Lecturer: Rev. John Irwin (USA)
Time:  January 22, 9:00 – 12:00 (2022)
January 24, 18:00 – 21:00
January 26, 18:00 – 21:00
January 28, 18:00 – 21:00
January 29, 9:00 – 12:00

Place: Akas street 13, Riga. Registration necessary for
participation.
Language: English, with simultaneous translation in Russian

ABOUT LECTURER

Rev. John M. Irwin is a minister in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) and graduated from Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis in 1999 (M.Div.). He has pastored churches in Tennessee and South Dakota and is currently pastor of Faith Presbyterian Church in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina where he has been for over 4 years. Rev. Irwin and his wife Jennifer, a teacher who has taught in Christian schools in the United States, Belize and Niger, have 3 children ages 13, 17, and 18.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is designed to assist the student in understanding the New Testament first by taking a look at the historical background into which Jesus was born and the New Testament was written. Then we will briefly touch on issues of New Testament canonicity before turning our attention to a broad overview of the theology of the New Testament. This “fish-eye” lens look will begin with the synoptic Gospels, take a look at Paul’s and John’s contributions and finish with the general epistles.

READING ASSIGNMENTS:

Required:
1. F. F. Bruce, New Testament History, chapters 1-11 (p. 1-151)
2. Hermann N. Ridderbos, Redemptive History and the New Testament  Scriptures, Chapter II (p. 49-76)
3. John Wenham, Christ & the Bible, chapter 5 (p. 113-127)
4. Leon Morris, New Testament Theology

Recommended:   The rest of the materials in the books above

Additional Resources:
1. Burge, Cohick and Green, The New Testament in Antiquity (esp. p. 62-72)
2. Donald Guthrie, New Testament Introduction
3. George Eldon Ladd, A Theology of the New Testament

WRITING ASSIGNMENTS:

1. Essay/Short Paper – Choose one of the Jewish groups mentioned in the New Testament (such as Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, or Zealots) and describe the origins and background of that group. Using an event of Jesus from one of the Gospels, show how this information might help prepare you to preach or teach that portion of Scripture more effectively.
2. Final Exam – Part objective/Part essay

INFORMATION:

In English/Latvian: janis@brts.edu.lv (Riga);
In Russian: reformatspb@gmail.com (Saint Petersburg)