THE NATURE OF THE COURSE:

The approach is scholarly, rather than moralistic or sectarian. The course will be taught from the perspective of the Bible as a record of God's self-disclosure (revelation). An important objective is that each student will arrive at a greater intellectual appreciation of the corporate nature of our heritage of faith and how large a part of the spirit and content of western civilization flows from the biblical sources.

The course is not designed to give easy answers to questions of personal faith, although it should provide a considerable foundation of historical, literary , and theological data which will enable the earnest student to arrive at a more mature personal faith. The professor will endeavor to provide an atmosphere of freedom and intellectual honesty in which maturation in faith and understanding is possible. The student's effort to develop his/her own personal religious faith is, of course, a task in which he/she will be engaged, hopefully, for the rest of his/her life.

The methods and content of the course are determined not only be aim and objectives but also by such factors as size of enrollment, varied and limited biblical knowledge on the part of students, and the necessity of examination for learning and evaluation. The course should provide a background for other courses in Religious Studies. Information concerning the major in Religious Studies and the Master of Arts in Religious Studies degree will be provided by the professor or other members of the departmental faculty.

In addition to material covered by lectures, the course structure provides opportunity for class discussion of interesting and enigmatic topics, and the raising of questions which have grown out of our study. This attempt to combine the maximum values of the lecture method and student feedback necessarily places upon both professor and students special responsibility for class preparation and participation.

ASSIGNED TEXTS:

Spivey, Robert A. and D. Moody Smith. Anatomy of the New Testament: A Guide to Its Structure and Meaning. Sixth Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice-Hall, 2007 (Paperback).

Become acquainted with:

• The Interpreter's Bible, especially vols. 7-12
• The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible, 5 vols.
• The Interpreter's One-Volume Commentary of the Bible
• the Abingdon Bible Handbook
• The Interpreter's Concise Commentary: Vol. VI, Gospels; Vol. VII, Acts and Paul's Letters; Vol. VIII, Revelation and the General Epistles
• The Anchor Bible Dictionary , 6 vols.
• The New Interpreter's Bible; ( especially vols. 8 through 12)
• the Revised Edition of The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary.

REQUIREMENTS :

A mid-semester examination is scheduled. The professor will discuss the form of same near the time of the examination.

A research paper of approximately ten pages is due on the last day of classes. The professor will suggest several possible topics early in the semester. Should the student elect to write on a topic of his/her own choosing, he/she must clear that topic with the professor to insure its being broad enough in scope to satisfy the requirement.

There will be a final examination; the professor will discuss its form near that time.

DETERMINATION OF GRADE FOR THE COURSE:

SCHEDULE AND ASSIGNMENTS