BSNT 520: Life and Teachings of Jesus Cincinnati Bible Seminary Spring 2014 Tom Thatcher 3 graduate credits tom.thatcher@ccuniversity.edu Rationale: Christian faith originates in the life and teachings of Jesus as portrayed in the canonical Gospels. Christian leaders must understand the major aspects of Jesus thought and teaching within their broader historical and theological context, and the relevance of Jesus ministry to contemporary life. Objectives: The student who satisfactorily completes this course should... 1) be able to discuss central themes in Jesus teaching. 2) be able to interpret key passages of Jesus teaching recorded in the canonical Gospels. 3) be able to describe the circumstances surrounding Jesus arrest, trials, and death. The above outcomes will be achieved and measured through the following learning experiences and assignments. Major Learning Experiences and Assignments: 1) James Beilby and Paul Rhodes Eddy, eds. The Historical Jesus: Five Views. Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2009. Read the book by Beilby and Eddy and take notes, indicating the page number from which each note was drawn. Follow your own style of note-taking, keeping direct quotations to a minimum. As the title suggests, this book includes essays by five Jesus scholars who represent a very broad spectrum of opinions on what can be known about the Historical Jesus and how Jesus should be understood within his historical context. Following your notes, write a 2000+ word essay that compares and contrasts the various views to identify a spectrum of thinking on the relevant issues. First, identify common trends and themes across the various essays what common issues, or assumptions, or conclusions, or concerns seem to characterize all 5 approaches? Second, note significant contrasts between the various authors, points where their assumptions or conclusions substantially disagree. Emphasize
broad issues here, not specific points. Third and finally, offer a brief summary of the overall concerns of historical Jesus research, as reflected in this book. Specifically: if someone were to ask you What is all this historical Jesus stuff about?, explain how you would answer their question in terms of the issues and concerns that drive the field. This assignment will be graded on the basis of two criteria: thoroughness of coverage and level of detail in individual notes; and, depth and objectivity of the summary. The notes and summary should be submitted to the Instructor by February 18. 2) Term Paper: Bible, Theology, and Ministry Students: Select a passage from Jesus teaching in the canonical gospels and write a comprehensive exegetical analysis of that passage; OR, select a broad theme in Jesus teaching (purity, the Kingdom of God, marriage, the Law, etc.) and write a comprehensive paper on that theme. Comprehensive means that the paper should evidence graduate level research and reflection on the topic or passage and should demonstrate familiarity with the most significant recent resources. Papers should be no less than 5000 words. Counseling and Family Life Students: Write a thematic paper that compares Jesus view of the self with modern psychological theories of the self. The tone of the paper should be objective: it should not be a reading of Jesus teaching through the lens of modern psychological theory, nor an uncritical attack on modern psychology on the basis of Jesus teaching. The paper should describe Jesus view by analyzing relevant passages on the topic, describe the understanding of the self advocated in psychological theory, and note relevant comparisons and contrasts. At the end of the paper, offer your own thoughts on how Jesus view and modern theory can be brought together in a philosophy of Christian counseling. Your discussion of the modern perspective may be a general composite, or can focus on a particular theorist (Freud, Jung, Lacan, Rogers, Piaget, etc.). Papers should be no less than 5000 words. The paper should be submitted to the Instructor by May 6. 3) Exam: A take-home examination is posted on the Moodle website for the course. The purpose of the exam is to help you process the material covered in class and discuss it in your own words; hence, your course notes will be the primary, and perhaps the sole, resource needed to complete the exam. Note that any questions relating to material not actually covered in class will be deleted from the exam on the last day of class. The completed final exam should be submitted to the Instructor by May 13. Grading Policy:
Beilby and Eddy notes and overview 10% Term Paper 20% Final Examination 50% Attendance and Participation 20%
All assignments must be submitted electronically via the CCU Moodle website for this course. Hardcopy submissions will not be accept. All assignments described above must be completed in full for the student to receive a passing grade in the class, irrespective of his or her attendance and grades on assignments which are actually completed. Example: if a student s percentage grade totals 92%, yet the term paper has not been turned in by the last allowable date (see below), that student will receive a grade of F for the course. After the first hour of absence, 2 points will be deducted from the attendance and participation grade for each hour of absence. Course Outline: Because the material is arranged thematically, the course will not focus on any one of the canonical Gospels but will use each as it illustrates the event or issue under investigation. Note also that this outline may be altered, even substantially, at the Instructor s discretion. I. The Kingdom of God A. God the King B. The Mystery of the Kingdom C. The Parables D. Purity E. Fruit and Law F. Piety G. The Two Masters H. Healing I. Entering the Kingdom II. The New Covenant A. The Footwashing B. The Last Supper
C. The New Covenant III. Jesus Trials and Death A. Jesus Jewish Trial(s) B. Jesus Roman Trial C. The Politics of the Cross NOTICE: This course plan, as distributed electronically and/or in class, overrides all earlier versions of the course plan for the same class. All terms and conditions stated in this course plan, including objectives, outline of contents, required texts, assignments, attendance policy, and grading scale, are subject to the Instructor s unilateral revision at any point before, during, or after the semester. The student s participation in the class after the initial distribution of this syllabus represents his or her acceptance of these terms.