Course Description
The political, social and religious influences on the New Testament writings. Special attention is given to intertestamental Judaism and Hellenistic and Roman religion as background to New Testament Christianity.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Additional readings and a research paper will be assigned along with more extensive examinations to reflect the graduate students' additional responsibilities.
Athena Title
NEW TESTAMENT WORLD
Prerequisite
Junior or senior standing or permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Offered every odd-numbered year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
1. The student will be expected to master material which ordinarily is not available to her/him in other religion courses. This material will involve readings within Intertestamental Jewish and Hellenistic-Roman religious texts (new material). 2. The student will be expected to learn the correct method of applying non-Christian material to the New Testament in such a way that an objective, unbiased understanding of the New Testament vis-à-vis its environment will ensure (application). 3. The student will be expected to deal at length with limited but important areas in New Testament backgrounds in such a way that is usually not possible within the broader courses of religion now offered (intensive learning). 4. The student will be expected to demonstrate his/her achievement of the above stated objectives through a term paper/project and a final examination (evaluation). Communicate Effectively through Writing To strengthen skills in written composition, analysis, and presentation by means of projects such as essays, papers, reports, and examinations. Communicate Effectively through Speech To strengthen skills in oral expression, analysis, style, and interaction by means such as class reports, class discussion, and oral examinations. Computer Literacy To enhance and facilitate computer literacy by the use of word processing, the web, email, and OASIS through research, preparation, and presentation of work such as oral class reports and completion of written assignments. Critical Thinking To foster critical thinking by engaging in activities such as classroom discussion and debate, essay examinations, and oral presentations.
Topical Outline
I. Socio-historical overview of the Eastern Mediterranean from Alexander to Marcus Aurelius II. Greek and Hellenistic philosophies and religions III. Greco-Roman philosophies and religions IV. Jewish appropriations of Hellenistic and Greco-Roman motifs & concepts A. Philo, Platonic Jewish Philosopher-Apologist B. Josephus, Jewish Historiographer-Apologist C. Stoic motifs in Jewish writings D. Platonic motifs in Jewish writings E. Examples of Jewish Wisdom traditions F. Examples of Jewish Apocalyptic traditions V. Influences upon Early Christianity VI. Course summation and conclusion
Syllabus