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Summer 2011/FSW
NS512
Charette
NS512: JESUS AND THE KINGDOM OF
GOD - Blaine B. Charette
DESCRIPTION: The course will examine the central
place of the Kingdom of God in the teaching and activity of Jesus. The theme of
the kingdom is rooted in Old Testament conceptions of God and redemptive
history. It informed almost every aspect of JesusÕ ministry and greatly
influenced the theological reflection of the writers of the New Testament.
Topics to receive particular attention include the character of GodÕs kingly
rule, the divine ordering and control of creation and history, and the ultimate
accomplishment of GodÕs purpose.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND
MINISTRY: Effective Christian
ministry and witness require an accurate understanding of the nature and character
of JesusÕ ministry. The subject of the Kingdom of God stands at the heart of
the teaching of the Gospels and is important to understanding the entire
biblical story. The idea of the kingdom, so crucial to early Christian thought,
continues to be of relevance to the ongoing life and work of the church.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Having
successfully completed this course, students will have demonstrated the ability
(1) to articulate the relationship
between the respective Old and New Testament testimonies to GodÕs dominion; (2)
to work with the New Testament materials relevant to the kingdom of God in a
synthetic way that takes seriously the particularity of these materials and the
potential of a coordinated New Testament witness to the kingdom of God; (3) to
demonstrate the relationship between exegesis and theological interpretation of
New Testament texts concerned with the kingdom of God; and (4) to articulate
the ongoing significance of the witness of Jesus and early Christian writers for
critical reflection on ecclesial practices.
COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet for a total of 30
hours (Aug 15, 16, 18, 20, 22, 23, 25, 27) for lecture and discussion.
REQUIRED
READING:
George E. Ladd. The Presence of the Future: The Eschatology
of Biblical Realism. Eerdmans, 1974. (340 pp). ISBN 9780802815316. $24.00
Thomas R. Y. Neufeld. Recovering Jesus. Brazos, 2007. (328
pp). ISBN 9781587432026. $30.00
Margaret Barker. The Hidden Tradition of the Kingdom of God.
SPCK, 2007. (130 pp). ISBN 0281058466. $19.99.
Richard A. Horsley. Jesus and Empire. Fortress, 2003. (172
pp) ISBN 9780800634902. $18.00.
A. W. Wakabayashi. Kingdom Come. IVP, 2003. (177 pp.) ISBN 9780830823635. $13.00
C. S. Lewis. The Last Battle. Macmillan, 1956. (174 pp) ISBN 006447108X. #6.99.
ASSIGNMENTS
AND ASSESSMENT:
1. Readings from scripture and
textbooks to be completed for each class.
2. A research paper on a kingdom
text or theme (Learning Outcome[s] #2, 3, 4). (40%)
3. A comparative analysis of
Neufeld, Barker, and Horsley on the kingdom (Learning
Outcome[s] #2, 3, 4). (25%)
4. A short reflective essay on
LewisÕ ÔNarnian eschatologyÕ (Learning Outcome #3). (15%)
5. A take-home final examination (Learning
Outcome[s] #1, 2, 3, 4).
(20%)
Prerequisites: NS500 (NT1) OR NT500
Relationship to Curriculum: Meets M.Div.
core requirement in New Testament Theology (NTT).