Spring 2013/Pasadena

NE506

Green

NE506: NEW TESTAMENT EXEGESIS: ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. Joel B. Green.

DESCRIPTION: A close reading of selected passages in the Acts of the Apostles, with special attention given to literary, socio-historical, and theological understandings of the second half of the Lukan narrative comprising the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Having successfully completed this course, students will have demonstrated the ability (1) to employ a range of exegetical approaches relevant to the interpretation of the Acts of the Apostles; (2) to understand the Acts of the Apostles within its socio-historical, literary, and canonical contexts; (3) to identify central issues in the critical study of the Acts of the Apostles; (4) to articulate primary theological and ethical concerns of the Acts of the Apostles; and (5) to work with lexical semantics, identify grammatical constructions, engage in syntactical analyses, and translate with lexical assistance the Greek text of the Acts of the Apostles.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: Central to Christian discipleship and various forms of Christian ministry is serious and faithful engagement with the biblical texts read as Christian Scripture. This course focuses on the development of competence among readers of New Testament narratives for this most essential grace of working with these texts.

COURSE FORMAT: This course is concerned with the practice of New Testament exegesis. As a result, participation will require regular preparation, translation work, and exegetical practice. The course meets twice weekly for two-hour sessions for lectures, discussion, and break-out groups for translation and textual work.

REQUIRED READING: Choose ONE text from each of the following four sets:

Set 1: Aland, K., et al. The Greek New Testament. 4th ed. United Bible Societies, 1993 [UBS4]. ISBN: 978-3438051103, Pub.price $43.99; OR Nestle, E., and K. Aland. Novum Testamentum Graece. 28th ed. Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 2012 [NA28]. ISBN: 978-3438051400, Pub.price $40.99. Nestle, E., and K. Aland. Novum Testamentum Graece. 27th ed. Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1993 [NA27]. ISBN: 978-3438051004, Pub.price $40.99 is also allowed.

Set 2: Fitzmyer, J.A. The Acts of the Apostles. Doubleday, 1998. ISBN: 978-0300139822, Pub.price $60.00; OR Johnson, L.T. The Acts of the Apostles. Liturgical, 1992. ISBN: 978-0814659687, Pub.price $39.95; OR Pervo, R.I. Acts. Fortress, 2009. ISBN: 978-0800660451, Pub.price $85.00.

Set 3: Bede, The Venerable. Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles. Cistercian, 1989. ISBN: 978-0879079178, Pub.price $24.95; OR González, J.L. Acts: The Gospel of the Spirit. Orbis, 2001. ISBN: 978-1570753985. Pub.price $30.00; OR Wall, R.W. “The Acts of the Apostles: Introduction, Commentary, and Reflections.” In The New Interpreter's Bible, edited by Leander E. Keck, vol. 10. ISBN: 978-0687278237, Pub.price $74.00 [pp. 1-368 assigned].

Set 4: Johnson, L.T. Prophetic Jesus, Prophetic Church: The Challenge of Luke-Acts to Contemporary Christians. Eerdmans, 2011. ISBN: 978-0802803900, Pub.price $23.00; OR Robinson, A.B., and R.W. Wall, Called to Be Church: The Book of Acts for a New Day. Eerdmans, 2006. ISBN: 978-0802860651, Pub.price $25.00.

Students will need to consult the following resources throughout the quarter:

Danker, F.W. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3rd ed. University of Chicago Press, 2000 [BDAG]. ISBN: 978-0226039336. Pub.price $165.00.

Wallace, D.B. Greek Grammar beyond the Basics: An Exegetical Syntax of the NT. Zondervan, 1996. ISBN: 978-0310218951. Pub.price $44.99.

For further resources, see “Linguistic and Exegetical Books Required in the Master of Divinity Program” available at http://www.fuller.edu/sot/ecds/Ling-Exeg-Biblio.html.

ASSIGNMENTS:

  1. Preparation for each meeting of the course by carefully reading the assigned texts in Acts, comparing one’s observations with at least one of the required commentaries, and preparing translations as assigned weekly.

  2. Preparation of an outline of the book of Acts, including justification for each decision (15% of course grade)

  3. Two interpretive exercises on selected passages (2 pages each) (25%).

  4. A critical review of one book from the required reading list, Set 4 (20%).

  5. Research essay on a pericope in Acts (ca. 10 pages) (40%).

PREREQUISITES: NE502 and (NS500 or NT500).

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in New Testament Exegesis (NTE).

FINAL EXAMINATION: No.


NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change.