Fall 2008

FTX

NS500

Hansen

 

NS500: New Testament 1: Gospels.   Bruce Hansen

 

 

DESCRIPTION:

This course will equip students to be better readers of the canonical Gospels as fourfold  witness to Jesus Christ. We will consider the historicity of the Gospel accounts and issues raised by scholarly quests for the historical Jesus. Introduction to the socio-historical contexts of the events narrated in the Gospels and in which the Gospels were produced will help students avoid anachronistic reading. Attention to the Gospels’ key themes and literary characteristics will enable students to appreciate the unique witness of each.

 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES/COURSE GOALS:

Having successfully completed this course, students will be able to (1) demonstrate familiarity with the content, structure, and message of the New Testament Gospels, (2) demonstrate developing interpretive skill in the exegesis of the Gospels as appropriate for effective leadership in Christian communities, (3) articulate the particular contribution of each Gospel to the witness of the fourfold Gospel and to the message of the New Testament, and (4) have increased confidence in addressing concerns raised by  modern quests for the historical Jesus and the relationship of such historical concerns to Christian faith.

 

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY:

In this course, we will consider how the Gospels, singly and together, inform the faith, worship and practice of the church. For readers of the Bible as Christian Scripture, the Gospels are situated centrally as witness to the significance of Jesus. Intimacy with this witness thus anchors ongoing Christian life and ministry.

 

COURSE FORMAT:

Lecture and class discussion.  This course will be a six day intensive  with morning and afternoon class sessions.  33 total contact hours.

 

REQUIRED READING:

The four canonical Gospels—Matthew, Mark,  Luke and John.

Barton, Stephen C., ed. The Cambridge Companion to the Gospels. Cambridge Companions to Religion. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2006. [pp. 1-96; 121-223]

Green, J. B.  and S. McKnight.  Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels , Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1992.  [Selected articles: “Blindness and Deafness,” Carol D. Howard, 81-82; “Justice/Righteousness,” Scot McKnight, 411-16; “Literary Criticism” (Read only section 3. “The Gospels and Literary Conventions and Strategies”), Edgar V. McKnight, 478-80;  “Mary’s Song,” Clarice J. Martin, 525-56; “Rich and Poor,” Peter H. Davids, 701-710; “Sociological Approaches,” William R. Herzog II, 760-66; “Table Fellowship,” S. Scott Bartchy, 796-800; “Triumphal Entry,” Lynn A. Losie, 854-59; “Typology,” Craig A. Evans, 862-66; “Witness,” Allison A. Trites, 877-880.]

Stanton, Graham. The Gospels and Jesus. 2nd ed. Oxford Bible Series.: Oxford University Press. 2002. [pp. 1-36; 140-299]

VanderKam, James C. An Introduction to Early Judaism. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans. 2001. [pp. 1-52; 138-217]

 

RECOMMENDED READING:

Read one additional book from list below.

Bailey, Kenneth E. Jacob and the Prodigal: How Jesus Retold Israel’s Story. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 2003.

Elizondo, Virgilio. Galilean Journey: The Mexican-American Promise. 2nd ed. New York: Orbis Books, 2000.

Frei, Hans W. The Identity of Jesus Christ: The Hermeneutical Bases of Dogmatic Theology. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1975. (Repr. Wipf and Stock, 1997.)

Green, Joel B. The Theology of the Gospel of Luke.  New Testament Theology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995.

Hengel, Martin. The Four Gospels and the One Gospel of Jesus Christ: An Investigation of the Collection and Origin of the Canonical Gospels. Harrisburg, Pa.: Trinity Press International, 2000.

Johnson, Luke Timothy. The Real Jesus: The Misguided Quest for the Historical Jesus and the Truth of the Traditional Gospels. San Francisco: Harper, 1996.

Meeks, Wayne A. Christ Is the Question. Louisville, Ky.: Westminster John Knox, 2006.

Powell, Mark Allan. God with Us: A Pastoral Theology of Matthew's Gospel.  Fortress Press, 1995.

Rhoads, David M., Joanna Dewey and Donald Michie. Mark as Story: An Introduction to the Narrative of a Gospel.  2nd ed. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 1999.

Thompson, Marianne Meye. The God of the Gospel of John. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 2001.

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. Read through each of the Gospels at least twice before our course. 2. Read the assigned pages from each required text before the course. 3. Pre-course short-answer written assignment on readings - 10% [Due Oct. 27, 2008]  2.  attendance and participation - 10%  4. mid-term exam on VanderKam book (in class) – 15%  5. exegetical paper (6-8 pages; following guidelines provided) – 25% [Due Dec 12, 2008]  6. review of one book from recommended reading list above (5 pages; following template provided) – 25% [Due Dec 12, 2008]  7. Final short answer exam on key terms in Gospels studies (in class) – 15%

 

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM:

Meets the M. Div. core requirement in New Testament 1 (NT1); M.A.T.: core requirement in Biblical Studies area; M.A.C.L.: NT core requirement.

 

FINAL EXAM: Yes, short answer.                              

(08/08)