NS556
Kallas
NS556: EFFECTS OF APOCALYPTIC LITERATURE ON NEW TESTAMENT THOUGHT.
James G. Kallas, Jr.
DESCRIPTION:
- Jewish apocalyptic literature maintained that this world was to an
undefined degree seized by and tyrannized over by Satan and the other
rebellious members of the fallen heavenly host, who afflicted the pious and
caused pain on the earth. Thus was born the yearning for the re-establishment
of God's reign.
- The purpose of this course is to seek to determine the extent to which
these apocalyptic views shape the earliest New Testament documents, i.e., the
synoptics and Paul. Examples: to what extent are the synoptic miracles, the
Lord's prayer, the anthropology and cosmology of Paul, permeated by apocalyptic
demonology and eschatology.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY:
- One cannot counsel suffering souls soothingly assuring them that
"this is the will of God." Apocalyptic makes it clear that often the opposite
is the case--that suffering may not be the will of God, neither therapeutic nor
correctional, but is an attack of Satan upon the elect. Jesus often endorses
that view--"ought not this daughter of Abraham whom Satan has bound
. . . be loosed from this bond." The minister comes to see that God
is not the author of agony but its answer. That is the gospel.
COURSE FORMAT:
- This is basically a lecture course which will meet twice
weekly.
REQUIRED READING:
- Charlesworth, J. H., ed. Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, Vol.
1. Doubleday, 1983.
- Russell, D. S. Divine Disclosure. Minneapolis: Fortress Press,
1992.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Bultmann, Rudolph. The Theology of the New Testament, Vol.
1. New York: Scribner, 1951.
- Caird, G. B. Principalities and Powers. Oxford: Clarendon Press,
1956.
- Dodd, C. H. The Parables of the Kingdom. New York: Scribner, 1961.
- Kallas, James. The Satanward View. Philadelphia: Westminster Press,
1966.
- __________. The Significance of the Synoptic Miracles. Greenwich:
Seabury Press, 1961.
- Schweitzer, Albert. The Quest of the Historical Jesus. New York:
Macmillan, 1968.
ASSIGNMENTS:
- In addition to submitting brief summaries on some of the assigned
texts, the student will be asked to write a 10-15 page study on a specific New
Testament topic along the lines of the stated purpose of the course, i.e.,
seeking to see to what extent, if any, the topic is permeated by apocalyptic
concepts.
PREREQUISITES:
- NS500, NS501.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM:
- Meets M. Div. core requirement in New Testament Theology (NTT).
FINAL EXAMINATION:
- Yes, essay type.