Fall 2017/Pasadena

NS512

Green

NS512: JESUS AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD (4 Units: 160 Hours). Joel B. Green.

DESCRIPTION: An exploration of the historical, theological, and ethical significance of the proclamation of God’s kingdom, centered especially in the witness to the mission and message of Jesus in the Synoptic Gospels, but also in other New Testament voices and beyond.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Having successfully completed this course, students will have demonstrated the ability (1) to articulate the importance of both the Old Testament witness to God’s dominion and the context of the first-century Roman Empire for explicating the witness of New Testament writings to God’s kingdom; (2) to work with the New Testament materials relevant to God’s kingdom in a synthetic way that takes seriously the particularity of these materials and the potential of a coordinated New Testament witness to God’s kingdom; (3) to exhibit the relationship between exegesis and theological interpretation of New Testament texts concerned with God’s kingdom; and (4) to articulate the ongoing significance of the witness of Jesus and early Christian writers to God’s kingdom for critical reflection on ecclesial practices.

COURSE FORMAT: This course is concerned with the practice of New Testament theology, which necessarily involves sociocultural and canonical interests. As a result, the course will require regular exegetical and theological work with biblical texts. The course meets twice weekly for two-hour sessions for lecture and discussion (40 instructional hours).

REQUIRED READING: 1013 pages required.

Bryan, Christopher. Render to Caesar: Jesus, the Early Church, and the Roman Superpower. Oxford University Press, 2005. ISBN: 978-0195183344, Pub. Price $38.95. [200 pp.].

Chilton, Bruce D. Pure Kingdom: Jesus’ Vision of God. Studying the Historical Jesus. Eerdmans, 1996. ISBN: 978-0802841872, Pub. Price $21.50. [188 pp.].

Bible (selections). Students may use the CEB, NRSV, or TNIV. Those with Greek may use either UBS5 (or 4) or NA28 (or 27). [ca. 300 pp.].

Wright, N. T. Jesus and the Victory of God (Part Two). Fortress, 1996. ISBN: 978-0800626822, Pub. Price $45.00. [ca. 325 pp.].

RECOMMENDED READING:

Horsley, Richard A. Jesus and Empire: The Kingdom of God and the New World Disorder. Fortress, 2003. ISBN: 978-0800634902, Pub. Price $18.00.

Kenneson, P.D., et al. The Shape of God’s Reign. Wipf & Stock, 2008. ISBN: 978-1606080559, Pub. Price $14.00.

McKnight, Scot, and Joseph B. Modica, eds. Jesus Is Lord, Caesar Is Not: Evaluating Empire in New Testament Studies. InterVarsity, 2013. ISBN: 978-0830839919, Pub. Price $22.00.

Snyder, Howard. Kingdom, Church, and World: Biblical Themes for Today. Wipf & Stock, 2001. ISBN: 978-1579108212, Pub. Price $20.00.

Streett, R. Alan. Heaven on Earth: Experiencing the Kingdom of God in the Here and Now. Harvest House, 2013. ISBN: 978-0736949149, Pub. Price $14.99.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. Reading / class preparation [68 hours].

2. Three interpretive exercises on selected passages (1350 words each) (30% of final grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes ##2-3.] [15 hours.]

3. A critical review of either Bryan or Chilton (25% of final grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes ##1 and 4.] [13 hours.]

4. Research essay related to one or more of the learning outcomes, provided that this essay demonstrates the student’s capacity for engaging biblical texts interpretively (ca. 8 pages) (45% of final grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes ##1-4.] [24 hours.]

PREREQUISITES: NT500 (or NS500) and BI500.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Counts as a biblical elective for the 120 MDiv, 80 MAT, and 80 MATM Programs (Fall 2015). Meets core requirement in New Testament Theology (NTT) in the 144 MDiv Program.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.