Introduction to the New Testament (Sahakyan, Summer 2013) course

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<<ATTENTION, PLEASE. WORK IN PROGRESS>>

Introduction to the New Testament is a course offered by Vahe Sahakyan at the University of Michigan in the Summer 2013.

Description

The course offers an Introduction to the Early Christian Literature and the development of the Early Christian movement from the death of Jesus of Nazareth until the mid-2nd Century.

The approach is historical and chronological and no distinction is made between "canonical" and non-canonical" literature. The New Testament documents are studied alongside with the writings of the Apostolic Father and the New Testament Apocrypha, The development of the early Church is illustrated in the diversity of its components.

Christianity is presented originally as a Jewish messianic movement which grew up out of the diverse world of Second Temple Judaism to gradually parting, after the destruction of Jerusalem in the year 70, from the other major Jewish movements of the time--Hellenistic Judaism and the nascent Rabbinic movement.

Syllabus

  • Meeting Place: 2135 NQ
  • Office hours: Mon & Wed 12:15 to 1:15pm or by appointment. NQ, Language Resource Center, Alcove A.
  • Readings: The New Testament" (New Revised Standard Version of the Bible), and the "Apostolic Fathers" (texts are available online). If you like to purchase a printed copy: The New Testament and Other Early Christian Writings: A Reader by Bart D. Ehrman (2003), or The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version with Apocrypha by Bruce M. Metzger (1991) (available at www.amazon.com)
  • Text-Book: The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings, by Bart D. Ehrman, 4th (2007) or 5th (2011) editions (available at www.amazon.com)

Part 1 – From Jewish Messianism to Early Christology

Mon Jul 1, 2013

(1) General Introduction. Presentation of the course.

(2) What is the New Testament? Do We Have the Original New Testament?

(3) The Founder of Christianity, Jesus of Nazareth

  • Documentary: “From Jesus to Christ” (I) [Frontline, PBS 1998]
  • See also Jesus of Nazareth
Wed Jul 3, 2013

(4) The Development of Early Christology. The Faith of the New Testament: Jesus the divine Messiah, the divine Son of God. The starting point: Jewish messianic expectations. The messiahs of the Ancient Jewish traditions.

  • Text-Book: “Judaism as a Greco-Roman Religion”; and “Jesus in Context”
  • See also Messiah

(5) Judaisms and their Messiahs (I): the Human Messiah. The Messiah of the Pharisees and Zealots: the Son of David.

(6) Judaisms and their Messiahs (II): The Heavenly Messiah. The Messiah of the Enochians: the Son of Man and the heavenly Melchizedek.

Mon Jul 8, 2013

(7) The Gospel of Mark (I): Jesus, the Teacher, the Apocalyptic Prophet like John the Baptist

  • Reading: The Gospel of Mark
  • Text-Book: “The Gospel According to Mark”

(8) The Gospel of Mark (II): Jesus, the Son of God and the Son of Man. The Apocalyptic Messiah and the Eschatological Judge.

  • Reading: The Gospel of Mark
  • Text-Book: “Jesus, the Apocalyptic Prophet”

Part 2 – The Jesus Movement as a Jewish Messianic Sect; or, From the Death of Jesus to the Destruction of the Jerusalem (30-70 CE)

(9) After the Death of Jesus. The Traditions of Jesus in Their Greco-Roman Context.

  • Documentary: “From Jesus to Christ” (II) [Frontline, PBS 1998]
  • Text-Book: “The World of Early Christian Traditions”; and “The Traditions of Jesus in Their Greco-Roman Context”.
Wed. Jul 10, 2013

(10) The Beginnings of the Christian Community at Jerusalem. Acts of the Apostles (1:1-8:40; and 9:31-12:24). The First Leaders: The family and the Disciples; James, Peter, and John. Christianity as a Jewish Messianic Movement. The conversion of Gentiles.

(11) Paul of Tarsus: The Man, the Apostle, and His Mission The Challenges of the Hellenistic Environment From Jerusalem to Asia Minor and Greece (Acts of Apostles 9, and 13-19)

(12) First Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians. Christ’s Second Coming.

Mon. Jul 15, 2013

(13) First Mid-Term

(14) First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians. A Crisis in the Church. Moral Teachings.

(15) Second Letter of Paul to the Corinthians

  • Reading: 2 Corinthians -- Text-Book: “2 Corinthians”
Wed Jul 17, 2013

(16) Paul’s Letter to the Galatians. Christ and the Jewish Law.

(17) Paul’s Letter to the Romans (I): Salvation by Faith.

  • Reading: Romans
  • Text-Book: “The Gospel According to Paul”

(18) Paul’s Letter to the Romans (II): The Role of Jews and Judaism.

  • Reading: Romans
  • Text-Book: “The Gospel According to Paul”
Mon. Jul 22, 2013

(19) The Letter of James. Salvation by Works, not by Faith only.

  • Website: see James
  • Reading: Letter of James.
  • Text-Book: “The Epistle of James”; and “Paul and James”.

(20) The First Letter of Peter. The Role of Mediation of the Head of the Twelve.

  • Website: see Peter
  • Reading: 1 Peter
  • Text-Book: “The Letter of 1 Peter”

(21) Paul’s Last Journey. From Jerusalem to Rome (Acts 19:21—28:31). Paul’s Letter to the Philippians and Letter to Philemon. Letters from Prison. Jesus, the Obedient Adam. The Problem of Slavery.

Part 3 – Solving the Christological Problem; or, From the Destruction of the Temple to the End of the First Century (70-100 CE)

Wed Jul 24, 2013

(22) After the Destruction of the Jerusalem Temple

  • Documentary: “From Jesus to Christ” (III) [Frontline, PBS 1998]

(23) The Death of the Leaders. The Parting of the Ways between Christianity and Rabbinic Judaism.

(24) The Gospel of Matthew. The Jewish Messiah: Jesus, the Son of Man, the Son of David, the new Moses.

  • Reading & Website: Gospel of Matthew
  • Text-Book: “The Gospel According to Matthew”
Mon. Jul 29.

(25) 2nd Midterm

(26) The Gospel of Luke. Jesus, the Savior of the World: the Son of Man, the Son of David, the World Savior

  • Reading & Website: Gospel of Luke
  • Text-Book: “The Gospel According to Luke”

(27) The Letter to the Hebrews. The Son of Man is Far Above the Angels.

Wed Jul 31, 2013

(28) Continuing the Tradition of Paul. 2 Thessalonians – Colossians – Ephesians. The Delay of the End and the Divinity of the Son. The Deutero-Pauline Epistles (2 Thessalonians; Colossians; Ephesians).

(29) The Letter of Barnabas. An Anti-Jewish Christianity? The Theology of Supersession. The Rise of Christian Anti-Seminitism.

  • Website: see Barnabas
  • Reading: Letter of Barnabas
  • Text-Book: “The Epistle of Barnabas and Melito’s Passover Sermon” (ch 25 pp 418-425)

(30) The Gospel of Thomas. A non-Jewish Christianity? The Challenge of Gnosticism.

  • Reading & Website: Gospel of Thomas
  • Text-Book: “The Gospel of Thomas” (ch 12 pp 201-207)
Mon Aug 5, 2013

(31) The Gospel of John (I): The Divinity of the Christ-Logos

  • Reading & Website: Gospel of John
  • Text-Book: “The Gospel According to John”

(32) The Gospel of John (II): The role of the Holy Spirit in a Charismatic community

  • Reading & Website: Gospel of John
  • Text-Book: “The Gospel According to John”

Part 4 – Structuring the Church; or, The Early Second Century (100-150 CE)

(33) Continuing the Tradition of John: 1, 2 &3 John, and the Letters to the Seven Churches in Revelation. The Apocalyptic message of the Book of Revelation

  • Reading: 1, 2, & 3 John; and Revelation
  • Website: Letters of John and Seven Churches
  • Text-Book: “The Johannine Epistles’ and Beyond” and “The Revelation of John”
Wed. Aug 7, 2013

(34) Continuing the Tradition of James (I): The Letter of Jude – The Didache.

  • Reading: Jude, and the Didache
  • Text-Book: “Jude,” and “The Didache”

(35) Continuing the Tradition of James (II) The Jewish-Christian Gospels (Gospel of the Nazarenes; Gospel of the Ebionites; Gospel of the Hebrews) - The Shepherd of Hermas

  • Reading: the Shepherd of Hermas
  • Text-Book: “The Jewish-Christian Gospels”; and “The Shepherd of Hermas”

(36) Continuing the Tradition of Peter The Second Letter of Peter – The Gospel of Peter – The Apocalypse of Peter

Mon. Aug 12, 2013

(37) Continuing the Tradition of Paul (I): The Persecution of the Early Christians - The Authority of the Bishop in the Church. The Seven Letters of Ignatius (Ephesians; Magnesians; Trallians; Romans; Philadelphias; Smyrneans; Polycarp) – The Letter of Polycarp to the Philippians; The Epistle of Clement.

  • Reading: Letters of Ignatius; Letter of Polycarp; Martyrdom of Polycarp; 1 Clement;
  • Text-Book: ‘Christians and Pagans”; “Polycarp’s Letter”; and “1 Clement”

(38) Continuing the Tradition of Paul (II): Strengthening the Authority of the Bishop - Downplaying the Role of Women. The Pastoral Epistles of Paul: 1 Timothy & 2 Timothy (NT), Letter of Paul to Titus (NT).

  • Reading: 1& 2 Timothy; Titus;
  • Text-Book: “The Pastoral Epistles”; “The Oppression of Women”

(39) After the New Testament. Summary and Conclusion.


Final Exam - Friday, August 16, 10:30am-12:30pm (in 2135 NQ)

Grading System and Requirements

[Read this section of the syllabus very carefully. The syllabus is like a contract between the student and the instructors, which we are all bound to respect.]

ATTENDANCE: The course is based on lectures, three written exams, and one or two optional assignments. Regular attendance is mandatory. There will be three lectures each day and attendance will be taken in the beginning of each lecture time. If you happen to miss a lecture, it is your responsibility to ask for information about what was discussed in class. Excessive tardiness or leaving early constitutes an absence unless the instructor approves circumstances beforehand. Students whose attendance is poor (that is, have missed 15-25% of lectures without justification) will see their final grade reduced 1/3 of a letter grade. Students who do not attend the class regularly (that is, have missed more than 25% of either lectures without justification), or do not fulfill each and all the requirements of the course, will not be graded and will receive a NR report.

GRADING SYSTEM: The final grade is based on five elements (of which the last one is optional): (a) Attendance and Participation: 25% (b) First Midterm: 10% (c) Second Midterm: 25% (d) Final exam: 40% (e) Short assignments (optional): possible increase

(a) Attendance and the quality of participation makes 25% of the final grade.

(b) The first midterm exams (10% of the final grade) is a series of 40 multiple-choice questions about the contents of the first part of the course. It is aimed to be a sort of preparation to the more important second mid-term and final exams. No re-taking will be allowed, and no curve will be granted, under any circumstance. If you need or want to improve your grade, just follow the instructions below (e).

(c) The second midterm exam (25% of the final grade) is a series of 80 questions (60 new questions about the contents of the second part of the course, plus 20 questions from the first midterm). No re-taking will be allowed, and no curve will be granted, under any circumstance. If you need or want to improve your grade, just follow the instructions below (e).

(d) The final exam (40% of the final grade) is a series of 120 multiple-choice questions aimed at a general review of the entire course: 80 new questions about the contents of all four parts of the course (but with special emphasis on the third and last part), plus 40 questions from the first two exams (10+30, respectively).

The grade is determined proportionally to the amount of questions correctly answered (unanswered questions are counted as incorrect), as follows:

  • A+ (100%-98%) / A (97%-91%) / A- (90%-87%)
  • B+ (86%-84%) / B (83%-78%) / B- (77%-75%)
  • C+ (74%-72%) / C (71%-65%) / C- (64%-62%)
  • D+ (61-59%) / D (58%-52%) / D- (51-49%)
  • F (48% or less)

(e) [Optional] The Instructor’s goal is to help the deserving students, who may have some initial difficulties, to improve their grade. You may choose to write (any time but not before Jul 30 or after Aug 12, 2013) a short (2 page) response paper to one of the question assignments designed by the instructor. Depending on the grade of your essay, you will have an increase of 25 (A), 20 (B), 15 (C), 10 (D), points on the total points of your first exam. A second essay will give an increase of 10 (A), 8 (B), 6 (C), or 4 (D) on the total points of your second exam. After the increase of the test score, the test grade percentage cannot exceed 100%. All optional assignments must be completed before the date of the final exam.

NOTE: The use of personal electronic devices (laptop, iPad, iPhone, etc.) is prohibited in the classroom, except for taking notes or class work, or for the special needs of students with disabilities.

VERY IMPORTANT !! If you have any questions or something goes wrong, or you realize that your attendance is going to be poor or insufficient, please do not wait until the very last moment to express yourself. I will be always available to talk to you immediately after class or during my office hours or, if necessary, scheduling a meeting at a different time. We can find together a solution to (almost) every problem. But, please, don’t ask the impossible when there is no more time.

  • The Syllabus is subject to change at the Instructor's discretion.
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