Bible 201 – The World Behind the Text: New Testament (1 credit)

The World Behind the Text: New Testament is a 7-week course that investigates Hellenistic influences as well as the historical, cultural, and political dynamics of the Roman Empire during the Intertestamental and New Testament eras. This course will examine the impact of Greco-Roman religion, politics, and social structures on Jewish society and religion as well as on early Christian communities via archaeological evidence and historical sources. Students will develop a richer understanding of the New Testament’s background, enhancing their interpretation of the Gospels, Acts, and the Epistles within their first-century context. Student learning will be evaluated based on weekly quizzes, a final exam, and a final project, completed in weekly segments, which demonstrates some familiarity with the culture or time of the kingdom you choose.