Catholic Bible Institute - Diocese of Orange Co-sponsored by Loyola Institute for Spirituality, Orange, CA and Institute for Pastoral Ministry, Diocese of Orange

Syllabus for Year One (2013–2014): New Testament

Monthly Sessions & Topics (with biblical books covered, and detailed reading and writing assignments)

• Please do all the assigned readings (from biblical books and modern textbooks) BEFORE coming to each month’s session (or as soon as possible afterwards, before you write your monthly paper).
• The biblical readings are divided into those books/chapters that you should READ completely and carefully vs. the rest that you are encouraged to SKIM over quickly, and to read as much as your time permits.
• The textbook readings are listed by page numbers for you to read in Raymond Brown's Introduction to the New Testament.
• For the monthly one-page reflection papers, please choose one of the chapters listed in each section below, and EMAIL your paper to your table’s reader within two weeks after each session.
• All sessions meet from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with optional Mass at 8:00 a.m.

AUG. 24, 2013 – Orientation Session

• Handouts, PowerPoints, and audio files available at www.loyolainstitute.org/#!cbi/c14ho

SEPT. 7, 2013 – Introduction to the NT & Gospel of MARK

• BIBLE: The Gospel according to Mark (all 16 chapters)
• BROWN: Chapters 1, 6A (pp. 99-111), Ch. 7; also skim Ch. 2 & 3 (as time permits)
• Reflection Paper (due Sept. 21): on Mark 5, or Mark 7, or Mark 13
• Handouts:
  • Groups, Group Facilitators, Group Responsibilities for 2013-14
  • Opening & Closing Prayers
  • Stapled Packet: Intro NT & Gospel of Mark
• Audio Files:
  • Morning Session 1 // Morning Session 2 // Afternoon Session 3 // Afternoon Session

OCT. 5, 2013 – Gospel according to MATTHEW

• BIBLE: The Gospel according to Matthew
• BROWN: Chapter 6B (pp. 111-122) and Ch. 8 (also skim Ch. 5)
• Reflection Paper (due Oct. 19): on Matt 7, or Matt 18, or Matt 25
• Handouts:
  • Opening Prayer  &  Closing Prayer
  • Stapled Packet: Gospel of Matthew
• Audio Files:
  • Morning Session 1 // Morning Session 2 // Afternoon Session 3 // Afternoon Session

NOV. 2, 2013 – Gospel according to LUKE & ACTS

• BIBLE: The Gospel according to Luke  &  The Acts of the Apostles
• BROWN: Chapters 9–10 (also skim Ch. 4)
• Reflection Paper (due Nov. 16): on Luke 10, or Luke 16, or Acts 7, or Acts 19
• Handouts:
  • Opening & Closing Prayers
  • Stapled Packet: Gospel of Luke & Acts
  • Legal-sized Handout: Luke's Adaptations of Mark
• Audio Files:
  • Morning Session 1 // Morning Session 2 // Afternoon Session 3 // Afternoon Session

DEC. 7, 2013 – Gospel & Epistles of JOHN
(held at Holy Family Cathedral Hall, 566 S Glassell St, Orange, CA 92866)

• BIBLE: The Gospel according to John  &  The Johannine Letters (1, 2, 3 John)
• BROWN: Chapters 11–14
• Reflection Paper (due Dec. 21): on John 3, or John 15, or John 17, or 1 John 3
• Handouts:
  • Opening & Closing Prayers
  • Stapled Packet: The Gospel of John
• Audio Files:
  • Morning Session 1 // Morning Session 2 // Afternoon Session 3 // Afternoon Session

JAN. 4, 2014 – Paul's Early/Undisputed Letters

• BIBLE: 1 Thessalonians, Galatians, Philippians, Philemon, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Romans
• BROWN: Chapters 18–24 (also skim Ch. 15–17)
• Reflection Paper (due Jan. 18): on 1 Thess 2–3, or Phil 2, or 1 Cor 15, or 2 Cor 8–9, or Rom 11
• Handouts:
  • Opening & Closing Prayers
  • Stapled Packet: The Life and Letters of Paul
  • Colored Handout: NT Letter Structure
• Audio Files:
  • Morning Session 1 // Morning Session 2 // Afternoon Session 3 // Afternoon Session 4

FEB. 1, 2014 – Deutero-Pauline Epistles

• BIBLE: 2 Thessalonians, Colossians, Ephesians; 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus
• BROWN: Chapters 25–31
• Reflection Paper (due Feb. 15): on Col 1, or Eph 4, or 1 Tim 3–4, or 2 Tim 2, or Titus 1–2
• Handouts:
  • Opening & Closing Prayers
  • Stapled Packet: The Deutero-Pauline Letters
• Audio Files:
  • Morning Session 1 // Morning Session 2 // Afternoon Session 3 // Afternoon Session 4

MARCH 1, 2014 – Hebrews & Catholic Epistles

• BIBLE: Hebrews, James, 1 & 2 Peter, 1 & 2 & 3 John, Jude
• BROWN: Chapters 32–36
• Longer research paper, due March 15
  • INSTRUCTIONS for YEAR 1 RESEARCH PAPER on JAMES
• Handouts:
  • Opening & Closing Prayers
  • Stapled Packet: Hebrews & Catholic Epistles
• Audio Files:
  • Morning Session 1a // Morning Session 1b // Morning Session 2 // Afternoon Session 3 // Afternoon Session 4

APRIL 5, 2014 – Book of Revelation

• BIBLE: The Book of Revelation
• BROWN: Chapter 37
• Reflection Paper (due April 19): on Rev 2, or Rev 4–5, or Rev 18, or Rev 21
• Handouts:
  • Opening & Closing Prayers
  • Stapled Packet: Book of Revelation
  • Powerpoint: Revelation (access restricted to current students only)
• Audio Files:
  • Morning Session 1 // Morning Session 2 // Afternoon Session 3 // Afternoon Session 4

MAY 3, 2014 – New Testament Theologies & Early Christian Writings

• EARLY CHRISTIAN TEXTS: selections handed out in April
• BROWN: reread Chapters 1–3; also read Appendices I & II (pp. 817-840)
• Handouts:
  • Packet of Advance Readings
  • Opening & Closing Prayers
• Audio Files:
  • Morning Session 1 // Morning Session 2 // Afternoon Session 3 // Afternoon Session 4
• Last chance to turn in any late or missing papers.

Required Textbooks for Orientation and Year One:

1. Dei Verbum, “Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation” (Vatican II; http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19651118_dei-verbum_en.html)
2. Ronald D. Witherup, S.S. Biblical Fundamentalism: What Every Catholic Should Know. Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 2001.
3. Kurt Aland. Synopsis of the Four Gospels: RSV. New York: American Bible Society, 1982.
4. a) Raymond E. Brown, S.S. An Introduction to the New Testament. New York: Doubleday, 1997.
   or for “Enrichment/Audit” students only:
   b) Pheme Perkins. Reading the New Testament. 3rd edition. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist, 2012.
5. A good "Study Bible" containing lots of introductions, notes, maps, and other study aides.
6. Other recommended biblical resources: http://catholic-resources.org/Bible

Go to: CBI-Orange Homepage | Year 2 Syllabus | Year 3 Syllabus

For more information, please contact:

Randy Lopez, CBI Coordinator, cbi@loyolainstitute.org
or
Fr. Felix Just, S.J., Executive Director, Loyola Institute for Spirituality, 714-997-9587, http://loyolainstitute.org