Module 03 — Scripture II: New Testament, Christ, Church, and Mission

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 Open Yale Courses lectures: Introduction to the New Testament History and Literature (RLST 152). Strongly encouraged supplementary links; historical-critical perspectives complement the Institute’s confessional reading. The unit source guides explain use and rights.
• Original Institute New Testament teaching: Unit 3.1, Unit 3.2, Unit 3.3 and Unit 3.4.
• A complete Bible with the Deuterocanon. All assigned CPDV passages are supplied: Unit 3.1 readings, Unit 3.2 readings, Unit 3.3 readings and Unit 3.4 readings. You may read a suitable Catholic or ecumenically recognised translation alongside the CPDV.
• Optional: St Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Smyrnaeans, especially chapters 8–9. Supplementary link only; read its early episcopal context carefully and do not assume every later pattern is identical.

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). The pass mark is 80%; your highest grade counts. This module has one quiz, assessing Unit 3.1.

• Unit 3.1 knowledge check — New Testament structure and the Gospels.
• Scripture Study worksheet on diakonia and service; use the complete worksheet template. Begin in Unit 3.1; submit at the end of Unit 3.3.
• The New Testament vision of diaconal service: a five-minute video or audio reflection (maximum seven minutes), or the permitted written equivalent of approximately 750 words. Use the recording and written-work guide.
• Cohort discussion and staff-recorded attendance. Minimum cohort: two learners.

Monthly cohort discussion

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

To complete this module, you will need to:

• All four units read and their Books marked complete; Unit 3.1 quiz passed.
• StepBible worksheet submitted.
• Reflection submitted.
• Discussion participation recorded.

Begin with the Module 3 introduction. The STEPBible-based Institute Scripture Study plugin is embedded in every Day chapter, with twenty guided practices. If you have a mentor, the mentor feedback form is supplied for optional formation support.