Philosophy and Religion 236-001/002

Introduction to the New Testament

Fall Semester, 2007 - Randall Library Auditorium

Monday/Wednesday 2:00-3:15 PM

Course Syllabus

Instructor:

Dr. George T. Zervos
Office: Bear Hall, Room 270
Office Hours: Mon/Wed 12:00-1:00
E-mail: zervosg@uncw.edu

Textbook:

The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings
by Bart D. Ehrman (New York:  Oxford University Press, 2004, Third Edition)

Attendance:  Required

Consistent attendance and attention in class will be beneficial since exam questions are taken mostly from material referred to in class lectures. 

 Grading: Ten Point Grading System - Plus and Minus Will Be Used

30% - Exam #1 
30% - Exam #2
40% - Final Exam

NOTE: The Instructor reserves the right to Add or Deduct up to 10 points from individual students' final grades at his discretion based on his perception of their Class Attendance, Participation, and *Academic Attitude

*The purpose of this course is to examine the literature and history of earliest Christianity from the Academic-Scientific-Historical-Critical Perspective. Students are expected to approach this subject with an unbiased and non-confessional attitude. Students will be required to learn the scholarly viewpoints presented in the course, but not necessarily to accept them as their own. This course will have a Lecture/Discussion format. Students will be expected to have read the assigned materials before class as preparation for the issues to be discussed that day.

UNCW Mission Statement

"The college of arts and sciences, the professional schools, and the graduate school
seek to stimulate intellectual curiosity, imagination, critical thinking, and thoughtful expression
in a broad range of disciplines and professional fields."

DATES

ASSIGNMENTS

THEMES

Aug. 22W

Introduction

What is the New Testament? 

Aug. 27M/29W

Chapters 29, 1

Textual Criticism - "Canon"

Sep. 5W

Chapter 2

NT Backgrounds:  Greco-Roman Religion - Judaism

Sep. 10M/12W

Chapters 3, 4, 5

The Christian Gospels - The Gospel of Mark - Synoptic Apocalypse

Sep. 17M/19W

Chapters  6, 7

The Synoptic Problem - The Gospel of Matthew 

Sep. 24M/26W

Chapter 8

The Gospel of Luke

Oct. 1M/3W

Chapter 9

The Book of Acts

Oct. 10W

Chapters 1-9, 29

Exam #1 - Study Guide (Word File)

Oct. 15M/17W

Chapter 10, 10b

The Gospel of John - The Johannine Literature Web

Oct. 22M/24W

Chapter 11

The Johannine Epistles - Gnosticism

Oct. 29M/31W

Chapters 12, 13, 336

Historical Jesus Theories - Links - Early Christian Writings

Nov. 5M/7W

Chapters 14, 15

Asclepius - Jesus in Context - DSS

Nov. 12M/14W

Chapters 10-15

Exam #2 - Study Guide (Word File)

Nov. 26M/28W

Chapters 16

Jesus as Apocalyptic Prophet 

Dec. 3M/5W

Jesus

The Historical Jesus

Dec. 12 Wed. 3-6 pm

Final Examination

IN CLASS Short Essay - Bring Blue Book

Some Helpful Links for this Course:

The Five Gospel Parallels 
The Bible Gateway - The New Testament Gateway
The Society of Biblical Literature - Links to Biblical Studies Web Pages
My Early Christianity Web Page - The Journal of Higher Criticism

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

If you have a disability and need reasonable accommodation in this course, you should inform the instructor of this fact in writing within the first week of class or as soon as possible. If you have not already done so, you must register with the Office of Disability Services in Westside Hall (962-3746) and obtain a copy of your Accommodation Letter. You should then meet with the instructor to make mutually agreeable arrangements based on the recommendations of the Accommodation Letter.

zervosg@uncwil.edu

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