BTS 211: New Testament Studies and Theology I:

Gospels and Acts

Fall, 2014
Scott A. Swanson, Ph.D., Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies
Sect 2, M2, W/F, 1:00-2:15
Office hours: 3:00-5:00 T/Th, or by appt.
Contact: (626) 696-4012 (office); (909) 782-7420 (cell); swanson@providencecc.edu
Mission of the College: The mission of Providence Christian College as a Reformed
Christian institution is to equip students to be firmly grounded in biblical truth,
thoroughly educated in the liberal arts, and fully engaged in their churches, their
communities, and the world for the glory of God and for service to humanity.

Course Description:
In this course we read and closely examine each of these biblical books with a view to 1)
questions of introduction (authorship, canon, inspiration, integrity of the documents,
dating, etc.); 2) hermeneutics, or how to interpret the unique genres of the Gospels and
Acts; 3) inter-testamental history as background to the Gospels; 4) the biblical and
systematic theology taught in these books, especially the kingdom of God and Old
Testament fulfillment, the person and work of Christ, his ethical teaching, and the nature
and mission of the church. (3 credits)

Relation of Course to Core Curriculum and/or concentration:

This course fulfills 3 of the required 12 units under Kingdom of God in the Liberal
Studies core curriculum.

Biblical foundation and framework for the course:

The New Testament is our covenant document as Christians, establishing our gracious
relationship with God based on the person and work of Jesus Christ, and explicating how
we are to live as his servants, extending his redemptive kingdom purposes in this world.
The Gospels present the inauguration of this kingdom with Christs coming, teaching,
death, and resurrection. Then Acts explains the founding of Christs church with the
coming of the Holy Spirit, and the universal parameters of the gospel. At the same time
this kingdom, covenantal, gospel and Christ-centered message is linked throughout with
the Old Testament as fulfillment of all its hopes, promises, and types. The New
Testament thus places us at the ends of the ages, yet waiting for the consummation, but
now already participants in the heavenly blessings of Christs reign, power, and presence.
Mastery of these biblical books is therefore crucial for faithful living before God,
effective ministry, and for bringing redemptive transformation to every area of creation.
Such then is the importance that we be diligent workmen, rightly handling the word of
truth (2 Tim. 2.15), in order that we may fully and properly appropriate its message and
power. This requires that we not only know these Scriptures, but that we utilize
fundamental principles of interpretation (hermeneutics), which means primarily
recognizing the various aspects of context. Thus we must study the history of the period,

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and the unique Jewish and Greco-Roman background in which these books are situated.
We must gain sensitivity to the literary forms employed, for example, the unique genre of
gospel, and the way parables work. We must learn how these books are genuinely and
reliably historical, and yet not in ways identical with modern historiographical
conventions. This then enables us to confront the skeptical approaches of both historicalcritical scholarship and popular modern/postmodern assumptions that there is no
historical Jesus to be found behind the likely fabrications of a self-serving church. In
contrast to such contemporary conceit, we will find that the evidence confirms our
confidence in these Scriptures as the authoritative word of the living Christ through his
apostolic messengers.
Our study must thus also always be governed by a spiritual sensitivity. We meet Christ
here, and his kingdom will come through us only as we are willing to humbly submit
every area of our lives to his truth. As we do so, and learn more and more to listen with
understanding, we have the exciting promise that our sovereign Lord will be at work to
make us and all things new.

Specific course outcomes/objectives:

Essential concepts to be understood:
1. Students will understand the nature of biblical authority, including concepts of
revelation, inspiration, textual criticism, and canon.
2. Students will understand the historical and cultural framework of these biblical
books, including a timeline of the inter-testamental period, basic geography of the
area, the key peoples and parties of the time, and what kind of literature they
produced.
3. Students will understand basic principles of literary interpretation, including
identification of genre, structure, figures of speech, etc.
4. Students will understand the basic content of these biblical books, including an
outline of each.
5. Students will understand key theological terms/themes and Christological titles in
these books in their canonical redemptive-historical context. These include
kingdom, covenant, gospel, Son of Man, and Christ (Messiah).
6. Students will understand the contribution of these books to the summaries of
biblical doctrine found in the Reformed confessional standards.
7. Students will understand the characteristic presuppositions and problems of
theologically liberal and higher critical approaches to Scripture, especially in the
modern search for the historical Jesus.
8. Students will understand how to apply the message and themes of these books in
their own Christian walk, worship, devotion, and work in the world.
Essential Skills to Be Demonstrated:
1. Students will be able to read and interpret Scripture carefully, with attention to
immediate context (grammatical, literary, historical, etc.).
2. Students will also be able to read and interpret Scripture with Scripture, i.e. in
relation to the larger canonical context (intertextual, redemptive-historical,
biblical theological, Christological).

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3. Students will be able to make good use of the tools pursuant to (1) and (2) above,
such as marginal references, concordances, biblical dictionaries, and other
reference works.
4. Students will be able to locate and identify key peoples and places on maps of
Palestine and the Greco-Roman world.
5. Students will be able to reproduce a basic historical timeline and summary outline
for these books, and to recall key verses and passages committed to memory.
6. Students will be able to connect the theological message/themes of these books to
the summary of biblical doctrine found in the Reformed confessional standards.
7. Students will be able to relate this theological teaching to the Reformed Christian
worldview.
8. Students will be able to apply the theological message/ themes of these books to
their own personal Christian lives.

Departmental outcomes:
The department of Biblical and Theological Studies enables students to:
1. Demonstrate a working knowledge of the entire Bible (Old and New Testament
Scriptures), including its historical, cultural, and literary contexts.
2. Employ proper methods of interpretation in their study of Scripture (hermeneutics),
including critical and analytical reasoning, contextual exegesis (grammatical-historical),
and theological (comparative scriptural, canonical), as well as make use of the
appropriate tools for this study.
3. Demonstrate a knowledge of the systematic teaching of Scripture, especially with
reference to the theology of the orthodox creeds and the Reformed tradition, as well as an
ability to fairly evaluate alternative perspectives, sensitive to the role of presuppositional
commitments.
4. Apply this teaching to our contemporary context, relating it to the full range of current
culture and concerns (in terms of the biblical and Reformed framework of creation, fall,
redemption, and consummation), and apply it personally, leading to spiritual growth and
ministry within church and society.
5. Communicate effectively both the process and conclusions of biblical and theological
study, in both oral and written venues.

Course outcomes related to institutional outcomes:

These outcomes further the institution-wide goals of Providence Christian College:
Interdisciplinary Knowledge: Students will gain a knowledge of the Bible through
historical, literary, and cross-cultural study, and they will discover how this knowledge
illuminates and gives perspective to all areas of human study and experience.
Critical and Creative Thinking: Students will be able to articulate a holistic Reformed
perspective, making use of appropriate methods of biblical interpretation and application,
and critical evaluating alternative views.

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Media and Information Literacy: Directed assignments will develop skills in the
identification and evaluation of sources in biblical and theological studies.
Communication: Directed assignments will foster skills in effective writing and research,
including correct English, clarity, logical flow, and proper documentation.

Methods of assessment:
Examinations:
There will be four exams, three during the course of the semester, and a final which will
be in part comprehensive. Each of the four exams will count for 12.5%, for a total of
50% of the course grade.
These will consist of objective questions (multiple choice, and occasionally matching or
map reading), Scripture memory verses, and short essay questions.
Please note: exams will be based on both the assigned readings and the class lectures.
Class time will usually not cover the same material as the textbook. Therefore it will not
be possible to do well on these exams by neglecting one or the other.
Assignments:
There will be three major written assignments during the term:
1. Peoples Paper: a 2-3 page research paper on one of the peoples or distinctive
groups that feature in the New Testament, and a survey of some biblical passages
illuminated by this study. Use at least two sources, one of which must be Peoples of the
New Testament World (on reserve). Other good sources to choose from include
Dictionary of New Testament Background and Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels (in
reference), and J. Julius Scott, Jewish Backgrounds of the New Testament; Thomas D. Lea
& David Alan Black, The New Testament: Its Background and Message; and Everett
Ferguson, Background of Early Christianity (on reserve). No online sources.
2. Critical Reading Paper: This 2-3 page critical reading assignment is not a book
report, but a critical review, and must include the following: 1) a summary of key points
of the book, 2) a list of the most valuable insights you have gained, and 3) questions or
criticisms you had of the book. (Please reference specific page numbers for each of
these points.) students must read at least 100 pages from any one of the following books
(your choice):
1. Paul Barnett, Is the New Testament Reliable? (IVP, 2003)
2. Craig L. Blomberg, Making Sense of the New Testament: Three Crucial
Questions (Baker, 2004) (Read chapts. 1 & 3)
3. Darrell L. Bock, Breaking the Da Vinci Code (Nelson, 2004)
4. F. F. Bruce, New Testament History (Doubleday, 1972)
5. Michael Green, Evangelism in the Early Church (Eerdmans, 1991)
6. Scot McKnight, Interpreting the Synoptic Gospels (Baker, 1988)
7. Pam Fox Kuhlken and David Noel Freedman, What Are the Dead Sea Scrolls and
Why Do They Matter (Eerdmans, 2007)
8. David Wenham, The Parables of Jesus (InterVarsity, 1989)
9. John W. Wenham, Christ and the Bible, 3rd ed. (Baker, 1994)

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10. Ben Witherington III, New Testament History: A Narrative Account
11. N. T. Wright, Judas and the Gospel of Jesus: Have We Missed the Truth about
Christianity? (Baker, 2006) (for this one you must read pp. 17-146; there are
less words per page than the others)
These books are on reserve in the library.
3. Biblical-Theological Paper: For this 3-5 page paper, students will focus on a
biblical-theological theme by selecting a key word or Christological title (such as
kingdom, gospel, Son of Man, Christ [Messiah], Savior, Holy Spirit, I Am [in John]) and
tracing its use and meaning through one of the biblical books we are studying. This must
include relating it 1) to the Old Testament, 2) to the Reformed worldview, and 3) to your
own Christian life. Further explanation/help will be offered in class. As your summative
written assignment for this course, it will count for 15% of your grade in the course.
Class Reading:
Class time will be a combination of lecture and discussion. It is essential that students
make adequate time outside of class to complete the assigned readings. This includes the
Bible reading, which must be done in its entirety for this class (previous reading through
the Bible is not sufficient), although you may read ahead. In addition to the Bible and the
main textbook, Encountering the New Testament, there are assigned readings from
Readings from the First-Century World, Everyones A Theologian: An Introduction to
Systematic Theology, and Reformed Confessions Harmonized
For each class period on the schedule, students are to have completed the readings
assigned for that date, in the Bible as well as the textbooks. For the Bible reading, it will
help to read with constant reference to the outline for each biblical book contained in the
study Bible and in Encountering the New Testament (the outlines in each are often
different in helpful ways). To help in retaining the information in Encountering the New
Testament, students should carefully review the Key Terms, Key People/Places,
Summary, and Study Questions at the end of each chapter. See also online at
www.bakeracademic.com/ent for additional helps, including flash cards and self-quizzes
(follow the link to Textbook Sourcesstudy aids for students). For Readings from the
First-Century World, students should focus on the introduction at the beginning of each
chapter, and the introduction and summary section for each individual reading.
Short reading quizzes will typically be given at the beginning of each class, and may
cover any of the reading. Your quiz grade average will count for 10 % of your grade.
Your lowest 2 quiz grades may be dropped, but this includes any missed quizzes for
absences (no make-up quizzes allowed).
Class Participation:
Your full engagement in every class is essential to your success in the course. Therefore,
5% of your grade will be determined by the degree to which you are attentive in class and
participate in class discussion.

Schedule of assignments and activities:

ETNT is our main textbook, Encountering the New Testament; the Scripture readings are
in bold. RCH is Reformed Confessions Harmonized, and the confessions and catechisms
it contains have their standard citation as follows: BC (Belgic Confession), HC
(Heidelberg Catechism), CD (Canons of Dort), WCF (Westminster Confession of Faith),
WSC (Westminster Shorter Catechism), WLC (Westminster Larger Catechism).
Note: the dates for class topics and readings due may change; changes/updates to the
syllabus will be posted in Populi. The student is responsible to determine where we are
in each class session and what reading assignments are due for that class. However,
every effort will be made to keep the exam and written assignment dates as listed here.
Week 1
Aug 29: Syllabus/ First questions about New Testament studies
Week 2
Sept 3: The New Testament as the word of God
ETNT, ch. 1/ Sproul, pp. 25-44/ WCF 1.5-10 (RCH 11-15)
Sept 5: The geography Jesus knew/ the history Jesus knew
ETNT, ch. 2, to p. 35/ Readings from the First-Century World, ch. 2, pp. 25-36,
45-55
Week 3
Sept 10: The Judaism(s) Jesus knew
ETNT, ch. 2, p. 35 to end/ Readings, ch. 3, pp. 57-70
Sept 12: From the gospel to the Gospels
ETNT, ch. 3/ Readings, ch. 4, pp. 77-87/ Sproul, 127-132, 143-148
Week 4
Sept 17: Jesus vs. the Rabbis
Readings, ch. 5, Religious Ideas in Judaism
Sept 19: Exam 1
Week 5
Sept 24: Matthew: The Promised Messiah Has Come
ETNT, ch. 4/ Sproul 138-142, 149-153/ HC 31 (RCH 68-70)
Matt. 1-13
Sept 26: Matthew contd
Sproul, 247-251/ WCF 15.1-4; HC 87-90, 114 (RCH 109-112);
HC 86 (RCH 114)
Matt. 14-28

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Week 6
Oct 1: Marks proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God
ETNT, ch. 5
Mark 1-9
Oct 3: Peoples Paper due
Mark proclaims Jesus Christ as the Son of God in the accomplishment of his
sacrificial mission
Sproul, 154-159/ HC 37-40 (RCH 74-76); HC 1 (RCH 2)
Mark 10-16
Week 7
Oct 8: Seeing Jesus clearly: the Gospel of Mark and the call to faith
ETNT, ch. 8; Readings, ch. 6: Jesus Outside of the New Testament
Oct 10: *Fall reading break: no class*
Week 8
Oct 15: Jesus preaching of the kingdom of God: the sovereign Lord has come with
power
ETNT, ch. 9/ Sproul, 305-308/ WLC 51-56; HC 45-52 (RCH 77-81)
Oct 17: Exam 2
Week 9
Oct 22: Our Savior seeks the lost: the Gospel according to Luke
ETNT, ch. 6
Luke 1-14
Oct 24: Luke, contd
Sproul, 178-181
Luke 15-24
Week 10
Oct 29: The Gospel of John: Jesus is God the Son incarnate
ETNT, ch. 7/ Sproul, 133-137, 226-231/ BC 10 (RCH 24); HC 8; WCF 9.3-4
(RCH 56-57); WCF 10.1 (RCH 91)
John 1-5
Oct 31: The Gospel of John: The Abundant Life in God the Son
Sproul, 166-169/ WCF 8.5 (RCH 83)
John 6-12

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Week 11
Nov 5: Critical Reading Paper due
The Gospel of John (1-12), contd.
Nov 7: The Gospel of John: Jesus Farewell DiscourseComfort and Challenge;
Modern Approaches to the N.T.: Historical Criticism and Hermeneutics
ETNT, ch. 10; Sproul, 182-187
John 13-21
Week 12
Nov 12: Modern Study of the Gospels and The Gospels vindicated as history
ETNT, chs. 11-12
Nov 14: Exam 3
Week 13
Nov 19: *No class: ETS conference*
Nov 21: *No class: ETS conference*
**Nov 24-28: Thanksgiving recess**
Week 14
Dec 3: The World and Identity of the Earliest Church
ETNT, ch. 13
Dec 5: Biblical-Theological Paper Due
The Acts of the Apostles: can we be a New Testament church?
ETNT, ch. 14/ Readings, ch. 7, pp. 129-132/ Sproul, 188-193
Acts 1-7
Week 15
Dec 10: Salvation for Both Jew and Gentile
ETNT, ch. 15/ Readings, ch. 7, pp. 132-133/ Sproul, 207-211
Acts 8-12
Dec 12: The light of Christ to the ends of the earth
ETNT, ch. 16/ Readings, ch. 7, pp. 133-138
Acts 13-28
Week 16
Wed, Dec 17, 1:00-3:30: Final

Class policies:

ATTENDANCE at all class sessions is vital to your learning experience and to

your success (and grade) in the course. A missed class may mean a missed quiz,
or material crucial for an exam. If you do miss a class, you are responsible for
determining what was covered in class. You should do so by getting all
information and notes from a fellow student (NOT from the instructor). AFTER
MISSING 2 CLASS PERIODS, YOU WILL LOSE 2 % FOR EVERY
ABSENCE (including arriving late10 min. or moreand leaving early) for any
reason short of serious illness. This will be subtracted from your final grade.
Therefore, you are advised not to miss a class for frivolous reasons, because you
will most likely need the two granted absences for ordinary sickness, family
events, or other unexpected circumstances.

GRADING will be based on the work you do in the following areas:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Three midterm exams and one final: 12.5% each, total 50%
Peoples Paper: 10%
Critical Reading Paper: 10%
Biblical-Theological Paper: 15%
Reading Quizzes: 10%
Class participation: 5%

Letter grades are determined as follows:

A=93-100%, A-=90-92%,
B+=87-89% , B=83-86%, B-=80-82%,
C+=77-79%, C=73-76%, C-=70-72%,
D+=67-69%, D=63-66%, D-=60-62%,
F=below 60%

ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE at the beginning of class on their due date.

However, they may be turned in early. Late assignments will be reduced by 25%
for each week or portion of the week in which they are late. No assignments will
be accepted more than two weeks late.

MAKE-UPS: make-up tests are only allowed for special pre-approved

circumstances. This is normally to be done within one week.

STYLE REQUIREMENTS FOR PAPERS:

1. All written work must be typed, 12 font, double-spaced.
2. Do not exceed the allotted length. However, if you have bibliographic
references, this should be on a separate additional page.
3. Format according to the MLA or Chicago style guides (see Lunsford, The
Everyday Writer).
4. You must cite any source material you use: parenthetic text references with
author and page number are acceptable in place of footnotes/endnotes; include
full information in bibliography (and format this consistently according to one
of the style guides).

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5. Please leave time to edit, rewrite, and proofread!
6. Inadequate quality work will receive a deduction from the allowable points.
Please see your instructor or the Academic Resource Center (ARC) if you
need help with writing!

Use of computers, tablets, cell phones (including texting), or other electronic

devices is prohibited in this class. Disturbing the learning environment by
continuing to disregard this policy will result in a deduction from your final grade.
Other consequences may apply. (Note that there are some prearranged exceptions
to this policy for certain medical/educational circumstances. All such exceptions
must secure official approval.)

No food is allowed in class, unless arrangements have been made with the
instructor for special circumstances.

Bathroom Breaks: Students are urged to use the facilities either before or after
class in order to minimize class room disruptions.
Violations of academic integrity will be taken seriously: plagiarism means
representing someone elses work as your own, whether in exact wording or in
idea. Plagiarism may result in 0 credit for the assignment. Cheating will result
in failure of the course. Further action is also possible. (See the Student
Handbook for definitions and disciplinary procedures.)

Textbooks and other instructional materials:

Required:
1. ESV Study Bible: English Standard Version (Crossway Bibles, 2008)
Note: students must bring this Bible to ALL class sessions!
2. Walter A. Elwell & Robert W. Yarbrough, Encountering the New Testament: A
Historical and Theological Survey, 3rd ed. (Baker, 2013)
3. Walter A. Elwell & Robert W. Yarbrough, Readings from the First-Century World:
Primary Sources for New Testament Study (Baker, 1998)
4. Joel R. Beeke & Sinclair B. Ferguson, eds., Reformed Confessions Harmonized
(Baker, 1999)
5. R.C. Sproul, Everyones A Theologian: An Introduction to Systematic Theology
(Reformation Trust, 2014)

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Helpful books for consultation or purchase:
1. A Bible dictionary, such as the New Bible Dictionary, 3rd edition, ed. by I. Howard
Marshall et al. (IVP)
2. A Bible atlas, such as the New Bible Atlas, ed. by John H. Paterson et al. (IVP), or The
Moody Atlas of Bible Lands, by Barry J. Beitzel (Moody, 1985)
3. D. A. Carson, R.T. France, J.A. Motyer, G.J. Wenham, eds., New Bible Commentary.
21st Century Edition (IVP, 1994)
4. Joel B. Green & Scot McKnight, eds., Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels (IVP,
1992)
5. C. A. Evans & S. E. Porter, eds., Dictionary of New Testament Background (IVP,
2000)
6. D. A. Carson & D. J. Moo, Introduction to the New Testament, 2nd ed (Zondervan,
2005)
7. George Eldon Ladd, Theology of the New Testament, rev. ed. (Eerdmans, 1993)
8. William A. Simmons, Peoples of the New Testament World: An Illustrated Guide
(Hendrickson, 2009)

Reasonable accommodations will be made for students with documented disabilities.

Please notify the director of the Academic Resource Center (ARC) of any such
accommodations. Please discuss specific accommodations with your instructor during
the first two weeks of class.

Student materials submitted in this course may be used in the assessment process for
institutional accreditation.

The instructor reserves the right to change and/or modify this syllabus as he may
deem necessary.