School of Theology
Course Title: New Testament BIB/HUM 114 02
Term: Fall 2020
Date/Time of Class: Mon/W ed 9:25-10:40
Location: LH 170
“For ev en the Son of Man did not come to be serv ed, but to serv e, and to giv e his life
as a ransom for many.” ~Mark 10:45
Professor: Charlie Cummings, Ph.D
Office hours: I do not have an office on campus, so please let me know if you would like to
meet and we can arrange a time.
E-mail: chcummings@ccu.edu
Course Description
This course provides an introduction to the theological, historical, and literary features of
the New Testament, tracing the presentation of the gospel message through historical,
epistolary, and apocalyptic genres. Special consideration will be given to the life of
Christ and missionary journeys of the Apostle Paul.
Student Learning Outcomes
The following learning outcomes provide a broad overview of course content. The student
will:
State the basic narrative of the life, ministry, geography and teachings of Jesus Christ.
State the basic narrative of the missionary journeys, primary doctrines and epistles of
Paul.
Articulate the author, themes and primary message of each book of the New
Testament.
Acquire the hermeneutical skills of observation, interpretation and application to the
varying genres of New Testament books.
Attend a local church, evaluating its practices in light of the early church described in
Acts.
The Connection of this course with the University Strategic Priorities
As a course provided under the mission, vision, and objectives of CCU, we will strive to
contribute to the following objectives of our university as a whole. In this course we will aim to:
H ONOR CHRIST AND SHARE THE LOVE OF CHRIST ON CAM PU S AND AROUND THE WORLD
TEACH STUDENTS TO TRUST THE BIBLE, LIVE HOLY LIVES AND BE EVANGELISTS
TEACH STUDENTS HOW TO LEARN
TEACH STUDENTS HOW TO THINK FOR THEMSELVES
IMPACT OUR CULTURE IN SUPPORT OF TRADITIONAL FAMILY VALUES , SANCTITY OF LIFE, COM PAS S I ON FOR THE
POOR , BIBLICAL VIEW OF HU M AN NATURE, LIMITED GOVERNMENT , PERSONAL FREEDOM , FREE M ARKETS ,
NATURAL LAW , ORIGINAL INTENT OF THE CONSTITUTION, AND W ES TERN CIVILIZATION
BE SEEKERS OF TRUTH
ASK GOD TO MULTIPLY OUR TIME AND ABILITY TO THE GLORY OF H IS GREAT NAME
BE A SERVANT OF THE CHURCH
Course Organization
This is a general-education survey course that follows a lecture and discussion format. See
remainder of syllabus, including course schedule, to understand the nature and content of this
course. The following is a summary of what will be encountered in this course:
a. Sections of the New Testament and the course textbook will be read every week.
Students will be expected to come to class prepared to discuss the required outside
reading.
b. Several quizzes on the course readings will be required. Please see the course schedule
for the dates for each quiz.
c. Three exams will take place according to the dates listed in the course schedule
at the end of this syllabus. The material for these exams will come from class
readings, quizzes, and in-class lectures.
d. Three papers (A Symposium Reflection Paper, a Church Reflection Paper and a
Gospel Presentation Assignment) will be due according to the dates listed in the
course schedule in the syllabus.
Required and Suggested Textbooks and Resources
1. Required Texts
Towns, Elmer L., and Ben Gutierrez, eds. The Essence of the New Testament: A Survey
(2d ed). B & H Academic: Nashville, 2016.
Carson, D. A., ed. NIV Biblical TheologyStudy Bible. Zondervan: Grand Rapids,
2018.
Bring both of these required books to class everyday. You’ll need them in class and
it’s a great way to get some exercise.
2. Suggested Texts
Bock, Darrell L. Jesus according to Scripture: Restoring the Portrait from the Gospels.
Grand Rapids, Baker Academic, 2002.
Davis, John Jefferson. Handbook of Basic Bible Texts. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1984.
Green, Joel B, ed. Hearing the New Testament: Strategies for Interpretation. 2d.
Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2010.
Hawthorne, Gerald F., Ralph P. Martin and Daniel G. Reid, eds. Dictionaryof Paul and
His Letters. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1993
Helyer, Larry R. The Witness of Jesus, Paul and John: An Exploration in Biblical
Theology. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 2008.
Keener, Craig S. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Downers
Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1993.
Metzger, Bruce M. The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption and
Restoration. 3d ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1992.
Reid, Daniel G., ed. The IVP Dictionaryof the New Testament. Downers Grove, Ill.:
InterVarsity Press, 2004.
Stanley, Alan P. and Stanley N. Gundry, eds. Four Views On: The Apostle Paul. Grand
Rapids: Zondervan, 2012.
_. Four Views On: The Role of Works at the Judgment. Grand Rapids: Zondervan,
2013.
. Three Views On: The Millennium and Beyond. Grand Rapid: Zondervan, 1999.
W right, N.T. Scripture and the Authorityof God: How to Read the Bible Today. New
York: Harper One, 2005.
Köstenberger, Andreas, ed. Biblical Theology of the New Testament. Grand Rapids:
Zondervan.
Stonehouse, Ned B., F.F. Bruce and Gordon D. Fee, eds. The New International
Commentaryon the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2007.
Yarbrough, Robert W . and Robert H. Stein, eds. Baker Exegetical Commentaryon the
New Testament. Grand Rapids: Michigan.
Blackboard Learning
Blackboard will be used to house a digital copy of the syllabus, drop boxes for turning in
assignments and the grade book. These will assist your progress throughout the semester.
Required Resources
An active CCU Blackboard account
E-mail account
Access to Course Blackboard Shell and Syllabus
Bringing the course textbooks to class every day
Summary of Assignments and Grading: Grades will not be rounded up.
100%-93.3% A 76.6%-73.4% C
93.2%-90% A- 73.3%-70% C-
89.9%-86.6% B+ 69.9%-66.7% D+
86.5%-83.3% B 66.6%-63.4% D
83.2%-80% B- 63.3%-60% D-
79.9%-76.7% C+ Below 60% F
Activity Points %age
Attendance and Participation [SLO 1-5] 150 15
Reading Quizzes [SLO 1-6] 200 20
First Exam [SLO 1-3] 100 10
Second Exam [SLO 1-3] 100 10
Final Exam [SLO 1-3] 150 15
Gospel Narrative Paper [SLO 1-2, 4-6] 100 10
Church Reflection Paper [SLO 1-2, 4-6] 150 15
Gospel Presentation Paper [SLO 1-2, 4-6] 50 5
Total Possible Points 1,000 100%
Explanation of Assigned Activities
1. Assignments & Assessments
Attendance and Participation: Attendanceand Participation grades will be based upon class
attendance and participation in class discussions. Failure to attend class will negatively
impact this grade. Attending class but without attentiveness to the class information and
activities will also negatively impact this grade.
Reading: The reading assignments will come from the Towns and Gutierrez textbook, the NIV
Biblical TheologyStudy Bible, and the online readings.
Quizzes: The quizzes will cover the textbook information on the reading that has been required
since the prior quiz. To prepare for these quizzes, focus on the big ideas in the textbook and
Bible passages reading.
Exams: Exams will cover class lectures, textbook reading information, in-class quiz information
and class lecture notes. An exam review will be posted on Blackboard and updated weekly.
Papers: The requirements for the Symposium Reflection Paper, the Church Reflection Paper and
the Gospel Presentation Assignment will be posted on Blackboard.
University Grading Policy
Here is the link to University Grading System –
HTTP:// CATALOG.CCU .EDU/ CONTENT.PHP?CATOID=19&NAVOID=1110#GRADING_SYS TEM
Policy on late or missed assignments and make-up work
Quizzes: See course schedule for dates of the quizzes. The quiz questions will cover both the
textbook readings and New Testament readings. There will be no opportunity for make-up or
substitutions for any who miss a quiz unless permission is granted by the professor beforehand.
Exams: Exams do not have a make-up option except under extenuating circumstances
deemed suitable by the professor
Papers: No late papers will be accepted without prior arrangements.
Policy on Electronic Devices
All forms of electronic technology are expresslyf orbidden in class. This includes laptops,
tablets, smart phones, etc. Recent studies have demonstrated that, though such
devices may help with note-taking, their overall classroom impact is negative. They are
cause for distraction not only for the student who may be using them (e.g. the
temptation to check email or social media), but also for surrounding students. Alan
Jacobs, in his excellent book The Pleasures of Reading in an Age of Distraction , has a
helpful discussion on the benefits that long-hand note-taking has for the retention of
information. After a warning for first offence, professor will deduct grades for any
subsequent offences.
Academic Integrity
In the pursuit of academic excellence and the development of Christian character,
students must adhere to high standards of academic integrity. Academic integrity
includes refraining from fabrication (lying), plagiarism (copying another person’s work
and representing it as one’s own), multiple submission of work without faculty
permission, obtaining unfair advantage, cheating on tests, obtaining unauthorized
access to academic or administrative records, or aiding or abetting other students in
acts of dishonesty, either by being an accomplice or by failing to report known cases of
academic dishonesty. Students must be aware of the relationship between dishonest
acts and their personal Christian witness to others.
Even when crediting a source, language “lifted” from a reference without quotation
marks may be considered plagiarism. Plagiarism is unethical and illegal, and it may
result in failing the course or expulsion from the university.
ADA Compliance and Accommodations
If you are a student who qualifies for academic accommodations because of a
documented disability, you should contact me to present your CCU certificate of
accommodations as soon as possible. This certificate is required to receive appropriate
adjustments in class. Your Life Directions Center (LDC) advisor provides certificates of
accommodations to you after you have completed an accommodations application
and submitted it to the LDC disabilities coordinator. If you have questions about
documenting a disability or requesting academic accommodations, you should
contact your LDC advisor. Certificates of accommodations should be presented at the
start of the semester to ensure timely provision of services. Accommodations cannot be
granted retroactively.
Course Evaluation
Toward the end of the semester you are given the opportunity to evaluate this course
and me. Please do so honestly. The evaluations help me in fine tuning the course to
provide a better learning environment. Thank you.
Final Examination
Transportation schedules need to be made around your Final Examination schedule.
Faculty members are not free to reschedule a final examination time. Individual
exceptions to the scheduled exam time will only be considered when: Page | 6
An extenuating circumstance exists and can be documented, or
A student is scheduled to take three or more exams on the same day.
Exceptions to the posted exam schedule must be petitioned by the student and
approved by the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Early final exams will not be
permitted for the purpose of student travel. It is your responsibility to build a travel
schedule around the final exam schedule. If your parents are likely to schedule your
travel, please inform them of this university policy now.
To obtain such permission, a Final Exam Reschedule Request must be completed. The
form is found on the Service Central web site:
https://my.ccu.edu/departments/servicecentral/cus/default.aspx
click on Final Exam Reschedule Request
The W riting Center and Tutoring
The W riting Center exists to help CCU students become better writers. It is staffed by
English faculty whose professional focus is in composition. The faculty oversees upper
level consultants who complete the Writing Center Theory and Practice course. The
consultants are trained to address a wide variety of writing issues across the disciplines,
working closely with faculty throughout the university. Students must contact the Writing
Center at writingcenter@ccu.edu or make appointments at
www.ccu.edu/writingcenter. It is not an option, all students must work with the writing
center for their major paper assignment.
Tutoring is available for most classes. Speak to your LDC advisor for more information.
You are responsible for knowing the information contained in the course syllabus and
will be held accountable to it. Please read it carefully. This is a "living" document, i.e., if
after review of class progress it seems beneficial to change the assignments as listed
above, I reserve the right to make appropriate modifications.
Course Schedule
Quiz Topics: Quizzes
Reading: Please complete
Session # will need to be
Lecture Title/Topic/etc. reading prior to the class
and Date completed
period
before class
6
Introduction to the
Mon., Aug.
course/Nature of No reading
24
Scripture
How W e Received the Carson, pp. 2319-2320; Quiz 1
New Testament Towns, pp. 1-14 Page | 7
W ed.,
Quiz 2
Aug. 26
The History between the Carson, pp. 1666-1678;
Testaments Towns, p. 31-41
Mon., Interpreting the New Carson, pp. 1681-1686; Quiz 3
Aug. 31 Testament Towns, pp. 15-30
W ed., Mark: The Divine Servant Towns, pp. 71-82; Carson, Mark Quiz
Sept. 2 read the Gospel of Mark
Mon.,
Labor Day – No Class
Sept. 7
Matthew: The Kingdom Matthew Quiz
W ed., Towns, pp. 54-70; Carson,
of Heaven
Sept. 9 read the Gospel of Matthew
Mon., Luke: The Son of Man Towns, pp. 83-96; Carson, Luke Quiz
Sept. 14 read the Gospel of Luke
The Essence of the Synoptic Problem
Towns, pp. 42-53; Jesus
W ed., Synoptic Problem and Quiz
Studies Handout on
Sept. 16 Jesus Studies
Blackboard
Acts: Taking the Acts Quiz
Mon., Message to the W orld Towns, pp. 111-133; Carson,
Sept. 21 read the Book of Acts
Symposium
John: Believe and Live Reflection Paper
W ed., Towns, pp. 97-110; Carson, due in the
Sept. 23 read the Gospel of John Blackboard dropbox
by 11:59 PM Fri.,
Sept. 25
1 John: Blessed John Quiz
Assurance
Mon., 2 John: Avoid False Towns, pp. 309-324; Carson,
Sept. 28 Teachers read 1, 2 and 3 John
W ed.,
Exam 1
Sept. 30
7
Mon., Oct. Romans: Righteousness Towns, pp. 134-148; Carson, Romans Quiz
5 by Faith read Romans
W ed., 1 Corinthians: The Towns, pp. 149-163; Carson, 1 Corinthians Quiz
Oct. 7 Supremacy of Love read 1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians Quiz Page | 8
Mon., Oct. 2 Corinthians: Power in Towns, pp. 164-175; Carson,
12 W eakness read 2 Corinthians
Galatians Quiz
Galatians: By Grace Church Reflection
W ed., Towns, pp. 176-187; Carson,
Through Faith Paper due in the
Oct. 14 read Galatians
Blackboard dropbox
by 11:59 PM Sun.,
Oct. 18
Ephesians: W ealth, Walk Ephesians and
and W arfare Colossians Quiz
Towns, pp. 188-199 ane 209-
Mon., Oct.
Colossians: The 217; Carson, read Ephesians
19
Preeminence of Christ and Colossians
Philippians: The Mind of Philippians Quiz
W ed., Towns, pp. 200-208; Carson,
Christ
Oct. 21 read Philippians
1 Thessalonians: The 1 and 2
Return of Christ Thessalonians Quiz
Mon., Oct. Towns, pp. 218-234; Carson,
26 read 1, 2 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians: The Day
of the Lord
1 Timothy: Pastoral 1 Timothy and Titus
Towns, pp. 235-243 and 254-
W ed., Principles Quiz
261; Carson, read 1 Timothy
Oct. 28
and Titus
Titus: Good W orks
Mon., 2 Timothy Quiz
Towns, pp. 244-253; Carson,
Nov. 2 2 Timothy: Final W ords
read 2 Timothy
W ed.,
Exam 2
Nov. 4
Mon., Philemon: Social Philemon: Social Dynamics
Nov. 9 Dynamics of the Gospel of the Gospel
8
W ed., Hebrews: Jesus Our Towns, pp. 270-282; Carson, Hebrews Quiz
Nov. 11 Great High Priest read Hebrews
Mon., Towns, pp. 283-292; Carson, James Quiz
James: Faith That W orks
Nov. 16 read James
W ed., 1 Peter: Holy Living Towns, pp. 293-301; Carson, 1 Peter Quiz Page | 9
Nov. 18 read 1 Peter
Mon., Thanksgiving Break Eat, drink, ski, snowboard,
Nov. 23 and enjoy time with loved
ones
W ed., Thanksgiving Break Eat, drink, ski, snowboard,
Nov. 25 and enjoy more time with
loved ones
Mon., 2 Peter: Growing in Towns, pp. 302-308 and 325- 2 Peter and Jude
Nov. 30 Grace 331; Carson, read 2 Peter Quiz
and Jude
Jude: Final W arnings
W ed., Revelation: The King is Towns, pp. 332-347; Carson, Revelation Quiz
Dec. 2 Coming Spend 30 minutes reading
portions of Revelation which Gospel Presentation
are of interest to you Paper due in the
Blackboard dropbox
by 11:59 PM Sun.,
Dec. 6
Mon., Epilogue: The Promise Towns, pp. 348-351
Dec. 7 Fulfilled
W ed., Course Review
Dec. 9
Mon., Final Exam
Dec. 14
