NT003-812 - New Testament Overview

  • 2,976 Standard Tuition Fee
  • 12
    Credit Points
  • 0.125 EFT 
  • 8
    AQF level
  • Category foundational unit
    A
  • New Testament Unit Discipline

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will

A. Know and understand

1. Demonstrate Advanced knowledge and understanding of the New Testament, including its contents, structure and themes.

B. Be able to

1. Critically Analyse the historical, socio-cultural and religious background of the New Testament

2. Critically Analyse the contents and distinctive features of selected books of the New Testament

3. Explain evidence-based perspectives on the content, structure and themes of the New Testament

C. Be in a position to

1. Apply knowledge and Critical thinking skills and perspectives from ‘New Testament Overview’ to contemporary Christian living and ministry practice

Content

Section A: The Gospels – An Introduction to the NT and the Ministry of Jesus

  1. An Introduction the NT – context, background, theology and hermeneutics.
  2. The Gospel of John
  3. The synoptic Gospels
    • Matthew
    • Mark
    • Luke

Section B: Acts to Revelation – The Birth of Christianity & The Epistles

  1. The continuing work of Jesus through the Acts of the Apostles (including/continuing on from the Gospel of Luke)
  2. Introduction to the NT letters – context, background, hermeneutics and ethics
  3. The Paul’s Letters with particular reference to the Letter to the Roman Church
  4. Hebrews and the Catholic Letter
  5. Revelation

Set Readings

This unit's indicative bibliography is currently being revised. Students should contact their home college for further details at the time of taking this unit.


Recommended:

Marshall, I. H., S. Travis and I. Paul, Exploring the New Testament: Volume 2 A guide to the letters and Revelation (Downers Grove, IL, IVP, 2002)

Wenham, D., and S. Walton, Exploring the New Testament: Volume 1 A guide to the Gospels and Acts (Downers Grove IL., IVP, 2001).

Wright, N.T. and M. Bird. The New Testament in its World. Rapids: Zondervan, 2019 

 

Atlases:

Bisco, T. (ed.) Holman Bible Atlas: A Complete Guide to the Expansive Geography of Biblical History (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Reference, 1999).

Braybrooke, M. and. J Harpur (eds), The Collegeville Atlas of the Bible (Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1999).

Dowley, T. and R. Scott, The Student Bible Atlas (Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 2005).

Lawrence, P., The Lion Atlas Of Bible History (Oxford: Lion Hudson, 2006).

 

Historic Background – The Gospels:

Bauckham, R. (ed), The Gospels for all Christians: Rethinking the Gospel Audiences (Grand Rapids, USA: Eerdmans, 1998).

Bockmuehl, M., The Cambridge Companion to Jesus (Cambridge: CUP, 2001).

Bock, D. L., Studying the Historical Jesus: A Guide to Sources and Methods (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2002).

Blomberg, C. L., Jesus and the Gospels (Leicester: Apollos, repr, 2002).

Dickson, J., The Christ Files; How Historians Know What They Know About Jesus (Sydney: Blue Bottle, 2006).

Harding, M. and A. Nobbs (eds), The Content and Setting of the Gospel Tradition (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2010).

Hultgren, A. J., The Parables of Jesus: A Commentary (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000).

Seccombe, D., The King of God’s Kingdom: A Solution to the Puzzle of Jesus (Carlisle: Paternoster, 2002).

Stanton, G. N., The Gospels and Jesus (Oxford Bible Series. 2nd ed.; New York: Oxford University Press, 2002).

 

Historic Background - NT:

Elwell, W. A. and R. W Yarbrough, Readings from the First- Century World; Primary Sources for New Testament Study (Includes CD-ROM) (2nd Edition. Grand Rapids, Baker Books, 2005).

Scott, J. J., Jewish Backgrounds of the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2000).

 

Hermeneutics and Ethics:

Fee, G., and  D. Stuart, How to Read the Bible for All It’s Worth (2nd ed, London, UK: Scripture Union, 1994).

Goldsworthy, G., Gospel-Centered Hermeneutics: Foundations and Principles of Evangelical Biblical Interpretation (Downers Grove: Illinois: IVP, 2006).

Hays, R. B., The Moral Vision of the New Testament: Community, Cross, New Creation, A Contemporary Introduction to New Testament Ethics (New York, NY: HarperCollins, 1996).

Roberts, V., God's Big Picture: Tracing the Storyline of the Bible (Downers Grove: Illinois: IVP, 2002).

Stassen, G. H. and D. P. Gushee, Kingdom Ethics: Following Jesus in Contemporary (Downers Grove: Illinois: IVP, 2003).

 

Internet Resources:

General

A range of resources available at 'The New Testament Gateway', http://www.ntgateway.com

 

Resource Pages for Biblical studies

Extensive links to online articles and websites about early Christian writings and their social context, http://www.torreys.org/bible/

 

Resources for Gospel Studies

A range of articles covering different opinions on Jesus, the Gospels, and early Christianity giving information on the background, history religious culture, and society

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/

 

Articles on the historical Jesus

http://www.bibleinterp.com/commentary/comment_HistoricalJesus.htm

 

Resources for Studies on Acts to Revelation - The Birth of Christianity & The Epistles

 

Chronology of Acts

A conservative, Acts based chronology with good interactive links to Bible references and information on the cities Paul visits.

http://unbound.biola.edu/acts/index.cfm?fuseaction=frames&lang=English Paul’s missionary journeys

 

Paul’s historical background

A good site with information on Paul’s historical background, life, epistles, theology and impact.  Bibliography and web links

http://thirdmill.org/resources-2/pauline-studies

By way of contrast, the “As Paul Tells It” website offers a chronology based on the epistles and takes a critical stance towards Acts.

http://www.paulonpaul.org/workshop/acts_source_1.htm

 

NT History:

Barnett, P., Paul: Missionary of Jesus, Vol 2 After Jesus (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, 2008).

Barnett, P., The Birth of Christianity: The First Twenty Years, Vol 1 After Jesus (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, 2005).

Barnett, P., Jesus and the Rise of Early Christianity: A History of New Testament Times (Downers Grove, Illinois: IVP).

 

NT Survey:

Achtemeier, P. J., J. B. Green and M. M. Thompson, Introducing the New Testament: Its literature and Theology (Grand Rapids, USA: Eerdmans, 2001).

Carson, D. A., D. J. Moo and L. Morris, An Introduction to the New Testament (2nd Edition. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2005).

Elwell, W. A. and  R. W. Yarborough, Encountering the New Testament (Includes CD-ROM) (2nd Edition. Grand Rapids, Baker Books, 2005).

 

New Testament Theology:

Brown, C. (ed.), The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1999).

Marshall, I. H., New Testament Theology: Many Witnesses, One Gospel (Downers Grove: IVP, 2004).

Ladd, G. E., A Theology of the New Testament (rev. ed.; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1994).

 

Reference Dictionaries:

Evans, C. A. and S. E. Porter (eds), Dictionary of New Testament Background (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2000).

Green, J. B., S. McKnight, S. and I. H. Marshall Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels (Leicester, UK: IVP, 1992).

Hawthorne, G. F., and R. P. Martin (eds) Dictionary of Paul and his letters (Downers Grove, Il: IVP, 1993).

Martin, R. P., P. H. Davids (eds) Dictionary of the later New Testament and its Developments (Downers Grove, Il: IVP, 1997).

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