Philosophy and Religion 236-001

Introduction to the New Testament

Spring, 2010 - Tues./Thurs. 12:30-1:45 PM - Bear 261

Course Syllabus

Instructor:

Dr. George T. Zervos
Office: Bear Hall, Room 263
Office Hours: By Appointment
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, 4th edition, 2008)

Attendance:  Required

Roll will be taken consistently to enhance personal interaction between the instructor and the students and to reward students with excellent attendance (No more than two absences for the semester). More than two absences for the semester will have an incrementally detrimental effect on final grades. Students who come to class late will NOT be counted as present.

 Grading: Ten Point Grading System

Plus and Minus Will Be Employed
Blackboard Proficiency Required for the Course

20% - Exam #1 (Blackboard)
20% - Exam #2 (Blackboard)
20% - Exam #3 (Blackboard)
20% - Final Exam
20% - Blackboard Modules
The instructor reserves the right to add or deduct
up to 10 points from individual students' final grades
based on his perception of their academic attitude,* i.e.,
their willingness to engage in the scholarly academic process.

Exams 1, 2, and 3 are objective and will be conducted via Blackboard (BB login instructions - TAC Support). It will be the responsibility of each student to establish a link to the UNCW Blackboard Learning System and to familiarize themselves with this online testing system. The Final Exam will be a short essay and will be given in the Bear 261 classroom during the scheduled time. There will be four learning modules accessible to students on Blackboard, each of which will have an accompanying Blackboard Assessment; cumulatively the modules will represent 20% of the final grade.

By the end of this course students should be able to:

1. demonstrate the ability to think critically about the Christian Scriptures by examining, analyzing, and drawing appropriate conclusions about the authorship, date, provenance, sources, and purpose of the major New Testament documents.

2. develop a familiarity with the principles and methodologies of the academic approach in the investigation of important passages and topics in selected New Testament texts.

3. comprehend thoroughly the difference between the academic, scientific, historical-critical study of the New Testament as opposed to the faith-based, confessional approach.

*The purpose of this course is to examine the writings and history of early 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. Please read the disclaimer linked below carefully before continuing with this course. Your continuation in this course implies that you have read and accepted the principles stated in this disclaimer. If you have any questions concerning this policy, please feel free to discuss your concerns with the instructor before the withdrawal deadline.

Disclaimer --- UNCW Mission Statement --- UNCW Honor Code

Some Helpful Links for this Course:

The Five Gospel Parallels
The Bible Gateway - Concordance - The New Testament Gateway
The Society of Biblical Literature - Links to Biblical Studies Web Pages
The Jesus Seminar - 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.