New Testament Survey

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THE NEW TESTAMENT: CONFLICT AND KINGDOM

An overview of the historical, cultural, social and political backdrop against which the New Testament documents were written. There will be particular emphasis on the following themes:

  • PATRONAGE AND RECIPROCITY

  • GRACE AND GENEROSITY

  • HONOR AND SHAME

  • PURITY AND POLLUTION/CLEAN AND UNCLEAN

  • EMPIRE AND KINGDOM

  • KINSHIP AND COMMUNITY

  • MAN AND WOMAN AS CO-HEIRS OF A NEW KINGDOM

  • SACRED SPACE AND IDENTITY

We will also cover material from the Gospels, Acts, Revelation, Hebrews and the balance of the NT, principally against the context and themes listed above. Particular focus will be on the challenges faced by the early christians as they were pledging loyalty and allegiance to a new King and a new Community.

Upon completion students should be able to describe the milieu into which Jesus came and how the early christians struggles and victories teach and inspire us to live our lives to the glory of God and in unfailing loyalty to the Eternal King.

MONDAY SCHEDULE:

9:00AM - 10:00AM. Introduction, Class Expectations, Preparing the World for the Coming of the Kingdom

10:15AM- 11:15AM. Women and Jesus

11:30AM-12:20PM. Patronage and Reciprocity, a Roman Paradigm

LUNCH

2:00PM-2:45PM. Honor and Shame

3:00PM-3:45PM. Grace, Reciprocity, and Generosity

4:00PM-4:45PM. Purity and Pollution, a Jewish Paradigm

TUESDAY SCHEDULE:

9:00AM - 10:00AM. Timeline of the New Testament

10:15AM- 11:15AM. Women and Paul

11:30AM-12:20PM. Sacred Space and Identity

LUNCH

2:00PM-2:45PM. Empire with a New King

3:00PM-3:45PM. Kinship and Community

3:45PM-4:15PM. Questions and Reponses

PRE-CLASS VIDEO LECTURES:

To Make Sessions more interactive, we're asking everyone to watch these video lectures prepared by the THE BIBLE PROJECT, BEFORE you attend the class.

Required Reading (and Watching):

The New Testament (within twelve months of taking the course)

the Bible Project on YouTube:

  • 32 Videos in the “Read Scripture - New Testament” Playlist

  • and Biblical Themes videos on

    • Messiah

    • Holy Spirit

    • Gospel of the Kingdom

    • Son of Man (total of 36 videos to be completed BEFORE attending first class)

Extra Credit Reading:

A New Testament Introduction by David De Silva

Any ONE of the other titles listed below.

WRITTEN EXERCISES: TO BE COMPLETED ON THE FINAL DAY OF CLASS

1. DISCUSS THE “DANCE OF GRACE” AND HOW RECIPROCITY AND “CHARIS” FUNCTIONED IN THE BROADER ROMAN CULURE, CITING AN EXAMPLE IF POSSIBLE. NOW CONNECT THIS PRINCIPLE TO THE NT AND EXPLAIN ITS USE AND APPLICATION FOR A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST.

2. DISCUSS THE INFLUENCE AND IMPACT OF EMPEROR WORSHIP ON THE CHURCHES IN THE NT. CITE SCRIPTURE AND CHURCHES BY NAME. DRAW AN APPLICATION TO THE MODERN CHURCH.

3. DISCUSS KINSHIP AND COMMUNITY FROM A NT PERSPECTIVE. DEVELOP A SHORT ESSSAY CITING WHAT YOU CONSIDER TO BE PRIME EXAMPLES OF THE PRINCIPLE IN THE NT. HOW DOES THIS ELEVATE YOUR VIEW OF THE COMMUNITY OF CHRIST? OF “MEMBERSHIP”?

 4. DESCRIBE THE JEWISH WORLD INTO WHICH JESUS ENTERED, LISTING SOME OF THE POLITICAL, SOCIAL, AND POLITICAL REALITIES HE FACED. NOW, CONSIDER HIS “KINGSHIP” AGAINST THAT BACKDROP. CITE NT PASSAGES THAT ILLUSTRATE THIS STRUGGLE WITH THE MESSIANIC EXPECTATIONS THAT WERE UPON HIM.

5: SELECT TWO “DIFFICULT” TEXTS THAT DEAL WITH THE WOMENS ROLE IN THE CHURCH. DISCUSS THE RELEVANT CULTURAL, POLITICAL OR ECONOMIC REALITIES OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE, AND HOW THOSE REALTIES SHAPE OR RESHAPE YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE TEXT.

6: CHOOSE A NT PASSAGE THAT ILLUSTRATES WHAT IT MEANS TO HONOR GOD. DISCUSS THE IDEA OF “HONOR” AND THE DIFFERENCE YOU FIND BETWEEN THE BIBLICAL IDEA AND THE MODERN VIEW OF “RESPECT”

SCRIPTURE BANK:

Find the attached file on 100 Useful New Testament Scriptures. You will be responsible for memorizing the basic Topic/Content and Book&Chapter (not the specific verses) of each passage.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS:

There will be multiple choice questions based on the scripture memory and the bible project videos.

SLIDE DECKS

Click here for the NT Survey Powerpoint Presentations that have been used in past classes.