Winter 2009/Pasadena
NS509
Thompson

NS509: LIFE OF JESUS. Marianne Meye Thompson.

DESCRIPTION: This course focuses on the historical and theological significance of key aspects of Jesus' life and ministry for the life and faith of the church.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Having successfully completed the requirements for this course, students should be able

to describe the witness of the Gospels to the significance of key events in the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth;
to articulate various issues in and ways of relating the ministry of Jesus to the developing faith of the early church;
to demonstrate the relationship between exegesis of Gospel texts and theological reflection on those texts and their place in NT Theology;
to reflect critically on recent interpretations of Jesus and his mission.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: Jesus' mission, message, and identity are foundational to understanding the Gospels, the ministry of the Church, the identity and character of God, and God's mission in the world. Successful completion of the course should equip the student to preach and teach from the Gospels with greater sensitivity and skill, to understand Jesus more fully, and to interpret the quest for Jesus to the church today.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture and discussion of the Gospels and reading. The course will meet twice weekly for two-hour sessions.

REQUIRED READING:

: Aland, Kurt, ed. Synopsis of the Four Gospels. Greek-English, 7th ed., United Bible Societies, 1984.; Borg, Marcus J., and N. T. Wright. The Meaning of Jesus: Two Visions. HarperSanFrancisco, 1999.; Levine, Amy-Jill. The Misunderstood Jew: The Church and the Scandal of the Jewish Jesus. HarperOne, 2006.; McClymond, Michael J. Familiar Stranger: An Introduction to Jesus of Nazareth. Eerdmans, 2004.; Thompson, Marianne Meye. "What Are You Looking For? Mapping the Quest of the Historical Jesus" and "Why Do You Seek the Living among the Dead? Finding the Way to Jesus." (available on line).