DESCRIPTION: This CATS doctoral seminar--for which students at the 800 level will register Fall and Winter (NT824A and NT824B) and which is open in the Fall to a limited number of master's students (NS524), will focus on Johannine christology, particularly as that christology is developed and presented vis-à-vis Judaism. Study of selections from primary sources, including the Old Testament Apocrypha, Philo, and the Dead Sea Scrolls, will acquaint students with the contours of Johannine christology, as well as with some of the issues which arise in interpreting the Fourth Gospel. Attention will also be given to important secondary works which have shaped study of the Fourth Gospel in the twentieth century.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students completing this course will have demonstrated (1) a fundamental knowledge of the Christology of the Gospel of John; (2) an acquaintance with a range of cultural and historical matters that may inform our understanding of the text; (3) further practice in and development of skills in interpreting the text; and (4) an ability to reflect on the theological significance of the central themes of the Gospel and its portrait of Jesus.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: NT824 prepares students primarily for the ministry of teaching and research. While the course focuses on critical issues relevant for advanced study in the Gospel of John, it will also aim to help students grapple with such issues as the historical character of the Gospel, the consequences for our understanding of Jesus' ministry and purpose, and the nature of Scripture.

COURSE FORMAT: The class meets weekly for three-hour sessions.

REQUIRED READING FROM THIS LIST:

Bauckham, Richard, ed. The Gospels for All Christians: Rethinking the Gospel Audiences. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998.

Brown, Raymond E. An Introduction to the Gospel of John. New York: Doubleday, 2003.

Martyn, J. L. History and Theology in the Fourth Gospel. Rev. and expanded ed. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2003.

Thompson, Marianne Meye. The God of the Gospel of John. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001.

Other reading from articles in journals and on reserve.

Students should also have access to essential primary sources (the works of Philo, Josephus, the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha).

Additionally, students should acquire a few good commentaries on John. Bibliography given in class.

1. Regular attendance, preparation for, and participation in class discussions, with assigned short presentations on passages to be discussed for the week.

2. Weekly short 2-page papers, as listed in the syllabus, analyzing primary and/or secondary sources (CATS students NT824A). Four papers required for Master's students (NS524).

3. For CATS students: A 25-30 page paper, doubled-spaced.; topics to be approved by professor; this paper is due at the end of winter quarter (NT824B).

4. For Master's students: A take-home, open book, final exam covering various interpretative issues in the Gospel of John OR a 10-15 page paper, double-spaced, properly footnoted exegesis/research paper on a topic or passage to be approved by professor (NS524).