DESCRIPTION:

This course introduces the student to a critical study of the four New Testament Gospels, including (1) major interpretive approaches in current Gospel research; (2) the distinctive literary and theological characteristics of the Gospel portraits; (3) the historical setting of the communities addressed by the Gospel writers; (4) critical issues involved in "history of Jesus" research; and (5) the relationship between faith and history and the relevance of Jesus for today. (This section of NS500 is open for enrollment only to first-year School of Psychology students.)

This course is obviously basic to anyone who desires to live as a disciple of Jesus, whom the Gospel writers proclaim "Christ." Successful completion of the course will not only make one a better interpreter of the life and teachings of Jesus (and thus a more effective follower) but a more astute observer of the way the four evangelists shaped and contextualized their message for their own historical communities. In this way Gospel interpretation becomes a catalyst for the application of contemporary insight into the significance of Jesus.

The course is primarily lecture in format, utilizing an inductive methodology which tackles the critical issues of Gospel research as they arise from a study of the Gospels themselves. The Gospels will be read and studied as narratives with their own literary and theological integrity, allowing each to contribute its own unique christological perspective to the church's overall understanding of Jesus. The course will meet weekly for three-hour sessions.

Aland, Kurt. Synopsis of the Four Gospels. Fortress, 2001. OR the same synopsis in Greek-English.

Brown, Raymond E. An Introduction to the New Testament. Doubleday, 1997.

Burridge, Richard A. Four Gospels, One Jesus? A Symbolic Reading. Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1994.

Pilch, John J. Healing in the New Testament. Fortress, 2000.

Ferguson, Everett. Backgrounds of Early Christianity. 2nd ed. Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1993.

Green, Joel B., et al., eds. Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels. InterVarsity, 1992.

Hemer, Colin J. "Medicine in the New Testament World." In Medicine and the Bible. Ed. Bernard Palmer. Paternoster, 1986. (Available on reserve.)

Kingsbury, Jack Dean. Gospel Interpretation: Narrative-Critical and Social-Scientific Approaches. Trinity Press International, 1997.

Malina, B. J. & R. L. Rohrbaugh. Social Science Commentary on the Synoptic Gospels. Fortress, 1992.

__________. Social-Science Commentary on the Gospel of John. Fortress, 1998.

Stern, Richard C. Savior on the Silver Screen. Paulist, 1999.

(1) An examination based on the content of Mark and Matthew. (2) A research paper on "Jesus as Healer," based on one of the Gospels only. (3) A film critique, comparing two major films on the life of Jesus. (4) A final examination on the content of Luke and John, and on the historical Jesus.

Permission of advisor--first-year School of Psychology students.

Meets M. Div. core requirement in New Testament 1 (NT1).

Yes.