Section outline

  • Workload: Approximately 40 hours  |  Section: Scripture and Doctrine

    This module grounds you in the New Testament as the apostolic witness to Christ, the Church, sacramental community, mission, ordered ministry, and discipleship. Historical-critical material may be useful background, but the Institute receives the New Testament as Scripture within the life of the Church, and this module is taught accordingly.

    By the end of this module, you will be able to:
    • Describe the broad structure and witness of the New Testament.
    • Explain Jesus’ ministry as mercy, table fellowship, proclamation, healing, cross, and resurrection.
    • Explain Acts, Paul, and early Christian communities in relation to mission and ministry.
    • Use StepBible to study key New Testament ministry terms.
    • Connect New Testament teaching to diaconal identity.
    Required and supporting resources
    • Selected Yale Open Courses lectures from Introduction to New Testament History and Literature (RLST 152).
    • AOCM New Testament course notes.
    • A complete Bible with Deuterocanon.
    • Optional: selected excerpts from the Letters of St Ignatius of Antioch.
    Scripture and StepBible work
    • Word study: diakonia, doulos, ekklesia, koinonia, apostolos, presbyteros, episkopos, charis, charisma.
    • Close reading: Acts 6; Mark 10:35–45; John 13; Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12.
    • Prepare a brief explanation of New Testament service for a small group.
    Assessment and evidence

    All timed quizzes in the LDM, including this module’s structure quiz, draw 20 questions from a bank of 60, run on a 25-minute timer, and allow one retake (a maximum of two attempts).

    • New Testament structure quiz.
    • StepBible worksheet on diakonia and service.
    • A 5-minute video or audio reflection: The New Testament vision of diaconal service. A written equivalent is permitted.
    • Participation in cohort discussion.
    Monthly cohort discussion

    “What kind of servant does the New Testament form?”

    To complete this module, you will need to:
    • Quiz completed.
    • StepBible worksheet submitted.
    • Reflection submitted.
    • Discussion participation recorded.