BETHESDA UNIVERSITY MISSION STATEMENT:

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1 Bethesda University of California Course Syllabus BETHESDA UNIVERSITY MISSION STATEMENT: Bethesda University of California is a Christ-centered community of higher education preparing Korean/English speaking men and women with professional competence, academic excellence, and spiritual integrity to be servant leaders in the Church, community, and global society. Course Number and Title: GBIB 560 GOSPELS Semester: Fall 2013 (8/26 12/13/2013) Time: Tuesdays (6:50pm 9:20 pm) - Room: # 205 Professor: Nha T. Tran, Ph.D. 1. RELATIONSHIP OF COURSE TO BETHESDA UNIVERSITY S MISSION: This course helps the student to comprehend the essence of Christian gospel message through studying the Gospels and respond to various contemporary issues and challenges that Christian leaders and churches face today. The student will describe how the teachings of Jesus can be used in our very different circumstances today. 2. COURSE DESCRIPTION: An overview of the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) with emphasis on the Christological uniqueness of each gospel s portrait of Christ s history, ministry, person and work. The course introduces the student to literary genres, structural analysis, and the practical use the literary critical tools for gospel research such as socio-historical and traditio-critical methodologies. The main focus of the course is how to apply to our lives of certain basic truths taught and demonstrated by Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry.

2 3. COURSE OBJECTIVES: After completing this course, students will have achieved the following: Student Learning Outcomes Understand the four canonical Gospels to see what each of these four portraits of Jesus tells us; and the literary and theological relationships between the Gospels, and the major themes each one presents. Explain the overall literary theme and design of each gospel and how to interpret those messages according to each gospel s unique literary plan. Discern the basic introductory issues of each gospel according to its author, its own historical-cultural Sitz im Leben, traditional dating, and origin. Identify attitudinal and behavioral changes made or mandated in your personal life as a result of increased understanding of the life and work of Jesus Christ. Grasp the basic historical sketch of Jesus Christological pre-existence, incarnation, birth, life, passion, death, burial and resurrection. Assignments for Assessment Reading textbooks and Dictionary articles Book report Reading textbooks and Dictionary articles Paper #1 Reading textbooks and Dictionary articles Paper #2 Reading textbooks and Dictionary articles Paper #3 Reading Dictionary articles Final exam 4. COURSE MATERIALS: A. Required texts: A Modern Edition of the Bible (ESV, NKJV, NASB). Craig Bloomberg, Jesus and the Gospels: An Introduction and Survey; 2 nd edition (Nashville: Broadman and Holman Publishers, 2009). Darrell L. Bock and Gregory J. Herrick (eds), Jesus in Context: Background Readings for Gospel Study (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2005). Richard A. Burridge, Four Gospels, One Jesus? 2 nd edition (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2005). Joel Green, Scot McKnight, and I. Howard Marshall (eds), Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels (Downers Grove: IVP, 1992). GIBB 560 The Gospels Page 2

3 Robert H. Stein, Studying the Synoptic Gospels: Origin and Interpretation; 2 nd edition (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2001). Burton Throckmorton, Jr., Gospel Parallels: A Comparison of the Synoptic Gospels. 5 th edition (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1992). B. Recommended readings: Craig Bloomberg, The Historical Reliability of the Gospel; 2 nd edition (Downers Grove: IVP, 2007). Darrell L. Bock, Jesus according to Scripture: Restoring the Portrait from the Gospels (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1990)., Studying the Historical Jesus: A Guide to Sources and Methods (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2002). Leslie Hardin, The Spirituality of Jesus: Nine Disciplines Christ Modeled for Us (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2009). Martin Hengel, The Four Gospels and the One Gospel of Jesus Christ; translated by John Bowden from the German (Harrisburg, PA: Trinity Press International, 2000). C. E. Hill, Who Chose the Gospels? Probing the Great Gospel Conspiracy (Oxford: University Press, 2010). Jonathan T. Pennington, Reading the Gospels Wisely (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2012). Mark D. Roberts, Can We Trust the Gospel? (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2007). Donald Senior, Jesus: A Gospel Portrait; revised and expanded edition (New York: Paulist Press, 1992). Graham Stanton, The Gospels and Jesus (Oxford: Oxford University 2002). Robert H. Stein, The Synoptic Problem; 2 nd edition (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2009). 295 pages Mark Strauss, Four Portraits, One Jesus: A Survey of Jesus and the Gospels (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2007). Marianne Meye Thompson, The God of the Gospel of John (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001). C. Journal articles: Thomas R. Blanton IV, Saved by Obedience: Matthew 1:21 in Light of Jesus Teaching on the Torah, JBL 132/2 (2013): Brendan Byrne, Jesus as Messiah in the Gospel of Luke: Discerning a Pattern of GIBB 560 The Gospels Page 3

4 Correction, The Catholic Biblical Quarterly 65 (2003): Mary L. Coloe, Temple Imagery in John, Interpretation 63/4 (October 2009): Brian Dennert, A Note on Use of Isa 7:14 in Matt 1:23 through the Interpretation of the Septuagint, TRINJ 30NS (2009): Zoltan L. Erdey and Kevin G. Smith, The Function of Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth in Matthew s Gospel, Acta Theologia 32/1 (2012): David Frankfurter, An Historian s View of the Gospel of Judas, Near Eastern Archaeology 70/3 (2007): John K. Goodrich, Voluntary Debt Remission and the Parable of the Unjust Steward (Luke 16:1-13), JBL 131/3 (2012): Douglas R. A. Hare, How Jewish is the Gospel of Matthew? The Catholic Biblical Quarterly 62 (2000): Jeffrey A. Gibbs, Israel Standing with Israel: The Baptism of Jesus in Matthew s Gospel (Matt 3:13-17), The Catholic Biblical Quarterly 64 (2002): John Paul Heil, Jesus with the Wild Animals in Mark 1:13, The Catholic Biblical Quarterly 68 (2006): Hellen Mardaga, The Repetitive Use of uỳo,w in the Fourth Gospel, The Catholic Biblical Quarterly 74 (2012): Troy W. Martin, Watch during the Watches (Mark 13:35), JBL 120/4 (2001): Richard C. Miller, Mark s Empty Tomb and Other Translation Fables in Classical Antiquity, JBL 129/4 (2010): Francis J. Moloney, Mark 6:6b-30: Mission, the Baptist, and Failure, The Catholic Biblical Quarterly 63 (2001): , The Gospel of John as Scripture, The Catholic Biblical Quarterly 67 (2005): Augustine Musopole, The Word Beginning in Mark s Prologue, Asia Journal of Theology 24/1 (April 2010): David J. Neville, Moral Vision and Eschatology in Mark s Gospel: Coherence or Conflict? JBL 127/2 (2008): Jerome H. Neyrey, I Am the Door (John 10:7, 9): Jesus the Broker in the Fourth Gospel, The Catholic Biblical Quarterly 69 (2007): GIBB 560 The Gospels Page 4

5 Gerald O Collins, Peter as Witness to Easter, Theological Studies 73 (2012): Gail R. O Day, Jesus as Friend in the Gospel of John, Interpretation 58/2 (April 2004): Pheme Perkins, What Is a Gnostic Gospel? The Catholic Biblical Quarterly 71 (2009): Adele Reinhartz, Judaism in the Gospel of John, Interpretation 63/4 (2009): Boris Repschinki, For He Will Save His People from Their Sins (Matthew 1:21): A Christology for Christian Jews, The Catholic Biblical Quarterly 68 (2006): Matthew S. Rindge, Reconfiguring the Akedah and Recasting God: Lament and Divine Abandonment in Mark, JBL 130/1 (2011): S. Robertson, Sonship in John s Gospel, Asia Journal of Theology 25/1 (October 2011): Donald Senior, Between Two Worlds: Gentiles and Jewish Christians in Matthew s Gospel, The Catholic Biblical Quarterly 61 (1999): Sandra M. Schneiders, The Lamb of God and the Forgiveness of Sin(s) in the Fourth Gospel, The Catholic Biblical Quarterly 73 (2011): Kenton L. Sparks, Gospel as Conquest: Mosaic Typology in Matthew 28:16-20, The Catholic Biblical Quarterly 68 (2006): F. Scott Spenser, Follow Me the Imperious Call of Jesus in the Synoptic Gospels, Interpretation 59/2 (April, 2005): Daniel W. Ulrich, The Missional Audience of the Gospel of Matthew, The Catholic Biblical Quarterly 69 (2007): F. P. Vilioen, Power and Authority in Matthew s Gospel, Acta Theologia 2 (2011): Gary Yamasaki, Point of View in a Gospel Story: What Difference Does It Make? Luke 19:1-10 as a Test Case, JBL 125/1 (2006): COURSE REQUIREMENTS: A. Readings: 1) Read the entire of four Gospels. Read each Gospel in one sitting preferably during the semester prior to the class it is discussed (see the schedule). Your reading will be GIBB 560 The Gospels Page 5

6 reported on the exams. 2) Textbooks and Dictionary articles: Complete the readings from the textbooks and Dictionary articles as scheduled and reporting weekly to the professor. B. Read Four Gospels, One Jesus? (by Richard A. Burridge) and give a critique on it. There are two parts included in the critique: (1) a summary of the book (2 pages), and (2) strengths and weaknesses of the book (3 pages). C. There will be three papers: students may choose one of the following passages for the focus for these three papers: Matthew 26:6-13, or Mark 6:30-44; or Luke 14:1-14, or John 15:1-17. First, a five-page paper on the historical and literary setting of the passage. Compare it with other Gospel s parallels. Students must consult and interact with at least three modern scholarly books, not counting the assigned textbooks for this class. Produce a diagram of the passage. Second, a five-page paper analyzing the key words and original message of the passage. Students must consult and interact with at least five modern scholarly books, in addition to the assigned textbooks for this class, including at least five modern, major commentaries (major means at least 15 pages for each chapter in the Gospel you are studying). Students should select a passage and identify potential resources as soon as the class begins. See the list of commentaries in bibliography recommended below. Third, a five-paper discussing how the passage is relevant in our own context, either in theology and/or in ethics. Outside research is permitted but not required for this paper. These three short papers are finally integrated into a research paper. It will be around 15 pages in length. You will need to use at least 10 resources (commentaries, monographs, periodical articles) as your basis for the paper. You will work through your structural analysis point by point using footnotes on each point of your outline by citing your commentary sources and blending them with your own analysis. D. Final exam: there is a take-home exam. Its content is the Life of Christ. Note: All the assignments for this class have to be submitted by December 17 th 2013 (Friday) via to trantnha@gmail.com either in Word document or in PDF (please do NOT send them in Hangul format). The instructor will NOT accept any work after this date without a prior arrangement with him. The professor reserves the right to modify the course as needed. GIBB 560 The Gospels Page 6

7 Assignments Time Estimate Readings (textbooks, articles) 900 pages 35 hours Three short papers 5 pages each 15 hours Book report 5 pages 8 hours Final exam Open-book/take-home 2 hours Total Hours 60 hours 6. GRADING INFORMATION: 1) Grading Scale: Letter Grade Numerical Grade Grade Points Performance A Outstanding A Excellent B Good + B Good B Good - C Satisfactory + C Satisfactory C Satisfactory - D Poor D Very Poor D Extremely Poor F 59 or lower 0 Failure 2) Grading Rubric: Assignments Due Date Methods of Submission Points Attendance & Readings Weekly report to professor 20 Three short papers As scheduled In class or 45 Book report As scheduled In class or 15 Final exam (Take-home) December 20, Total 100 GIBB 560 The Gospels Page 7

8 7. INCOMPLETE POLICY: All course work is due on the dates assigned. Students who fail to submit assignments on time will be subject to the course s late grading policy. In all other cases and unless otherwise stated by the instructor, all course work is due by 4:00 p.m. on the last day of the semester. A grade of incomplete will only be awarded to students who cannot physically complete their course work by the last day of the semester due to an avoidable situation such as a serious illness. In such cases, students must provide valid evidence of their condition. After a semester has ended it is no longer possible to request an incomplete. Incompletes will not be granted simply because of poor time management. Students who assume that an incomplete will be issued because they failed to finish their course work by the end of the semester will automatically receive a grade of F. Incompletes must first be approved by the Academic Affairs office. To apply for an incomplete, students must fill out an incomplete-grade-request form and submit it to the office by October 18, After receiving approval from the office, the student must then obtain approval from his or her instructor. 8. ATTENDANCE POLICY: Attendance is an important requirement of the course. Students are expected to attend class, therefore credit is not normally given for mere attendance. Instead, penalties are normally given for failing to attend. It is suggested that penalties be given to students who miss over 20% of the class sessions. If students miss more than 3 times, the Registrar will be notified and the grade of the student would automatically be an F. If international students miss more than 2 class periods, the Registrar will be notified as soon as possible and their F1 would be in jeopardy. 9. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: Plagiarism and cheating are unacceptable. Plagiarism is defined as the use of someone else s ideas, arguments or other original material without acknowledging the source. 10. BIBLIOGRAPHY (Commentaries/Biblical Theologies): Matthew Albright, W. F. and C. S. Mann. Matthew: Introduction, Translation, and Notes. AB 26. Garden City: Doubleday, GIBB 560 The Gospels Page 8

9 Calvin, J. Harmony of the Gospels: Matthew, Mark and Luke. 3 vols. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1972 [1555]. Carson, D. A. Matthew. Expositor s Bible Commentary 8. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, Davies, W and D. Allison. Matthew. 3 vols. ICC. Edinburgh: T & T Clark, Dickson, David. A Brief Exposition of the Evangel of Jesus Christ According to Matthew. Geneva. Carlisle: Banner of Truth Trust, 1981 [1647]. Gundry, Robert H. Matthew: A Commentary on His Handbook for a Mixed Church under Persecution. 2 nd ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, Hagner, Donald A. Matthew 1-13 and Matthew WBC. vol. 33a-b. Dallas: Word, Hendriksen, W. Exposition of the Gospel According to Matthew. NTC. Grand Rapids: Baker, Morris, L. Matthew. Pillar. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, See more at Mark Alexander, J. A. The Gospel of Mark. Geneva. Carlisle: Banner of Truth Trust, 1960 [1858]. Donahue, John R. and Daniel J. Harrington. The Gospel of Mark. Sacra Pagina. Collegevile: Liturgical, Edwards, James R. The Gospel According to Mark. PNTC. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, France R. T. The Gospel of Mark: A Commentary on the Greek Text. NIGTC. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, Gould, E. Mark. ICC. Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1982 [1896]. Guelich, Robert A. Mark 1-8:26. WBC. vol 34a. Dallas: Word, Hendriksen, W. Exposition of the Gospel According to Mark. NTC. Grand Rapids: Baker, Lane, W. L. Mark. NICNT. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, See more at GIBB 560 The Gospels Page 9

10 Luke Bock, Darrell L. Luke. 2 vols. BEC 2. Grand Rapids: Baker, Evans, C. F. Saint Luke. TPI New Testament Commentaries. Philadelphia: Trinity Press International, Fitzmyer, J. Luke. 2 vols. AB 28-28A. N Y: Doubleday, 1970, Geldenhuys, G. Luke. NICNT. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, Green, Joel B. The Gospel of Luke. NICNT. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, Hendriksen, W. Exposition of the Gospel According to Luke. N TC. Grand Rapids: Baker, Johnson, L. T. The Gospel of Luke. Sacra Pagina 3. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, Marshall, I. H. Luke. NIGTC. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, Plummer, Alfred. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Gospel According to S. Luke. ICC. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, See more at John Barrett, C. K. The Gospel According to St. John: An Introduction with Commentary and Notes on the Greek Text. 2d ed. Philadelphia: Westminster, Beasley-Murray, G. R. John. WBC 36. Waco: Word, Brown, R. E. The Gospel According to John: Introduction, Translation and Notes. 2 vols. Anchor Bible 19, 29A. Garden City: Doubleday, 1966, Bultmann, R. John. Philadelphia: Westminster, Calvin, J. The Gospel according to St. John Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1959 [1553].. The Gospel according to St. John Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1961 [1553]. Carson, D. A. John. Pillar. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, Haenchen, Ernst. John 1: A Commentary on the Gospel of John Chapters 1-6 and John 2: A Commentary on the Gospel of John Chapters Edited by Robert W. Funk with Ulrich Busse. Translated by Robert W. Funk. Philadelphia: Fortress, Hendriksen, W. Exposition of the Gospel According to John. 2 vols. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1953, GIBB 560 The Gospels Page 10

11 Hutcheson, George. The Gospel of John. Geneva. Carlisle: Banner of Truth Trust, 1972 [1657]. Morris, L. John. NICNT. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, Ridderbos, Herman. The Gospel of John: A Theological Commentary. Translated by John Vriend. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, Witherington, Ben, III. John s Wisdom: A Commentary on the Fourth Gospel. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, See more at Biblical Theologies Ashton, John. Understanding the Fourth Gospel. Oxford: Clarendon, Bultmann, R. Theology of the New Testament. 2 vols. N Y: Scribner, 1951, Dodd, C. H. The Interpretation of the Fourth Gospel. Cambridge, CUP, Guthrie, D. New Testament Theology. Downers Grove: IVP, Jeremias, J. New Testament Theology; vol. 1: Proclamation of Jesus. N Y: Scribner, Ladd, E. A Theology of the New Testament. Revised ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, Marshall, I. H. Luke: Historian and Theologian. Enlarged ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, Morris, L. New Testament Theology. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, Academie, Ridderbos, H. The Coming of the Kingdom. Philadelphia: P & R, Schnackenburg, Rudolf. Jesus in the Gospels: A Biblical Christology. Translated by O. C. Dean, Jr. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, Smith, D. Moody. The Theology of the Gospel of John. New Testament Theology. Cambridge: CUP, Stonehouse, N. The Witness of the Synoptic Gospels to Christ. Grand Rapids: Baker, Vos, Geerhardus. The Self-Disclosure of Jesus: The Modern Debate about the Messianic Consciousness. New York: Doran, The Teaching of Jesus Concerning The Kingdom of God and the Church. Phillipsburg: Presbyterian and Reformed, n.d. (1903 original). GIBB 560 The Gospels Page 11

12 Wright, N. T. Jesus and the Victory of God. Vol. 2 of Christian Origins and the Question of God. Minneapolis: Fortress, COURSE SCHEDULE: Week Date Topic Readings Assignments 1 08/27 Introduction - Historical Background 2 09/03 Historical Background Historical Reliability 3 09/10 Synoptic Problem 4 09/17 Mark Existence of Q 5 09/24 Matthew 6 10/01 Luke Source Criticism 7 10/8 John Form Criticism 8 10/15 Life of Christ Oral transmission Birth of Jesus 9 10/22 Life of Christ Bloomberg: 7-27 DJG: ; Bloomberg: DJG: ; ; ; Bloomberg: Stein: DJG: Bloomberg: Stein: DJG: ; Bloomberg: Stein: DJG: Bloomberg: Stein: DJG: Bloomberg: Stein: Bock: DJG: ; Bloomberg: Stein: Bock: DJG: Bloomberg: Stein: Paper # due Book report due Paper #2 due GIBB 560 The Gospels Page 12

13 John the Baptist Bock: DJG: /29 Galilean Ministry (Early stages) Redaction Criticism Sermon on the Mount Bloomberg: Stein: Bock: DJG: ; /5 Galilean Ministry (Later stages) Miracles, Parables Bloomberg: Bock: DJG: ; /12 Teaching Ministry Jewish Feasts Bloomberg: Bock: DJG: /19 Judean Ministry Final Week Bloomberg: Bock: /26 Thanksgiving No class 15 12/3 Bloomberg: Passion & Resurrection Bock: DJG: 601-4; /10 Final Exam Paper # 3 due Note: DJG = Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels The syllabus is subject to revision without notice. GIBB 560 The Gospels Page 13