Summer 2005/Pasadena
Two-week Intensive: August 15-26
NS588
Deines
NS588: THE JEWISH CONTEXT OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. Roland Deines.
DESCRIPTION:
- This course provides an introduction to the history, literature,
and theology of Second Temple Judaism, focusing on the importance of the Jewish
context as the soil from which Christianity arose. It will help to an
understanding of early Christianity as a mainly Jewish movement in its
beginning and to recover the individual writings of the New Testament - besides
their importance for emerging Christianity - as part of the Jewish literature,
culture and history.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY:
- An understanding of the Jewish background is vitally important to
the understanding of the New Testament and hence also to the preaching and
teaching ministry of the church. A proper understanding of Judaism is
increasingly important in our pluralistic world and vital for an ongoing,
fruitful dialogue between Christians and Jews. It is also crucial in the battle
against anti-Semitism.
COURSE FORMAT:
- The class will consist primarily of lectures and class discussion
of the readings. Depending on enrollment, student presentations will be given
on selected subjects and selected Second Temple literature. Class will meet
daily for four-hour sessions for two weeks.
REQUIRED READING: (Before first class meeting read at least Tomasino or
VanderKam.)
- Any modern translation of the Bible that contains the (OT)
Apocrypha. (Necessary during class.)
- Tomasino, A. J. Judaism Before Jesus: The Ideas and Events that Shaped
the New Testament World. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2003.
- VanderKam, J. C. An Introduction to Early Judaism. Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans, 2001.
- Selected documents of the Pseudepigrapha; portions of the Dead Sea Scrolls,
Josephus, and Philo.
- Select one of the following to be read during the course:
- Barclay, J. M. G. Jews in the Mediterranean
Diaspora: From Alexander to Trajan (323 BCE - 117 CE). (Hellenistic Culture
and Society 33). Berkeley: Univ. of California Press, 1999.
- Collins, J. J. Between Athens and Jerusalem: Jewish Identity in the
Hellenistic Diaspora. 2nd ed. (The Biblical Resource Series). Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans, 1999.
- Ilan, T. Jewish Women in Greco-Roman Palestine. Peabody: Hendrickson
1996.
- Levine, L. I. Judaism and Hellenism in Antiquity: Conflict or
Confluence? Peabody: Hendrickson 1999.
- Mason, S. Josephus and New Testament. 2nd ed. Peabody: Hendrickson,
2003.
- VanderKam, J. C. The Dead Sea Scrolls Today. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans,
1994.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Helyer, L. R. Exploring Jewish Literature of the Second Temple
Period: A Guide for New Testament Students. Downers Grove: InterVarsity
Press, 2002.
- Schiffman, L. H. From Text to Tradition: A History of Second Temple and
Rabbinic Judaism. Hoboken, NJ: KTAV, 1991.
- Scott, J. J., Jr. Jewish Backgrounds to the New Testament. Grand
Rapids: Baker, 2001.
- Skarsaune, O. In the Shadow of the Temple: Jewish Influences on Early
Christianity. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2002.
ASSIGNMENTS:
- Participation in discussions of assigned readings; Report on a
chapter from the chosen book to be presented in class (and turned in [3-5
pages]); One 15-page term paper.
PREREQUISITES: NS500 and NS501.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in New Testament
Theology (NTT).
FINAL EXAMINATION: No.