BI123 New Testamet History and Literature
Course Syllabus
Professor Name and Title: Rev. Terance Espinoza, M.A., Ph.D. (ABD)
Professor’s Contact Information: tespinoza@cbcag.edu, c. (831) 737-7877
Professor’s Office Hours: n/a
Location / Branch: CBC online
Semester / Year: Spring 2012
Mission Statement:
Central Bible College has been established for the purpose of training ministers and missionaries. Central
Bible College is an Assemblies of God institution of higher learning having a Bible-centered curriculum
designed to educate and train ministers, missionaries, and Christian workers to serve the Lord Jesus Christ
in and through the local church.
Course Description:
A survey of the New Testament in the context of the history, geography and culture of its time, including
the intertestamental period, Judaism in the time of Christ, the ministry of Jesus, and the apostolic church.
The chief events, characters, literary structure and theological contributions of each book are studied in
relation to God’s plan.
Course Objectives:
As a result of this course, the student should be able to:
1. Describe the theological and literary relationship between the Old Testament and the New
Testament.
2. Summarize the historical and cultural situation during the ministry of Jesus and the formation of
the early Church.
3. Identify and describe the author, genre, perspective, message, audience, and purpose of various
New Testament writings.
4. Summarize the Gospel and engage in intelligent and respectful dialogue about the primary themes
of the New Testament.
5. Define terminology relevant to New Testament studies.
6. Utilize the course material to augment future biblical studies and enhance devotional readings.
Central Bible College
Page 1
Required Textbooks:
Primary text: The Bible (any contemporary version will suffice).
Marshall, I. Howard, Stephan Travis and Ian Paul. Exploring the New Testament V. 2: A Guide to
the Letters & Revelation, 2nd Ed. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2011.
Wenham, David and Steve Walton. Exploring the New Testament V. 1: A Guide to the Gospels &
Acts, 2nd Ed. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2011.
[The first edition of these texts may also be used for this class this semester.]
Course Outline:
Week 4
1/30-2/5
Week 5
2/6-12
Week 6
2/13-19
Week 7
2/20-26
Week 8
2/27-3/4
Week 9
3/5-11
1. The NT World
Week 3
1/23-29
Topics
Introduction
OT Background
Alexander the Great
After Alexander
The Roman Empire
Jewish/Greco-Roman Life
Textbook
Reading
Read the
syllabus
Bible
Reading
Homework
Assignments
Vol. 1 – Ch. 1
John 1-14
Disc. Forum Wk. 2
Quiz Week 2
Vol. 2 – Ch. 1
Vol. 1 – Ch. 2
John 15-21
1, 2 & 3 John
Rev 1-3
Disc. Forum Wk. 3
Quiz Week 3
Rev 4-22
Disc. Forum Wk. 4
Unit Exam 1
Disc. Forum Wk. 5
Quiz Week 5
Social/Political Groups
2. John’s Lit
Week 1
1/10-15
Week 2
1/16-22
Unit
3. Synoptic Gospels
Date
Gospel Narrative
John’s Gospel
Epistles of John
Revelation
V. 1 – Ch. 3
V. 1 – Ch. 12
V. 2 – Ch. 20
Mark 1-16
V. 2 – Ch. 21
Matt 1-7
Synoptic Gospels
Life & Ministry of Jesus
V. 1 – Ch. 4-6
V. 1 – Ch. 7-8
Matt 8-20
Mark
Matthew
Luke
Trial & Death of Jesus
Resurrection of Jesus
V. 1 – Ch. 9
V. 1 – Ch. 10
V. 1 – Ch. 11
Matt 21-28
Luke 1-9
Disc. Forum Wk. 8
Quiz Week 8
Luke 10-24
Disc. Forum Wk. 9
Unit Exam 3
Central Bible College
Disc. Forum Wk. 6
Unit Exam 2
Disc. Forum Wk. 7
Quiz Week 7
Reflection Essay 1
Page 2
Week 12
3/26-4/1
Week 13
4/2-8
Week 14
4/9-15
Week 15
4/16-22
Week 16
4/23-29
Week 17
4/30-5/2
4. Acts and Paul’s Letters
Week 10
3/12-18
Week 11
3/19-25
Unit
Topics
OT promise of the Holy Spirit
Acts/The Earliest Church
Speeches in Acts
The Apostle Paul/Galatians
1 & 2 Thessalonians
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Romans
Philippians & Philemon
Colossians & Ephesians
Letters to Timothy & Titus
Paul’s Theology
5. General Epistles
Date
Hebrews
James
1 & 2 Peter and Jude
Canon and Text of the NT
Theological Approaches to
the NT
Textbook
Reading
Bible
Reading
V. 1 – Ch. 13
Acts 1-20
V. 2 – Ch. 2-3
V. 2 – Ch. 4
V. 2 – Ch. 5
V. 2 – Ch. 6
V. 2 – Ch. 7
V. 2 – Ch. 8
Acts 21-28
Gal
1 & 2 Thess
1 Cor
2 Cor
Rom
Phil & Phlmn
Col & Eph
1 & 2 Tim &
Titus
V. 2 – Ch. 9-10
V. 2 – Ch 11-12
V. 2 – Ch. 13
Homework
Assignments
Disc. Forum Wk. 10
Quiz Week 10
Disc. Forum Wk. 11
Quiz Week 11
Disc. Forum Wk. 12
Quiz Week 12
Reflection Essay 2
Disc. Forum Wk. 13
Quiz Week 13
V. 2 – Ch. 16
V. 2 – Ch. 17
Heb
Jas
Disc. Forum Wk. 14
Unit Exam 4
Disc. Forum Wk. 15
Quiz Week 15
V. 2 – Ch. 18-19
V. 2 – Ch 15
1 & 2 Peter
Jude
Disc. Forum Wk. 16
Quiz Week 16
V. 2 – Ch. 14
Unit 5 Exam
Methodology:
This course will consist of weekly assignments of individual reading, along with weekly reading
assessments; individual research and writing assignments; weekly online presentations (web pages, articles,
video, audio, power point presentations, etc.) intended to supplement and/or summarize the reading
material; weekly opportunities to interact with the professor and other students via online discussion
forums.
Course Requirements:
1. Class Participation
a. Class participation assumes regular attendance. Students must log in weekly to
complete/submit assignments and participate in class discussion forums. Students who do
not log in at least weekly will receive a warning email from the professor. Students who do
not log in for more than 2 consecutive weeks, or who receive 3 or more warnings
throughout the semester, will be academically penalized or required to drop the course.
b. Each student is invited to pose relevant questions and/or comments either through our
discussion forums or directly to the professor via email.
Central Bible College
Page 3
c. Students are expected to show respect to the professor and to each other. Because our
interaction will be through text rather than face-to-face, please be sure that what you write
is gracious, encouraging, and clear. The professor will be moderating all the course
interaction and will be available should you have any questions or concerns.
d. Students must submit assignments on time. A due date will be posted for all assignments,
discussions, and exams. Because this is an online class, no late submissions will be
accepted without permission from the professor prior to the due date.
2. Reading Assignments
a. Students must read the entire New Testament during this semester (previous readings not
counted). Please adhere to the course schedule.
b. Students must read the assigned chapters from the textbooks according to the course
schedule.
c. Weekly quizzes shall cover the reading assignments.
d. Reading assignments comprise 20% of your final grade.
3. Writing Assignments
a. Discussion Forums – Students must contribute to weekly discussions covering the course
material. Your posts must substantively contribute to the discussion and be of college-level
writing quality. Assignments will be posted weekly. These forums are our primary form of
interaction and are essential to demonstrate the processing and application of the course
material. They must be completed during the week for which they are assigned.
Participation in the weekly discussion forums makes up 20% of your final grade.
b. Reflection Essays* – Students will be assigned two essays throughout the semester dealing
with specific topics from our discussions or from the textbook. Responses must be two to
three pages in length. Detailed instructions for the essays, along with a grading rubric, will
be posted in Angel, and the assignments will be collected via an online drop box.
*Please adhere to the following guidelines for essays:




Standard font and font size
1” margins on all sides of the page
Double-spaced (except for long quotes, which should be avoided)
MLA parenthetical source citation – the source of a quote, idea or paraphrase must be
cited at the end of the sentence using the following format: (Bruce, 273). A works cited
list must also be included providing the full bibliographic information about the source.
Failure to document a source is plagiarism and results in serious penalties.
 For each topic assigned, several sources may be consulted, including the Bible, the
textbooks, class notes/discussions, other reference works. Students should
demonstrate meaningful interaction with these sources, rather than merely stringing
together disconnected quotes from the sources to achieve the minimum required
length.
 Essays will be collected via an online drop-box. Please include the following
information with your submission: a title for the assignment, the course identification,
your name and the due date.
 By all means, save a backup copy of all of your work, as assignments can be easily lost
in cyberspace.
Central Bible College
Page 4
4. Exams
a. Students will be required to successfully complete five unit exams thoroughly covering the
textbook and the class sessions on the dates indicated in the course schedule.
b. Exams will be available only during the dates and times indicated in the course schedule.
c. Please carefully read all instructions associated with an exam.
d. Exams, once begun, will have a time limit, and they may only be submitted once.
Grading Procedure:
Reading Assignments (11 Quizzes @ ~9.09 pts each)
100 pts
Reflective Essays
(2 @ 25 pts each)
50 pts
Unit Exams
(5 @ 50 pts each)
250 pts
Class Participation
(15 Discussions @ ~6.6 pts each)
100 pts
__________________________________________________________
Total 500 pts
All assignments must be done/submitted by the date indicated in the course schedule. Awwws this is an
online course, the assignments will expire automatically, and no late submissions or make-ups can be
accepted.
The Central Bible College Grading Scale is:
93-100 A
90-92 A88-89 B+
83-87 B
80-82 B78-79 C+
73-77 C
70-72 C-
68-69 D+
63-67 D
60-62 D59 or below F
Selected Bibliography
Achtemeier, Paul J., Joel B. Green, and Marianne Meye Thompson. Introducing the New Testament:
Its Literature and Theology. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001.
Achtemeier, Paul, ed. HarperCollins Bible Dictionary. Rev. ed. SF: HarperSanFrancisco, 1996.
Alexander, T. Desmond, Brian S. Rosner, D. A. Carson, and Graeme Goldsworthy, eds. New
Dictionary of Biblical Theology. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press, 2000.
Bimson, John, ed. Baker Encyclopedia of Bible Places: Towns and Cities, Countries and States,
Archaeology and Topography. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1995.
Bromiley, G.W., et al. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Rev. ed. 4 vols. Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans, 1979-1988.
Brown, Colin. The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology. Exeter: Grand Rapids,
1975-1978.
Central Bible College
Page 5
Carson, Douglas A. and Leon Morris. An Introduction to the New Testament. Grand Rapids:
Zondervan, 1992.
deSilva, David A. An Introduction to the New Testament: Context, Methods & Ministry Formation.
Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2004.
Evans, Craig A. Ancient Texts for New Testament Studies: A Guide to Background Literature.
Peabody: Hendrickson Publishing, 2005.
Evans, Craig A. and Stanley E. Porter, eds. Dictionary of New Testament Background. Downers
Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2000.
Fee, Gordon D. and Douglas Stuart. How to Read the Bible Book by Book: A Guided Tour. Grand
Rapids: Zondervan, 2002.
_______. How to Read the Bible For All Its Worth: A Guide to Understanding the Bible, 3rd ed.
Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003.
Ferguson, Everett. Backgrounds of early Christianity. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003.
Frank, Harry T., ed. Atlas of the Bible Lands. Maplewood: Hammond, 1990.
Freedman, D.N., ed. Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary. 6 vols. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2008.
Freedman, D.N., et al., Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000.
Gowan, Donald E. Bridge Between the Testaments: A Reappraisal of Judaism from the Exile to the
Birth of Christianity, 3rd ed. Allison Park: Pickwick Publications, 1995.
Green, Joel B., Scot McKnight and I. Howard Marshall, eds. Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels.
Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1992.
Hawthorne, Gerald F., Ralph P. Martin, and Daniel G. Reid, eds. Dictionary of Paul and His Letters.
Downers Grove: Inter-Varsity Press, 1993.
Hayes, John H. Biblical Exegesis: A Beginners Handbook. Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1987.
Helyer, Larry R. Exploring Jewish Literature of the Second Temple Period: A Guide for New
Testament Students. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2002.
Johnson, Luke Timothy, and Todd C. Penner, The Writings of the New Testament: An Interpretation.
Revised Edition. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2001.
Klein, William W., et al. Introduction to Biblical Interpretation. Dallas: Word Publishers, 1993.
Marshall, I. Howard. New Testament Theology: Many Witnesses, One Gospel. Downers Grove:
InterVarsity Press, 2004.
Central Bible College
Page 6
Martin, Ralph P. and Peter H. Davids, eds. Dictionary of the Later New Testament & Its
Developments. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1997.
Metzger, Bruce M. The Canon of the New Testament: Its Origin, Development, and Significance.
Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1987.
Powell, Mark Allen. Introducing the New Testament: A Historical, Literary, and Theological Survey.
Grand Rapids: Baker, 2009.
Ryken, Leland, James C. Wilhoit, and Tremper Longman III, eds. Dictionary of Biblical Imagery.
Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1998.
Sakenfeld, Katharine Doob, ed. The New Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible. 5 vols. Nashville:
Abingdon, 2009.
Witherington III, Ben. The New Testament Story. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing
Company, 2004.
(Inclusion of a web site or book does not indicate agreement with everything contained therein.)
Policy on Participation for Online Courses
CBC’s online courses are designed to fit any schedule. There are no set meeting times for the online
courses. This ‘asynchronous’ format allows you to do your course work on your schedule – mornings,
nights, weekends, or whenever. Live chat sessions may be available at the discretion of the professor.
Online courses require personal discipline and diligence. Without the accountability of a regular class
meeting, it's tempting to procrastinate. Online students are encouraged to establish good study habits,
including regular, weekly study/course times.
Participation in an online course is tracked by logins. Students who do not sufficiently “show up” for class
will have difficulty completing the course and may be academically penalized. The professor is responsible
to track student participation and to designate satisfactory levels of participation.
Policy on Academic Integrity for Online Courses
While discussion and collaboration is encouraged as part of course interaction, CBC students are expected
to exhibit the highest level of integrity in all their course work. All work submitted in an online course must
be the original work of the individual student, unless an assignment is explicitly designated as a group
activity by the professor. Any form of dishonesty, plagiarism, or cheating will be grounds for academic
discipline.
Students who submit the work of another as their own will receive a failing grade for the assignment and
will be reported to the Vice President of Academic Affairs for academic discipline.
Resources, such as books, notes, webpages, etc., are not to be used during online exams or quizzes, unless
an assessment is explicitly designated as “open-book” by the professor. If there is evidence of cheating, the
professor reserves the right to investigate and to report the instance to the Vice President of Academic
Affairs.
Central Bible College
Page 7
For more information, see the Student Academic Integrity Policies in the CBC Student Handbook (available
at http://www.cbcag.edu/document.doc?id=11. A sanction for academic dishonesty may be appealed using
the appeals process. However, a violation that involves a charge of academic dishonesty must be appealed
before the Vice President for Student Development and the Student Conduct Committee. Students have
the right to continue attending class while an appeal is in progress.
Policies on Assignments
Responsibility for Information: The student will be responsible for all material presented during a course.
This includes lecture material, assignment instructions or dates, test dates, changes in course requirements,
etc.
Class Study Time: The student should expect to devote 3 hours of study for every credit-hour of class. For
example, a 3 hour course will may require up to 9 hours of study time each week.
Missing Exams: If a student misses an exam or assignment due to an emergency or an internet/power
outage, he or she must contact the professor as soon as possible to arrange for an alternative. Missing for
such reasons as forgetting, not being prepared, or extending a holiday or weekend will not merit a make-up
opportunity. If the student knows in advance that he or she will not be able to complete an exam or
assignment in the allotted time, he or she must inform the professor prior to the due date to arrange for an
alternative. See the CBC Student Handbook.
Support for Online Students
CBC’s online delivery platform is Angel LMS (https://angel.cbcag.edu).
Each online student is enrolled in an online student orientation community group within Angel. This
community group contains need-to-know information, announcements, tutorials, policies, and tips for CBC
online students. These groups also allow for informal collaboration and interaction with other online
students and opportunities to provide feedback to the administration of CBC.
Learner and academic support is available through the CBC Center for Lifelong Learning (clll@cbcag.edu).
Technical support is available through the CBC Information Technologies office (helpdesk@cbag.edu).
Accessibility
This course has been designed to meet the requirements contained in the Americans with Disabilities Act,
Section 508. If you require specific accommodations to complete this course, notify your instructor. Any
student with a special, documented disability (sight, hearing, language, mobility, learning, etc.) that may
affect class activities should contact Dr. Jim Vigil at jvigil@cbcag.edu or 417-833-2551 ext. 1120.
Angel allows you to create a profile that describes your particular needs for accessing online
course material within the Angel environment (font size, font and background colors,
screen reader settings, etc.). If necessary, you can access an ACCLIP for use with Angel. The
acronym ACCLIP stands for “Accessibility for Learner Information Profile.” Angel’s
Accessibility menu allows you to create, save, or import ACCLIP profiles.
Tutoring and Assistance with Study Skills
The Writing and Learning Center is a free service available to all Central Bible College students. It is
designed to assist in developing academic readiness by teaching strategies for studying and by providing a
Central Bible College
Page 8
variety of tutoring services, such as test preparation, grammar and writing, computer skills, reading,
scribing, and academic advising. The Writing and Learning Center is also available to students who, in
conjunction with the professor, feel an alternative place for classroom testing is needed. The Writing and
Learning Center is located in room 205 of the Pearlman Library. It is open every afternoon Monday through
Friday and in the evenings Monday through Thursday. Students can make an appointment by signing up at
the circulation desk in the library or drop in on a first come/first serve basis.
This syllabus is provided to students and participants for their general guidance only.
It does not constitute a contract, either express or implied, and is subject to change without notice. Graphics
used in this course are included under the fair use exemption of the U.S. Copyright Law and have been
prepared according to the multimedia fair use guidelines and are restricted from further use.
Central Bible College
Office of Vice President of Academic Affairs
3000 North Grant
Springfield, MO 65803
phone: 417.833.2551, Exten. 1116
fax: 417.833.5141
email: DArnett@cbcag.edu
web: www.cbcag.edu
Central Bible College
Page 9