NT 130 · B.Th. English syllabus

General Epistles

AGBS learning community

Read, reflect and practise

New Testament · NT 130

General Epistles

B.Th. English · Source syllabus with original formative learning enrichment

Course description

This course includes a survey and study of the non-Pauline epistles Hebrews, James, I & II Peter, I, II & III John and Jude. The major themes of each book will be considered with a discussion of structural features, historical setting, and theological emphasis, presenting the major themes and basic content and value of each individual book and their contribution to the whole Bible. Each letter reflects a distinct situation and has its own message but the General Letters as a group also provide a voice that stands beside the Pauline Letters.

Course objectives

By the end of the course, you should be able to:

To demonstrate a general knowledge of the content of the epistles to Hebrews, James, I & II Peter, I, II & III John and Jude.

To demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the major themes of each of these letters, as well as their structural features, historical setting and theological emphasis.

Articulate knowledge of literary influence and socio-cultural background of the General Epistles in an intelligible and meaningfully way.

Develop awareness of contemporary issues parallel to issues in the General Epistles, how the General Epistles can make ministry more effective and how they can be used in ministry contexts to address faith community and societal concerns.

Original AGBS learning enrichment

Think beyond the outline.

These new exercises are formative suggestions, not changes to your official syllabus, deadlines or assessment weights. Your faculty decides which activities to use in class.

Your study record

Practice is available without signing in. Sign in first to save work to AWS; unsigned drafts exist only in page memory and disappear when you leave. Nothing is silently saved on this computer.

Use fictional or anonymised ministry cases. Do not enter another person’s counselling, medical or private family details.

My unit checklist

0 of 2 sections marked studied by you. This is self-reported learning progress.

UNIT I: Introduction to the General EpistlesUNIT II: Detailed Study of General Epistles

Reflect

Pause and make a connection.

Choose a concern in James, Peter, John or Jude. How does the particular audience prevent a simplistic application to your own community?

0/8000 characters

Create and collaborate

Prepare a General Epistles comparison

Compare two letters' settings, structures and theological emphases. Include a question for faculty about how Hebrews relates to this course and to the separate NT 133 syllabus.

1. Prepare
Read the relevant source unit and record your evidence.
2. Make
Create a draft, diagram, dialogue or teaching resource.
3. Revisit
Invite peer feedback in class; revise and explain what changed.

My creative-work plan and reflection

Check your understanding

Which statement best reflects the description?

All General Epistles have an identical situationOnly Paul's letters are includedEach letter has its own situation and contributes a distinct voice

Practice only. No marks are posted to the gradebook.

NT 130 General Epistles

Amazing Grace Biblical Seminary — B.Th. English

AmaZing Grace Biblical Seminary Erumelikkara, Kumarapuram (PO), Aluva (via), Ernakulam (District), Kerala, India- Pin-683 565. Ph. 8547473926, 8281663926. NT 130: GENERAL EPISTLES COURSE DESCRIPTION This course includes a survey and study of the non-Pauline epistles Hebrews, James, I & II Peter, I, II & III John and Jude. The major themes of each book will be considered with a discussion of structural features, historical setting, and theological emphasis, presenting the major themes and basic content and value of each individual book and their contribution to the whole Bible. Each letter reflects a distinct situation and has its own message but the General Letters as a group also provide a voice that stands beside the Pauline Letters. COURSE OBJECTIVES By the end of the course, you should be able to: To demonstrate a general knowledge of the content of the epistles to Hebrews, James, I & II Peter, I, II & III John and Jude. To demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the major themes of each of these letters, as well as their structural features, historical setting and theological emphasis. Articulate knowledge of literary influence and socio-cultural background of the General Epistles in an intelligible and meaningfully way. Develop awareness of contemporary issues parallel to issues in the General Epistles, how the General Epistles can make ministry more effective and how they can be used in ministry contexts to address faith community and societal concerns. COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION Class Participation 5% Reading Report 20% Main Term Paper/Assignment 15% Final Examination 60% COURSE OUTLINE UNIT I: Introduction to the General Epistles Who wrote the General / Catholic Epistles? Importance of General Epistles Date of General Epistles Occasion and Purpose of the Epistles Background and Content of the Epistles UNIT II: Detailed Study of General Epistles Epistle of James a) Outline of James b) Theological Emphasis c) Major Themes Epistle of Peter a) Outline of Peter's Epistle b) Theological Emphasis c) Major Themes Epistle of John a) Outline of John's Epistle b) Theological Emphasis c) Major Themes Epistle of Jude a) Outline of Jude b) Theological Emphasis c) Warning against Apostles and Apostasy BIBLIOGRAPHY Blomberg, Craig L and Mariam J. Kamell. James. Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2008. Bray, Gerald Lewis and Thomas C. Oden. James, 1-2 Peter, 1-3 John, Jude. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000. Davids, Peter H. A Theology of James, Peter, and Jude. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2014. Davids, Peter. The Letters of 2 Peter and Jude. Pillar New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2006. Green, Gene L. Jude and 2 Peter. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2008.Jobes, Karen H. 1 Peter. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2005 Jobes, Karen. 1 Peter. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2005. Jobes, Karen. Letters to the Church: A Survey of Hebrews and the General Epistles. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012 McCartney, Dan G. James. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2009. McKnight, Scot. The Letter of James. New International Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2011

Faculty review notes: Hebrews appears in the description and objectives but has no separate detailed-outline subsection in this document. Its separate NT 133 syllabus is available.

Text reproduced from 18 GENERAL EPISTLES.doc. Source credit values, where present, do not establish an individual registration, teaching dates or faculty approval of later changes.