Acts (MA/PhD)
NT 5XA5/6XA6
The book of Acts tells the story of a bunch of people trying to make sense of what God is doing. The book has played (and continues to play) an important role in shaping the church’s sense of its identity and mission. This course is primarily an exegetical study of the book of Acts. It will examine the book’s historical, literary, and theological qualities, and will situate these within relevant first-century contexts. It will also involve a sustained discussion of how the message of Acts can be heard, considered, and integrated into the life of the church today.
Knowing
- Remember the story told in the book of Acts;
- Become familiar with introductory issues and scholarly debates concerning the book of Acts;
- Understand the major theological themes of the book of Acts;
Being
- Appreciate the importance of participating in respectful discussions about biblical texts;
- Become self-aware as a modern reader of the Bible, recognizing both the antiquity of the texts and the various ways in which contemporary life influences our understanding of it;
- Embody the mission that is so central to the book of Acts;
Doing
- Have the ability to quickly locate reliable scholarly resources that discuss a particular NT passage;
- Have the ability to ask key questions in order to explore the meaning of a text;
- Have the ability to reflect canonically, theologically, and contextually so as to explore how people can/should understand the New Testament today;
- Engage in doctoral-level research that invokes the New Testament in a responsible manner.