and Paul.  We’ll also study the development of key Christian beliefs and ethical principles in Paul’s letters.

            Peter, Paul, and the beginnings of Christianity

The birthday of the church:  Acts 1-8; Harris 286-291 (Mon Oct 26)

The early life of Paul (aka Saul):  Acts 9; Harris 291-292 (Wed Oct 28)

Paul’s missions:  Acts 13-14 and 16-28; Harris 297-305 (Fri Oct 30 – Mon Nov 2)

            Paul’s letters

Not left behind:  1 Thessalonians 1-5; Harris 315-317, 326-329 (Wed Nov 4)

Christian ethics:  1 Corinthians 1-16; Harris 330-337 (Fri Nov 6 – Mon Nov 9)

Law and grace:  Acts 15:1-21; Galatians 1-6; Harris 293-296, 343-347 (Wed Nov 11 – Fri Nov 13)

Prison letters:  Philippians 1-4; Philemon; Harris 360-368 (Mon Nov 16)

            4  Log 2 on a passage from 1 Thessalonians, 1 Corinthians 1-12 or 14-15, or Galatians (Mon Nov 16)

Review & discussion – Paul's ideas and Christians today:  Harris 317-324, 368-371 (Wed Nov 18)

            Review program :  www.ehcweb.ehc.edu/faculty/fkellogg/132u3.htm

Test 3, including map of the Greco-Roman world (Fri Nov 20)

UNIT 4:  EARLY CHRISTIANITY

The final unit will give us glimpses into Christianity as a fully organized religion with structures of leadership, able to deal with controversial issues and to provide theological guidance.  We will also see how courageous individuals faced times of persecution, in which their testimony of faith could mean martyrdom.

            Epistles  

Mystery of the corpus:  Colossians 1-4; Ephesians 1-6; Harris 376-381 (Mon Nov 23)

            [Thanksgiving break Wed Nov 25 – Fri Nov 27]

Pastoral Epistles:  1 Timothy 1-5; Harris 381-385 (Mon Nov 30)

Our Great High Priest:  Hebrews 1-4, 7, and 10-11; Harris 392-397 (Wed Dec 2)

            Apocalypse Now

Letters from Patmos:  Revelation 1-3; Harris 416-427 (Fri Dec 4)

Apocalyptic visions:  Revelation 5-7 and 12-13; Harris 427-432 (Mon Dec 7)

Review & discussion – Armageddon, the millennium, and the New Jerusalem: Revelation 19-22 ; Harris 432-434 (Wed Dec 9)

            4  Log 3 on a passage from Revelation 4-11 or 14-22 (Wed Dec 9)

            Final deadline for turning in any written work

            Review program :  www.ehcweb.ehc.edu/faculty/fkellogg/132u4.htm  

Final exam:  (1) short-answer questions on the whole course, (2) essay section on unit 4, and  (3) comprehensive essay; no maps on the exam (8:30-11:30 Fri Dec 11) 

            Tests and exams are not given early.  If you have a last-minute emergency or hospitalization at the time scheduled for the final exam, we'll arrange for you to receive an Incomplete in the class and take a makeup exam at a later time.  In all other cases, plan to take the exam at the scheduled time.

TEXTBOOKS

The HarperCollins Study Bible:  New Revised Standard Version.  Revised edition. New York:  HarperCollins, 2006.  0-06-078683-3.  [Note:  if someone sells you a different Bible instead of this one, please exchange it right away at the bookstore.]

Harris, Stephen L.  The New Testament:  A Student's Introduction.  6^th edition.  Boston:  McGraw-Hill, 2008.  0-07-338653-9.

& Please bring your Bible to class each day, so that you can relate the information from the lectures and discussions to appropriate sections of the readings. X 

In the rare circumstance that the college is on a Delayed Opening schedule, announced on area radio and TV stations, this class and all other 10 o’clock MWF classes will meet from 11:00 to 11:25.

GOALS AND REQUIREMENTS

             I'm glad that you've chosen to take this course!  I'll try my very best to help you get the most out of it.  So that you may see the plans for our work together this semester, let me share with you the approach that I have established in Religion 132.  You may set additional goals for your own study of the New Testament.  At the end, I hope that we can look back and feel that we have accomplished most of our goals!

            Goal 1:  to develop foundations for interpreting the New Testament.  I'll help you learn significant stories and teachings of the New Testament and how to interpret them in light of their historical, cultural, and literary backgrounds.  You’ll develop the ability to locate and describe key places on maps of the Middle East.  You'll memorize the order of the New Testament books ‑‑ a list which will help you find your way around the Bible all your life. 

            As we explore key issues, you'll find that usually there isn't just one "right" interpretation.  I'll help you to look at the rich variety of biblical ideas and identify methods for understanding what they meant in the first century A.D.

            Goal 2:  to use study time effectively. You'll understand the New Testament best if you take about an hour before each class session to study the assigned readings from the Bible and the textbook.   Soon after the class session, review your class notes and put them in a clear form.  Reread sections from the Bible and/or the textbook that relate to your notes.  Write the date at the beginning of each day’s notes; that way you can refer to them easily when studying for tests.  In the years ahead, you’ll remember the information that you’ve learned day by day much better than what you’ve crammed the night before a test.

            Before each test, go through the computer review of the unit.  Type into your Web browser either the address for the individual review or for my Home Page, which has links to all the review programs.  Type the numerals carefully:  for example, 132u1 stands for Religion 132, unit 1. 

            You will have three tests, one over each unit.  I will count only the best two and drop your lowest test grade.  If you miss a test for any reason, I’ll count that as your lowest grade and drop it.  I’ll save a blank copy of the missed test for you, for study purposes.  Since I have this generous policy of counting only the highest two of the three test grades, please don’t ask me to give a makeup test for you before or after the scheduled test time; a makeup test would take hours for me to develop.  Instead, if you miss a test, plan on dropping that grade.  I’ll save a blank copy of the missed test for you, for study purposes.  No, you may not drop the final exam grade!  J

            Goal 3:  to see the New Testament as a living book, relevant to people today.  You'll share your thoughts in “logs,” short papers on three passages.  Please follow carefully these guidelines:

            1. Choose from the log options listed in the schedule one passage:  an entire section with a heading in The HarperCollins Study Bible, at least a half-dozen verses long.  It doesn’t need to be a passage which we’ve studied in class. 
For log 1, choose a passage from Matthew, Mark, or Luke.
For log 2, choose a passage from 1 Thessalonians, 1 Corinthians 1-12 or 14-15, or Galatians. 
For log 3, choose a passage from Revelation 4-11 or 14-22.   

            2. Give the book, chapter, and verses of your chosen passage, followed by the heading from The HarperCollins Study Bible.  Here’s an example of the kind of sentence with which you should begin your paper:  This log is based on 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15, “Blunt Warning Against Idleness.”

            3. Summarize and interpret the passage in your own words.  Reflect on what this passage meant to people thousands of years ago.  Relate it to what you’ve learned from the class sessions, the textbook, other relevant biblical passages, and the notes in The HarperCollins Study Bible.  Do not use other sources than these, such as the internet.  Instead of quoting, put everything in your own words.  You don’t need documentation or a bibliography.

            4. Identify in your own words one main point in the passage.  This is often called a thesis statement.  State it clearly in a form like this:  “The main point in this passage is that . . .”   Example from 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15:  The main point in this passage is that Christians should live normal lives and work hard, instead of sitting around waiting for the end of the world.

            5. Then relate the passage to your own life experiences or things that have happened to someone that you know.  Share how the passage helps you to understand God, the world, or personal relationships.  Please don’t just use vague generalizations; give specific, real-life examples of what the passage means to you.

            6. I don’t accept any paper by email, because my experience is that most of us produce a better paper by printing it out and carefully proofreading the printed copy for clarity and accuracy.  Your log should be printed neatly with your computer set for double spacing, to give me plenty of room for comments and suggestions.  It must be at least 500 words long.  An excellent (A) paper will normally be significantly longer than the bare minimum of 500 words.

            7. Backup, backup, backup!  < Save each draft of your paper on a flash drive, so that it’s not lost if your computer crashes or you have printer problems.  L  

            8. Fold the pages together lengthwise (unstapled) and put your name on the outside.  For logs 1 and 2, I'll return your first draft promptly, together with a checklist and suggestions to help you improve your paper.  I’ll keep your final draft for evaluation of your group of three logs – or, in rare cases, I’ll keep your first draft if it is so good that it doesn’t need to be rewritten.  Since log 3 is due on the last day of class, you'll write only one draft of the third log.

            Goal 4:  to participate in the class fully. 

            Discussion.  Please come to class faithfully, bring your Bible so that you can look up passages to which I refer, and take careful notes on the lectures.  This is primarily a lecture course, so you are not required to discuss or ask questions as part of your class participation, but discussion is certainly welcome!  If you don’t understand something in the lecture or the readings, or if you have an insight into a New Testament passage that would be helpful to the group, I would appreciate your sharing your questions or interpretations.  I would also be very happy for you to come to my office any time and talk with me about issues in your study of religion, or to email me with any questions or reflections.

            Attendance.  During your college years, by responsible class attendance you can establish a reputation for reliability that will help your professors to write good reference letters for jobs or programs of graduate study.  I value faithful attendance highly, as an indication of your commitment to the course goals.  But I don’t want you to come to class when you’re sick, for your own sake and for the sake of your fellow students.  You may request that up to three absences be excused for appropriate reasons such as sickness, athletic competition, dangerous driving conditions because of  weather, or an event officially sponsored by E&H for which your absence has been authorized in an email to me from an E&H faculty sponsor.  Right after any absence, please email me, giving the reason that you missed class if you want me to consider excusing the absence. 

            You may request that one absence be counted as a personal absence, with no need for an explanation and no penalty.  Reasons for a personal absence include such things as oversleeping, finishing a test in another class, attending a wedding, helping a friend, participating in a workshop or seminar related to your major, going home to take care of a family matter, or interpreting the New Testament for the President of the United States.  If you want to count a missed class as your one personal absence, just email me; you don’t need to give me a reason for your absence. 

            An unexcused absence, or an absence beyond a total of four for any reason, will reduce your overall course average by 2 points.

            Extra credit.  Here are a few options to boost your final course grade by either one or two points.  Write a one-page paper summarizing each program or video (including the date that you attended the program or watched the video)  and relating it to what you’ve been learning about the New Testament in this course.  The paper must be computer-printed, not emailed.  Turn in your paper within a week or so, while the event is still fresh on your mind.  One acceptable paper will add 1 point to your overall course average, or two papers will add 2 points.  If you wish, you may write two extra credit papers to balance out the grade reduction for an unexcused absence.

            1. You may find a lyceum event which helps you to understand the New Testament. 

            2. You may interpret the New Testament by teaching a Sunday School class, leading a Bible study, or speaking to a group. 

            3. If you have been involved in a community service project this semester, you may reflect on how your service project relates to a specific story or teaching from the New Testament which you have studied in this course.

            4. You may watch a full-length video relevant to the New Testament.  (Watching a TV program would not earn extra credit.)  You may view it any time in the semester, not only when we’re studying that particular topic.  I recommend from our library collection any of these:

Godspell [rock musical on the life of Jesus, DVD PN1997.G5678 2000]
Jesus Christ Superstar [including delightful music from the 1960’s, video PN1997.J4741]
Masada [the Zealots’ last stronghold, video PN1997.M375]
Parable [allegory in mime of Jesus’ ministry, death, and resurrection, DVD BV4501.2.P3 2005]
The Passion of the Christ [Mel Gibson’s anguished portrayal, DVD PN1997.P3135]

            Goal 5:  to make the best of a system of evaluation which is thorough, accurate, and fair.   

            Your signature on any test or paper means that in accordance with the Honor Code which you signed when you enrolled at E&H, your work is entirely your own, you have not looked at anyone else’s test or paper, and you have used only the sources identified in the guidelines – not the internet or other unapproved sources.  You pledge your personal honor that this is true.

            The final deadline for submission of any written work, such as extra credit papers, is the last day of class.

            My grading scale is:

A = 95 (90‑99)
B = 85 (80‑89)
C = 75 (70‑79)
D = 65 (60‑69)
F = 50 (0-59). 

            I’ll base your overall course grade on the following:

50%:    the best two of the three tests – if you miss a test for any reason, I’ll count that as your lowest grade and drop it, so you won’t have to take a makeup test

25%:    the final exam

25%:    the quality and timeliness of your three logs

±          attendance reductions or extra credit additions

            Goal 6:  to share the task. 

            The New Testament is at the heart of the Christian faith!  I look forward to sharing my insights, and receiving from you new ways of looking at passages which I haven't yet fully understood.  If you'll help me by studying, asking questions about anything unclear, and being open to new ideas, the rich heritage of the New Testament will come to life for us!

                                                                                                Fred Kellogg 

If you would like, you can send me e-mail: fkellogg@ehc.edu

To look at one of my other syllabi, go to my Home Page.  To review a unit in the New Testament course, go directly to one of the following:
    Unit 1, Backgrounds of the New Testament
    Unit 2, The Gospels
    Unit 3, Paul
    Unit 4, Epistles and Revelation

If you prefer, you may return to the Emory & Henry College Home Page.

Last updated:  August 28, 2009