Summer 2013/Pasadena
NS500
Evans
NS500: NEW TESTAMENT 1: GOSPELS AND ACTS. Craig A. Evans.
DESCRIPTION: This is the first of a two-course sequence designed to provide a basic introduction to the New Testament, including not only the traditional elements of “introduction,” such as authorship, date, provenance, background, structure, and use of sources, but also the theologies of the various writings. The orientation is both historical and exegetical. The present course is devoted to the four Gospels and Acts, and traces their origin, interrelationship, theological distinctives, and value as sources for life of Jesus research. Some attention will be given to the hermeneutical problem of preaching from the Gospels and Acts today. The course will commence with an overview of intertestamental history.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: An understanding of the Gospels is indispensable not only in teaching and preaching, but in developing a biblically informed theology that equips one for everyday living.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students completing this course will have demonstrated (1) a foundational knowledge of the content of the NT documents studied in this part of the course; (2) an acquaintance with a range of cultural and historical matters that may inform our understanding of them; (3) appreciation of the world in which Jesus lived and ministered; (4) an understanding of some of the factors contributing to the diverse portraits of Jesus that came to expression in the four Gospels; and (5) appreciation for the evangelist’s narration of the expansion of the infant church (in Acts).
COURSE FORMAT: Meeting daily for two weeks, for four-hour sessions, the course will be presented as a series of lectures on various topics and exegesis of important passages. Students are expected to keep their reading current and to be prepared to discuss topics in class.
REQUIRED READING:
Aland, Kurt, ed. Synopsis of the Four Gospels: Greek-English Edition of the Synopsis Quattuor Evangeliorium, with the Greek Nestle-Aland 26th Edition Text and Parallel English Revised Standard Version 2nd Edition Text. 10th ed. United Bible Societies. American Bible Society, 1994 (or equivalent). ISBN: 978-3438054050, Pub. Price 129.99 [361 pp.].
Achtemeier, Paul, Joel B. Green, and Marianne M. Thompson, eds. Introducing the New Testament: Its Literature and Theology. Eerdmans, 2001. ISBN: 978-0802837172, Pub. Price $44.00 [544 pp.].
Evans, Craig A. Fabricating Jesus: How Modern Scholars Distort the Gospels. InterVarsity Press, 2006. ISBN: 978-0830833559, Pub. Price $16.00 [290 pp.]
NS500 lecture notes and handouts; available on Moodle at no cost.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
Recommended reading prior to the first class meeting: Achtemeier–Green–Thompson, pp. 1–269; and Evans, 15–235.
Midterm (20%) and final exam (30%) covering course lectures and reading.
One 3,000 word exegetical paper (50%).
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in New Testament 1 (NT1) and MAT requirement (effective Winter 2010).
FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes.