Course Syllabus

Introduction to the New Testament

Sarcophage des époux

Instructor: Micah Saxton, Justin Barber Office Hours: Tuesdays, 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.,*
Emailmsaxton@iliff.edu, jbarber@iliff.edu   and by appointment on
Phone: (720) 254-1567   Google Hangout 
Message or email jbarber@iliff.edu during this time to initiate a hangout.

This course introduces the literature of Christian origins that begins with a look at the context out of which the New Testament emerged and then turns to the earliest extant texts, including Paul's letters, the Gospels, Acts, and post-Pauline epistles. In addition, this course will survey (most of) the texts of the New Testament (and a few texts outside the New Testament) and will seek to place them in their specific historical and cultural contexts. Furthermore, this course aims to give students skills that will allow them to interpret these texts responsibly and with methodologies that have proved useful for contemporary audiences. Introduction to the New Testament fulfills the breadth requirement for Sacred Texts.

Books for the Course

Required

  • Marc Brettler and Amy-Jill Levine (eds.), The Jewish Annotated New Testament (Oxford, 2011). ISBN: 978-0195297706. You may also want a study Bible (such as the most recent HarperCollins Study Bible, ISBN: 978-0060786847), although the latter is not required. The Jewish Annotated New Testament already contains the text of the NRSV and is quite adequate as a New Testament.
  • Bart Ehrman, The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings (Fifth Edition; Oxford, 2012). ISBN: 978-0199757534.
  • Pamela Eisenbaum, Paul Was Not A Christian (HarperOne, 2010). ISBN: 978-0061349911.
  • Krister Stendahl, The Final Account: Paul’s Letter to the Romans (Fortress, 1995). ISBN: 978-0800629229.
  • L. Michael White, Scripting Jesus: The Gospels in Rewrite (HarperOne, 2010). ISBN: 0061228796.

Recommended

  • Kurt Aland (ed.), Synopsis of the Four Gospels (Revised 1982; English only; American Bible Society, 2010). ISBN: 978-1585169429. This book is HIGHLY recommended. We will make substantial use of the synopsis in class, but I will also provide copies of the relevant pericopes online.
  • Brian Blount et al., True to Our Native Land: An African American Commentary on the New Testament (Fortress, 2007). ISBN: 978-1585169429.
  • Carol A. Newsom, Sharon H. Ringe, and Jacqueline E. Lapsley (eds.), Women’s Bible Commentary (Third Edition Revised and Updated; Westminster/John Knox, 2012). ISBN: 978-0664237073.

See Taylor Library's list of online book sellers for purchasing options.

Course Goals
Course Outcomes
Course Requirements
Policies And Services

Course Summary:

Date Details Due