Choose one of these texts for your required readings. You may wish to add one or both of the others for your continuing New Testament studies.
Russell Pregeant, Engaging the New Testament: An Interdisciplinary Approach. After introducing the reader to various approaches to reading the New Testament, Pregeant helps us apply these approaches to a reading of the New Testament. Historical, Theological, and Spiritual readings of the New Testament are examined and critiqued, and Pregeant suggests ways to provide a wide variety of meanings to various New Testament texts. Scattered throughout the book are "sermon seeds" and interesting interpretations and questions for use in preaching and teaching.Bart Ehrman, The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings Ehrman approaches the New Testament from its historical situation and use in the early church. He provides helpful, fascinating historical information and asks intriguing questions about the ways we read and use the New Testament. His approach can be challenging and difficult for those who prefer a more "spiritual" approach to New Testament interpretation..Raymond E. Brown, An Introduction to the New Testament. This introduction was written by one of the most respected historical theologians of all time. Brown, a Roman Catholic scholar, uses both historical information and theological interpretations to produce a fascinating and very useful introduction to the New Testament. You will not regret having this one in your library! (Caution: This is the most difficult to read of the three introductions, and also the longest in terms of the length of the readings for each week.)
This course will be marked on a "pass-fail" basis. The distinction between the two will be based on your completion of class assignments and quizzes, and on your substantive participation in the discussions.