DESCRIPTION:

This course is designed as part of a two-tier seminar sponsored by the Center for Advanced Theological Studies. The upper tier will consist of graduate students working at the PhD and ThM levels. The lower tier will consist of advanced MDiv and MA students. The seminar will investigate the politics of Jesus in the context of social, economic, political, and religious life in Second Temple Judaism under the Romans. Attention will be paid to primary sources including the Gospels, Josephus, and the Dead Sea Scrolls, in the light of contemporary research.

The seminar will meet once a week for three hours. Each session will be devoted to a topic designated in the seminar outline. Additional material will be made available to registered students on the Fuller Pipeline.

All members of the seminar should be familiar with the issues as set out by the following:

Borg, Marcus J. Jesus in Contemporary Scholarship. Trinity Press International, 1994, pp. 97-126.

Kealy, Seán P. Jesus and Politics. The Liturgical Press, 1990.

Mendels, Doron. "Jesus and the Politics of his Day." Pages 98-112 in J.H. Charlesworth and W. P. Weaver, eds., Images of Jesus Today. Trinity Press International, 1994.

Theissen, Gerd and Annette Merz. The Historical Jesus: A Comprehensive Guide. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1998.

Study will also be made of current literature including the following:

Bammel, Ernst and C. F. D. Moule, eds. Jesus and the Politics of His Day. Cambridge University Press, 1984 (and paperback reprints).

Hengel, Martin. The Charismatic Leader and his Followers. Crossroad, 1981.

__________. The Zealots: Investigation into the Jewish Freedom Movement in the Period from Herod I until 70 A.D. T. & T. Clark, 1989.

Horbury, William; W. D. Davies; and John Sturdy, eds. The Cambridge History of Judaism. Vol. 1. Cambridge University Press, 1999.

Horsley, Richard A. Jesus and the Spiral of Violence: Popular Jewish Resistance in Roman Palestine. Harper & Row, 1987.

Horsley, Richard A. and John D. Hanson. Bandits, Prophets, and Messiahs: Popular Movements in the Time of Jesus. Winston Press, 1985.

Mendels, Doron. The Rise and Fall of Jewish Nationalism. New York: Doubleday, 1992.

Yoder, John Howard. The Politics of Jesus. Eerdmans, (1972) 1994.

Stegemann, Wolfgang; Bruce J. Malina; and Gerd Theissen, eds. The Social Setting of Jesus and the Gospels. Fortress Press, 2001.

Wright, N. T. Christian Origins and the Question of God. Vols. 1-2. Fortress Press, 1992, 1994.

All members of the seminar must study the designated readings prior to the class. Attendance is required at all sessions. Each member will make one or more oral presentations to the seminar and write a research paper on an approved topic.

ST502, LG512, NS500, and students must receive Dr. Brown's permission in order to register for the seminar.