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

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: The New Testament Gospels and Acts are the chief witnesses for the significance of Jesus' life and ministry and the growth of the early church. A thorough knowledge of each provides the foundation for understanding Jesus and his message as well as the early Christian communities, for shaping and enacting Christian discipleship, as well as for the various tasks of preaching, teaching, and service in the church and world today.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Having successfully completed this course, students will have demonstrated that they (1) can articulate the character of the Gospels and Acts as witnesses to Jesus Christ; (2) are familiar with the historical background, content, structure, and message of each of these writings; (3) have skill in the interpretation of the Gospels and Acts as appropriate for effective leadership in Christian communities.

COURSE FORMAT: The course, which meets weekly for a three-and-a-half-hour session, involves lectures and discussion based on readings and assignments based on the Gospels, Acts, and secondary sources.

REQUIRED READING:

Achtemeier, Paul, Joel Green, and Marianne Meye Thompson. Introducing the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001. ISBN: 978-0802837172. List Price: $40.00.

Powell, Mark Allan. What Are They Saying about Acts? New York: Paulist Press, 1991. ISBN: 978-0809132799. List Price: $12.95.

Stanton, Graham. The Gospels and Jesus. 2nd ed. Oxford University Press. 2002. ISBN: 978-0199246168. List Price: $34.99.

Theissen, Gerd. The Shadow of the Galilean: The Quest of the Historical Jesus in Narrative Form. Fortress, 1987. ISBN: 978-0800639006. List Price: $22.00.

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

Recommended texts will be listed in the syllabus.

1. Regular attendance, participation, and preparation for each meeting of the course by carefully reading the assigned texts

2. Regular short (1-2 pp.) written assignments in preparation for class on passages from the Gospels and Acts as well as on course topics (30%)

3. Critical review essay (3-4 pp.) of Shadow of a Galilean exploring the social world of the Gospels and Acts (10%)

4. One research paper (5-8 pp.) on a given pericope from the Gospels or Acts (30%)

5. Final examination (in class during exam week) covering lectures and reading (30%)