Summer 2013/Pasadena

NE517

Givens

NE517: GOSPEL OF MATTHEW (ENGLISH TEXT). Tommy Givens.

DESCRIPTION: This course is an exegetical study of the Gospel according to Matthew, which seeks to acquaint students with the larger movement of the narrative as well as the intricacies of select passages, develop their skill in reading the Gospel, and deepen their understanding of Jesus and Christian discipleship.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: Matthew was a crucial guide for Christian discipleship in the early days of the Christian church, has served as such for much of the church’s history, and remains so in our time. Matthew presents Jesus at the center of the story of the people of God and thus is crucial for ministers of that people today. This course also highlights Jesus’ conflict with some of Israel’s first-century Jewish authorities in order to promote better Christian engagement of the ‘Jewish-Christian difference’ that has so shaped Christian self-understandings and concepts of social and political difference in the modern West.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students who successfully complete this course will have demonstrated: (1) knowledge of the structure, main themes, and message of Matthew; (2) the ability to marshal, with literary, historical, and theological sensitivity, an exegetical argument for a coherent reading of a passage of Matthew; and (3) patient reflection on Matthew’s witness to Christian faithfulness in the face of current social and political difference.

COURSE FORMAT: We will meet daily for four-hour sessions for two weeks. Class meetings will consist of discussion of select passages and articles/chapters for the day and lectures to orient and facilitate study of the text.

REQUIRED READING:

The Bible in the NRSV, TNIV, or CEB.

Choose ONE of the following:

France, R. T. The Gospel of Matthew. NICNT. Eerdmans, 2007. ISBN: 978-0802825018, Pub. Price $70.00.

Keener, Craig. The Gospel of Matthew: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary. Eerdmans, 2009. ISBN: 978-0802864987, Pub. Price $55.00.

Choose ONE of the following:

Allison, Dale. Studies in Matthew. Baker, 2012. ISBN: 978-0801049132, Pub. Price $32.00 [282 pp.]. OR

Carter, Warren. Matthew and the Margins. T&T Clark, 2005. ISBN: 978-0567040619, Pub. Price $85.00 [658 pp.]. OR

Hauerwas, Stanley. Matthew. Brazos, 2006. ISBN: 978-1587430954, Pub. Price $29.99 [272 pp.].

Course reader on Moodle. Includes articles/chapters by Étienne Balibar, Shaye Cohen, Musa Dube, Frances Taylor Gench, Amy Jill Levine, and others.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Luz, Ulrich. Matthew. Hermeneia. Fortress Press, 2007. Vol. 1 ISBN: 978-0800660994, Pub. Price $75.00, Vol. 2 ISBN: 978-0800660345, Pub. Price $85.00, and Vol. 3 ISBN: 978-0800637705, Pub. Price $90.00.

Matthew. Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture. InterVarsity Press, 2001, 2002. Vol. 1 ISBN: 978-0830814862, Pub. Price $50.00 and Vol. 2 ISBN: 978-0830814695, Pub. Price $50.00.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. One exegetical outline of the Gospel of Matthew (15%)
  2. One exegetical working paper on one passage in Matthew (25%)
  3. One final exegetical paper arguing for a coherent reading of a single passage in Matthew (35%)
  4. One essay reflecting on conflict in Matthew and its implications for Christian discipleship in the divisions of our time (25%)

PREREQUISITES: NS500 or NT500.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets the MA program requirements for New Testament book study (NTBK).

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.


NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change.