Bible Backgrounds is a study of the history, culture, literature, and religion of the ancient Near East. Students will study the documents of the New Testament by examining the historical, literary, and theological features of these texts. Special attention is given to the context of the first-century bible lands, along with genres, content, and distinctive features of each New Testament book.
1. The student will be able to understand the first-century world and provides the backdrop of the New Testament.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of the significance of the historical Jesus's life within his historical context of Rome and second temple Judaism.
3. The student will understand various ancient views of New Testament theologies, such as the afterlife and what early Christians said about Jesus's resurrection.
4. Each student will be able to describe the basic contours of Paul's life and theology.
5. The student will demonstrate an understanding of each book's setting, production, and basic content in the New Testament.
6. At the conclusion of this course, each student will be able to articulate the Christian worldview described in the New Testament and understand its relevance to the life of Christians today.