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Philosophy 6 or Religious Studies 1 

Reverend Ricci Wojtkiewicz 

email: rwojtkiewicz@bcconline.com or rw@bcconline.com  (both email addresses go to the same account).

Lessons Online Weekly

Online Communications and *In-Class Thursday

Ft. Irwin Campus Bldg. 285 C1 Phone: 559-1195

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Course Description

This course is a preparation of informed study of the Bible. Contemporary interpretive stances, history, methods, and major themes, personalities, and cultural relevance will be examined.

Course Objective

1. Students will have and understanding and knowledge of the Old and New Testaments.
2. Students will have a expanded understanding of terminology, Books of Bible and know which books belong to Old and New Testament, know authors of books, and be familiar with historical relevance.
3. Students should be able to utilize study references such as biblical dictionary, concordances, cross-reference versions, and the use of an atlas.
4. Students will identify the historical events of the Bible, distinguish between the Old Testament and New Testament Covenant, and have a good understanding of the gospels, epistles and teachings of Jesus.
5. Critical thinking and application to theological implications to life situations today will be evaluated through "in class" writings, reading/lecture evidenced in a formal research paper/presentation, and in written examinations/quizzes.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to demonstrate competence in at least 50% of the topics listed.

1. Understand the distinctions between the Christian Old Testament and the Hebrew Bible and why they might be structured differently.
2. Define Tanakh and distinguish the three major sections of the Hebrew bible in Judaism: Torah (Law), Nevi'im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings).
3. Distinguish the four major sections of the Christian Old Testament: Pentateuch (law), Historical books, Books of Poetry and Wisdom, Prophetic Books.
4. Explain why the Protestant version of the Old Testament contains fewer books than the Catholic and Orthodox Christian versions of the Old Testament.
5. Define Aprocrypha and why these "Deuterocanonicals" are not included in the Protestant Old Testament of New Testament.
6. Define and date the Septuagint (LXX), the Greek translation of the Jewish scriptures and the bible of the first Christians
7. Talk about the Documentary Hypothesis and explain the distinctions between the characteristics of the four (J,E,D, and P) sources.
8. Understand the concept of intertextuality as a language of story and the layers of stories in their transmission.
9. Define literary text, social text, interpretive text, and self-text.
10. Explain the difference between micro-level intertextuality and macro-level intertextuality and recognize this verbal correspondence in effect.
11. Recognize significant dates in biblical history and understand the important role that social context and cultural influences play in interpreting divine scripture.
12. Understand that Israel's story has gone through the process of ongoing reinterpretation and that canonical texts were collected and edited and compiled by different communities with an invitation to read them in a particular way.
13. Explain some of the key differences between the Tetrateuch and the Deuteronomistic history.
14. Discuss the basic features of Deuteronomic theology and Priestly theology.
15. Describe how Deuteronomic theology shapes the way the prayer of Nehemiah interprets the story of Israel.
16. Describe how Priestly ideology shapes the way Sirach summarizes Israel's story.
17. Explain why ancient literary genres are an important consideration when examining literary texts and how historiography in the ancient world was not as we understand it today.
18. Discuss what ways it could be argued that Persian Empire had influence upon the writing of biblical documents.
19. Discuss the evidence that contemporary literary genres influenced the writing of the story of Ezra-Nehemiah.
20. Discuss how or why legal traditions would have needed to be reread/reinterpreted in either the pre-Exilic or post-Exilic period.
21. Discuss how the tradition of God's promise of land might require later rereading in a period when the people are unable to possess the land.
22. Understand the differences between form criticism, redaction criticism, and textual criticism and why these methods of analysis are important.
23. Define the word apocalyptic and explain how apocalyptic eschatology differs from prophetic eschatology.
24. Discuss the social context (the social, the theological, historical, and/or political milieu) that provided the fertile ground for the emergence of apocalyptic literature.
25. Explain the contradictions within the Chronicler's story of David's involvement in building the Temple and some of the socio-historical reasons for its rereading.
26. Discuss the opposing perspectives on the centralization of the Temple and what the social factors that caused this conflict of opinion were.
27. Discuss what the Dead Sea Scrolls are and how they reread the Temple traditions in order to legitimize their rejection of the literal Temple and priesthood of Jerusalem
28. Explain the concept of the divinity of the king in the Hebrew Bible and how ancient Near Eastern Kingship ideology influenced the Hebrew understanding of kingship.
29. Discuss how the Royal Psalms function to legitimize the kingly rule.
30. Talk about the social text that would contribute to the shift of focus from the historical present to the messianic future and the transition from present and realistic hope to future utopian anticipation.
31. Explain the different meanings of the term Israel and how different social and political backgrounds define it and would demand rereadings of the term.
32. Define the terms covenant and testament and discuss the various ways covenant is understood in the Bible.
33. Understand the complex political structures that influenced Palestine at the time of Jesus.
34. Discuss the primary causes and the results of the Jewish revolt against Rome.
35. Describe the general characteristics of popular religions in the Greco-Roman world.
36. Define philosophy and tald about some of the philosophical currents at the time that the Greek New Testament was written.
37. Define gospel and explain why their authors, the Evangelists, were not historiographers in the modern sense.
38. Talk about the synoptic problem, the "Q" document, and distinguish the Two-Gospel Hypothesis from the Two-Source Hypothesis.
39. Discuss the reasons why Matthew is appropriately placed as the opening Gospel to the New Testament although scholars believe it is not the first Gospel written.
40. Discuss why historians must be cautious when using the New Testament narratives to reconstruct history.
41. Explain why one cannot simply paraphrase the canonical gospels' portrayals of Jesus' crucifixion in order to determine the date of Jesus' execution.
42. Define parable and aphorism and discuss the use of this genre in antiquity.
43. Discuss how Paul's interaction with the social texts of his diverse readers shaped the literary texts he produced.
44. Define Parousia and Paul's belief that the End was very near.
45. Discuss how Paul's understanding of the law differed from Matthew's understanding.
46. Talk about how the different social texts of Matthew and Paul explain their different approaches to the law?
47. Explain why Revelation is positioned at the end of the canon even though it was not the last New Testament book written.
48. Define the Pastoral Epistles and discuss the reasons why scholars do not think that Paul wrote them.
49. Discuss the reasons why scholars believe that the pastoral epistles reveal the extent to which a dynamic and charismatic fellowship of Christians had developed into a tightly organized church structure.

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Textbooks

Suggested Text

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Class Attendance. You are expected to attend ALL class meetings. *There are four (4) In-Class Meetings, clearly posted on the front page of the course. Should an emergency or pre-agreed absence occur; you WILL be required to turn in a one-page on a topic requested by the Instructor. Due next class!

Reading Assignments. You should have all assigned pages read prior to class meeting.

Quizzes. There will be Multiple Choice or True and False Quizzes ready online for you to complete each week pertaining to assigned reading. During class meetings you will have brief essay quizzes or vocabulary review or fill-ins pertaining in-class lectures and assigned reading.

Learning Objective. Student should show ability to master understanding of each chapter topic through writings, oral discussion, and class participation.

Paper no less than five (5) full pages and no more than ten (10) pages (this does not include the footnotes or cover page). Minimum five (5) cited references.

Student’s personal insights and conclusions should be incorporated throughout paper.

Possible Topic Selections.

Papers must be technically correct and typed double space with 10 to 12 font.

Grading

Your grade is based upon:

B. Meaning of grade:

Class Expectations

1. Cell Phones will be turned Off or on Vibrate during class.
2. Sign in before class (it is your responsibility to attend entire class time).
3. Complete online course materials each week in a timely manner.
4. Bring materials needed for class, take notes, have readings done.
5. Beverages are permitted during class time.
6. No negativity or disrespect to anyone’s beliefs, practices, or ideas will be tolerated.
7. Grades and papers will be promptly returned to students (given same allowed time to review as Instructor gives to Student).

1. Any disability that may prevent you from achieving normal classroom/online work should be reported immediately so we may provide help to encourage your success.

*Professor’s personal notes and preferences.

In the box below type, I have read, understand and agree to abide by the class requirements, class expectations, and scales of evaluation listed above.

Lesson One – Chapter 1 and 2 – Part I: Introduction

First On Campus Meeting – Lecture and Review

a. Discussion Groups – Critical Thinking

b. Terminology

c. Introduction to Old and New Testaments

d. Review the strict church councils that determined books to qualify as Scriptures

e. Brief Quiz or Brief Essay

Lesson Two – Chapter 3 and 4 – Part II - The Hebrew Bible

Second On Campus Meeting  – Lecture and Review

Lesson Three – Chapter 5 and 6 – Part II - The Hebrew Bible Continued

Lesson Four – Chapters 7 and 8 – Part II - The Hebrew Bible Continued

Third On Campus Meeting – Class Meeting – Lecture and Review

1. Discussion Groups – Critical Thinking
    
2. Poetry, Wisdom, and Prophets
    
3. The Gospels and The Early Church
    
4. New Covenant
    
5. Parables

Lesson Seven – Chapters 13 and 14 – Part IV – The Revisitation Continued

Fourth On Campus Meeting – Class Meeting – Review/Presentations/Final

Review/Brief Discussion