DESCRIPTION: This course is an introduction to the content, structure, and message of the four New Testament Gospels (with brief attention to Acts, as a follow-up to the Gospel of Luke). In addition to considering and employing methods appropriate to the study of the Gospels, participants will explore the theological and literary purposes of each Gospel.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Having successfully completed this course, students will be able to

• demonstrate familiarity with the content, structure, and message of the New Testament Gospels;

• demonstrate developing interpretive skill in the exegesis of the Gospels as appropriate for effective leadership in Christian communities.

• articulate the particular contribution of each Gospel to the witness of the fourfold Gospel and to the message of the New Testament.

Achtemeier, Paul J., Joel B. Green, and Marianne Meye Thompson, Introducing the New Testament: Its Literature and Message. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001.

Theissen, Gerd. The Shadow of the Galilean. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1987.

Choose one text from the following contributions to the New Testament Theology series (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press):

Luz, Ulrich. The Theology of the Gospel of Matthew (1995).

Telford, W. R. The Theology of the Gospel of Mark (1999).

Green, Joel B. The Theology of the Gospel of Luke (1995).

Smith, D. Moody. The Theology of the Gospel of John (1995).

1. Preparation for each meeting of the course by carefully reading the assigned Gospel texts

2. A critical review of Theissen (20% of final grade)

3. A critical review of one volume from the New Testament Theology series (Luz, Telford, Green, or Smith) (20% of final grade)

4. Two interpretive exercises on selected passages (2 pages each) (25% of final grade)

5. Research essay on a selected Gospel text (8-10 pages) (35% of final grade)