David Trobisch
 Throckmorton- Hayes Professor of New Testament Language and Literature
  Email: DTrobisch@BTS.edu //  Curriculum Vitae / short CV // tel (207) 774 5212 x 205 //  fax (207) 874 2214

The Background of the New Testament 
(NT 1505) Fall 2006

Bangor  and Portland Campus: Thursday 9:00 - 11:50 AM (Video Conference)

bulletSchedule: Change: meeting in Bangor on Saturday 10/21 instead of Portland campus. All day meeting.

Course Description

The goal of this course is to introduce students to sources used by scholars to describe the  historical and religious background of the New Testament. Students will learn where to find these sources, how to use them, and how to apply them to the interpretation of specific New Testament passages.

The readings will be taken from the textbook with additional sources made available as password protected files through the website. Readings will include but are not limited to: Josephus, Hellenistic Mystery Religions, Nag Hammadi Library, Ancient Fiction, Dead Sea Scrolls, Ancient Letters, Extra Canonical Gospels and Acts.

Text Book

C. K. Barrett (ed), The New Testament Background: Writings from Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire That Illuminate Christian Origins, Revised Edition (San Francisco: Harper, 1989).

Barbara Aland, Kurt Aland (ed.), Greek-English New Testament (Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1994). (It is very important to me that everyone uses this scholarly edition of the New Testament. It will help reduce confusion in class.)

Group Presentations

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Prepare a 10 minute oral presentation to the class
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Date and time of source or author

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Problems of interpretation

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Relevance to the NT

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Prepare a file to be posted on the web addressing
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Available editions with call numbers

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Other resources (be very selective with web resources)

Topics

  1. Apocryphal Acts

  2. Josephus

  3. Ancient Fiction

  4. Nag Hammadi Codices

  5. Gospel of Mary and Gospel of Judas

  6. Dead Sea Scrolls

  7. Eusebius of Caesarea

  8. Roman Historians (1st and 2nd century)

  9. Mystery Cults

Goals (MA, MDiv)

The course is intended to provide foundational biblical, theological, and historical knowledge.

Grading

bulletOne book review (2-5 pages each). Choose a book that was published in antiquity (before 500 CE) and which is related to the topic of your presentation.  Instructions for Book Reviews. 
bulletPaper with bibliography 15 pages. You are expected to describe a primary source of your choice, which you did not use for your oral presentation or as your book review, and demonstrate its value for the interpretation of the New Testament by relating it to a New Testament passage.  Due date: 12/7/2006.
bulletTwo written quizzes. They will be posted on the website. Honor system.

As I will leave for a sabbatical after the semester, the due dates are firm.

Grade Distribution

bulletBook Review (30%)
bulletGroup Presentation (10%)
bulletPaper (30%)
bulletQuizzes (20%)
bulletCooperation in Class and Voluntary Assignments (10%)

A = 100-90%; B = 89-80%; C = 79-70%; D = 69-60%.

Outline

Dates Taught From Sources 
9/7 Portland  
9/14 Bangor Acts of Paul
9/21 Portland Josephus
9/28 Bangor Chariton (1)
10/5 NO CLASS  
Reading Week    
10//19 NO CLASS  
10/21 All Day   SATURDAY IN BANGOR
 Gospel of Philip
Gospel of Mary
10/26 Bangor quiz (1)
Chariton (2)
11/2 Portland Dead Sea Scrolls (Community Rule)
11/9 Bangor Book Review due
Eusebius (Jesus and King Abgar)
11/16 Portland Letters (Pliny to Trajan)
Reading Week    
11/30 NO CLASS PAPER DUE
12/7 Bangor quiz (2)
Arrian (Anabasis of Alexander)
12/14 LAST CLASS Portland Mystery Cults (Philadelphia Inscription)

 

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