DESCRIPTION:

This course introduces the student to a critical study of the four New Testament Gospels, including (1) major interpretive approaches in current Gospel research; (2) the distinctive literary and theological characteristics of the Gospel portraits; (3) the historical setting of the communities addressed by the Gospel writers; (4) critical issues involved in "history of Jesus" research; and (5) the relationship between faith and history and the relevance of Jesus for today.

This course is obviously basic to anyone who desires to live as a disciple of Jesus, whom the Gospel writers proclaim "Christ." Successful completion of the course will not only make one a better interpreter of the life and teachings of Jesus (and thus a more effective follower) but a more astute observer of the way the four evangelists shaped and contextualized their message for their own historical communities. In this way Gospel interpretation becomes a catalyst for the application of contemporary insight into the significance of Jesus.

The course is primarily lecture in format, with appropriate emphasis on outside reading of primary and secondary source material. The professor invites students to interrupt his lecturing at any time to discuss, question, or clarify anything related to the reading and the particular pericope or issue under consideration in class. The goal of the course is your understanding! The course will meet weekly for a three-hour session.

Aland, Kurt. Synopsis of the Four Gospels. Greek-English, 10th ed. United Bible Societies, 1993. OR the same synopsis in English only.

Brown, Raymond E. An Introduction to the New Testament. Doubleday, 1997.

Burridge, Richard A. Four Gospels, One Jesus? A Symbolic Reading. Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1994.

Dunn, James D. G. The Evidence for Jesus. Westminster Press, 1985.

Malina, Bruce J. and Richard L. Rohrbaugh. Social-Science Commentary on the Synoptic Gospels. Fortress Press, 1992.

Cartlidge, David R. and David L. Dungan. Documents for the Study of the Gospels. Rev. ed. Fortress Press, 1994.

Ferguson, Everett. Backgrounds of Early Christianity. 2nd Edition. Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1993.

Green, Joel B., Scott McKnight and I. Howard Marshall, eds. Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels. InterVarsity Press, 1992.

Kingsbury, Jack Dean. Gospel Interpretation: Narrative-Critical and Social-Scientific Approaches. Trinity Press International, 1997.

Malina, Bruce J. and Richard L. Rohrbaugh. Social-Science Commentary on the Gospel of John. Fortress Press, 1998.

Schnackenburg, Rudolf. Jesus in the Gospels: A Biblical Christology. Westminster John Knox, 1995.

1. An exam based on the content of the Gospels. (25% of final grade)

2. A 15-page "Life of Jesus" research paper based on one of the Gospels only. (25%)

3. A film critique, comparing two major films on the life of Jesus and interacting with course materials. (15%)

4. A final exam, covering the lectures and readings of the course. (35%)