New Testament Studies

Languages

The program presupposes a reading knowledge of Greek and competence in the Greek New Testament.  In addition, students are required to be proficient in other ancient research langugages: Hebrew, Latin, and Aramaic and/or Coptic.  Students also must demonstrate competence in reading German and French, though students may in certain circumstances appeal to substitute another modern modern language.  Aramaic and/or Coptic usually are studied in credit courses deisgned to combine the reading of relevant sources with grammatical instruction.  Hebrew and Latin may be studied on a non-credit basis while in residence.  Courses taken previously at other institutions might be considered.  A form, to be signed by the advisor, is to be picked up from and returned to the School of Religion Office.  Receipt of a signed form for each language indicates fulfillment of the requirement.

Major Papers

Each student is expected to produce two papers that are in form and scholarly competence comparable to chapters of a dissertation.  (This does not mean that they are actually to be incorporated in the dissertation.)  These papers should be 20-40 pages in length and should be written in conformity to Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, the current edition, modified by the current SBL style sheet.  Students will present each paper in the New Testament Seminar.  A Major Paper form is to be signed by a professor in the field.  This form is to be picked up from the School of Religion Office and returned when completed.  Receipt of a signed form for each paper indicates fulfillment

New Testament Seminar

Students must register for credit in the NT Seminar during their second year of residence, and they are expected to audit the Seminar as long as they are in commuting distance.  Students will present at least one of their major papers at the Seminar before taking the Qualifying Examinations.

Qualifying Examinations

The qualifying exams in NT consist of four 4-hour exams reflecting a spread among the subdivisions of the discipline, such as (but not necessarily identical with) the following:  1) religious environment in Palestine and the wider Graeco-Roman world; 2) critical study of NT texts; 3) rise and development of the early church; 4) study of non-canonical texts related to NT.  The specific areas of the four exams should be defined by the student and the Qualifying Exam Committee well in advance.  One of the exams will test the student's qualification to pursue the proposed dissertation topic.  This is to determine that the student has a clear plan and is sufficiently in command of the material to begin to write.  An oral exam is also required.The student is responsible for scheduling the written and oral examinations according to the regular procedures of the School of Religion (see the School Secretary). Each student will submit a draft of a dissertation chapter for discussion by faculty and peers at the New Testament Seminar either before or after the qualifying exams.