REL 317: Jesus and the Gospels Spring 2016

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1 REL 317: Jesus and the Gospels Spring 2016 Instructor: David M. Reis Office: 348 Susan Campbell Hall Office Hours: T/R 12:00-1:45 Phone: (541)

2 Course Description It is difficult to find a topic more provocative and polarizing than Jesus. What do we know about Jesus as a person in history? Can we know anything about the historical Jesus? How should we assess the sources Christian, Jewish, and pagan that testify to his existence and debate his significance? After over two hundred years of critical examination, scholars have yet to reach consensus on these and other fundamental questions. This course will explore the history of gospel scholarship in order to assess the figure of Jesus in his social and historical context. Course Objectives Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to: 1. place early Christian views of Jesus within their Greco-Roman and Jewish matrix 2. understand the development of the gospels and their literary relationships 3. appreciate the varying images of Jesus found in the gospel narratives 4. interpret the gospels from an academic perspective, both orally and in writing Course Texts and Electronic Resources Coogan, Michael D., ed. The New Oxford Annotated Bible. 4 th ed. New York: Oxford University Press, White, L. Michael. Scripting Jesus: The Gospels in Rewrite. New York: HarperOne, Bible Odyssey [ Class Website [blogs.uoregon.edu/rel317s16drreis] The Five Gospels Parallels [sites.utoronto.ca/religion/synopsis/] The NRSV Bible [ Learning Components Readings The weekly readings consist of both primary and secondary source materials. Primary sources refer to the readings from the New Testament and other ancient literature. Secondary sources refer to contemporary works that critically evaluate the problems and issues found in the primary sources. Students should critically engage all readings before we examine them in class. 2

3 Blog Posts Throughout the term, students will be responsible for posting analytical reflections on the daily readings to the class website. These posts will form the foundation for class discussion and must be submitted at least 12 hours before class so that the student s Team can prepare thoughtful reflections for class. Subject Quizzes There will be three quizzes throughout the term that will address the material covered in the readings and class discussions. Quizzes will contain both objective and short response questions. Final Exam The final exam will take place on June 8. One week prior to the exam, the instructor will distribute a study guide listing objective topics and two essay questions. Students should prepare thoughtful responses to these questions based on the readings and class discussions. Each exam will consist of one of the essays and a series of objective questions. Make-up exams will be given only in extraordinary circumstances. Film Review Each student will compose a critical review (approximately 2,000 words) of one film related to Jesus. The instructor will provide a list of films for review, academic essays related to the films, and instructions for completing the project. Students must sign up for a film on Canvas by April 14. Attendance Because the Team-Based Learning model will shape the class learning environment, attendance is essential. Participation This term we will organize class sessions according to the Team-Based Learning model. Each student will be part of a collaborative team that will work together to explore questions and problems in New Testament study. Participation consists of active engagement in and positive contributions to all class activities. Effort and persistence will be rewarded accordingly. 3

4 Learning Evaluation Project Points Blog Posts 75 A percent Subject Quizzes 75 A percent Final Exam 100 A percent Film Review 75 B percent Attendance 50 B percent Participation 125 B percent Total 500 et cetera Course Outline Part I: Casting Characters: Imag(in)ing Jesus Week One: Questing and Storytelling March 29: Introduction: Questing for Jesus White, vii-xii Ehrman, Biblical Scholarship and Faith [Bible Odyssey > Tools > Video Gallery] Aslan, Context of the Gospels [Bible Odyssey > Tools > Video Gallery] Powell, Jesus [Bible Odyssey > Tools > Contributors > Jesus] Gopnik, The Criterion of Embarrassment [Bible Odyssey > Tools > Video Gallery] March 31: Ancient Storytelling White, 1-16, Attridge, Why There Are Four Gospels [Bible Odyssey > Tools > Video Gallery] Goodacre, Gospel Dates [Bible Odyssey > Tools > Video Gallery] Goodacre, Four Gospels [Bible Odyssey > Tools > Video Gallery] Goodacre, The Synoptic Problem [Bible Odyssey > Tools > Video Gallery] Week Two: Messianic and Wisdom Imagery April 5: Messiah White, Samuel 7:1-17 Psalms 2:1-7 Isaiah 11:1-5; 42:1; 45:1-7; 61:1-2 Daniel 7: Enoch 37:1-38:6; 45:1-46:8; 48:1-49:4; 62:1-16; 69:26-29; 71:13-17 Mark 1:1-11; 8:27-9:1; 10:43-45; 13:1-27; 14:

5 April 7: Logos and Wisdom s Child White, Heraclitus, frs. 1, 2, 17 Cicero, On the Nature of the Gods 1.39 Cleanthes, Hymn to Zeus Xenophon, Memorabilia Proverbs 1:1-7; 7:1-27; 8:1-36 Sirach 24: Enoch 42:1-3 Wisdom of Solomon 1:1-5:23 John 1:1-18 Week Three: Man-God and Savior April 12: Divine Man White, Lucian, The Death of Peregrinus Philostratus, The Life of Apollonius of Tyana April 14: Savior White, Plutarch, Demetrius 10 Athenaeus, The Learned Banqueters 6.253b-f Livy 1.16 Cassius Dio Apuleius, The Golden Ass Luke 2:1-14, 25-35; 19:1-10 John 3:16-17 Part II: Crafting Scenes: Exploring Gospel Building Blocks Week Four: Crucifixion and Passion April 19: Crucifixion White, Corinthians 11:23-26//Mark 14:22-25//Matthew 26:26-29//Luke 22: Corinthians 15:3-7 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10; 4:13-18 Philippians 2:5-11 Attridge, Why the Romans Crucified Jesus [Bible Odyssey > Tools > Video Gallery] April 21: Passion White, , Matthew 26:1-27:61//Mark 14:1-15:47//Luke 22:1-23:56 Matthew 27:62-28:17//Mark 16:1-8//Luke 24:1-12 5

6 Week Five: Deeds and Words April 26: Deeds of Power White, Asclepius Inscriptions (Epidaurus) Philostratus, The Life of Apollonius of Tyana 1.9; 4.20, 45 Mark 1:21-3:6//Matthew 7:28-9:34//Luke 4:31-6:11 Mark 3:7-12//Matthew 12:15-21 Mark 5:1-42 Mark 6:45-52//Matthew 14:22-33 Mark 7:31-37 Luke 7:11-17 Bohak, Magic in the First-Century World [Bible Odyssey > Tools > Contributors] Cotter, Meaning of Miracle Stories in the Bible [Bible Odyssey > Tools > Contributors] April 28: Wisdom and Apocalyptic Sayings, Pronouncements, and Parables White, Epictetus, Discourses 3.22 Lucian, Demonax 1-9, 27, 34-39, 63 Matthew 5:1-12//Luke 6:17-26 Matthew 5:38-48//Luke 6:27-36 Mark 2:15-17; 4:1-34; 6:1-6; 10:43-45 Matthew 13:24-30, 34-43, Matthew 22:1-14//Luke 14:13-24 Luke 4:16-30; 10:25-37 Crossan, Jesus and the Kingdom [Bible Odyssey > Tools > Video Gallery] Crossan, The Parable of the Good Samaritan [Bible Odyssey > Tools > Video Gallery] Week Six: Birth Narratives and Art May 3: Nativity White, Matthew 1:1-2:23 Luke 1:1-3:38 May 5: Jesus in Art Jensen, Jesus in Christian Art Part III: Staging the Gospels: The Artistry of the Storytellers Week Seven: The Misunderstood Messiah: Mark May 10: Mark: Historical and Thematic Issues White, Mark 1:1-8:26 Pagels, Jesus and Apocalyptic [Bible Odyssey > Tools > Video Gallery] Wainwright, The Baseleia Movement [Bible Odyssey > Tools > Video Gallery] 6

7 May 12: Mark s Jesus White, Mark 8:22-16:8 Week Eight: The Righteous Rabbi: Matthew May 17: Matthew: Historical and Thematic Issues White, , Matthew 1:1-11:30 Callender, Genealogies in the Bible [Bible Odyssey > Tools > Video Gallery] May 19: Matthew s Jesus White, Matthew 12:1-28:20 Week Nine: The Martyred Sage: Luke May 24: Luke: Historical and Thematic Issues White, , , Luke 1:1-9:50 May 26: Luke s Jesus White, Luke 9:51-24:53 Knust, Jesus and Women [Bible Odyssey > Tools > Video Gallery] Moss, Disability in the New Testament [Bible Odyssey > Tools > Video Gallery] Week Ten: The Man from Heaven (John, Thomas) and Other Gospels May 31 : John and Thomas: Historical and Thematic Issues White, John 1:1-3:36; 5:1-11:54; 13:1-14:31; 18:1-21:25 Gospel of Thomas Prologue, 1-3, 8, 11, 13, 17-18, 21-23, 27-29, 38, 42, 49-52, 55-56, 59, 67, 70, 76-77, 80, 87, 90-91, 95, 99, 101, , June 2: Gospels and Ancient Biography White, Proto-Gospel of James Infancy Gospel of Thomas Gospel of Mary Magdalene Video: The Lost Gospels [ Week Eleven: Final Exam Final Exam, June 8 (12:30 pm) 7

REL 323: History of Christianity III Spring 2016

REL 323: History of Christianity III Spring 2016 Instructor: David M. Reis Office: 348 Susan Campbell Hall Office Hours: T/R 12:00-1:45 Email: dreis@uoregon.edu Phone: (541) 346-4998 Course Description