General+Epistles+1+-+BIB+4301-+Online

**// Online Course Syllabus //** **// BIB 4301 General Epistles 1  //** **// Block C (January 11 – March 5, 2010)  //** **// J.B. Baldridge, Instructor  //** __ Instructor’s Contact Information __ 817-461-8741 (ext, 121) College Office 817-274-1138 College Fax 817-253-6948 Cell Phone 817-263-5744 Home Phone 817-483-7100 Church Phone jbatpbc@sbcglobal.net Email ** COLLEGE MISSION STATEMENT  ** // Arlington Baptist College endeavors to prepare men and women for Christian life and ministries, both lay and professional, through studies in Bible, general education, church vocations and practical service, integrating faith and learning in the context of a Christian world view. // ** COURSE DESCRIPTION ** An expository study of the books of Hebrews, James and I Peter is made. Matters of historical background, authorship, date, purpose, and themes will be carefully considered in each book. Eternal principles will be discovered and practical applications will be applied from each book. (Prerequisite: BIB 1302, 1305) ** COURSE GOALS  ** As your instructor in this course I will: 1. Equip you to discuss important introductory matters concerning these three epistles. 2. Challenge you to become more familiar with each of the three epistles covered in this course. 3. Insist upon the use of correct hermeneutics when doing a Bible exposition for selected passages of Scripture in each of the three epistles. 4. Encourage you to develop personal study habits that include regular reading, meditation, study, prayer and journaling to further develop your spiritual maturity. 5. Expose some basic principles found in each of the epistles and enlist you to apply those principles to your personal life and ministry. 6. Assist you in effectively communicating a more complete knowledge of the content in each of the three epistles. ** COURSE OBJECTIVES  ** Upon completion of this course you will be able to: 1. Display a working knowledge of general introductory matters concerning each of the three epistles covered in this course. 2. Exhibit a more complete understanding of the overall message and content of each of these epistles. 3. Intelligently discuss and offer an accurate, biblical interpretation of some controversial passages found in these three epistles. 4. Share some of the personal applications of the principles gleaned from a study of these epistles. ** INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES  ** More specifically, you will be able to do the following by the end of this course: 1. When asked the question, "Who is the author of Hebrews," you will be able to offer an accurate explanation founded on sound hermeneutics of selected passages in Hebrews and other related books of the Bible. 2. Explain in your own words the place of faith and works in the plan of salvation as presented in the epistles of James and Romans and discussed in this class. 3. When asked, you will be able to explain in your own words with 100 % accuracy the main message of any of these three epistles covered in this course. 4. When requested, you will be able to produce a list of five principles from each epistle that could easily apply to your personal life and ministry. ** COURSE TEXTBOOKS  ** __The Holy Bible (KJV)__ As required by Arlington Baptist College Wiersbe, Warren W. __Be Confident__ (Hebrews). Wheaton, Illinois: Victor, 1982. (ISBN #0-89693-728-3) Wiersbe, Warren W. __Be Mature__ (James). Wheaton, Illinois: Victor, 1978. (ISBN #0-89693-754-2) Wiersbe, Warren W. __Be Hopeful__ (1 Peter). Wheaton, Illinois: Victor, 1982. (ISBN #0-89693-737-2) While Warren Wiersbe offers each of his commentaries in separate volumes as illustrated above, you may also purchase his entire collection of commentaries in a two-volume collection or on CD. If you already have one of these multi-volume sets, you do not need to purchase additional books for this course. Though the pagination differs from the individual commentaries, the content is the same in all collections of Wiersbe commentaries. ** COURSE REQUIREMENTS & GRADING CRITERIA ** Due to the nature of this online course and the amount of interaction required, NO LATE WORK WILL BE GRADED. Please refer often to the Course Schedule to stay on track with all due dates. Work for each lesson is due no later than MIDNIGHT (CST) on the Closing Date for that lesson. Technological difficulties with computers, online service, email, etc. can be expected and make unacceptable excuses for late work. Therefore, you are encouraged to implement a plan that includes dependable options for submitting your work on time. **__NOTE: There are only FOUR days allotted to complete the final lesson. Please plan accordingly.__** You will be required to read each epistle in the Bible, Warren Wiersbe’s commentaries on Hebrews, James, and 1 Peter in their entirety, the professor’s discussion notes, articles from websites, and discussion boards. Each lesson will include two written assignments designed to help you process and apply what you have read: discussion paper and application paper. Each session will include an opportunity to interact with your professor and other colleagues regarding relevant topics and biblical truths discovered during our study of each of these three epistles. We have placed a high premium on your involvement in these discussion boards. You are required to respond to TWO posts each week: one in response to the prompt given in the graded assignments section of each lesson; one in response to any post from another colleague. Deadline to make the first post is MIDNIGHT THURSDAY of each week. First posts made after the Thursday midnight deadline will suffer a one-point deduction per day from the overall discussion board grade. Each post must meet the following requirements. 1. Each post must reflect college-level, critical thinking. 2. Each post should include correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Avoid the temptation to use “text message shorthand” in your posts. 3. Each post should be 100-250 words in length. 4. Your response post should serve to extend, support, or respectfully debate the post of another colleague. Your post must go beyond trite remarks like “me, too” or “nice job. ** Grading ** ** Criteria ** || ** Unacceptable ** ** Response ** || ** Average Response ** ** (18 points max.) ** || ** Superior Response ** ** (25 points max.) ** || Demonstrated Critical,Scholarly Thinking || 0 ||   6  ||   10  ||  Correct Spelling, Grammar, etc. || 0 ||   3  ||   5  ||  Proper Length (100-250 words) || 0 ||   3  ||   5  ||  Relevant to    Topic  || 0 ||   3  ||   5  || Quizzes are designed to assist you in your comprehension of the material covered in this course. Each of the eight sessions includes one quiz. You will do well on these quizzes if you have completed the required reading of online articles, Wiersbe’s commentary, the professor’s notes, and participated in the discussion boards. There will be a major exam following the exposition of each epistle discussed in this eight-week course. The first exam will be over Hebrews, the second exam will be over James, and the third exam will be over 1 Peter. The quality of your reading, completion of the assignments, and your interaction in our discussion boards will be reflected in these exams. The following point scale will be used to determine your final letter grade in this course. A = 1000-1100 points B = 900-999 points C = 800-899 points D = 700-799 points F = Less than 700 points ** COURSE SCHEDULE ** ** LESSON  ** || ** DATES  ** || ** CONTENT  ** || ** ASSIGNMENTS  ** || 1  ||    Opens Jan. 11 Closes Jan. 17 ||   Intro to Hebrews Hebrews 1-2  || Wiersbe (pp. 5-32); Internet Articles Discussion Board #1; Written Papers ** Quiz #1  ** || 2  ||    Opens Jan. 18 Closes Jan. 24  || Hebrews 3-6  || Wiersbe (pp. 33-70); Internet Articles Discussion Board #2; Written Papers ** Quiz #2  ** || 3  ||    Opens Jan. 25 Closes Jan. 31 ||   Hebrews 7-10   || Wiersbe (pp. 71-119); Internet Articles Discussion Board #3; Written Papers ** Quiz #3  ** || 4  ||    Opens Feb. 1 Closes Feb. 7 ||   Hebrews 10-13   || Wiersbe (120-157); Internet Articles Discussion Board #4; Written Papers ** Quiz #4; Exam #1  ** || 5  ||    Opens Feb. 8 Closes Feb. 14 ||   Intro to James James 1-2  || Wiersbe (pp. 5-86); Internet Articles Discussion Board #5; Written Papers ** Quiz #5  ** || 6  ||    Opens Feb. 15 Closes Feb. 21 ||   James 3-5   || Wiersbe (pp.87-176); Internet Articles Discussion Board #6; Written Papers ** Quiz #6; Exam #2  ** || 7  ||    Opens Feb. 22 Closes Feb. 28 ||   Intro to 1 Peter 1 Peter 1-2  || Wiersbe (pp. 5-65); Internet Articles Discussion Board #7; Written Papers ** Quiz #7  ** || 8  ||    Opens Mar. 1 Closes Mar. 5 ||   1 Peter 3-5   || Wiersbe (pp. 66-143); Internet Articles Discussion Board #8; Written Papers ** Quiz #8; Exam #3  ** || The following works are highly recommended by this professor for further study of the epistles in this course. Though no two people agree on every aspect of exposition and interpretation, the insight and wisdom found in these writings have proven valuable resources for the serious Bible student. Barbieri, Louis, A. __First and Second Peter.__ Everyman's Bible Commentary series. Chicago: Moody Press, 1978. An easy-to-follow, insightful commentary for the layman and beginning Bible student. Baxter, J. Sidlow. __Explore the Book.__ London: Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1965. A good, general overview of the text. Brief on introductory matters and selective controversial passages. Conservative, traditional. Barclay, William. __The Letter to the Hebrews.__ Pennsylvania: Westminster Press, 1976. A great classic from one of the greatest expositors. Very readable, traditional. Gaebelein, Frank E., ed. __The Expositor's Bible Commentary__, Vol. 12. Michigan: Zondervan, 1981. Though this commentary is based on the NIV it presents the Bible text in a very accurate light, underscoring conservative theology through the use of cultural studies and language helps. Guthrie, Donald. __Hebrews.__ Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. Michigan: Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1983.   Thorough, conservative, helpful in dealing with various views and interpretations. Guthrie, Donald. __New Testament Introduction.__ Inter-Varsity Press, 1970. Extremely thorough in handling introductory issues in every New Testament book. Not a devotional book, but very conservative and accurate in its presentation of conflicting views. Henry, Matthew. __A Commentary on the Whole Bible__, Vol. 6. New Jersey: Revell, n.d.  Another great classic filled with personal applications of the text as well as traditional, conservative interpretation of the Scriptures. Ironside, H. A. __Hebrews, James, Peter.__ Loizeaux Bros., Inc., 1932. Like Henry, Ironside presents a strong case for the traditional, conservative interpretations. Very clear and helpful. Walvoord, John F. and Roy B. Zuck, eds. __The Bible Knowledge Commentary__, New Testament Edition.Victor Books, 1983. Based on the NIV text, this easy-to-read commentary delivers and supports the conservative, evangelical approach to Bible interpretation. Includes interesting cultural information about each book.
 * // Arlington //****// Baptist College //**
 * __ Note __**
 * Late Work Policy **
 * Reading & Written Assignments (16 @ 25 points max. = 400 points max.) **
 * Discussion Boards (8 @ 25 points max. each = 200 points max.) **
 * Quizzes (8 @ 25 points max. each = 200 points max.) **
 * Exams (3 @ 100 points max. each = 300 points max.) **
 * Grading Scale **
 * *It is highly recommended that you print all notes and articles from each lesson to prepare for the quizzes and exams. Once a lesson is closed it will not be reopened. **
 * COURSE BIBLIOGRAPHY **