Spring 2009/Pasadena
NS500
Thompson
NS500: NEW TESTAMENT 1: GOSPELS. Marianne Meye Thompson.
DESCRIPTION: This course covers the study of the four canonical Gospels and
their witness to Jesus in historical context.
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
understanding 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.
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.
- Evans, C. A. and Stanley E. Porter, eds. Dictionary of New Testament
Background. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2000. Selected
articles.
- Aland, Kurt. Synopsis of the Four Gospels, English edition. OR
Synopsis of the Four Gospels, Greek-English edition. United Bible
Societies, 1993.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Bockmuehl, Markus. This Jesus: Martyr, Lord, Messiah.
Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1994.
- Green, J. B., S. McKnight, and I. H. Marshall, eds. Dictionary of Jesus
and the Gospels. InterVarsity Press, 1992.
- Powell, Mark Allan. Fortress Introduction to the Gospels.
Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 1998.
ASSIGNMENTS:
- Regular short (150-200 words) written assignments on a NT passage or
primary source (35%).
- Two assignments (1000 words each) dealing with interpretation of a passage
from the Gospels (30%).
- A final examination, covering lectures and reading (35%)
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in New Testament 1
(NT1).
FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes.