Learn about the history, theology, and significance of the books of the New Testament with the Rev. Dr. Mark Allen Powell. Classes will take place via Zoom from 9:00 a.m. to noon on Saturdays Jan. 24 and 31; Feb. 7, 21, and 28; and March 7. The cost is $25 for general learners and $50 for Synod-Authorized Ministry students.
This course will provide an overview of the New Testament as taught by the author of the world’s best-selling textbook on that topic. The content of the course will be comparable to what graduate students learn when they engage the scriptures in a seminary classroom. We will profile the two most important figures of the New Testament — Jesus and the Apostle Paul — noting their enduring significance for the church and for the world at large. We will look at all four of the Gospels with an interest in the distinct contributions that each has to offer. We will also look at the sensational book of Acts and the mysterious book of Revelation, and we will examine a few representative epistles.
Our Adult Faith Formation courses use Realm Connect, a church management and communication platform, for class communications. If you don’t have an account, we will send you an invitation to create an account shortly after receiving your registration; if you already have an account, we will add you to the group. You will be able to find class information, such as reading materials and the Zoom link, in the class’ Realm group as we get closer to the start of the class.
About the presenter: The Rev. Dr. Mark Allan Powell was a professor at Trinity Lutheran Seminary, where he taught courses on the Bible for 35 years. Now retired, he lives in Mesa, Ariz., with his wife and cats. He teaches ESL classes to Venezuelan teenagers and continues to write prodigiously, producing about one book a year. All told, Powell’s 40+ books include academic volumes on biblical studies and classical history, as well as more popular topics such as stewardship, homiletics, spirituality, and music criticism. Powell recently published a commentary on Matthew’s Gospel as the premiere volume in the new Interpretation series; he was the editor and principal author of the Harper-Collins Bible Dictionary (the world’s best-selling dictionary of the Bible) and is widely known as author of Introducing the New Testament (the world’s best-selling New Testament textbook). An ecumenical and global scholar, he has taught in Russia, Estonia, and Tanzania; and has worked in Methodist, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, and Jewish contexts.