DESCRIPTION:

This course introduces the students to the four canonical gospels, with particular emphasis on understanding (i) the content of each of them; (ii) the diverse concerns and interests of the Christian communities which produced them; (iii) the relationship of these narratives to the life and teaching of the historical Jesus, including selected non-canonical accounts of the same materials; (iv) some scholarly methodologies employed in their interpretation; (v) the effective use of the gospels in Christian ministry.

The course provides hermeneutical tools for reading and understanding the gospels, both in their original context and in the contemporary world. It gives insight into the concerns and interests of New Testament scholars, and by focusing on the different ways in which the first Christians contextualized their understanding of and response to Jesus it highlights Biblical models for applying his teaching in different cultural settings today.

Classes will include plenaries, presentations, and small group work. Students should expect to do intensive reading in preparation for class meetings, and be prepared to share their insights openly with others. Interaction between class members will be a fundamental part of the learning pedagogy.

The four New Testament gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).

Barton, Stephen C. The Spirituality of the Gospels. SPCK, 1992.

Bauckham, Richard, ed. The Gospels for All Christians. Eerdmans, 1998.

Riches, John. Matthew. Sheffield Academic Press, 1996.

Smalley, Stephen S. John: Evangelist and Interpreter. Paternoster, 1997.

Telford, W. R. Mark. Sheffield Academic Press, 1995.

Tuckett, Christopher M. Luke. Sheffield Academic Press, 1996.

Beasley-Murray, G. R. Preaching the Gospels from the Gospels. Hendrickson, 1997.

Carson, D A.; D. J. Moo; and L. Morris. An Introduction to the New Testament. Zondervan, 1992.

Green, J. B.; S. McKnight; and I. H. Marshall. Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels. InterVarsity Press, 1992.

Reumann, John. Variety and Unity in New Testament Thought. Oxford University Press, 1991.

Stanton, G. N. The Gospels and Jesus. Oxford University Press, 1989.

1. Attendance: students who miss more than three class meetings will not receive a passing grade.

2. Preparation: students will be expected to take responsibility for their own learning, and to engage in adequate advance preparation and participate fully in all activities in class meetings.

3. Written work: (a) a personal course journal with a reflective entry for each class meeting (25% of the final course grade); (b) two book reviews (together a further 25%); (c) a final paper of approximately ten pages, or its equivalent, on a subject to be proposed by the student and given advance approval in writing by the professor (50%). No student will receive a passing grade without submitting all the written work. All written work is to be submitted by July 31.