NT503/623 Syllabus Daniel M. Gurtner, PhD
Spring, 2010 Bethel Seminary (St Paul)
Thursday, 8 am to 12 noon
Office phone: 651.638.6102
Office: 213
Office Hours: TBA
Teaching Assistant
TA: Dieudonné Tamfu
NT503/623
Hebrews through Revelation
Course Description (from catalogue): A consideration of historical and critical problems, a survey of contents, and exposition of selected passages [in Hebrews through Revelation]. Prerequisite: BT501/BI501 (Hermeneutics); recommended prerequisite: NT501 (The Gospels) and NT502 (Acts and Pauline Letters). Four hours.
Course Objectives:
At the end of this course the student should have acquired the following:
1. Growth in our relationship with Jesus Christ through careful, deliberate study of God’s Word (cf. Heb 4.12).
2. Growth in our capacity to rightly handle the Word of truth (2 Tim 2.15).
3. Habits of worshipful exegesis that is both rigorous and fruitful (cf. Col 3.17).
4. A thorough knowledge of the text and content of Hebrews through Revelation.
5. Familiarity with and ability to analyze critically the introductory issues pertaining to the NT books Hebrews through Revelation.
6. Knowledge about the theological contents of Hebrews through Revelation that will provide a context for doing exegetical work in those books for preaching and teaching.
7. "Hands on" experience in exegeting an important passage in Hebrews through Revelation learning in the process a methodology for exegesis.
8. Hermeneutical sensitivity in the appropriation of Biblical texts to contemporary Christians.
Required Textbooks:
Bauckham, Richard J. The Theology of the Book of Revelation. Cambridge: CUP, 1993. ISBN 0521356911. Retail $22.99. 185 pp. (Bauckham)
Carson, D. A. and Douglas Moo. Introduction to the New Testament. 2d ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005. ISBN 0310238595. Retail $39.99 (CM).
Lane, William L. Hebrews: A Call To Commitment. Regent College Publishing, 2004. ISBN 1573832952. Retail $18.95. 189 pp. (Lane)
Recommended Textbook:
Martin, Ralph R. and Peter H. Davids. Dictionary of the Later New Testament and Its Developments. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1997. ISBN 0830817794. Retail $50.00. (DLNTID)
Course Requirements:
1. Attendance (no grade) Regular attendance is assumed. Repeated absence or tardiness will adversely affect your grade. Students are responsible for any information conveyed in class that pertains to assignments, readings, or anything having to do with the course. I.e., if you must miss class, find out from someone what you missed. If you are between grades at the end of the term, your presence and participation will be used to determine whether your grade is rounded up or down.
2. Worksheets (30%): There will be 5 worksheets through the duration of the course. Your lowest score of the five will be dropped. Each assignment will be provided on blackboard with audio instructions. Please submit these assignments to Dan via blackboard’s ‘grade book’, naming the file with your last name and the worksheet number. So, Joan Smith’s Worksheet #2 will be “Smith2.doc”. Each worksheet should take you about three (3) hours. Some of you will take less time, some of you more. Each assignment must be turned in via blackboard before the class begins on the day it is due. Each of these worksheets will employ various aspects of exegesis that will be used in your final exegetical paper. I will grade them and return them to you so that you can learn from my comments for the final paper. Should you simply choose not to do one of the five worksheets and drop that one, that is entirely your choice. However, please note that you are still expected to use the method it demonstrates in the final exegetical paper.
3. Reading Report (20%) At the end of the term you will submit a reading report, available in MSWord on blackboard. For the reading report you must complete the form indicating the amount of reading you have completed. Note: no credit is given for skimming. Only half credit is given for reading completed late. Please download the “Reading Report” form (in MS Word format) and use it to keep your record of your reading throughout the term. It will be due at the same time as your Exegesis Paper. Note also, some days have more readings due than others. It is up to the student to spread out the readings in their own schedule so as not to be overloaded on any particular day. Please submit this assignment via blackboard. Please note that some audio material for the course is counted as ‘reading’ and is listed on the reading report. The report is in two parts:
a. Scheduled readings: These readings correspond to the reading schedule below. Full credit will only be given for reading done by the due date. Half credit will be given for reading completed late. No credit is given for skimming. Please have reading done prior to the beginning of class on the day for which it is scheduled.
b. Unscheduled readings: The following readings can be completed at your leisure. The only requirement is that they be completed by the end of the course:
CM on “New Testament Canon” (pp. 726-43; 17pp)
CM on “Thinking about the Study of the New Testament” (pp. 23-76; 53pp).
Fee, Gordon D. “Exegesis and Spirituality: Reflections on Completing the Exegetical
Circle.” Crux XXXI/4 (1995): 29-35 (6pp). NOTE: This must be read prior to
beginning research on the exegesis paper. It is posted on blackboard under
‘course documents’.
c. The reading report is due to be submitted via blackboard’s gradebook by FRIDAY, JUNE 4 (midnight, Central time).
4. Quizzes (25%): There will be 6 (six) quizzes, one on each week marked below just on the biblical book(s) for that week. Each quiz will ask very specific questions on details in the text and will include a section on Scripture memory. A list of the verses to be memorized is provided on blackboard. There will be several verses to be memorized for each quiz, but only one will be asked of you. Note that these quizzes are not cumulative. You may also be asked to complete a given verse, or provide the contents of a given chapter of a biblical book. Students are encouraged to study for these quizzes in groups and to prayerfully seek God through the study of the Scriptures. The scriptures are listed in NIV. You may memorize from the following translations: NIV, RSV, ESV, NRSV, NAS. If you would like to use another translation, you must get the instructor’s permission first. There is a sample quiz posted on blackboard for you to see specifically what these quizzes look like as you prepare for them. Your lowest quiz score will be dropped. You will take the quiz online. Naturally, your integrity in completing the quiz is assumed. Allow yourself about 30 minutes of uninterrupted time, with no notes, books, bibles, etc., to take each quiz. Each quiz is due by the beginning of the class for which it is due. Quizzes should average 5 hours of preparation time – some more, some less.
5. Extra Credit. Note: to qualify for this extra credit, you must complete all of the required reading first (even if the required reading is finished late).
a. You can earn ½ point for every passage of Scripture you memorize from Hebrews through Revelation, up to five (5) points. This will be added to your lowest, non-dropped worksheet The translation you use and how many verses constitute a “passage” are both your choice. You may account for this additional work on your final reading report. Please record this extra credit on your reading report.
b. You can earn three (3) points added to your lowest, non-dropped Quiz by reading Gordon D. Fee, New Testament Exegesis: A Handbook for Students and Pastors. Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1993, or latest edition. “Introduction” (pp. 27-33), “Chapter I. Guide to Full Exegesis” (pp. 34-61). This pagination is keyed to the “Revised” (1993) edition. To get this extra credit, you must read all of this prior to work on the exegesis paper. You can indicate this reading on the reading report due the end of class.
c. You can earn 2 extra credit points on your exegesis paper simply by memorizing the text in the NAS. You would indicate that you have done this at the end of your exegetical paper itself.
6. Exegetical Research Paper (25%): You will write an exegetical paper on one of the following passages:
1. Hebrews 10:19-25
2. James 3:13-18
3. 1 Peter 1:13-15
4. 1 John 4:1-3
5. Revelation 21:1-4
You will find extensive instructions, including sample papers, of what is expected of you for this project on blackboard. For the present, it would be helpful for you to examine these texts and decide on a passage now. Please submit this assignment to Dan via blackboard in a single MS Word document. It is strongly recommended, though not required, that you choose a text early in the course and memorize it in the NAS. You will earn 2 extra credit points on the paper simply by memorizing the text! This paper is due to be submitted by FRIDAY, JUNE 4 (midnight, Central time) via blackboard.
a. For those taking this course for NT503 credit, your paper must be 2000-2500 words in length.
b. For those taking this course for NT623 credit, your paper must be 3000-3500 words in length.
7. Late policy: Make sure that you plan ahead and turn in work on time. No late work will be accepted, except in the most extreme circumstances and at the discretion of the instructor. If you are not going to be in class make arrangements to have your assignment in on time.
8. Use of Greek: It is assumed that if you have taken Greek, that you will use it extensively throughout the course. The font to be used is SPIonic, which you can get online at www.sbl-site.org.
9. Upper-Level Elective Credit: For those taking this course for upper-level elective credit (registered as NT623), the difference between what you are doing and those taking it for NT503 credit is that your paper must be longer (see exegesis paper above). This is the only difference between NT503 and NT623.
Course Grading Scale:
95-100 = A 91-92 = B+ 83-84 = C+ 75-76 = D+ 69 and below = F
93-94 = A- 87-90 = B 79-82 = C 72-74 = D 85-86 = B- 77-78 = C- 70-71 = D-
Academic Course Policies
(Please see catalog for full range of requirements.):
1. Academic Integrity (88-9): “Written material submitted must be the original work of the student. Academic dishonesty constitutes a serous violation of scholarship standards at Bethel and can result in denial of credit and possible dismissal from the school. Any act that involves misrepresentation regarding the student’s academic work is forbidden. Academic dishonesty includes cheating on assignments or exams, plagiarism, fabrication of research, multiple submissions of work in different courses, misrepresentation of academic records, the facilitation of academic dishonesty, and depriving others of necessary academic resources.”
2. Course Papers (90):
· “All assigned course and term papers in all degree programs (with the exception of those in Marriage and Family Studies) are to be submitted in thesis form in conformity with the most recent edition of Kate Turabian’s A Manual for Writers…Students submitting papers in the Marriage and Family Studies and Marital and Family Therapy programs should follow the requirements of the fifth edition of The Publication Manual of the America Psychological Association.”
· “In addition, students are expected to use inclusive language.”
3. Grades (91): “Grades will be assigned using the full range of letter grades (A-F), representing the following levels of performance:
A Excellent work submitted; evidence of outstanding ability to synthesize and use course knowledge; consistent evidence of creativity and originality; insightful contributions in class; consistent demonstration of integrative and critical thinking skills; regular class attendance; and respectful interaction.
B Good work submitted; evidence of substantial ability to analyze and use course knowledge; evidence of creativity and originality; thoughtful contributions in class; demonstration of integrative and critical thinking skills; regular class attendance; and respectful interaction.
C Acceptable work submitted; evidence of adequate ability to analyze and use course knowledge; appropriate contributions in class; attempts at integration and critique; regular class attendance; and respectful interaction.
D Poor work submitted; little evidence of ability to analyze and use course knowledge; inconsistent evidence of mastery of course content; few contributions in class; no attempts at integration and critique; inconsistent class attendance; and respectful interaction.
F Inadequate work submitted; insufficient evidence of ability to analyze and use course knowledge; inappropriate and/or disrespectful contributions in class; poor class attendance; or failure to complete course requirements.”
4. Incomplete Course Work (92): “Students are expected to submit all work by the dates set by the course instructors and complete all course requirements on or before the last day of the quarter. The grade ‘Incomplete’ is temporary and will be granted only in unusual circumstances (such as serious illness or critical emergencies) and will not be considered for a student who is simply behind in the assignments.”
5. Harassment Policies (93): “Bethel Seminary is committed to providing a Christ-centered community where students, faculty, and staff can work together in an atmosphere free from all forms of harassment, exploitation, or intimidation, including racial and sexual harassment. All members of the Bethel community are expected to educate themselves about sexual and racial harassment.”
6. Accessibility: Please contact the instructor as soon as possible if disability-related accommodations are needed. Accommodations for students with documented disabilities are set up through the office of Disability Services. Contact Kathy McGillivray, director of Disability Services, at (651) 635-8759.
Class Schedule: with approximate times in parentheses. NOTE: times are only approximate for an average student to get an average grade (average grade, as per the Seminary catalogue, is a C). Students may take more or less time on each assignment, depending on his/her strengths and abilities.
Week 1: April 1, 2010
Class: Discuss syllabus 4 hrs