The Spirituality of the New Testament (BN9400T)

Postgraduate, 24.0 points

Content

This unit explores the diversity of New Testament spirituality across the Gospels, the Epistles and the Book of Revelation. It examines themes such as faith and prayer in the context of New Testament theology, seeing the points of connection and the differences across the New Testament canon. It explores the possible social and religious contexts out of which different New Testament spiritualities arise. It explores the connection between New Testament spirituality and New Testament theology. It examines the way in which spirituality changes and develops for changing contexts within the New Testament world. In the light of this, the unit explores the implications this might have for the way we read the New Testament as spirituality for today.

Unit code: BN9400T

Unit status: Archived (New unit)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Elective

Unit discipline: New Testament

Delivery Mode: Face to Face

Proposing College: Trinity College Theological School

Show when this unit is running

Learning outcomes

1.

Describe and outline the breadth of New Testament spirituality
2.

Appraise the social and religious influences shaping New Testament spirituality
3.

Articulate theories of the relationship between theology and spirituality in the New Testament
4.

Articulate various definitions of Christian spirituality and its relationship to faith, prayer, discipleship and community
5.

Analyse the concerns of contemporary hermeneutics and propose ways of interpreting New Testament spirituality for today
6.

Construct advanced theological arguments

Unit sequence

30 points at Foundation level

Pedagogy

Lectures, seminars, discussions

Indicative Bibliography

  • Barton, S.C. The Spirituality of the Gospels. London: SPCK, 1992.
  • Bouyer, L. The Spirituality of the New Testament and the Fathers. History of Christian Spirituality, vol. 1. New York: Desclée, 1963.
  • Cox, M. Handbook of Christian Spirituality. 2nd ed. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1985.
  • Cunningham, L.S. & K.J. Egan, Christian Spirituality. Themes from the Tradition. New York: Paulist, 1996.
  • Davies, O. & D. Turner, eds., Silence and the Word. Negative Theology and Incarnation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002.
  • Hagner, D.A. The New Testament. A Historical and Theological Introduction. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2012.
  • Lee, D.A. Hallowed in Truth and Love: Spirituality in the Johannine Literature. Mosaic/Wipf & Stock: Melbourne/Oregon, 2012. (recommended for purchase)
  • Lee, D.A. Transfiguration. London/New York: Continuum, 2004.
  • Lescher, B.H. & E. Liebert, eds. Exploring Christian Spirituality. Essays in Honor of Sandra M. Schneiders. New York: Paulist, 2006.
  • Powell, S.M. A Theology of Christian Spirituality. Nashville: Abingdon, 2005.
  • Sheldrake, P.F. Explorations in Spirituality: History, Theology, and Social Practice. New York: Paulist, 2010.
  • Schneiders, S.M. The Revelatory Text: Interpreting the New Testament as Sacred Scripture. New York: Harper, 1999. (recommended for purchase)
  • Schnelle, U. Theology of the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2009.
  • Wright, N.T., Pauline Perspectives. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 2013.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Journal

journal, equivalent of 1,000 words

 0 15.0
Essay

Essay of 2,500 words on using the New Testament in contemporary spirituality

 0 45.0
Essay

Essay of 2,500 words on an aspect of New Testament spirituality

 0 40.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by John Capper on 1 Nov, 2014

Unit record last updated: 2020-10-28 14:50:33 +1100