COS 311: New Testament 1

Prof. Gregory J. Riley                Academic Building 218

griley@cst. edu 
 

Required Textbooks [available in the CST Bookstore]: 

Ehrman, B. The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings.  New York and Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press, 1997. 

Riley, Gregory J.  The River of God: A New History of Christian Origins.  Harper San Francisco, 2001. 

Riley, Gregory J. One Jesus, Many Christs.  Fortress Press.  

Suggested: 

Throckmorton, Burton H.  Gospel Parallels: A Synopsis of the First Three Gospels.  
 

The Books and Reading before the Beginning of Class 

      Each of the books ordered for the course is an intelligent treatment of important issues facing every Christian interpreter of the Bible.  While not a requirement, students should read or review as many as possible before the beginning of class, in the order Riley (River), Ehrman, and Riley (One Jesus, Many Christs), and then the suggested list.   

      Riley (River) traces the vast changes in religious world-view between the OT and the NT.  It is a survey of what may be called the “background and culture” of the New Testament world.  It explains the ideas that produced Monotheism and Trinitarianism, the Devil, Body and Soul, Christ as Savior of the World, and how these ideas contributed to later Christian orthodoxy. 

      Ehrman is a standard introduction to the New Testament as a whole. Please read the introductory material and then the sections on Luck-Acts, Paul, 1 Corinthians, Galatians, and Romans. 

      Riley (One Jesus) is a book on Christology (what opinions different Christian groups had about Christ) and demonstrates how and why the story of Jesus was so popular in the Greco-Roman world.  This book will help very much in completing the take-home final examination.

      Throckmorton is a presentation of Matthew, Mark, and Luke in parallel columns and a very fun tool to peruse and use to learn about our Gospels.   
 

The Course

   The course will engage the main issues found in Luke-Acts, 1 Corinthians, Galatians, and Romans.

   The course will consist of seven sessions of approximately three hours each.  The student should expect to invest a further two hours each day outside of class in preparation for class and written exegesis of a central issue in five major texts.

   Please read and reread more than three times Luke-Acts, 1 Corinthians, Galatians, and Romans.  You will be examined on your knowledge of these text on the last day of class. 

Pre-Course Requirement:

      Please read and outline Riley, River of God.  The outline should be approximately five pages long, although there is no page limit.  Demonstrate that you have read the book thoroughly and understood well the concepts presented. 

      This assignment is due two weeks before the beginning of class. 

Exegesis Papers:

Exegesis Papers:  Each student will hand in three (very) short papers or outlines that may serve, it is hoped, as the basis for sermons and/or Bible studies.  The three papers may be chosen from the list below of five topics.  They are to address the issues listed and are due on the days assigned  They are to be typed (if possible; if not, hand written is acceptable), correct in grammar, spelling and syntax, and no more than 3 pages in length.  

Day 2 - Luke: The Kingdom of God 

Day 3 - Acts: The story of Paul in Acts. 

Day 5 - 1 Corinthians:  Wisdom in a Mystery 

Day 6 - Galatians: Law and Grace   

Day 7 - Romans:  The Mind set on the Spirit 

Two Examinations: 

1) COS 311 New Testament Content Exam: The COS 311 Content Exam will test your ability to recognize and understand passages taken from Luke-Acts, 1 Corinthians, Galatians, and Romans.  The test will be given during the first 30 minutes of the final day of class.  Most but not all of the passages will be discussed during lectures.  All are significant passages and none are designed to “trick” anyone.  The English version for the test will be the NRSV.  The exam will consist of approximately fourteen passages chosen from each of our texts.  The student will be asked to identify the book from which the passage is drawn and certain other simple and obvious aspects of the situation in which the passage is found.  Two examples follow.   

1.  He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”  He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.  Give us each day our daily bread.  And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial.”  

a.  From which book is this passage? ____________________________________

b.  In what other book is a similar passage found? __________________________ 

2.  Then they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands of believers there are among the Jews, and they are all zealous for the law. They have been told about you that you teach all the Jews living among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, and that you tell them not to circumcise their children or observe the customs.  What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. So do what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow.  Join these men, go through the rite of purification with them, and pay for the shaving of their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself observe and guard the law.”

      a.  From which book is this passage? ____________________________________

      b.  Who is speaking to whom? ______________________ to ________________ 

Note bene (Latin for “ Note well!  Pay serious attention!”): Please enjoy reading often and daily throughout the course our foundation texts.  Learn what each book has to teach you.  This exam is worth approximately one third of your grade.  Read each of the assigned New Testament books (Luke-Acts, 1 Corinthians, Galatians, and Romans) at least three times. 

2)  A take-home “one-hour” examination will given out at the end of the course to be e-mailed in two weeks after the final day of class.  The general subject will be the life of Paul as Philosopher, Athlete and Spectacle.  There is significant and helpful material on these subjects in Riley, One Jesus, Many Christs.  Students are encouraged to write this exam as sermon or Bible study material.  Make sense out of the Bible passages for your hearers or congregation. 

      The exam is designed for one hour.  You sit and write for one hour.  That is eight pages or less.  You, however, may take as much time as you wish to prepare.  You may use all of your notes, books, and helps of any kind.  You may even discuss your exam with your classmates.  Open books, open notes, open discussion, but individual composition.  No collaboration in writing the exam is allowed.  You must write your own exam in your own words with your own ideas.