BIBLEJOURNEY - Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

BIBLEJOURNEY
JOURNEY THROUGH THE GOSPELS: THE RESTORATION OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD
Course Instructor: Rev. Mark B. Poe, Masters in Biblical Studies; Masters in Christian Thought
Contact Information: [email protected] or 704-435-6408
Course Logistics
Time: Thursdays (6:30 P.M. – 8:30 P.M.)
September 18 – November 13
Breakout Sessions (credit students only): 6:00 P.M. – 6:30 P.M.
Location: Lake Forest, 8519 Gilead Road, Huntersville
Introduction
This course is Part 1 of a 3-part sequence that will journey through the entire New Testament.
Participants may register for some or all of the courses; there are no prerequisites.
Course Description
This course covers Jesus’ ministry of restoring the people of God from captivity in their sins as told by
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. This ministry will be set in the context of the Old Testament and the
history that bridges the two Testaments.
About BibleJourney and this Course
This course is the fourth in a series of courses making up the BibleJourney Program:
-
The Formation of the People of God from Eden to Canaan: Interpreting the Five Books of Moses
The Mission of the People of God in the Promised Land: Interpreting the Historical and Poetic
Books
The Exile and Return of the People of God: Interpreting the Prophetic Books
The Restoration of the People of God: Interpreting the Gospels
The Mission of the People of God to the Nations: Interpreting Acts and Paul’s Letters
The Sojourn of the People of God among the Nations: Interpreting Hebrews through Revelation
Registration
Registration for courses is required. Please visit
www.gordonconwell.edu/resources/Bible-Journey-Charlotte.cfm for more information. Participants
can sign up either for audit (those who sit in the class for personal enrichment only) or for credit (those
who turn in weekly assignments and may receive credit toward a seminary certificate). Credit students
are required to participate in break-out groups for a ½ hour before class each evening.
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Certification
Credit students who meet all the requirements for the complete 6-course sequence in Old and New
Testaments (including two interpretation papers) are eligible to receive a Certificate in Biblical Interpretation. This certificate will exempt those interested in any masters or other certificate program at
the seminary from up to three courses (OT Survey, NT Survey, and Biblical Interpretation).
Note: The cost of the 6-course sequence is the cost of one graduate level course. Therefore, students
completing the Certificate in Biblical Interpretation will have taken three courses for the price of one.
Course Objectives
- To provide participants with a comprehensive grasp of the main figures, events, and themes in
the New Testament, their relationship to the Old Testament, and their ongoing significance for
our lives.
- To enlighten participants with background information and resources that clarify God’s revelation in its original setting.
- To equip participants to interpret the Bible correctly by introducing appropriate tools and
methods.
Class Format
Classroom sessions will include presentations on each book of the Bible, featuring “in the text” summaries, “behind the text” background, and “in front of the text” interpretation and application. Outlines / class notes will be available on the course website:
http://www.gordonconwell.edu/resources/Class-Notes.cfm. Ideally, the assigned readings for each
week should be done before class.
Required Textbooks (used throughout the New Testament course sequence)
- The Bible (preferably ESV or NIV – excellent options include the ESV Study Bible, NIV Study Bible, or the NIV Archaeological Study Bible).
- Walter A. Elwell and Robert W. Yarbrough, Encountering the New Testament 3d ed. (Baker,
2013).
- Duvall, J. Scott and J. Daniel Hayes, Grasping God’s Word: A Hands-On Approach to Reading,
Interpreting, and Applying the Bible, 3d ed. (Zondervan, 2012).
Note: Both textbooks are in their third edition but students may use an earlier edition for this course.
Recommended Textbooks
- James C. Martin, John A. Beck, and David G. Hansen, A Visual Guide to Gospel Events:
Fascinating Insights into Where They Happened and Why (Baker, 2010).
- James C. Martin, John A. Beck, and David G. Hansen, A Visual Guide to Bible Events:
Fascinating Insights into Where They Happened and Why (Baker Books, 2009).
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Course Assignments
Weekly assignments are expected of those who take the class for credit. Assignments are found in the
class schedule below and will be submitted to the instructor and discussed during the weeknight
break-out sessions. Participants will also complete a reading log for the assigned texts. A final test will
be taken during the final break-out session on November 13.
*** Plan on at least 5 hours each week for reading and assignments.
Course Assessment
The course grade will be calculated as follows:
Weekly Assignments (8 @ 5% each)
Reading Log
Quiz
40%
30%
30%
100%
Attendance and Missed Classes
Credit students will need to be in attendance all nine (9) weeks. A credit student who is absent for
more than two sessions (including break-out groups) will be moved to audit status. Credit students are
required to contact the instructor when an absence is anticipated.
Discounts and Refunds
Gordon-Conwell has significantly reduced the tuition for these courses to make them affordable to our
community. Full refunds will be provided only through the second week of the course for any reason.
Getting started…
To prepare for the Journey through the New Testament, read as much of the four Gospels as you
can, highlighting key themes and terms as you go. We will be reading selected portions in the first
part of the course and then reviewing each Gospel independently during the final four weeks. Auditors should read through the Gospels once during the course.
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Course Schedule
1. September 18: When the Time had Fully Come, God Sent His Son
Biblical Topics:
Bridging the Testaments, Continuing the Journey
Reading:
- Begin reading each of the four gospels (early chps in each)
- Encountering the New Testament, chps 2-3.
- Grasping God’s Word, Skim chps 1-5 (= Part 1) & read chp 6.
Assignment:
- Due on Sept. 25: BTT* - Timeline exercise (found at the end
of the syllabus)
2. September 25: What Manner of Man is This?
Biblical Topics:
The Life and Ministry of Jesus of Nazareth (overview)
Reading:
- Luke 1-4; Mark 1-6; Matt 1-4, 8-10, 17, 21; John 1-2
- Encountering the New Testament, chp 8
- Grasping God’s Word, chps 1-5
Assignment:
- Due on Oct. 2 - ITT: Assignment 5-3 (Grasping God’s Word,
pp. 110-112) on Mark 11
3. October 2: The Kingdom of God is at Hand
Biblical Topics:
The Teachings of our Lord
Reading:
- Mark 4; Matt 5-7; 11-13; 15:1-20; 16; 18-20, 22-25; Luke 8,
11-18
- Encountering the New Testament, chp 9
- Grasping God’s Word, chps 10-13
Assignment:
- Due on Oct. 9 - ITT Assignment 9-2 (Grasping God’s Word,
pp. 185-186) on “worry” in Matthew 5-7
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4. October 9: The Son of Man Must Suffer and Be Raised
Biblical Topics:
The “Passion” of Christ
Reading:
- Mark 11-16; Matt 21:10-28:20; Luke 19:45-24:53; John 13-21
- Grasping God’s Word, chp 8
Assignment:
- Due on Oct. 16 - BTT & IFT: Defend the resurrection using
biblical and non-biblical resources and logical and historical
reasoning.
5. October 16: The Son of Man Came to Serve
Biblical Topics:
The Gospel according to Mark
Reading:
- The Gospel of Mark (review complete)
- Encountering the New Testament, chp 5
- Grasping God’s Word, chp 15
Assignment:
- Due on Oct. 23 - ITT Assignment 5-2 (Grasping God’s Word,
pp. 108-109) for Mark 5
6. October 23: Emmanuel – God With Us
Biblical Topics:
The Gospel according to Matthew
Reading:
- The Gospel of Matthew (review complete)
- Encountering the New Testament, chp 4
Assignment:
- Due on Oct. 30 - ITT Assignment 15-1 (Grasping God’s Word,
p. 289) for Matthew 24-25
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7. October 30: The Spirit-Anointed Jesus
Biblical Topics:
The Gospel according to Luke
Reading:
- The Gospel of Luke (review complete)
- Encountering the New Testament, chp 6
Assignment:
- Due on Nov. 6 - ITT/BTT/IFT Assignment 15-2 (Grasping
God’s Word, p. 290): All steps for a Lukan parable - make sure
to use cultural resources from chp 6.
8. November 6: That You Might Believe
Biblical Topics:
The Gospel according to John
Reading:
- The Gospel of John (complete)
- Encountering the New Testament, chp 7
Assignment:
- Due on Nov. 16 – IFT – Assignment 12:2 (Grasping God’s
Word, p.233): Complete the lectio divina exercise on John
15:1-5.
9. November 16: Wrap-up Session
Topics:
Modern/Postmodern Approaches to the Gospels and the Life of
Jesus
Reading:
- Encountering the New Testament, chps 1, 10-12
- Grasping God’s Word, chps 7
*BTT = Behind the Text
*ITT = In the Text
*IFT = In Front of the Text
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BibleJourney - Gospels
Assignment 1
Name:
Date:
Focus: “Behind the Text”
Objective: To gain an understanding of the larger historical context of the New Testament
with a special focus on the world in which Jesus ministered.
In this assignment, students should construct a basic timeline that includes the following:
1) Major events
2) Major groups
3) Important figures
The time period covers from 539 B.C. (the return from Exile) to A.D. 72 and the area should include both Palestine and the greater Mediterranean area. You may want to include maps from
different time periods.
Suggested Resources:
1) Study Bible (ESV Study Bible, NIV Study Bible, Archaeological Study Bible)
2) New Testament Introductions
3) Bible Atlas:
Beitzel, B. J. The New Moody Atlas of the Bible. Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2009.
Cleave, R. et al. Holy Land Satellite Atlas. 2 Vols & CD-ROM. Cyprus: Rohr Productions, 1999.
Currid, J. D., and D. P. Barret. ESV Bible Atlas. Wheaton: Crossway, 2010.
Har-El, M. Understanding the Geography of the Bible: An Introductory Atlas.
Edited and expanded by Paul H. Wright. Jerusalem: Carta, 2005.
Lawrence, P. The IVP Atlas of Bible History. Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2006.
Pritchard, J. B., and N. Page. HarperCollins Atlas of Bible History. New York:
HarperCollins, 2008.
Rainey, A. F., and R. S. Notley. The Sacred Bridge: Carta’s Atlas of the Biblical
World. Jerusalem: Carta, 2006.
Rasmussen, C. G. NIV Atlas of the Bible. Rev. Ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010.
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