Summer 2010

FSNC Menlo Park

NS525

Kirk

NS525: THE CROSS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. J. R. Daniel Kirk

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course is a study of the rich variety of interpretations of the death of Jesus in the New Testament, as well as the challenge of conveying its significance today.

 

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY:

The cross has become one of the most pervasive images of Christianity. This class will set students down the path of appreciating the polyvalent meaning of that symbol contained in the NT, thus equipping them to more effectively articulate, embody, and call others into the Christian narrative.

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

At the successful completion of this course students will be able to: (1) articulate various interpretations of the death of Jesus in the New Testament (including models of atonement and discipleship) and a synthetic NT witness to the significance of JesusŐ death; (2) constructively engage challenges to traditional articulations of atonement; (3) demonstrate the relationship between exegesis of NT passages and articulation of NT theologies of discipleship and atonement; and (4) articulate the multifaceted significance of JesusŐ death for their own diverse contexts.

 

COURSE FORMAT:

This is a one week intensive course, requiring some reading beforehand, active participation in lectures and discussions during the class sessions, and engagement in Moodle on-line discussion groups throughout the quarter.

 

REQUIRED READING:

Various passages in the New Testament in Greek and/or NRSV or TNIV translation

John T. Carroll and Joel B. Green, eds., The Death of Jesus in Early Christianity (Hendrickson, 1995). 279 pages to be read before the first class meeting.

James Beilby and Paul R. Eddy, eds., The Nature of the Atonement: Four Views (InterVarsity, 2006). 200 pages.

Michael J. Gorman, Cruciformity: PaulŐs Narrative Spirituality of the Cross (Eerdmans, 2001). 400 pages.

Scot McKnight, A Community Called Atonement (Abingdon, 2007). 177 pages.

Barbara E. Reid, Taking Up the Cross: New Testament Interpretation Through Latina and Feminist Eyes (rev. ed.; Minneapolis: Fortress, 2007). 184 pages.

 

RECOMMENDED READING:

Mark D. Baker, ed., Proclaiming the Scandal of the Cross: Contemporary Images of the Atonement  (Baker, 2006).

Joel B. Green and Mark Baker, Recovering the Scandal of the Cross: Atonement in New Testament and Contemporary Contexts (InterVarsity, 2000).

Charles E. Hill et. al., eds., The Glory of the Atonement: Biblical, Historical & Practical Perspectives (InterVarsity, 2004).

Richard B. Hays, The Moral Vision of the New Testament: Community, Cross, New Creation (HarperOne, 1996).

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

1.     Participation in Moodle discussion groups. (25%)

2.     Book review of Reid, Taking up the Cross. (20%)

3.     Final Project (three 4-6 page presentations, due the last day of the quarter) (55%)

 

PREREQUISITES:  NS501

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: meets MDiv. requirement in NTT

FINAL EXAMINATION: No.    

 

 

 

This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification.

(2/10)