Fordham Graduate School of Religion and Religious Education Summer 2015

10271 RLGR 6011-R01 Introduction to the New Testament

Giovanna Czander, PhD gczander@fordham.edu (914 714 4708)

Office Hours: 9:00 – 9:50 on each day of classes and by appointment

Class time: MTWRF 10:00 am - 4:30 pm (June 1 – June 5, 2015) Room: TBA

The course offers an overview of the New Testament in its historical, literary, cultural and theological contexts. The course will address questions on the development of the Christian canon, the historical Jesus, Paul the Apostle,

the early followers of Jesus. Students will be invited to a close reading of the primary texts and will learn to recognize various literary genres in the New Testament, their connections with the Old Testament, their enduring theological message and pastoral applications. Some discussion will be devoted also to methodological approaches to the study of the text. Students’ Learning Outcomes: 1) Students will demonstrate a knowledge of the New Testament in its historical, literary,

cultural, and theological contexts.

2) Students will demonstrate a knowledge of core theories, methods, and approaches to the New Testament.

3) Students will demonstrate an ability to identify and analyze the connections between New Testament texts and the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible.

4) Students will demonstrate knowledge of topics such as the development of the Christian canon, the historical Jesus, Paul the Apostle, the early followers of Jesus.

5) Students will demonstrate an ability to use an Ignatian reflective exegesis method in addition to contemporary methodological approaches to New Testament texts.

6) Students will demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the New Testament and their own practice of spiritual development.

7) Students will demonstrate a knowledge of the theological complexities of New Testament texts and an ability to relate them to their lives and ministries.

Readings:

The Bible (both Old and New Testament, in printed format) is the main text in this course and needs to be brought to every class. Failure to bring the Bible to class will affect participation.

Preferred are: New Revised Standard Version, New American Bible, Revised Standard Version, Oxford Annotated Study Bible.      

Mark Allan Powell, Introducing the New Testament: A Historical, Literary, and Theological Survey, Baker Academy, 2009. ISBN 978-0-8010-2868-7. This will be used as the main textbook. Additional articles and material will be posted on Blackboard.

Additional Textbooks you may want to purchase (on reserve at the Library):

Keith F. Nickle, The Synoptic Gospels: An Introduction, Westminster John Knox, 2001.

Raymond E. Brown, An Introduction to the New Testament, Doubleday, 1996.

Corrine L. Carvalho, Primer on Biblical Methods, Anselm Academic, 2009.

Marc Z. Brettler, Amy-Jill Levine (Eds.), The Jewish Annotated New Testament, Oxford University Press, 2011.

Assignments:

Students are expected to read the pages assigned in the syllabus before each class meets and to be prepared to discuss them in class. All readings from the Bible, as well as the secondary readings indicated in bold are mandatory. Since this is a very intensive course, all readings should be done before the beginning of the course.

Each class will have one or more New Testament focus texts which will be analyzed and discussed in depth during class.

There will be a take home final exam and a final paper, due on June 30, after the end of the course. Most of the learning, however, will take place during class discussions and activities and through reflections posted on Blackboard. Due to the highly interactive and intensive nature of the course, participation to all classes is mandatory and will be graded. On our last day we will attend a Sabbath Service at a local synagogue. Service begins usually around 7 pm.

Grading:

Participation and in-class written assignments 40% Final exam 30% Final paper 30%

Plagiarism:

Plagiarism is a serious offence and will not be tolerated. Should any assignment be plagiarized, the grade will be zero for the assignment and the plagiarizer reported to the Dean.

Class Schedule

Date Topics Readings

Monday 6/1

The New Testament: what is it and what’s in it? The world of the New Testament

Bible: Lk 24:1-53; Mt 1:1-17; 15:1-20; 16:1-13; 23:1-39; Mk 13:1-37; Lk 3:1-6

Powell, Ch 1-4

Tuesday 6/2 Keeping quiet about Jesus. The Gospel of Mark and the

Bible: Gospel of Mark, Gospel of Matthew

Messianic secret.

Rabbi Jesus and the Gospel of Matthew

Powell: Ch 5-6

Wednesday 6/3

The Gospel of Luke and Acts;

Paul the Apostle

Bible: Gospel of Luke, Acts

Powell, Ch 7, 11

Thursday 6/4 Paul and NT letters Bible: Romans, 1-2 Corinthians

Powell: Ch 12-14

Friday 6/5

Gospel of John

Revelation

Bible: Gospel of John; Revelation

Powell: Ch 8, 29