DESCRIPTION: A study of the concept of the kingdom of God in the teachings of the historical Jesus and the Gospels, as well as in Paul, John, and the General Epistles. Emphasis will be laid on not only the nature of kingdom as represented across the spectrum of NT writings but also its reception (its articulation in modern theological discourse and application within the contemporary church).

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: The kingdom of God was a central thematic in the teachings of Jesus. Although the term surfaces with relative infrequency in the remaining portion of the canon, its conceptual framework is both assumed throughout and indeed transformed to meet the diverse contexts in which the NT collection took shape. A holistic and canonical understanding of the kingdom is prerequisite to holistic ministry and mission.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Having successfully completed this course, students will have demonstrated the ability to (1) describe the deployment of the kingdom metaphor through representative NT writings, relating it to each book's central concerns; (2) work with the New Testament materials relevant to the kingdom of God in a synthetic way that takes seriously the particularity of these materials and the potential of a coordinated New Testament witness to the kingdom of God; (3) exhibit the relationship between exegesis and theological interpretation of New Testament texts concerned with the kingdom of God; (4) convey the ongoing significance of the witness of Jesus and early Christian writers to the kingdom of God for critical reflection on theological discourse and ecclesial practices.

COURSE FORMAT: This course is concerned with the practice of New Testament theology, which necessarily involves sociocultural and canonical interests. As a result, the course will require exegetical and theological work with biblical texts. The course meets daily for two weeks for four-hour sessions of lecture and discussion.

REQUIRED READING:

Bible (selections). Students may use either NRSV, CEB, or TNIV. Those with Greek may use either UBS⁴ or NA²⁷.

Ladd, George Eldon. A Theology of the New Testament. Ed. Donald A. Hagner. Rev. ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1993. ISBN 0-8028-0680-5. $38.00 (Copy needed for class; pp. 54-132, 212-72, 397-463, 617-720).

Selections from the following (on reserve in library):

Cho, Youngmo. Spirit and Kingdom in the Writings of Luke and Paul: An Attempt to Reconcile These Concepts. Paternoster Biblical Monographs. Waynesboro, GA: Paternoster, 2005. ISBN 978-1597527989. $27.00 (pp. 52-109).

Horsley, Richard A. Jesus and Empire: The Kingdom of God and the New World Order. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2003. ISBN 978-0800634902. $18.00 (pp. 55-78).

Wright, N. T. Jesus and the Victory of God. London: SPCK, 1996. ISBN 978-0800626822. $41.00 (pp. 198-243).

__________. Paul: In Fresh Perspective. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2005. ISBN 978-0800663575. $18.00 (pp. 21-79).