DESCRIPTION: This is the first of a two-course sequence designed to provide a basic introduction to the New Testament, including not only the traditional elements of "introduction," such as authorship, date, provenance, background, structure, and use of sources, but also the theologies of the various writings. The orientation is both historical and exegetical. The present course is devoted to the four Gospels, and traces their origin, interrelationship, theological distinctives, and value as sources for life of Jesus research. Some attention will be given to the hermeneutical problem of preaching from the Gospels today. The course will commence with an overview of intertestamental history.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students completing this course will have demonstrated (1) a foundational knowledge of the content of the NT documents studied in this part of the course; (2) an acquaintance with a range of cultural and historical matters that may inform our understanding of them; (3) appreciation of the world in which Jesus lived and ministered; and (4) an understanding of some of the factors contributing to the diverse portraits of Jesus that came to expression in the four Gospels.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: An understanding of the Gospels is indispensable not only in teaching and preaching, but in developing a biblically informed theology that equips one for everyday living.

COURSE FORMAT: Meeting daily for two weeks, for four-hour sessions, the course will be presented as a series of lectures on various topics and exegesis of important passages. Students are expected to keep their reading current and to be prepared to discuss topics in class.

REQUIRED READING:

Aland, Kurt, ed. Synopsis of the Four Gospels: Greek-English Edition of the Synopsis Quattuor Evangeliorium, with the Greek Nestle-Aland 26th Edition Text and Parallel English Revised Standard Version 2nd Edition Text. 9th Edition. United Bible Societies (New York: American Bible Society), 1987 (or equivalent).

Achtemeier, Paul, Joel B. Green, and Marianne M. Thompson, eds. Introducing the New Testament: Its Literature and Theology. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001.

Evans, Craig A. Fabricating Jesus: How Modern Scholars Distort the Gospels. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006.

1. Recommended reading prior to the first class meeting: Achtemeier-Green-Thompson, pp. 1-244; and Evans, 15-235.

2. Midterm (20%) and final exam (30%) covering course lectures and reading. The midterm will be administered the first hour of Monday the second week of class (13 July); the final exam will be administered in the last 90 minutes of Friday of the second week of class (17 July).

3. One 3,000 word exegetical paper (50%). There are two deadlines for turning in the exegesis paper. For Professor Evans to read and grade it the deadline is 10 August 2009 (post-marked no later than this date); for the TA it is 14 September 2009 (dropped off at the Academic Programs Office).