Fall 2018/Pasadena

NE517

Blumhofer

NE517: NEW TESTAMENT BOOK STUDY: GOSPEL OF JOHN (4 Units: 160 hours). Chris Blumhofer.

DESCRIPTION: This course offers close readings of selected passages in the Gospel of John, with particular attention given to the theological vision and literary shape of the Gospel, how the Gospel’s theological and literary aspects relate to the Jewish context out of which John emerged, and how the Gospel has been interpreted throughout Christian history.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Having successfully completed this course, students will have demonstrated the ability (1) to interpret the Gospel of John within its socio-historical, literary, and canonical contexts; (2) to identify central issues in the critical study of John; (3) to articulate primary theological and ethical concerns of John; (4) to use English based language tools for interpreting the text; and (5) to interpret this text for faithful use of Scripture in their own lives and ministries.

COURSE FORMAT: This class meets once per week for three hour sessions for a total of 30 hours of classroom instruction for lecture and discussion plus 10 hours of directed learning activities for a total of 40 instructional hours.

REQUIRED READING: 875 pages required

Barth, Karl. Church Dogmatics IV/1: The Doctrine of Reconciliation. T&T Clark, 2004. ISBN: 978-0567051295. Pub Price $75.00. 816 pp. [225 pp. assigned] Available as an eBook from the Fuller Library.

Thompson, Marianne Meye. John: A Commentary. Westminster John Knox, 2015. ISBN: 978-0664221119. Pub Price $60.00. 568 pp. [445 pp. assigned] Available as an eBook from the Fuller Library.

Course reader. Selected articles/chapters by R. Alan Culpepper, Teresa Okure, David Rensberger, Miroslav Volf, and various primary texts et al. [apr. 200 pp.]

*Students will be expected to pursue additional independent reading/research as it contributes to the assignments below.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

875 pages of required reading, plus sufficient additional reading related to interpretive assignments below. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1–5]. [74 hours].
Presentation of one “discussion starter” paper on an assigned text from the Gospel of John. 1 page, single-spaced (10% of grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2, 3, 5]. [4 hours].
Presentation of one “exegetical working paper” on an assigned text from John. 4 pages, single-spaced (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1–4.] [12 hours].
DLA: Completion of one “history of interpretation project,” consisting of a 1200–1500 word paper and a 5 min oral presentation. (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #3, 5.] [16 hours].
Exegetical Paper. 12 pages, double-spaced (40%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1–5]. [24 hours]. For assessment purposes, this assignment will be designated “interpretive assignment.”

PREREQUISITES: BI500 or NE502; NT500 or NS500 or NS501.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Counts as a biblical elective for the 120 MDiv, 80 MAT, and 80 MATM Programs (Fall 2015). Meets the NTBK requirement for the MAT Program (Winter 2010).

FINAL EXAMINATION None.