Summer 2012/Pasadena
Two-week Intensive: July 16-27
NE506
Givens
NE506: NEW TESTAMENT EXEGESIS: THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW. Tommy
Givens.
DESCRIPTION: A close reading of selected passages of the Gospel according to
Matthew in Greek, with special attention to its relation to the Torah and
Prophets, socio-historical setting, literary art, and its function as a guide
for communities of Christ's disciples.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Having successfully completed this course, students will
have demonstrated (1) a learned, theologically sensitive reading of the Greek
text of Matthew according to literary (including intertextual), grammatical,
text-critical, and sociohistorical criteria; (2) an understanding of key issues
in the critical study of Matthew, including post-colonial and feminist
criticism; (3) critical reflection on the force of Matthew in shaping the
Christian life (i.e., what Matthew "preaches").
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: Matthew was a crucial guide for Christian
discipleship in the early days of the Christian church, has served as such for
much of the church's history, and remains so in our time. Faithful Christian
service depends on good Bible reading, especially of its narratives and of the
New Testament's first narrative about Israel's Messiah. Matthew presents Jesus
at the center of the story of the people of God and thus is crucial for
ministers of that people today.
COURSE FORMAT: The course will meet daily for two weeks, in four-hour
sessions, for lecture, discussion, and small group activities. Much of our
meeting time will be devoted to collaborative exegesis of the Greek text of
Matthew, for which students must come prepared. This course will also require
that you submit some assignments prior to our two week intensive as well as
some assignments afterward.
REQUIRED READING:
- Choose one of the following: Aland, K., et al. The Greek New
Testament. 4th ed. United Bible Societies, 1993 [UBS4] (ISBN 9783438051103,
$43.99); or Nestle, E. & K. Aland. Novum Testamentum
Graece. 27th ed. Deutsche Bibelstiftung, 1993 [NA27] (ISBN 9783438051004,
$40.99).
- Choose one of the following: Davies, W. D. and D. C. Allison.
Matthew. 3 vols. ICC. T & T Clark, 1988, 1991, 1997. ISBN:
9780567083555, 9780567083753, and 9780567083654. $55, $55, and $55;
or France, R. T. The Gospel of Matthew. NICNT. Eerdmans,
2007. ISBN: 9780802825018. $65.
- Choose one of the following: Carter, Warren. Matthew and the
Margins. London: T & T Clark, 2005. ISBN: 9780567040619. $85;
or Hauerwas, Stanley. Matthew. Brazos, 2006. ISBN:
9781587430954. $29.99; or Luz, Ulrich. The Theology of the
Gospel of Matthew. Cambridge University Press, 1995. ISBN: 9780521435765.
$25.99.
- Course Packet: Includes articles/chapters by Marianne Blickenstaff, Musa
Dube, Richard Hays, Amy Jill Levine, Shelly Matthews, Gail R. O'Day, N. T.
Wright, and others.
- Also see the Biblical Division bibliography "Linguistic and Exegetical Books Required in the Master of Divinity Programs" available at http://schedule.fuller.edu/sot/ecds/Ling-Exeg-Biblio.html.
- RECOMMENDED READING:
- Keener, Craig. The Gospel of Matthew: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary.
Eerdmans, 2009. ISBN: 9780802864987. $50.
- Luz, Ulrich. Matthew. 3 vols. Hermeneia. Fortress Press, 2007. ISBN:
9780800660994, 9780800660345, and 9780800637705. $75, $69, and $90.
- Matthew. 2 vols. Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture.
IVP, 2001, 2002. ISBN: 9780830814862 and 9780830814695. $40 and $40.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
- Preparation for each course meeting by studying the Greek text of assigned
passages, considering the exegetical judgments of two required texts above (one
from 2, the other from 3) and any assigned articles, and completing a
translation with comments to be submitted (1 page each) (30%).
- Two exegetical exercises on selected passages (ca. 1000 words each)
(30%).
- A final exegetical research paper on one of several suggested pericopae in
Matthew (ca. 4000 words), due Aug. 24th (40%).
PREREQUISITES: NE502 Exegetical Method and NS500 New Testament 1 or NT500.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in New Testament
Exegesis (NTE) and MA program requirements for New Testament book study
(NTBK).
This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (April 2012)