Catholic Bible Institute in the Diocese of Orange Loyola Institute for Spirituality, Orange, CA co-sponsored by Institute for Pastoral Ministry, Diocese of Orange

Syllabus for Year One (2016–2017): New Testament

Books for Orientation Session and Year One: New Testament

1) Dei Verbum, “Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation” (Vatican II;  http://vatican.va)
2) Ronald D. Witherup, S.S. Biblical Fundamentalism: What Every Catholic Should Know. Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 2001.  ($14.95; LIS new $12; used $8)
3) A good recent “Study Edition” of the Bible (with extensive introductions, notes, maps, etc.):
     3a) Anselm Academic Study Bible: Catholic Edition. Edited by Carolyn Osiek, RSCJ, and Leslie Hoppe, OFM. Anselm Academic Press, 2013.  ($39.95; LIS $38; ppr $34.95)
     3b) Catholic Study Bible. 3rd edition. Ed. by Donald Senior, CSP, John Collins, & Mary Ann Getty. Oxford University Press, 2016.  ($49.99; ppr $39.99; Amazon 30-40% off)
4) A good recent introductory textbook for the NT:
     4a) Certificate: Raymond E. Brown. An Introduction to the New Testament. Doubleday, 1997. ($75; Amazon $16 - $58)
     4b) Certificate: Mark Allan Powell. Introducing the New Testament. Baker Academic, 2009. ($45; Amazon $25) – free related website: www.IntroducingNT.com
     4c) Enrichment: Margaret Nutting Ralph. A Walk through the New Testament. Paulist Press, 2012. (ppr $19.95; LIS new $15; used $10)
5) Kurt Aland. Synopsis of the Four Gospels: English Edition. American Bible Society, 1982. ($50;  LIS new $35; used $20-25)
6) Other recommended biblical resources: http://catholic-resources.org/Bible

Reading and Writing Assignments for Monthly Sessions during Year One: New Testament

• Please do the scheduled readings (especially the biblical texts!) BEFORE coming to each month’s session (or as soon as possible afterwards, before you write your monthly paper).
• For each biblical book, read the biblical text itself, as well as the introduction(s) in your Study Bible.
• Enrichment students: read the assigned chapters of Ralph (and/or Brown or Powell, as you wish).
• Certificate students: read the assigned chapters of Brown OR Powell (and also Ralph, if you wish).
• Note: Chapters in Brown’s book are long and detailed, so you are not expected to read every single word. For each chapter, carefully read sections called “General Analysis of the Message” and “The Background,” but only briefly skim the concluding “Issues and Problems for Reflection” and any other sections in between.
• 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.

General Information and Handouts for Year One:

• Year 1 Syllabus: Reading & Writing Assignments (Orientation day: salmon)
• Monthly Schedules (Orientation day: green)
• CBI Philosophy & Faith-Sharing (Orientation day: goldenrod)
• Sacred Space & Prayer Services (Orientation day: tan)
• Biblical Maps & OT/HB (Sept: full-color)
• Comparative Charts of Four Gospels (Sept: 4-color)
• Group Facilitators & Readers; and Monthly Table-Group Assignments (Sept)
• Monthly One-Page Reflection Paper Guidelines (Sept)

August 20: Orientation Session: Principles of Catholic Biblical Interpretation

• DEI VERBUM: “Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation,” from Vatican II
• WITHERUP: Fundamentalism (read whole book)
• One-page Reflection Paper, due Sept. 17 (bring with you): Four Questions on Dei Verbum & Witherup’s book
  1. What surprised or impressed me the most about the Second Vatican Council’s Dei Verbum?
  2. What’s the most important thing I learned from Witherup’s book, Biblical Fundamentalism?
  3. What specific parts of Dei Verbum would be important to apply more fully in my own faith life?
  4. What ideas from Witherup’s Biblical Fundamentalism can we apply more fully in our church, ministry, or faith community?
• Handouts: Opening Prayer (booklet); Closing Prayer (grey); Monthly Schedules (green); CBI Philosophy & Faith-Sharing (goldenrod); Sacred Space & Prayer Services (tan);
  Year 1 Syllabus: Reading & Writing Assignments (salmon); Catholic Biblical Interpretation (12-page stapled packet); Biblical Maps & OT/HB (full-color)
• PowerPoint for Aug. 20: Orientation Session
• Audio Recordings: Morning Sessions; Afternoon Sessions (very LARGE files; may be long download times, depending on your computer and internet connection!)

• BIBLE: The Gospel according to Mark (and the chapter introduction(s) in your Study Bible)
• BROWN: Chapters 1, 6A (pp. 99-111), Ch. 7; also skim Ch. 2 & 3 (as your time permits)
• POWELL: Chapters 1-3 and 6
• RALPH: Chapters 1–3
• Reflection Paper, due Oct. 1 (email to your reader): on Mark 5, or Mark 7, or Mark 13
• Handouts: Today's Schedule & Prayers (gray); Comparative Charts of Four Gospels (4-color); NT Intro & Gospel acc. to Mark (20-page stapled packet)
• Powerpoint: NT Intro & Gosp. Mark
• Audio Recordings: Morning: Session 1; Session 2; Afternoon: Session 3; Session 4

• BIBLE: The Gospel according to Matthew (and the chapter introduction(s) in your Study Bible)
• BROWN: Chapter 6B (pp. 111-122) and Ch. 8; also skim Ch. 4 & 5 (as your time permits)
• POWELL: Chapters 4 & 5
• RALPH: Chapter 4
• Reflection Paper, due Nov. 5 (email to your reader): on Matt 7, or Matt 18, or Matt 25
• Handouts: Opening & Closing Prayers (gray); Synoptic Problem & Gospel acc. to Matthew (20-page stapled packet)
• Powerpoint: Synoptic Problem & Gospel acc. to Matthew
• Audio Recordings: Morning: Session 1; Session 2; Afternoon: Session 3; Session 4

• BIBLE: The Gospel according to Luke  &  The Acts of the Apostles
• BROWN: Chapters 9–10
• POWELL: Chapters 7 & 9
• RALPH: Chapters 5 & 7
• Reflection Paper, due Dec. 3 (email to your reader): on Luke 10, or Luke 16, or Acts 7, or Acts 19
• Handouts: Opening & Closing Prayers (gray); Luke's Use of Mark (legal-sized); Gospel acc. to Luke & Acts of the Apostles (26-page stapled packet)
• Powerpoint: Gospel acc. to Luke & Acts of the Apostles
• Audio Recordings: Morning: Session 1; Session 2; Afternoon Session 3; Session 4

• BIBLE: The Gospel according to John
• BROWN: Chapter 11
• POWELL: Chapter 8
• RALPH: Chapter 6
• Reflection Paper, due Jan. 7: on John 3, or John 15, or John 17
• Handouts: Opening & Closing Prayers; Gospel acc. to John (30-page stapled packet)
• Powerpoint: Gospel acc. to John
• Audio Recordings: Morning Sessions 1 & 2 (large file!); Afternoon: Session 3; Session 4

• BIBLE: 1 Thessalonians, Galatians, Philippians, Philemon, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Romans
• BROWN: Chapters 18–24 (also skim Ch. 15–17)
• POWELL: Chapters 10-15, 17, 19, 22
• RALPH: Chapter 8–15
• Reflection Paper, due Feb. 4: on 1 Thess 2–3, or Phil 2, or 1 Cor 15, or 2 Cor 8–9, or Rom 11
• Handouts: Opening & Closing Prayers; Paul's Life & Letters (24-page stapled packet)
• Powerpoint: Paul's Life and Letters
• Audio Recordings: Morning: Session 1; Session 2; Afternoon: Session 3; Session 4 (technical difficulties; hopefully coming soon)

• BIBLE: 2 Thessalonians, Colossians, Ephesians; 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus
• BROWN: Chapters 25–31
• POWELL: Chapters 16, 18, 20, 21
• RALPH: Chapters 16–21
• Reflection Paper, due March 4: on Col 1, or Eph 4, or 1 Tim 3–4, or 2 Tim 2, or Titus 1–2
• Handouts: Opening & Closing Prayers; Deutero-Pauline Letters (stapled packet: only 8 pages!)
• Powerpoint: Deutero-Pauline Letters
• Audio Recordings: Morning: Session 1; Session 2; Afternoon: Session 3; Session 4

• BIBLE: Hebrews, James, 1 & 2 Peter, 1 & 2 & 3 John, Jude
• BROWN: Chapters 12-14, 32–36
• POWELL: Chapters 23-28
• RALPH: Chapters 22–27
• Reflection Paper, due April 1: on Heb 12, or James 5, or 1 Peter 4, or 3 John, or Jude
• Handouts: Opening & Closing Prayers; Hebrews & Catholic Epistles (18-page stapled packet)
• Powerpoint: Catholic Epistles
• Audio Recordings: Morning: Session 1; Session 2; Afternoon: Session 3; Session 4

• BIBLE: The Book of Revelation
• BROWN: Chapter 37
• POWELL: Chapter 29
• RALPH: Chapter 28
• Reflection Paper, due May 13: on Rev 2, or Rev 4–5, or Rev 18, or Rev 21
• Handouts: Opening & Closing Prayers; Revelation & Apocalyptic Literature (10-page stapled packet)
• Powerpoint: Apocalyptic Literature & Book of Revelation
• Audio Recordings: Morning: Session 1; Session 2; Afternoon: Session 3; Session 4

• EARLY CHRISTIAN TEXTS: selections will be handed out on April 29
• BROWN: reread Chapters 1–3; also read Appendices I & II (pp. 817-840)
• POWELL: Glossary
• RALPH: Epilogue (pp. 324-336)
• Handouts: Opening & Closing Prayers; Today's Schedule; "What Is Theology?"; Early Christian Literature (10-page stapled packet)
• Powerpoint: New Testament Theologies & Non-Canonical Literature
• Audio Recordings: Morning: Session 1A & 1B; Session 2A & 2B; Afternoon: Session 3; Session 4
• Year-end Reflection Paper, due June 17 – see separate instruction page

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

For more information, please contact:

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