DESCRIPTION: This course constitutes an introduction to the nature, structure, and message of the New Testament Gospels in their historical, literary, and canonical contexts.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Having successfully completed this course, students should be able (1) to articulate the character of the Gospels as witnesses to Jesus Christ; (2) to demonstrate familiarity with the historical background, content, structure, and message of each of the New Testament Gospels; and (3) to demonstrate developing skill in the interpretation of the Gospels as appropriate for effective leadership in Christian communities.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: This course lays the foundation for the study of the Gospels. Satisfactory completion of the course should increase the student's confidence in reading, studying, and teaching the Gospels.

COURSE FORMAT: Lectures and discussion based on reading the New Testament and secondary sources. The course will meet twice weekly for two-hour sessions.

REQUIRED READING:

Brown, Raymond. Introducción al Nuevo Testamento. Tr. Antonio Pinero. Madrid: Editorial Trotta, 2002.

Robertson, A.T. Una Armonía de los Cuatro Evangelios. El Paso, TX: Casa Bautista de Publicaciones, 2003.
OR Aland, Kurt. Synopsis of the Four Gospels. Greek-English edition. United Bible Societies, 1993.

Students need access to early Jewish and Christian sources; these can be found online at www.earlyjewishwritings.com and www.earlychristianwritings.com. .

Harrison, Everett. Introducción al Nuevo Testamento. Tr. Norberto Wolf. Grand Rapids: Libros Desafíos, 1980.

Green, Joel B., Scot McKnight, and I. Howard Marshall, eds. Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1992.

• Regular attendance

• Regular short (150-200 words) written assignments on a NT passage or primary source (20%)

• An exam on historical and critical terms crucial for understanding study of the Gospels (20%)

• A short paper on an assigned topic, to be distributed in class (30%)

• A final examination, covering lectures and reading (30%)