Winter 2017/Pasadena

NT824

M. M. Thompson

NT824: CRITICAL ISSUES IN JOHN. Marianne Meye Thompson.

DESCRIPTION: This CATS seminar introduces students to perennially challenging and important issues in the study of the Gospel of John, including the socio-historical contexts in which the Johannine tradition grew; the Gospel’s presentation of Jesus in its historical and theological dimensions vis-à-vis Judaism, the Roman empire, and early Christianity; and recent developments in the study of the Gospel.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students completing this course will have demonstrated (1) familiarity with a range of recent critical issues in studying the Gospel of John; (2) skill in the interpretation of the Greek text of the Gospel of John; (3) an ability to engage in thoughtful and generous criticism of recent research into the Gospel; and (4) the capacity to produce sound research reflecting critical abilities.

COURSE FORMAT: NT824 is a six unit course (360 hours). This class meets once per week for three-hours for review of assignments, discussion of primary and secondary texts, seminar presentations, and occasional brief lectures.

REQUIRED READING (1500 pages total; 100 hours)

Bauckham, Richard. Jesus and the God of Israel: God Crucified and Other Studies on the New Testament's Christology of Divine Identity. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2008. ISBN 978-0802845597. $34.00. [59 pp.]

Martyn, J. L. History and Theology in the Fourth Gospel. Rev. and expanded ed. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2003. ISBN 978-0664225346. $35.00. [200 pp.]

Other required reading is on e-reserves and in commentaries [1241 pages].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. Regular attendance, preparation for, and participation in class discussions (30 hours)

  2. Five exegetical assignments of about 1500 words [30%] (50 hours).

  3. Five discussion assignments based on weekly secondary reading [20%] (20 hours)

  4. A final research paper, of 7000- 8000 words inclusive of footnotes on a passage from or topic related to the Gospel of John [40%] (150 hours)

  5. Critical response to a colleague’s paper [10%]. (10 hours)

PREREQUISITES: Th.M. or Ph.D Student.

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.

For your convenience, order these texts online through the Archives Bookshop.