Content

This unit aims to provide students with a comprehensive overview of the formation, socio-historical setting and literary forms of the New Testament literature. Whilst studying the various books of the New Testament, students will be introduced to contemporary methods of critical biblical interpretation. The theological issues of these writings will also be explored.

Unit code: BN1000Y

Unit status: Approved (Major revision)

Points: 18.0

Unit level: Undergraduate Level 1

Unit discipline: New Testament

Delivery Mode: Blended

Proposing College: Yarra Theological Union

Show when this unit is running

Learning outcomes

1.

List key factors of the social, historical and political milieu of the first century CE

2.

Describe the relationship between New Testament texts and the Old Testament and articulate implicit and explicit intertextual references

3.

Discuss issues associated with the critical attitude towards Judaism in some of these texts

4.

Describe and discuss the formation of these texts as the source documents of the early Christian communities

5.

Identify and utilise the materials that assist New Testament interpretation, particularly by writing exegetical papers and an exegetical essay

Pedagogy

Lectures, tutorials, and class discussions

Indicative Bibliography

Set Text:

  • Perkins, Pheme. Reading the New Testament. 3rd ed. Revised and Updated. New York: Paulist, 2012. (recommended for purchase, available through Amazon or Book Depository)
  • Boring, Eugene. An Introduction to the New Testament: History, Literature, Theology. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2012.
  • Brown, Raymond E. An Introduction to the New Testament. New York: Doubleday, 1997.
  • Gundry, Robert H. A Survey of the New Testament. 4th ed. Grand Rapids, MI Zondervan, 1994.
  • Johnson, Luke Timothy. The Writings of the New Testament: An Interpretation. 3rd. ed. Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress, 2010.
  • Malina, Bruce J., and Richard L. Rohrbaugh. Social-Science Commentary on the Synoptic Gospels. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 1992.
  • ––––––. Social Science Commentary on the Gospel of John. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 1998.
  • Moloney, Francis J. A Friendly Guide to the New Testament. Mulgrave, VIC: John Garratt Publishing, 2010..
  • Powell, Mark Allen. Introducing the New Testament: A Historical, Literary and Theological Survey. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2009.
  • Rhoads, David M., Joanna Dewey, and Donald M. Michie. Mark as Story: Introduction to the Narrative of a Gospel. 2nd ed. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 1999.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Exegetical Essay

1000 word exegetical essay

1000 20.0
Exegetical Essay

1000 word exegetical essay

1000 20.0
Essay

2000 word essay

2000 60.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Maggie Kappelhoff on 30 Aug, 2021

Unit record last updated: 2021-08-30 13:12:02 +1000