Spring 2012/Pasadena
NE506
Thompson
NE506: NEW TESTAMENT EXEGESIS: GOSPEL OF JOHN. Marianne Meye Thompson.
DESCRIPTION: This course is an exegetical study of the Gospel of John, which
includes interpretation of selected passages of the Greek text with lecture and
discussion of the basic themes of the Gospel.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: Increased competence in interpretation of
the text of the Gospel, familiarity with its main themes, and an understanding
of its distinctive features will contribute to informed preaching and teaching
from the Gospel, as well as to a deeper understanding of the Gospel and of its
distinctive portrait of Jesus.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students completing this course will have demonstrated (1)
skill in interpreting the Gospel of John; (2) the use of resources to aid our
understanding of the text; (3) the ability to bring knowledge of the critical
issues in John and its study to bear on reading recent work on John; and
(4) an ability to reflect theologically upon the central themes of the
Gospel and its portrait of Jesus.
COURSE FORMAT: The course will meet twice weekly for two-hour sessions for
discussion and lecture.
REQUIRED READING:
- Either Aland, K., et al. The Greek New Testament. 4th
ed. United Bible Societies, 1993 [UBS4] (ISBN: 9783438051103, $43.99);
or Nestle, E. & K. Aland. Novum Testamentum Graece. 27th ed.
Deutsche Bibelstiftung, 1993 [NA27] (ISBN: 9783438051004, $40.99).
- Students should choose two commentaries for consultation during the course
from among the following:
- Beasley-Murray, George. John. WBC. Vol. 36. Rev.
ed. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1999. ISBN: 9780785209409, $49.99.
- Brown, Raymond E. The Gospel According to John. AB. 2 vols.
New Haven: Yale University Press, 1995, 1970. ISBN: 9780300140521 &
9780300140729, $50.00 & $55.00.
- Lincoln, Andrew. The Gospel According to Saint John. Peabody:
Hendrickson, 2005. ISBN: 9781565634015, $34.95.
- Michaels, J. Ramsay. The Gospel of John. NICNT. Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans, 2010. ISBN 9780802823021, $65.00.
- Students will write a review of one of the following books or
of a collection of articles (details in class).
- Reinhartz, Adele. Befriending the Beloved Disciple.
Continuum, 2002. ISBN: 9780826414465, $21.95.
- Thatcher, Tom. Greater than Caesar: Christology and Empire in the Fourth
Gospel. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2009. ISBN: 9780800663391 $29.00.
- Students will need to consult the following resources throughout the
quarter:
- Danker, F.W. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other
Early Christian Literature. 3rd ed. University of Chicago Press, 2000
[BDAG]. ISBN: 9780226039336, $150.
- Wallace, D.B. Greek Grammar beyond the Basics: An Exegetical Syntax of
the NT. Zondervan, 1996. ISBN: 9780310218951, $44.99.
- For further resources, see "Linguistic and Exegetical Books Required in the Master of Divinity Programs" available at http://schedule.fuller.edu/sot/ecds/Ling-Exeg-Biblio.html.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT: (1) Preparation for each meeting of the course by
reading the assigned texts in the Gospel of John, at least one of the required
commentaries, and formulation of questions for guiding class discussion. (2)
Preparation and translation of Greek, as assigned (15%). (3) Two
interpretive exercises on selected passages (30%). (4) A critical review of a
recent book or group of articles on John (25%). (5) Final paper on a passage in
the Gospel of John (ca. 10 pages; 30%).
PREREQUISITES: LG512, NE502, and NS500 or NT500.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in New Testament
Exegesis (NTE) and MA program requirement for New Testament book study
(NTBK).
This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (January 2012)