Syllabus for Bible 307

SYLLABUS BIB 307

BIB 307 Hebrews                Instructor: Bruce Terry
Section: 01  Room: NC 62       Office: Stotts (NC), Room 243
Day/Time: TTh 3:30-3:50pm      Telephone: (304) 865-6120/295-6486
Office Hours: MWF 1-2pm; 4-5pm; TTh 2-4pm E-mail: rbterry@ovc.edu

Texts:

A Study Bible (such as the Harper's Study Bible or the NIV Study Bible; please limit yourself to the Revised Standard, the New American Standard, the New International, or the New Revised Standard versions, but the instructor will be using the Revised Standard Version)
Commentary on Hebrews by F.F. Bruce
New Testament Exegesis by Gordon D. Fee
Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (6th ed.)
Harvey, Writing with Sources

Course Description

This course will focus on a study of the text of Hebrews in the New Testament. Special emphasis will be placed on the contrast between the old and new covenants and the question of whether a Christian can sin so as to be eternally lost. The course will also cover introductory questions such as the authorship and original audience of Hebrews. Some attention will be paid to matters of textual criticism. A significant emphasis will be on exegetical methodology, with the student asked to apply this learning to at least one passage studied.

Course Objectives

To acquaint the student with the historical events and teachings of the early church as found primarily in the book of Hebrews.
To develop an academic understanding of reading an ancient text such as the Bible.
To introduce the student to academic concerns, such as introductory background material, textual criticism, and exegetical method.
To survey Hebrews as related to introductory material and significant passages within it.
To help the student come face to face in the scripture with the early Christians' experiences in following Jesus, thus providing a faith building experience for the student.

Attendance and Tardies

Attendance in class is mandatory; it will be part of the basis for the grade given. If you cannot attend for good reason, either notify me beforehand or as soon as possible afterward. This applies even if you have an excused absence. You will be expected to do all work of any classes missed, except for pop quizzes and daily homework. If you do not intend to attend regularly, kindly withdraw from the class now.

Do NOT miss class simply because you do not have an assignment finished. Do NOT miss class if you can possibly come; save any absences for sickness or death in the family. If you have an extended illness, please contact me to let me know.

Kindly try to be in class on time. If you are consistently tardy for no good reason, I reserve the right to count three tardies as an absence.

If you have to leave early, please inform me before class. Do not schedule extra work, doctor's appointments, etc. during class time if at all possible. If you are too frequent in leaving early, I reserve the right to count early departures as a partial absence, adversely affecting your grade.

Absences may be excused if you bring me documentation that you were ill, involved in an accident, on school business, or there was a death in the immediate family. More than three hours of unexcused absences will result in your being dropped from the course. You may pay a fine and petition to be reinstated. Additional unexcused absences will result in your being dropped without future reinstatement. No credit will be given for a course in which absences, both excused and unexcused, total more than 25% of the hours of the course (i.e., more than 8 class periods).

Office Hours

I will be in my office ten hours during the week as outlined above. If you have class conflicts with my office hours, you can schedule another time with me. Appointments during office hours will be given precedence over drop-ins, but if you need to see me about something and don't have an appointment, come on up to my office and I will try to squeeze you in. If you need help, please use my office hours. You may also see me both before and after class as time permits. I will be available for extended conferences after class hours if it does not interfere with another class or chapel. No appointment will usually be necessary to see me at this time. If I am not in my office at office hours after a class, check my last classroom to see if a student has detained me there or in the computer lab since I also serve as webmaster at OVC. Please feel free to interrupt me in either situation.

Grades

Your grade for the class will be based on three major exams (including a comprehensive final exam), a six-page exegesis of a passage in Hebrews, a six-page research paper on either the question of whether Christians are under the old covenant or the question of whether a Christian can so sin as to be eternally lost, a three-page introduction to the book of Hebrews, homework and pop quizzes, and attendance and participation in class. Exam questions can come from the lectures or assigned readings from either the textbook or the New Testament. The final exam will cover material from the whole course.

The papers should be typed. The number of pages listed for the typed papers refer to full pages, not counting the cover sheet (required) and bibliography (required for the introduction, exegesis, and research paper, with at least as many entries as pages (3 or 6) each, most of which are from books or paper journals). One page is defined as 27 double-spaced typewritten lines (counting the title, but not your name or page numbers) with 1" margins. The typed papers should be written using the Turabian style guide.

Class will be excused for students attending the World Missions Workshop. Students will be expected to attend at least a one hour class for each hour missed and turn in a one-page report on the class attended. The reports will count as attendance grades.

Ten points will be given for attendance. One point will be deducted for each class missed, including those missed for illness. The only exception to this will be those who miss on official school business and have an official notice to this effect. Two grace days will be given to allow for absences due to illness and excused absences for official school business. Note well: Grace days will be applied first to excused absences.

Additional readings/quizzes/essays/maps may be assigned.

The final grade will be based on your work in the following way:

          Attendance                                        10%
          Book Report                                        5%
          Homework/Pop Quizzes                              15%
          Exegesis                                          10%
          Research Paper                                    10%
          Major Tests                                       30%
          Final Exam                                        20%

Extra credit in these areas will not be allowed to exceed these percentages. Extra credit in the course will be given for up to two one-page reports on the Inman Forum. Your final grade will be A, B, C, D, or F. An A will be given for an average of 100-90, a B for 89-80, a C for 79-70, a D for 69-60, and an F for any average below 60.

All work is expected to be turned in on time. If for some reason you cannot make the due date, please ask my permission to turn the work in late. Late homework is accepted for only half credit, since the answers will often be given in class. The typed papers turned in late will dock the paper grade by one-half letter (5%) per class period late.

No paper will be accepted that is more than two weeks late. A paper that is more than one week late may not be rewritten, except in unusual circumstances. A paper must be at least 75% of assigned length in order to be rewritten. The grade on a paper which is rewritten may be increased on content, length, and up to (but not exceeding) a letter grade on mechanical errors. No grade will be given to a paper which contains enough mechanical errors to dock the score by two letter grades. It will be turned back without a score and the rewrite counted as late. Be sure to proofread and spell check! The English proficiency test sets the minimum standard for college papers.

Students who are absent on exam days with good reason may schedule a make-up exam within the next week. You must ask to take a make-up exam.

Students who score less than a 70 on a major exam may petition to retake the exam within a week after grades are returned on it. The highest grade on any retake exam will be 70. Once again, you must ask to retake an exam. There will be no retakes on the final exam. Study hard for it.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the presentation of another person's work as your own, whether you mean to or not. Copying or paraphrasing passages from another writer's work without acknowledging that you've done so is plagiarism. Translating passages from another writer's work in another language without acknowledging that you've done so is plagiarism. Copying another writer's work without putting the material in quotation marks is plagiarism, even if credit is given. Allowing another writer to write any part of your essay is plagiarism.

Plagiarism is a serious crime. The maximum penalty at OVC is expulsion from the college.

Plagiarism is easy to avoid. Simply acknowledge the source of any words, phrases, or ideas that you use. If you're not sure how to quote or paraphrase a source or if you need help with the format of endnotes or bibliographies, check with me. While you can (and in fact should) seek the help and advice of friends, classmates, and tutors, be sure that your written work is completely your own. Compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) If you have a diagnosed disability and need special accommodations, please notify the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs before or immediately after your first scheduled class meeting. Please inform your instructor that you have done so. After your disability has been verified, your instructor will work with you and the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs to insure that you have a fair opportunity to perform in the course. Text Critical Readings For each of the assigned sections of scripture to read below, also read the discussion of textual problems for the passages found at "http://www.ovc.edu/tc".

MAJOR EXAM DATES:   Exam 1 -- Monday, September 24, 2001
                    Exam 2 -- Friday, November 2, 2001
                    Final Exam -- Monday, December 10, 2001
                                   3:00 p.m. - 4:50 p.m.

Course Plan

WEEK ONE:
 8/22/01 -- Introduction to the Course
            homework: read Bruce's introduction on authorship
 8/24/01 -- Authorship of Hebrews

WEEK TWO: Law
            homework: begin reading Fee
                      read Harvey's Writing with Sources
                      write a one-page introduction of yourself
                         (extra credit)
 8/27/01 -- Exegesis
            homework: read in Fee
                      read Bruce's introduction
 8/29/01 -- Introduction to Hebrews (cont.)
            homework: read in Fee
                      read Bruce's introduction
 8/31/01 -- Introduction to Hebrews (cont.)

WEEK THREE: Law
            homework: read Hebrews 1 and Bruce's commentary
 9/ 3/01 -- Hebrews 1
            homework: read Hebrews 1 and Bruce's commentary
 9/ 5/01 -- Hebrews 1
            homework: read Hebrews 1 and Bruce's commentary
 9/ 7/01 -- Hebrews 1

WEEK FOUR: History
            homework: read Hebrews 2 and Bruce's commentary
 9/10/01 -- Hebrews 2
            homework: read Hebrews 2 and Bruce's commentary
 9/12/01 -- Hebrews 2
            homework: read Hebrews 2 and Bruce's commentary
 9/14/01 -- Hebrews 2

WEEK FIVE:
            homework: read Hebrews 3 and Bruce's commentary
 9/17/01 -- Hebrews 3
            homework: read Hebrews 3 and Bruce's commentary
                      write three-page introduction to Hebrews
 9/19/01 -- Hebrews 3
            homework: read Hebrews 3 and Bruce's commentary
 9/21/01 -- Hebrews 3

WEEK SIX:
            homework: study for exam
 9/24/01 -- Major Exam
            homework: read Hebrews 4 and Bruce's commentary
 9/26/01 -- Hebrews 4
            homework: read Hebrews 4 and Bruce's commentary
 9/28/01 -- Hebrews 4

WEEK SEVEN:
            homework: read Hebrews 5 and Bruce's commentary
10/ 1/01 -- Hebrews 5
            homework: read Hebrews 5 and Bruce's commentary
10/ 3/01 -- Hebrews 5
            homework: read Hebrews 5 and Bruce's commentary
            homework: write 6-page research paper
10/ 5/01 -- Hebrews 5
Inman Forum

WEEK EIGHT:
10/ 8/01 -- FALL BREAK
            homework: read Hebrews 6 and Bruce's commentary
10/10/01 -- Hebrews 6
            homework: read Hebrews 6 and Bruce's commentary
10/12/01 -- Hebrews 6

WEEK NINE:
            homework: read Hebrews 7 and Bruce's commentary
10/15/01 -- Hebrews 7
            homework: read Hebrews 7 and Bruce's commentary
10/17/01 -- Hebrews 7
            homework: read Hebrews 7 and Bruce's commentary
10/19/01 -- Hebrews 7
World Mission Workshop

WEEK TEN:
            homework: read Hebrews 8 and Bruce's commentary
10/22/01 -- Hebrews 8
            homework: read Hebrews 8 and Bruce's commentary
10/24/01 -- Hebrews 9
            homework: read Hebrews 9 and Bruce's commentary
10/26/01 -- Hebrews 7

WEEK ELEVEN:
            homework: read Hebrews 9 and Bruce's commentary
10/29/01 -- Hebrews 9
            homework: read Hebrews 9 and Bruce's commentary
10/31/01 -- Hebrews 9
            homework: study for test
11/ 2/01 -- Major Exam

WEEK TWELVE:
            homework: read Hebrews 10 and Bruce's commentary
11/ 5/01 -- Hebrews 10
            homework: read Hebrews 10 and Bruce's commentary
11/ 7/01 -- Hebrews 10
            homework: read Hebrews 10 and Bruce's commentary
                      write 6-page exegesis on Hebrews passage
11/ 9/01 -- Hebrews 10
Last Day to Drop a Class with a "W"--Stick with it to the end!

WEEK THIRTEEN:
            homework: read Hebrews 11 and Bruce's commentary
11/12/01 -- Hebrews 11
            homework: read Hebrews 11 and Bruce's commentary
11/14/01 -- Hebrews 11
            homework: read Hebrews 11 and Bruce's commentary
11/16/01 -- Hebrews 11

THANKSGIVING BREAK

WEEK FOURTEEN:
            homework: read Hebrews 12 and Bruce's commentary
11/26/01 -- Hebrews 12 (dead day for exegesis)
            homework: read Hebrews 12 and Bruce's commentary
11/28/01 -- Hebrews 12
            homework: read Hebrews 12 and Bruce's commentary
11/30/01 -- Hebrews 12

WEEK FIFTEEN:
            homework: read Hebrews 13 and Bruce's commentary
12/ 3/01 -- Hebrews 13
            homework: read Hebrews 13 and Bruce's commentary
12/ 5/01 -- Hebrews 13
            homework: as assigned in class
12/ 7/01 -- Conclusion and catch up

WEEK SIXTEEN: Final Exam Week
            homework: study for final exam
12/10/01 -- Final Exam (3:00 p.m. - 4:50 p.m.)

N. B.: Homework is listed before the class for which it is due!

THIS SYLLABUS MAY BE MODIFIED AS THE TEACHER FEELS NECESSARY!

http://bible.ovu.edu/terry/sylbi307.htm

Last updated September 20, 2001.
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