BTS-5085S Parables of Jesus through Middle Eastern Eyes [B/C] (draft copy) Steinbach Bible College and The Graduate School of Theology and Ministry Canadian Mennonite University Three Credit Hours Course Syllabus Semester: Spring, 2014 Time: April 28 May 2, 2014, 9:00 to 5 pm. Professor: Arley Loewen (Ph.D. University of Toronto) Contact Information: al@pamteam.org or 204-320-9825 Location: Steinbach Bible College 1
Course Description Jesus lived in a world very different from ours. Without an appreciation of ancient Middle Eastern culture much of which is similar with traditional Middle Eastern society today we easily formulate a Jesus according to our western mindset. The course, The Parables of Jesus through Middle Eastern Eyes, will help the student of the New Testament to gain a richer and more thorough appreciation of Jesus life and teaching. Course Objectives Understand ancient Judean and traditional Middle Eastern cultures / societies Interpret Jesus parables in light of ancient Judean and traditional Middle Eastern cultures. Draw out themes and theological truths from Jesus parables. Relate the themes and theological truths from the parables to our present-day setting. Appreciate how Jesus addresses Israel s hope and explains God s kingdom through stories. Develop a deeper appreciation of the good news of Jesus as reflected in the parables. Textbooks Grad Students Bailey, Kenneth. Poet and Peasant: A Literary Cultural Approach to the Parables in Luke. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, c.1976. Through Peasant Eyes: More Lucan Parables Their Culture and Style. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1980. (Note, these two books are printed in one binding) Bailey, Kenneth. The Cross and the Prodigal. Second Edition, Revised and Expanded, Downer s Grove: InterVarsity, 2005. desilva, David. A, Honor, Patronage, Kinship and Purity Unlocking New Testament Culture. Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press. 2000. Wright, N.T. The New Testament and the People of God. Fortress Press. 1992. Wright, N.T. Jesus and the Victory of God. Fortress Press. 1996. Supplementary Reading Material: Bailey, Kenneth. Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes. Downer s Grove: InterVarsity, 2008. Bailey, Kenneth. Finding the Lost: Cultural Keys to Luke 15. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1992. Bailey, Kenneth. Parables of Jesus in Luke (A Middle Eastern Cultural View) (Middle Eastern New Testament Studies) video lectures. Also at www.shenango.org/bailey.htm Bailey, Kenneth. Finding the Lost The Prodigal Son: A Feature Length film (Middle Eastern New Testament Studies) DVD. Also available from www.shenango.org/bailey.htm Jewett, Robert. Saint Paul Returns to the Movies Triumph Over Shame. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. 1999. 2
Joachin, Jeremias. Jerusalem in the Time of Jesus. SCM Press. 1969. Joachin, Jeremias. The Parables of Jesus. Charles Scribner s Sons. 1963. Malina, Bruce J. The New Testament World Insights from Cultural Anthropology. Kentucky: Westminister. 1993. Neyrey, Jerome H. and Eric C. Stewart, ed. The Social World of the New Testament Insights and Models. Hendrickson Publishers. 2008. Daily Schedule: Monday, April 28 Overview of Culture and Lost Sheep and Lost Sons Introduction Society, Culture, Judaism and Parables The Lost Sheep time to rejoice (Lk. 15:1-7) Overview of Shame and Honor Worldview The Prodigal Sons From Shame to Honor (Lk. 15:11-32) Reading Assignment David desilva, Honor, Patronage, Kinship and Purity Unlocking New Testament Culture. Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press. 2000. Submit reflections from chapters 1-2, pp. 17-93. Tuesday, April 29 Women, Family, Tribes and Jesus Overview of Gender and Family in 1 st Century Palestine The Two Debtors - Dignity for Women (Lk. 7:36-50) Stories along the Road Hating Family (Lk. 9:57-62) The Good Samaritan My Tribe and Neighbors (Lk. 10:25-37) Ken Bailey, Poet and Peasant and Through Peasant Eyes, pp. 27-43, and any three chapters on Bailey's exegesis of the parables. He discusses three parables in Poet and Peasant and ten parables in Through Peasant Eyes. Wednesday, April 20 Hospitality, Bread and Purity The Great Banquet From Hostility to Hospitality (Lk. 14:15-24) The Bread of Life Which Patron? (John 6) Food, Pollution, and Purity Kosher Foods (Mark 7:1-23) 3
David desilva, Honor, Patronage, Kinship and Purity Unlocking New Testament Culture. Submit reflections from one of the three sections: 1) pp. 95-156; 2) 157-240 or 3) 241-316. or Ken Bailey, The Cross and the Prodigal, Second Edition, Revised and Expanded, Downer s Grove: InterVarsity, 2005. Thursday, May 1 Kingdom and Judgment Stories Part One: The Story of Israel Part Two: The Story of Jesus Part Three: Stories of Jesus, kingdom and judgment stories For the reflections assignment, respond to Wright s Stories of the Kingdom -Announcement" in N.T. Wright, Jesus and the Victory of God, Fortress Press. 1996, pp. 198-243. Friday, May 2 Money and Performance The Rich Fool Wealth and greed (Lk. 12:13-21) The Pharisee and Tax Collector Humility and Public Performance (Lk. 18:9-14) Class Presentations Selections from N.T. Wright, The New Testament and the People of God, pp. 147-338 and N.T. Wright, Jesus and the Victory of God, Fortress Press. 1996, pp. 198-367. For the rest of the required reading, select from the primary or supplementary reading list. This can be completed after the week of classes, due June 10. ASSIGNMENTS 1. Class attendance and participation (10%): The student will attend class and participate in class discussion. Each morning and afternoon class is considered one absence. Student participation is based on attendance, group interaction, and general attitude in class. 2. Daily Reading Reports (25%): Total required reading of 1,200 pages from the primary reading list to be completed by June 10. During the week of classes, the student is expected to read 50-60 pages per day and submit reading reports. Besides presenting brief summaries of the texts, the student will note observations, reflections, and questions arising from the readings. The student s reports should reflect thoughtful interaction with the text. The student will submit 1-2 page double-spaced journals to the professor at the beginning of each of the five days of classes. The sixth 1-2 page reflection, due June 10, 2014, will include a statement of all material read. All six reflections will be graded. 4
3. Bible Study or Sermon outline (25%): The student should choose any parable from the Gospels and prepare a Bible study or sermon notes, ready for presentation. The parable should not be the same one as the one developed in the essay, but it can be one of the parables discussed in class. The study should include an interesting introduction, cultural / situational context of the parable, key theological truths and application. a) Oral Presentation (10%): The student will give a five to ten minute presentation on the parable Due: May 2. b) Written Presentation (15%) Due: June 6, 2014. 4. Essay (40%): The student will choose one of the two topics for their essay: a) Parable Project: Select a parable(s) of Jesus not discussed in class. Discuss the parable in light of the 1 st century situation, the parable s scriptural context, as well as Middle Eastern cultural and social themes. - How does this parable fit into its chapter and the Gospels? - How does the parable relate to the religio-political situation of 1 st century Judaism? - How do Middle Eastern cultural and social themes shed light on this parable? - Why did Jesus tell this story? To whom? What was Jesus message in the parable? - What are some theological and ethical lessons we can learn from this parable? b) Research Project: Compare and critique N.T. Wright and Ken Bailey s interpretations of Jesus parables. You may want to focus specifically on one parable, notably the prodigal sons or the parables in general. Preliminary essay overview due May 16 (5% of final grade). Final essay due: July 22, 2014. Length: Approx. 4,000. GRADING Class Attendance and Participation 10% Reading Reports 25% Parable Bible Study (oral and written presentation) 25% Preliminary Essay Overview 5% Final Essay 35% ACADEMIC POLICIES Students should acquaint themselves with the academic regulations of Graduate School of Theology and Ministry at Canadian Mennonite University. Grading will be marked according to CMU Standard B A+ 95-100 A 88-94 B+ 81-81 B 74-80 C+ 67-73 5
C 60-66 D 50-59 F 0-49 6