Victory Education & Training Institute

http://VetiOnline.com

Online Course Syllabus

New Testament Survey

1. Instructor:
Pastor Nick Gonzalez, M. Div.
Email: NickG@VictoryOutreach.org
Office: 909-599-4437 ext. 102.
On The V.E.T.I. Network
On My Faceook
On My Twitter

2. Course Information:
New Testament Survey. Course units: 3
Instructor is available online, by phone (Mon. - Fri. 10am - 5pm P.S.T.) and by email.
To meet with the instructor please call to make an appointment.

This course is a 7 week online course. Students have access to all class materials 24 hours a
day. All instructions are provided one week at a time. Lessons are in form of text, audio
and/or video clips. Students respond to lessons by summarizing and/or writing essays,
completing special assignments, interacting with other students in our discussion boards
and chat forums and by taking weekly quizzes.

A large amount of reading is also required in this online class. Class takes place through
http://VetiOnline.com. All assignments must be completed by 11:55pm (PST) each Sunday
night. For more details please review, How online classes work.

3. Course Description:
An introductory survey designed to present a panoramic view of the New Testament. The
major themes, general contents and message of each book will be highlighted. Special
attention will be given to the historical and cultural backgrounds, the major divisions and
its present day significance.

4. Required Textbook:

Elwell, Walter A. & Robert W. Yarbrough. Encountering the New Testament. Grand Rapids,
MI: Baker Academic, 2005. ISBN:0-8010-2806-X. Be sure to get the CD that comes with the
book. It is not required for this class but I have found it very informative. The cost for this
text book is not included in the registration cost for this class. You are free to purchase the
course textbook from any book seller you choose. For the best book prices consider,
http://isbn.nu
When ordering the book, be sure to request "fast delivery". The time saved waiting for the
book is worth the extra cost. To make sure everyone keeps up with the class, the reading
assignments for the first two weeks of this course are provided. By the third week of class
everyone should have received the book.

You may be able to obtain the required book from your local library. Visit:
http://www.oclc.org/worldcat and enter the title of the book or ISBN number. Next enter
your zip code and Worldcat will find libraries from its global network of library content
(including university libraries) in your area that may have the book.

The course textbook may also be available from www.half.ebay.com, amazon.com,

barnesandnoble.com, ebay.com, christianbook.com and other web based book sources.
Finally, you may also find the course textbook from your local Christian Bookstore. To see
all of V.E.T.I. required books for online classes click here.

5. Suggestions for Further Reading:

a) Survey of the New Testament, A (4th Ed.) Robert Gundry ISBN: 0310238250

b) E.S.V. Study Bible (English Standard Version). Online version also available.

c) The Learning Bible: Contemporary English Version ISBN: 1585160172

d) The IVP Introduction to the Bible by Philip S. Johnston. ISBN: 0830828281

e) The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament Keener ISBN: 0830814051

6. Course Goals:

At the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate their knowledge of the historical, geographical, cultural, theological,

and ethical facts that form the foundation of the New Testament.
2. Identify the types of writing and major divisions of the New Testament books.
3. Follow the acts of the Holy Spirit in the history of the early church; in the lives of the
apostles in and around Jerusalem, unto the uttermost parts of the world; grasp the
work of God in the NT world.
4. Recognize and explain the basic message of the New Testament; discuss the true
meaning of Jesus.
5. Grow in their ability to apply New Testament truths to their lives and the world.
6. Develop a love for the New Testament that will result in a closer walk with God,
commitment to the community of faith, and to further study of the Bible.
7. Course Schedule:

• Week 1: Encountering the New Testament Background.

Read chapter 1.

• Week 2. Encountering the Gospels.

Read chapters 3-7.

• Week 3. Encountering the Life of Jesus Christ.

Read chapters 8 and 9.

• Week 4. Encountering Acts and the Earliest Church.

Read chapters 13 -16.

• Week 5. Encountering Paul and His Epistles.

Read chapters 17 through 21.

• Week 6. Encountering the General Epistles and Revelation.

Read chapters 22 through 24.

• Week 7. Encountering the New Testament today.

Read pages, 387-393.

8. Grading:

• Reading Journal 25%

• Class Participation "Discussions": 20%
• Weekly Quizzes: 20%
• Assignments: 20%
• Term Paper 15%

Extra credit is available and optional.

About the weekly quizzes.

You are allowed to use any of the information provided in this course (including
your Bible) to help you with the weekly quizzes. The quizzes in my classes are
“open-book”. The only thing that is not allowed is to receive help from a person
during the time you complete this quiz (you are not allowed to receive help by
phone, text, email, chat, etc. friends, family members, nobody). See Academic
Integrity below. Remember this is a Bible school.
9. Course Requirements:

1. Weekly reading from the Bible, the course textbook and online.
2. Weekly writing assignments (150-200 words).
3. Weekly participation in class discussions using discussion boards.
4. Weekly activities which include special projects.
5. Weekly quiz (which is a simple review of the homework & class work).
6. Research Paper (See section 10 below).

10. Assignments:

Assignments and grade criteria may be amended at the instructor’s discretion. All
assignments for the courses are to be completed and presented on time in order to receive
full credit. Each week assignments become available on Monday morning and are due by
the end of the week on Sunday, 11:55pm (PST). Late assignments will be penalized 10%
per week.

Please note:

1. A four page research paper is due on the last day of class (Oct. 31st, 2010). Late
papers will not be accepted. Please review sections 14, 15, 16, 18 below for more
details.

2. Students are expected to participate in forum discussions, which enhances learning

and contributes to a healthy online community. Forum discussions are very
important and make up 20% of the final grade.

11. Time Expectations:

Each student should plan to study 1-3 hours per week for this online class (Time varies
from student to student depending on how fast a student can type, their reading &
comprehension skills, and their individual learning style).

12. Email Communication:

Every week students should receive at least one message or email from the instructor. If
you are not receiving these messages please inform the instructor. When an instructor
sends a message to the student or to the entire class while you are "logged into your
course", you will receive a pop-up window displaying the message. If you are "not logged
into your course" when the instructor sends a message the message will be sent directly to
the email address in your profile. You can change your email address at any time by
clicking on your name then on “edit profile”. Please do not change any of the settings in the
messages area.
13. Online Instructions:
It is important to participate in all forum discussions and to turn in all work before each
Sunday evening, 11:55pm (PST). To see which students are online, log into class and look
at the "Online Users" area on the right side of the course. To see who else is enrolled in
your class, log into class and click on “Participants”. To send a message to a student, or to
the professor, click on their name, (from either the “Online Users” area or “Participants”
link) then click on “send message”. You may also email the instructor directly. To enter the
chat room, click on the "Chat Room" link from the Orientation block.

14. Final Paper - Details:

The course research paper makes up 15% of your grade. It is very important do your best.
A minimum of 4 pages (or 1000 words) is required (not to exceed 5 pages or 1250 words).
You will need to answer the question, "What is the New Testament" You will be graded on
how well you integrate and describe the following 4 parts in your paper;

1. The message of the New Testament.

2. The different sections of the New Testament.
3. The role of Jesus Christ in the New Testament.
4. Personal insights gained from this course.

Make sure to begin your paper with a thesis statement (the point of your paper in 1-4
sentences) and to end your paper with a summary or conclusion, (state what you feel about
your research). All of the information you need for this research paper will have been
reviewed in the course. If you are thorough in all of your homework assignments you
should not have not problem writing this paper.

Be sure to complete this assignment on your own, write in your own words and do not
copy and paste from any outside sources. See Academic Honesty. The Student Resources
area in the Orientation block has an Essay Writing section to help you prepare for this
assignment. I recommend the document, "The Five-Paragraph Essay". Type your responses
in a separate file on your computer first and when you are ready, copy and paste them into
your course. Always save a copy of your work on your computer. If you are borrowing a
computer, email your work to yourself. If you have any questions please contact the
instructor.

15. Spelling and Grammar:

Although you will not be graded on grammar (except for repeat offenders) it is expected
that you spell check and grammar check your work before turning in each assignment.

Here are a few tips to help prevent grammar errors and typos:

1. Make sure to read your assignments to yourself "out loud" to make sure it sounds
good.
2. Let somebody else read your assignment before turning it in.
 3. Read your work backwards starting from the last sentence. This will force you to
think about what you are reading and catch potential errors.
4. Print a copy of your work and read it. Sometimes reading from paper helps to catch
more errors.
5. Check your document for errors in Microsoft Word or another word processing
program.
6. Check your document when you are at your best. If you are not a night person, don't
check your papers at midnight or when hungry.
7. Wait 24 hours before turning in your assignment. Sometimes waiting a day helps to
refresh your thinking about what you want to say and how to say it correctly. If you
are the type of person who waits until the last minute to turn in homework, this
method will not work for you.

By the way, if you notice a typo or grammar errors anywhere in this course please inform
the instructor, your input is always welcome.

16. Students Resources:

To assist students with their studies we have included several tips, guides and resources in
the "Students Resources" link (located in the orientation block above) and in the "Student
Tips Group" on the V.E.T.I. Network. Students are encouraged to review the essay writing
section, especially the, "The Five-Paragraph Essay" link.

When completing assignments it is recommended to type your work on a separate file on

your computer first and when you are ready, copy and paste them into your course. You
should also save a copy of all of your work on your computer. If you are borrowing a
computer, email your work to yourself. If you have any questions, please contact the
instructor.

17. Course Conduct:

Students are expected to conduct themselves in a mature, godly manner. Since this class
engages in open forum discussions, all students must treat one another with respect. The
instructor has the right to fail and/or expel anyone who transmits vulgar, indecent or
inappropriate language, material or images. Please report offensive conduct to the
instructor and/or the V.E.T.I. staff.

18. Academic Integrity:

V.E.T.I. supports and promotes academic honesty and personal integrity. Students are
required to do their own work. Please make sure you read, understand and agree with the
following article, Academic Integrity. Please report academic dishonesty to the instructor
and V.E.T.I. office immediately. The consequence for Academic dishonesty is automatic
failure for everyone involved and can potentially result in failure of the course and
potential expulsion from school.
Academic dishonesty includes:

1. Cheating: Intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials,

information, or study aids in any academic exercise. - Students may not allow others
to conduct research or prepare work for them without advance authorization from
the instructor. - Papers, parts of papers, and other academic work may not be
submitted for credit in more than one course.

2. Fabrication: Intentional falsification or invention of any information or citation in an

academic exercise.

3. Facilitating academic dishonesty: Helping or attempting to help another commit an

act of academic dishonesty.

4. Plagiarism: using unattributed words, phrases, ideas, or work of another (whether

published, unpublished, or from an electronic source) as one's own in any academic
exercise. An example is copying parts of a document from the internet or a book and
pasting it into their assignment without citing the source. To avoid plagiarism, when
drawing from various resources for research purposes students must provide
citations, footnotes and bibliographic information.

Please review the following sites to learn more about academic honesty:

• Mastering the Art of Scholarship

• All about Plagiarism
• Plagiarism
• How to Avoid Plagiarism

19. V.E.T.I. Mission Statement:

Victory Education and Training Institute assists the Elders, Regional Pastors, and Pastors in
equipping their people to fulfill the mission and vision of Victory Outreach International.
The school does this by providing doctrinal correct, practically oriented, centralized and
decentralized training tailored to fit the mission and people of Victory Outreach
International.

20. Finally:
It is understood that for many students this is the first time taking an online class. We are
excited for you and applaud your effort. We are also delighted to have returning V.E.T.I.
online students as well as those from other schools. If you have any questions always
contact your instructor first. If you do not receive a response within 24 hours or you have
an urgent question please contact V.E.T.I. at: 909-599-4437, 102. We want you to enjoy
your online class and have a great experience.