DESCRIPTION: This course covers the study of the four canonical Gospels and their witness to Jesus in historical context.

COURSE OBJECTIVES/LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students completing this course will have demonstrated (1) a fundamental knowledge of the content and structure of these four books; (2) an acquaintance with a range of cultural and historical matters that may inform our understanding of them; (3) an understanding of the literary character of the Gospels and some of the implications for interpreting them; and (4) an appreciation of how these four different Gospels bear witness to Jesus.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: This course lays the foundation for the study of the Gospels. Satisfactory completion of the course should increase the student's confidence in reading, studying, and teaching the Gospels, as well as in understanding and interpreting the work of New Testament scholars.

COURSE FORMAT: Lectures and discussion based on reading the New Testament and secondary sources. The course will meet twice weekly for two-hour sessions.

REQUIRED READING:

Achtemeier, Paul, Joel Green, and Marianne Meye Thompson. Introducing the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001.

Aland, Kurt. Synopsis of the Four Gospels, English edition. OR Synopsis of the Four Gospels, Greek-English edition. United Bible Societies, 1993.

The following two books will be useful throughout the course for additional background reading, in preparing papers, and in study for the final examination. It is strongly recommended that students consider acquiring these useful tools:

Ferguson, Everett. Backgrounds of Early Christianity. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1993.

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

• Regular completion of the reading in the Gospels and secondary sources.

• An exam on historical and critical terms crucial for understanding study of the Gospels (25%).

• A short paper on an assigned topic, to be distributed in class (35% of the grade).

• A final examination, covering lectures and reading (40%).