This foundational unit provides an overview of the literary genres, historical and cultural contexts, and theological themes found within the New Testament. Students will engage with contemporary critical methodologies for scriptural interpretation, particularly from an Orthodox perspective, and will explore the development of the New Testament canon.
Unit code: BN8600A
Unit status: Approved (New unit)
Points: 24.0
Unit level: Postgraduate Foundational
Unit discipline: New Testament
Delivery Mode: Online - Synchronous
Proposing College: St Athanasius College
Show when this unit is running| 1. | Identify the genres, rhetorical styles, and theological themes of New Testament texts. |
| 2. | Communicate a critical understanding of the socio-historical context of the New Testament. |
| 3. | Critically reflect on New Testament writings in relation to Orthodox perspectives. |
| 4. | Apply exegetical methodology to passages from the New Testament. |
| 5. | Demonstrate the capacity to research a specific topic in a critically rigorous, sustained and self-directed manner |
Synchronous and asynchronous. Flipped classrooms. Pre-recorded lectures, zoom tutorials with guided reading.
Aune, D. The New Testament in Its Literary Environment. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1989.
Blomberg, C. L. A Handbook of New Testament Exegesis. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2010.
Boring, M. E. An Introduction to the New Testament: History, Literature, Theology. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2012.
Burge, G. M., L. H. Cohick, and G. L. Green. The New Testament in Antiquity. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2008.
deSilva, D. An Introduction to the New Testament: Contexts, Methods, and Ministry Formation. Illinois: Intervarsity Press, 2004.
Drane, J. Introducing the New Testament. Oxford: Lion, 2010.
Elwell, W. A. and Yarbrough, R. W. Encountering the New Testament and Readings from the First-Century World. G.R.: Baker, 2005.
Klauck, H. J. Ancient Letters and the New Testament: A Guide to Context and Exegesis. Waco, Texas: Baylor, 2006.
Metzger, B. The Canon of the New Testament: Its Origin, Development, and Significance. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1997.
Thompson, M., J. Green & P. Achtemeier, Introducing the New Testament: Its Literature and Theology. Eerdmans, 2001.
| Type | Description | Word count | Weight (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forum | 1000 | 20.0 | |
| Exegesis | 3000 | 50.0 | |
| Written examination under timed conditions conducted online | 2000 | 30.0 |
Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 7 Oct, 2025
Unit record last updated: 2025-10-07 08:36:10 +1100