Purpose of the Course: An analysis of the books of the New Testament which have raised universal value issues.

Required Texts: Introduction to the Bible by John H. Hayes (Philadelphia: The Westminster Press) and The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha, New Revised Standard Version (NY: Oxford University Press).

Course Outline:

A. A General Introduction to the Study of the New Testament
    1. The Significance of the New Testament
    2. Various Views of the Origin and Nature of the New Testament
    3. The Biblical World, Including Its Greco-Roman and Jewish Cultures
Readings: Introduction to the Bible by John H. Hayes, Chapters 1-3, 16

B. In Quest of the Historical Jesus
    1. Ancient Roman and Jewish Sources
    2. The Synoptic Problem
    3. Form Critical View of the Gospels
Readings: Hayes, Chapter 17

C. Levels of Understanding Human Existence Found in the Primitive Christian Community
    1. Jesus as the Messiah
    2. The Major Teachings of Jesus
    3. The Impact of Jesus’ Death
    4. The Importance of Jesus’ Resurrection
    5. The Life and Faith of the Early Church
Readings: Hayes, Chapters 18 and 19 and The Gospel According to Mark and Acts, chs. 1-12

D. Greco-Roman Human Values Reflected in the New Testament Writings
    1. The Environment of Hellenistic Christianity
    2. Paul’s Teachings About Faith
    3. Paul’s Teachings About Human Freedom
    4. The Eschatology of Paul
    5. Paul’s Teachings About Morality
     6. Paul’s Teachings About Human Life
    7. The Centrality of Love in the Christian Ethic
Readings: Hayes, Chapter 20 and Acts, chs. 13 to 28, Galatians, I and II Thessalonians, I and II Corinthians, Romans, Philippians, Philemon, Colossians and Ephesians

E. Other Views of Human Existence Reflected in the New Testament Writings
    1. The Continuity Between Jewish and Christian Human Values
    2. The Concept of New Life in Human Existence
Readings: Hayes, Chapter 21 and The Gospels of Matthew, Luke and John

F. Human Conflict and Consolidation
    1. The Fate of Jewish Christianity
    2. Christian and Roman Values in Conflict
    3. Different Christian Views of Eschatology
    4. Orthodoxy vs. Heresy
    5. The Institutional Church
Readings: Hayes, Chapter 22 and Hebrews, James, I, II Peter, Revelation, the pastoral epistles (I and II Timothy, Titus), Jude, and the Johannine letters (I, II, III John)

Evaluation Procedure: The grade for this course will be the average grade achieved in the examinations given.  Three examinations are scheduled during the semester and an optional comprehensive examination during the semester final examination period.  Students with excused absences will be given  make-up exams.  However, all make-up exams will be essay style.

Students with Disabilities: Any student who, because of a disability, may require some special arrangements in order to complete course requirements should contact the instructor as soon as possible to make necessary accommodations.