Winter 2020/Fuller Online

NE527

Reardon

NE527: NEW TESTAMENT EXEGESIS: LUKE (4 Units: 160 hours). Timothy W. Reardon.

DESCRIPTION: This course is a study of the Gospel of Luke focusing on the narrative development, major themes, and a close reading of selected passages of the first half of the Lukan narrative comprising the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. Special attention will be given to literary, socio-historical, and theological understandings of Luke as well as multiple interpretive contexts.

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

RELATIONSHIP TO PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES: Through focused study of a particular biblical book or topic, students acquire deeper mastery of the interpretation of the Bible, taking into account its ancient and contemporary contexts, which is consistent with the SOT PLO “Students will have demonstrated competence in the practice of biblical interpretation for faithful use of Scripture in their own lives and ministries”(MDiv, MAT, MATM).

COURSE FORMAT: This course will be conducted online on a ten-week schedule aligned with Fuller’s academic calendar for a total of 40 instructional hours. Students are required to interact with the material, with each other, and with the instructor regularly through online discussions, reading, and other assignments that promote active learning.

REQUIRED READING: Approximately 1,069 total pages required (depending on texts chosen)

Green, Joel B. The Theology of the Gospel of Luke. NTT. Cambridge University Press, 1995. ISBN: 978-0521469326, Pub. Price $31.99. Also available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [121 pp. assigned].

Choose one of the following:

Aland, Kurt, et al. The Greek New Testament. 5th ed. United Bible Societies, 2014 [UBS5]. ISBN: 978-3438051165, Pub. Price $57.95 (the 4th ed. is also acceptable, available as an e-book from the Fuller Library); OR

Nestle, Eberhard, and Kurt Aland. Novum Testamentum Graece. 28th ed. Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 2012 [NA28]. ISBN: 978-3438051400, Pub. Price $57.99 (the 27th ed. is also acceptable, available via Fuller Library at https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/fuller/detail.action?docID=995033).

(Both of these are also available on many Bible software programs, including Accordance).

Choose one of the following:

Green, Joel B. The Gospel of Luke. NICNT. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997. ISBN: 978-0802823151, Pub. Price $60.00. Also available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [863 pp. assigned]. Of the three commentaries (Green, Levine and Witherington, and Spencer), Green’s commentary is particularly recommended.

Levine, Amy-Jill and Ben Witherington III. The Gospel of Luke. NCBC. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2018. ISBN: 978-0521676816, Pub. Price $39.99. [673 pp. assigned].

Spencer, F. Scott. Luke. THNTC. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2019. ISBN: 978-0802825636, Pub. Price $50.00. [611 pp. assigned].

Course reader available on eReserves. Includes articles/chapters by James Cone, Kelly Brown Douglas, Justo L. González, Joel B. Green, Richard B. Hays, Amy-Jill Levine, Ched Myers, Raymond Pickett, Mark Allen Powell, Sharon Ringe, Turid Karlsen Seim, Elsa Tamez, Brittany E. Wilson, etc. [337 pp. assigned].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

Weekly lectures: including video lectures and Canvas page material [20 hours].
Reading: Approximately 1,069 pp. of required reading [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-3, 5]. [72 hours].
Prompted Discussion Forum (15%): This includes a 250-word initial post responding to a discussion prompt based on reading and lectures, and 100 words in response to posts from other classmates. Discussions will often emphasize a multiplicity of voices and non-dominant interpretations and approaches to the text [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-5]. [14 hours].
Translation Discussion Forum (15%): This includes a 250-word initial post on the Greek text of an assigned passage, offering relevant exegetical, grammatical, and syntactic comment, and 100 words in response to posts from other classmates, interacting with their appraisal of the Greek text. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-5]. [14 hours].
Translation (5%): For nine of the ten weeks, a translation from the Greek text of Luke will be assigned. This translation will be of the passage discussed in the “Translation Discussion Forum” for that week and will be due after having discussed the Greek text with your translation groups. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 4-5]. [10 hours].
Interpretive Working Papers (30%): You will be responsible for completing two interpretive working papers, 1,000-1,250 pages each, to be selected from weekly assigned texts. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 4-5]. [10 hours].
Exegetical Paper (35%): A 2,500-3,000 word research paper on one of multiple selected passages from Luke, from which you will argue for a Lukan understanding of salvation. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-5]. [20 hours].

PREREQUISITES: LG510 or LG512A/B or LG512; BI500 or NE502; NT500 or NS500 or NS501.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets the Biblical Language Exegesis requirement in the 120 MDiv program. Meets the NTE in the 144 MDiv Program.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.