J. Michael Lester | WCBC Classroom Resources



1943100-17145000BI 502 – New Testament IntroductionFall 2016 Syllabus |J. Michael LesterCourse Description This course is an examination of the canon, text, inspiration, and interpretive data to gain a better understanding of the New Testament. Detail will be given to the authorship, date, theme, liberal criticism, and the secular and historical background of New Testament Scriptures. Course ObjectivesThe student who successfully completes this course will be able to:Institutional ObjectivesProgram ObjectivesCourse Requirement1Articulate the themes and settings of the NT books13Textbook quizzes 2Defend the inspiration and authorship of the NT 1, 2, 63Textbook quizzes3Articulate matters of NT canon and preservation 12,3Discussion Forum4Recognize the cultural, political, and religious worlds of the New Testament 11,2,3NT Background Paper 5Defend the NT against Liberal Criticism1, 2, 33Discussion ForumFROM THE CATALOG:Institutional Learning Objectives (ILOs)Demonstrate comprehension in major areas of Bible knowledge and doctrine.Apply knowledge in practical and relevant ways to their chosen field.Effectively communicate the gospel to unbelievers.Regularly practice authentic spiritual disciplines.Effectively serve in ministry through the local church.Engage in service to the community.Bible Program Learning Objectives (PLOs)Analyze and interpret biblical passages from a dispensational hermeneutic.Integrate a greater understanding of Scripture into practical ministry experience.Articulate conservative doctrinal positions in light of current scholarly researchCourse RequirementsTextbooks:Kostenberger, Andreas, L. Scott Kellum, and Charles L. Quarles. The Cradle, the Cross, and the Crown: An Introduction to the New Testament. Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2009.This book is available on Kindle if student desires a digital copy.The student will read this book throughout the term.See Course Module Map for reading schedule, with dates for quizzes provided.Carson, D.A. and Douglas Moo. An Introduction to the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005.This book is available on Kindle as well as the Campus bookstore.This book is reference only. (This book should be read. However, I am not requiring it since this is a 7-week term.Yet, the student should not think the book is unimportant since the reading is not required. To the contrary, this is a valuable resource and will prove helpful throughout the course.Discussion Forums (DF)The student will participate in seven online discussion forums.Week 1 - What was the nature of the influence of Roman government and emperors upon the ministry of Christ and the early church?Week 2 - What are the synoptic gospels? Explain the similarities and differences in general and then choose an alleged discrepancy and provide an explanation.Week 3 - What is the value of Luke as a historian in the area of apologetics?Week 4 - How does a sound interpretation of Galatians 4.4 take into consideration the Greco-Roman world in which Paul lived?Week 5 - Based upon your reading from the text and other sources, how would you define the righteousness of God as used in Romans?Week 6 - This week, we have more of an internal debate within Christianity. Early Christians from the 1st until the 17th century predominantly held to a Pauline authoring of Hebrews. Today, virtually no commentary will espouse that position. Who do you believe wrote the epistle, and what (scholarly / academic) evidence would you use to support your claim?Week 7 - Explain your belief concerning the closing of the canon. Is there any relevance to this position and answering those who hold to continuing revelation?The purpose of these forums is to generate collaborative interaction among the students with reference to specific course topics.Each student will post his response to the question (normally a 500 word minimum, unless otherwise stated) and then respond to at least two other students (a minimum of 150 words – and these responses are to two different student posts).Each initial post that begins your weekly thread should be supported with at least three credible citations.Each response to an initial post should be supported with at least two credible citations.Responses that are going back and forth after the initial post and response may have optional citations.CREDIBLE CITATIONS = Sources from textbooks and scholarly sources / articles / journals are acceptable to use. Anonymous online sources or online sources that are generating an author’s opinion with no substantiation is not acceptable.Research Project:NT Background ResearchThe student will prepare a 2000-word minimum formal paper in Turabian format on one of the following subjects:The Hasmonean Dynasty: Its Rise and DemiseThe Herodian Dynasty: Rulers and AccomplishmentsRoman Emperors and their Impact on Jesus and the Early ChurchThe student is expected to incorporate at least ten credible resources.Paper will be accepted in one of the following formats: .doc, .docx, or .pdfThe paper will be uploaded through the LMS (Please do not email directly to the instructor)The grade of the paper will be calculated based upon these three areas:ContentGrammar / StyleFormCourse Grading FactorsSee Course Module Map, with points for every assignment totaled at the bottom.Spiritual and Academic IntegrityAttendance Policy: This course is only seven weeks in duration. Primarily, there is only one lecture weekly. Attendance to the lectures, whether on-campus or online, is vital. We will cover much ground this term. It is imperative that you keep up with the pace.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. Cheating is lying. It dishonors God. Don’t do it. 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.” Please do your own work. There are no short cuts to a successful life and ministry. Do the work. Laziness and lack of character will catch up with you somewhere. 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.Contact InfoI have an open door policy! 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. If you need anything, please communicate with me! Emailmike.lester@wcbc.edu Cell661.466.3429Office HoursIn office every weekday until 5pmProjectsSubmit in Canvas LMSMODULECLASSIFICATIONTOPICSASSIGNMENTSPOINTS1Sept 5-11BACKGROUNDSSyllabusIntertestamentalPolitical HistoryGreco-Roman Religions and PhilosophiesFirst Century JudaismClass IntroductionsDiscussion Forum (DF) 1DF ResponsesRead Chapters 1-2Open Book Quiz55025102Sept 12-18GOSPELS / HISTORYMatthew-Mark-JohnThe Synoptic GospelsJohnDF 2 DF ResponsesRead Chapters 3-5, 7Open Book Quiz5025103Sept 19-25GOSPELS / HISTORYLuke-ActsLukeActsDF 3DF ResponsesRead Chapters 6, 8Open Book QuizBackground Paper Due5025104004Sept 26-Oct 2PAUL AND HIS LETTERSPaul, Apostle and TheologianGalatiansThessaloniansDF 4DF ResponsesRead Chapters 9-11Open Book Quiz5025105Oct 3-9PAUL AND HIS LETTERSCorinthiansRomansPrison EpistlesPastoral EpistlesDF 5DF ResponsesRead Chapters 12-15Open Book Quiz5025106October 10-16GENERAL EPISTLESHebrewsJamesPetrine Epistles / JudeDF 6DF ResponsesRead Chapters 16-18Open Book Quiz5025107October 17-23GENERAL EPISTLESCANONICITYJohannine EpistlesRevelationDF 7DF ResponsesRead Chapters 19-21Open Book Quiz502510TOTAL POINTS: 1000Paper Formatting RequirementsMarginsUse 1 inch on all 4 sides of the pageUse 1.5 inches left margin for papers that are boundFontWCBC designates 12-point Times New Roman for every paperFootnotes may use 10 or 12-point fontOnly one space follows terminating punctuation (periods, question marks, etc.)Line SpacingDouble space everything with the following exceptions which are single spaced:Blocked quotations Footnotes and bibliographic entriesOutline and Table of ContentsPage Numeration (optional, depending on project requirements)Header is to be set at 0.5 inches from the edge of the pageTitle page is page 1, but has no page number on itAll pages after the title page have page numbers on the bottom right hand side of the pageSection TitlesThere are several kinds of pages that require titles: outline, table of contents, body of paper, bibliography, and appendix Titles are to be centered and in boldface and use headline-style capitalizationTitles longer than 4.5 inches are split into two double-spaced lines with first line longerThere are to be exactly two blank lines beneath the title on any page that has one Outline Page (optional depending on project requirements) Project or paper title at the top, centered and in boldface with headline-style capitalizationIf a thesis statement is required, it is single-spaced with the first line not indented, and followed by a blank line. The first word should be Thesis: (in italics as shown here)Outline (optional)Requires at least 2 points on any levelSingle-spaced entire outline, even between Roman numeral main pointsLeft align each level of the outlineSub-level, left edge must align with first word of preceding levelBody Double spaced lines First line of a paragraph is indented an extra 0.5 inchesText after blocked quotations that continues the paragraph should not be indentedThere should not be an extra space after paragraphs Blocked QuotationsUse for quotations requiring more than 4 lines of textYou may use blocked formatting with shorter quotations for emphasis or comparisonSingle space lines Indent 0.5 inches from left margin (which lines it up with the first line of paragraph)Indent another 0.5 inches for the first lines of paragraphs within the blocked quotationDoes not require quotation marks or italicsFootnotes Use a superscript reference in body of paper immediately after quotation mark, blocked quotation, or ending punctuation mark of a paraphrase or summary – no space. Either 10 or 12 point font is acceptable WCBC has designated to use ibid when the footnote is referring to the source in the immediately preceding footnoteThe page number is not required if they are identical to the page(s) in previous footnoteCare must be taken when using a word processor that automatically places footnotes in paper.Bibliography Every citation must appear in the bibliography You may have other sources, not cited, that appear in the bibliographyTitle it Bibliography, not Works CitedBibliography Entries Standard position of information is Author (last, first). Source. Date. You may omit publishing company if not known Dates are to be American format (Month Day, Year) Entries are to be alphabetized by the authors last name For Turabian questions: paper must cite at least five credible sources from both journal and printed materials. Internet sources should be used in addition to five required sources, unless pre-approved by instructorAvoid using .org sites, additionally, .com sites would not be considered credible sources Bible and class notes do not count as one of your five sources, though you may include if helpful. Style Contractions are never to be used in formal writingUse only third person pronouns (one, someone, anyone, etc.) – Never use I, we, or us…Refrain from using common idioms or phrases (such as, “kick the bucket,” “at the drop of a hat,” “off their rocker,” “see eye to eye,” etc.) Periods and commas always go inside quotation marks Avoid slang or informal words Numbers from one to ninety-nine should be spelled out, not written as numerals When quoting Scripture, references should be written out as Book Chapter:Verse, in numerals. (This professor also allows the format Book Chapter.Verse as well – Genesis 1.1) At the end of a verse, putting the reference in parentheses would be appropriateGenesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God…” or “In the beginning God…” (Genesis 1.1).Special Requirements Every paper should include a title page Provide the word count at the end of research papers, two lines beneath the last paragraphProjects are uploaded through the Canvas LMSSelected BibliographyBlomberg, Craig L. Jesus and the Gospels: An Introduction and Survey. Nashville: Broadman and Holman, 1997.Bruce, F. F. Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1977. . The Canon of Scripture. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1988.Elwell, Walter A. and Robert W. Yarbrough. Encountering the New Testament: A Historical and Theological Survey, 2nd Edition. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2005.Ferguson, Everett. Backgrounds of Early Christianity. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1987. Gundry, Robert H. A Survey of the New Testament. 3rd Edition. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994. Jeffers, James S. The Greco-Roman World of the New Testament Era: Exploring the Background of Early Christianity. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999.Scott, J. Julius. Jewish Backgrounds of the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1995. ................
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