BI  451: New Testament Theology Dr. Brian K. Peterson Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Columbia, South Carolina

Course Description and Goals:

This course is a study of New Testament theology as a pastoral discipline. The course will:
 

1. Explore the diversity within the major New Testament witnesses (particular attention will be paid to issues of Christology, eschatology, and ecclesiology).
2. Search for unity within the diversity of the NT.
3. Examine the origin, presuppositions, history, and methods of New Testament theology, as well as the relationship between the discipline of New Testament theology and systematics, homiletics, and pastoral ministry.
4. Assist the student in the formation of his/her own biblical-theological perspective.
5. Strengthen the integration of the New Testament's message and the practice of ministry.

   Textbooks:

1. Each student will read both of the following books:

• Frank J. Matera, New Testament Christology. Louiseville: Westminster John Knox, 1999.
• John Carroll, The Return of Jesus in Early Christianity. Hendrickson, 2000.
• David L. Bartlett, Ministry in the New Testament. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1993.

3. During this term, students are expected to read (again!) in English translation the entire New Testament; these readings are included in the course schedule below. Please bring an English Bible and Greek New Testament to each class session. With respect to this portion of the course's expectations, consider the following:

[Meditate on scripture]..." not only in your heart, but also externally, by actually repeating and comparing oral speech and literal words of the book, reading and rereading them with diligent attention and reflection, so that you may see what the Holy Spirit means by them. And take care that you do not grow weary or think that you have done enough when you have read, heard, and spoken them once or twice, and that you then have complete understanding. You will never be a particularly good theologian if you do that, for you will be like untimely fruit which falls to the ground before it is half-ripe." (Martin Luther, "Preface to the Wittenberg Edition of Luther’s German Writings, " Luther’s Works Vol. 34, p. 286)

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  Class Procedure and Requirements:

1. Each week the class will meet for two 50-minute sessions of lecture & response. Students are expected to have read the assigned material, and come ready to respond to it and the lecture material with questions, challenges, and other edifying observations.

2. The class will meet in small discussion groups for one 50-minute session each week. These discussions will focus on the notebook readings. A question or two will often be suggested as a place to start the conversation (though not limiting discussion to that issue). The questions for discussion will be distributed by campus e-mail. Students should come to these discussions ready to engage in informed dialog with each other about those readings and the issues they raise.

3. Three papers will be written. The first paper will deal with Christology (8-10 double-spaced pages, due October 2). The second paper will focus on one of the prominent scholars in the discipline of New Testament Theology (6-8 double-spaced pages, due Oct 30). The final paper will be selected by the student from a list of possible topics involving the unity and authority of the New Testament within the diversity of its witnesses (12-14 double-spaced pages, due on the final day of class, December 4).

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  Grading:
 
 

Preparation & Participation	100 points
Christology paper	100 points
Paper on New Testament Theologian	100 points
Final paper	200 points

350 pts required to pass the course (70%)

This system of "points" is designed to give some idea of the relative importance of these assignments, and to provide some degree of "objectivity" in grading that is inherently subjective. Students should NOT assume that a paper only partially completed will receive at least a portion of the credit, and the professor always reserves the right to decide that a particular effort is not acceptable and to require it to be finished / redone rather than awarding a less-than-passing proportion of the points available (i.e., if you only need 50 points on the final paper to pass the course, don't try to write half a paper and argue that you should get enough points to pass the course!).

More than four absences will jeopardize the students grade for this course. Students should let me know as soon as possible about unavoidable absences.
 

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