CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURES ADVANCED COURSE:

MORAL DIMENSIONS OF THE

NEW TESTAMENT

__________________________________

 

Instructor:  William A. Tooman             Office Hours: 12:00-2:00, Mon. & Wed.

 

Time:  Saturday, 9:00-12:00                        Telephone:  (608) 663-3271

 

Location:  Maz 104                                Email:  wtooman@ edgewood.edu

 

 

 

Course Description

 

This course undertakes a detailed methodological and exegetical study of the moral demands of the New Testament.  The course is designed to enable us to develop our hermeneutical understanding and exegetical skills.  In the process we will explore ways that New Testament writers argue for ethical transformation and ways that the message of the New Testament may be appropriated by Christian communities.

 

 

Objectives

 

There are three objectives this course is designed to achieve:

 

(1) To help us grapple with problems of the intention and authority of the New Testament writings

(2) To enable us each to construct a coherent hermeneutical model for engaging the moral demands of the NT.

(3) To sharpen our exegetical skills through consistent, disciplined practice.

 

 

Class Structure

 

There are three goals for each class period.

 

(1) To work through the exegesis and rhetoric of a New Testament passage that emphasize moral argumentation.

(2) To orient the demands of that passage within the broader canonical context.

(3) To discuss ways that the moral demands of the NT might relate to life today and to explore ways that they could be appropriated by individuals and communities today.

 

 

Text Books

 

Charles H. Talbert, Reading the Sermon on the Mount: Character Formation and Ethical Decision Making in Matthew 5-7 (Baker Academic, 2006)

 

Other materials will be distributed in class.  Each student needs to bring an English Bible to class.  Any version of the Bible is acceptable with the three following exceptions: The Message, The Amplified Bible, and the New American Bible.

 

 

Assignments and Grades

 

Exegetical Worksheets

 

At the end of each class period, the instructor will distribute exegetical worksheets on the passage or passages to be covered in the next class period.  (Students who miss class are responsible for contacting a class mate or the instructor about the assignment.)  These worksheets are designed to develop the students' abilities to interpret Biblical texts, and should be completed before the next class period.  Students will be expected to share (and/or argue) from their exegetical worksheets.  The worksheets will be evaluated on the following scale:

 

ü+ exemplary

ü         satisfactory

ü- unsatisfactory (too brief, not thoughtful enough, etc.)

0          incomplete

 

N. B.  Late exegetical worksheets will not be accepted.

 

 

Book Review

 

At the fourth class period (Oct 6) students will hand in an academic book review of Talbert's Reading the Sermon on the Mount.  Instructions will be distributed in class.

 

 

Exegetical Paper

 

Students will write a 15-page paper on any ethical topic of their choice that is discussed in the NT.  Each paper should: (1) identify the key (most important) passages on the topic; (2) establish the hermeneutical framework to be used in appropriating NT ethical demands; (3) exegete the key passages; (4) relate them to our contemporary context.  Topics should be sufficiently narrow that they can be thoroughly developed in 15 pages.

 

(1) Students need to have selected their topic, had it approved by the instructor, and compiled a tentative bibliography by class time on October 6 (20 points)

(2) Students need to turn in a 2-page précis of their paper on November 10.  (30 points)

(3) The final paper is due at class time on December 15.  (150 points)

 

Writing quality and style will be considered in grading the précis and paper (10%).  The paper must conform to the Chicago Manual of Style.  The grade for the final paper will be reduced by 10% for every day that it is late, unless special arrangements have been made with the professor.  Final papers may not be turned in after December 22.

 

 

Chief Exegetical Officer

 

Each student will serve on one occasion as chief exegetical officer (CEO).

 

The chief exegetical officer will lead the class in the exploration and interpretation of the biblical passage for the day, which will have been prepared by all before class.  The CEO may follow the exegetical worksheet distributed by the professor, or he or she may structure the discussion as desired, so long as exegesis is emphasized.

 

 

Attendance

 

There is no official attendance policy, but the grade of any student who misses more than two classes will be reduced.

 

 

Grading Summary and Scale

 

TOTAL POINTS                                    GRADE SCALE

 

· Paper                 200 points                                      94-100     A

· Worksheets       350 points (50 ea.)                          88-93       AB

· Book Review     100                                                 82-87       B

· CEO                   50 points                          76-81       BC

 Total                  700 points                                      69-75       C

                                   63-68       CD

                                   57-62       D

 

 

Class Schedule

 

The following is a schedule of topics for each week of the semester.  This schedule may be altered to account for the specific interests of the students or revised based on classroom progress.

 

Unit I: Theory and Methodology

 

· August 25           Topic: Introduction to class; The Task of NT Ethics

Read: Gospel of Mark

 

· September 8     Topic: The task of NT ethics continued.

Read: Gospel of Matthew

 

 

Unit II: Finding Ethics in the Story of Jesus

 

· September 22   Topic: Gospel of Mark: Ethics of the Cross

Read: Gospel of Luke

 

· October 6           Topic: Gospel of Matthew: Ethics of the Kingdom

Read: Gospel of John

 

· October 20         Topic: Luke-Acts: Spirit Ethics

Read: Romans 8, 12 and 15; 1 Corinthians 12-14; 1 Thessalonians

 

· November 3       Topic: Gospel and Epistles of John: The Community of Love

Read: Ephesians, 1 Timothy

 

Unit III: The Ethics of Didactic and Apocalyptic Literature

 

· November 10     Topic: Paul's Moral Logic (1)

Read: Revelation

I will be at SBL Nov. 16-20.  So we will meet Nov 10 rather than Nov 17.

 

· December 2                  Topic: Paul's Moral Logic (2)

 

· December 16    Topic: Revelation: End-Time Ethics

 

 

 

Students with Disabilities

 

If you have a documented disability that requires accommodation, please contact Elizabeth Watson in Learning Support Services (Student Resource Center, 206 DeRicci, 663-2281).  She will work with you provide appropriate accommodation, and all information will be kept confidential.

 

 

Learning Support Services

 

Learning Support Services (Student Resource Center, 206 DeRicci and Sonderegger 408) provides academic support for students.  Please contact Learning Support Services at 663-2281 for more information.

 

 

Academic Honesty Policy