2009 - 2010 Academic Catalog - Westminster Theological Seminary

{Course Descriptions}
New Testament
2009–2010
New Testament
To accept the New Testament as canonical is, in a word, to acknowledge
the twenty-seven writings in the second part of the Holy Bible
as possessing divine authority and as constituting, accordingly, an
integral part of the divine rule for faith and life... There is implicit in
the claim of canonicity, therefore, the judgment that divine inspiration
has constituted these writings with a quality that sets them
apart from all merely human writings. Those who accept this high
view of the New Testament, accordingly, do not shrink from identifying
it as the Word of God, the infallible and inerrant rule of faith
and life.
– Ned B. Stonehouse
The New Testament is the account of the presence of the kingdom
of heaven, and centers in the person of Jesus Christ. This is the
cornerstone for all Christian ministry. The New Testament department
is committed to teaching the New Testament, with all of the
aspects entailed, as the full revelation of the covenant of God’s
grace in Jesus Christ.
To this end, the New Testament curriculum enables students:
• To acquire a reading knowledge of New Testament Greek
• To understand and value the historical context in
which God accomplished his work in Christ, and
through which he gave us the New Testament
• To perceive the unity of the Old and New Testaments
and the hermeneutical significance thereof
• To grapple with the challenges of biblical interpretation
• To recognize major biblical-theological themes
of the New Testament and their importance
for understanding the biblical message
• To evaluate the ways in which the New Testament
has been interpreted in the past
• To develop skill in understanding and applying
each of the books of the New Testament
New Testament faculty: Professor McCartney, Coordinator; Professor
Poythress; Associate Professor Smith; Assistant Professor Greene;
Mr. Mininger.
Master’s level
NT 010, 011, 013 New Testament Greek a
Purpose:
• To prepare students for further work in the New Testament
by giving them a reading knowledge of Koiné Greek
The course is designed for beginners; no prior knowledge of Greek
is assumed. The students will cover the basics of grammar and
acquire a core vocabulary. During the last semester students will
do recitations from the Greek New Testament and be introduced
to the issues of syntax.
The instructional sequence is as follows: summer term, four
hours; fall and spring semesters, three hours. Students must
begin course with the summer term (see “Placement in Greek and
Hebrew” on page 52). Auditing not permitted. Staff.
NT 021, 022, 023 New Testament Greek aa
This course is identical in content with NT 010, 011, 013.
The instructional sequence is as follows: fall semester, four
hours; winter term, two hours; spring semester, four hours. Students
must begin course with the fall semester (see “Placement in Greek
and Hebrew” on page 52). Auditing not permitted. Staff.
NT 031, 033 New Testament Greek b
For purpose and content see NT 010, 011, 012, but note that,
because previous formal study of at least six semester hours
is presupposed, the material will be covered at an accelerated
pace.
Fall and spring semesters, three hours each. Students must
begin course with the fall semester (see “Placement in Greek and
Hebrew” on page 52). Auditing not permitted. Staff.
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