NS500
Drane
NS500: NEW TESTAMENT 1: GOSPELS. John Drane.
DESCRIPTION:
- This course introduces the students to the four canonical gospels,
with particular emphasis on understanding (i) the content of each of them; (ii)
the diverse concerns and interests of the Christian communities which produced
them; (iii) the relationship of these narratives to the life and teaching of
the historical Jesus, including selected non-canonical accounts of the same
materials; (iv) some scholarly methodologies employed in their interpretation;
(v) the effective use of the gospels in Christian ministry.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY:
- The course provides hermeneutical tools for reading and
understanding the gospels, both in their original context and in the
contemporary world. It gives insight into the concerns and interests of New
Testament scholars, and by focusing on the different ways in which the first
Christians contextualized their understanding of and response to Jesus it
highlights Biblical models for applying his teaching in different cultural
settings today.
COURSE FORMAT:
- Classes will include plenaries, presentations, and small group
work. Students should expect to do intensive reading in preparation for class
meetings, and be prepared to share their insights openly with others.
Interaction between class members will be a fundamental part of the learning
pedagogy.
REQUIRED READING:
- The four New Testament gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).
- Barton, Stephen C. The Spirituality of the Gospels. SPCK, 1992.
- Bauckham, Richard, ed. The Gospels for All Christians. Eerdmans,
1998.
- Riches, John. Matthew. Sheffield Academic Press, 1996.
- Smalley, Stephen S. John: Evangelist and Interpreter. Paternoster,
1997.
- Telford, W. R. Mark. Sheffield Academic Press, 1995.
- Tuckett, Christopher M. Luke. Sheffield Academic Press,
1996.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Beasley-Murray, G. R. Preaching the Gospels from the
Gospels. Hendrickson, 1997.
- Carson, D A.; D. J. Moo; and L. Morris. An Introduction to the New
Testament. Zondervan, 1992.
- Green, J. B.; S. McKnight; and I. H. Marshall. Dictionary of Jesus and
the Gospels. InterVarsity Press, 1992.
- Reumann, John. Variety and Unity in New Testament Thought. Oxford
University Press, 1991.
- Stanton, G. N. The Gospels and Jesus. Oxford University Press,
1989.
ASSIGNMENTS:
- Attendance: students who miss more than three class meetings will not
receive a passing grade.
- Preparation: students will be expected to take responsibility for their own
learning, and to engage in adequate advance preparation and participate fully
in all activities in class meetings.
- Written work: (a) a personal course journal with a reflective entry for
each class meeting (25% of the final course grade); (b) two book reviews
(together a further 25%); (c) a final paper of approximately ten pages, or its
equivalent, on a subject to be proposed by the student and given advance
approval in writing by the professor (50%). No student will receive a passing
grade without submitting all the written work. All written work is to be
submitted by July 31.
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets M. Div. core requirement in New Testament 1
(NT1).
FINAL EXAMINATION: No.