DESCRIPTION:

This course is an exegetical study of the Gospel of John, which seeks to develop confidence in interpreting the Greek text as well as familiarity with the main themes of the gospel.

For many Christians the most beloved of our Gospels is John, prized above all for its distinctive portrayal of Jesus. And yet the Gospel also presents distinctive challenges to interpretation. Satisfactory completion of this course should increase the student's knowledge of the content of the Fourth Gospel, give practice and skill in exegesis of it, and deepen understanding of Jesus and the way in which he was understood and interpreted by early believers.

There will be two main aspects to the course: (1) Class discussion of the text, including translation of the Greek; (2) Lectures to facilitate understanding of the text. The course will meet twice weekly for two-hour sessions.

The Gospel of John. A good modern translation and a critical text of the Greek New Testament (either a UBS 4th edition or Nestle-Aland 27th edition).

Smith, D. Moody. The Theology of the Gospel of John. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995.

Either:

Barrett, C. K. The Gospel According to St. John. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1978. OR

Brown, Raymond E. The Gospel According to John. Anchor Bible. 2 vols. New York: Doubleday, 1966, 1970.

There are numerous good commentaries and monographs on the Gospel, and these will be discussed in class. Most are available in the bookstore and on reserve.

1. Regular preparation for and participation in class discussions of exegesis of the text, including translation of the Greek.

2. Several short exegetical assignments.

3. A final examination; or an exegesis paper of a specific passage in John.

LG512, NS500 and NS501.

Meets M. Div. core requirement in New Testament Exegesis (NTE).

Yes, but students may elect to prepare an exegesis paper instead.