NEW TESTAMENT STUDIES: JOHANNINE LITERATURE RL 4223A Spring 2004 Assistant Professor: Robert Lee Foster Office MC 106, Box 3426, Telephone 759-4149 E-mail: rfoster@wbcoll.edu Website: http://eagle.wbcoll.edu/rfoster I. Course Catalog Description A historical and theological study of the life, ministry and writings of John, including a detailed exegesis of selected passages. II. III. Academic Integrity Students are expected and required to uphold the highest standards of academic honesty in this and all courses. Students should be familiar with the College's Academic Honesty Policy (Catalog, page 47; Student Handbook, page 33, section VII). Students requiring any clarification of these policies should consult their academic advisor or the Office of Academic Affairs. Course Objectives Johannine Literature is a senior level New Testament course. The primary objective of the course is to enrich the students knowledge with an advanced knowledge of the Johannine Corpus and to introduce the student to Johannine Theology. Furthermore, these objectives are intended to assist students in accomplishing the Institutional Academic Goals of Williams Baptist College (Catalog, page 9). A. The student will become familiar with the content of Johannine literature. B. The student will be able to compare and contrast the synoptic gospels with the Johannine gospel. C. The student will be able to outline a description of the Johannine Jesus as well as to describe a basic Johannine theology. D. The student will be able to discuss the questions of Johannine authorship of the five books attributed to John in the New Testament. E. The student will be able to discuss the major characteristics of apocalyptic literature. F. The student will become familiar with the basics of literary criticism. 1
G. The student will become familiar with the basics of sociological criticism. H. The student will become familiar with the basics of New Testament Theology. I. The student will be able to describe the major contributions of New Testament scholarship in the field of Johannine studies. 2 IV. Learning Activities and Grading Scale 25 points Attendance and Participation 200 points Exams 200 points Research Paper 50 points Discussion List 50 points Biblical Reading 50 points Reading Quizzes 100 points Seminar 475 total possible points A 100-93%; B 92-83%; C 82-75%; D 75-60%; F 59-0% A. Attendance and Participation (25 points) Students are expected to attend every class session. Two absences may be incurred without penalty. The third and following absences will result in a loss of five points. Absences incurred because of participation in school functions will be excused without penalty when the student submits a note to the professor including the date and reason for the absence. Attendance will be checked at the beginning of each class period. Any student who is tardy should check in with the professor at the end of the class period to be counted present. The third and following late arrivals will result in the loss of one point. If a student should loose all twenty-five points, then points will be subtracted from the points earned on exams and quizzes (see Catalog, Class Attendance, 52). B. Exams (100 points each, 200 total points) Exams will cover both the lecture and reading material. The exams will be unit specific, not comprehensive. Two exams will be given. C. Research Paper (200 points) Each student will write a 12-15 page research paper on a topic related to Johannine Studies. The papers will follow the Manual of Form and Style for the Department of History and the Department of Religion and Philosophy (2002-2005). The papers will be written on one of the following topics: The Deity of Christ in John The Humanity of Christ in John Logos Christology
The Holy Spirit in John A Character Analysis (Women in John) Signs in the Fourth Gospel The Dualistic Symbols of John 3 The research paper will be completed in four stages. Each stage will be evaluated to assign a final grade for the paper. Stage One: Topic Presentation (Note topic selection and a paragraph description of approach to topic). Stage Two: proposal of sources, data, references to be used in the project (ten substantive resources must be used and cited in the paper including at least three of the following commentaries: Broadman Bible Commentary, International Critical Commentary, Interpretation, New American Commentary, New International Commentary on the New Testament, NIV Application Commentary, Word Biblical Commentary), thesis statement, and an outline of the paper. Stage Three: writing a first draft. Stage Four: submission of final paper. Stages one through three will account for 15% for the grade on the project. The remaining 85% will evaluate the final product including format and style. See course calendar for due dates of each stage. STAGE FOUR WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED LATE! D. Discussion List (50 points) Each student is required to participate in an electronic discussion list located on our class page in the Educator software. Each student will write an entry of one paragraph in length each week. The paragraph can be a reflection on any item related to the course: reading materials, lectures, classroom discussions, etc. In addition, each student will also respond to another student s entry. Enteries and responses must be posted by noon on Wednesday of each week. While students are encouraged to engage each other in critical dialogue at no time are students to demean another s person, character, or cognitive ability; i.e., NO FLAMES! This behavior will dramatically effect a student s grade. E. Biblical Reading (50 points) Each student will be required to read the Gospel, Letters, and Apocalypse of John during the course of the semester. Students will be asked to affirm that they have completed this reading on the last day of class. F. Reading Quizzes (50 points) Occasional quizzes will be given covering assigned reading. One quiz will be dropped. NO make-up quizzes will be given.
4 G. Seminar (100 points) Each student will participate in a one day research seminar. The seminar will take place on. Attendance is mandatory. Additional details will be discussed in class. V. Required Texts A modern translation of the New Testament such as NIV, NASB, NRSV, NKJV. Kysar, Robert, John, The Maverick Gospel Borchert, Gerald, John 1-11, New American Commentary Borchert, Gerald, John 12-21, New American Commentary Metzger, Bruce, Breaking the Code, Understanding the Book of Revelation This syllabus is intended to reflect accurately the course description, content outline, course objectives, grading criteria, activities to be evaluated, major exam dates, policy on absences, course bibliography and other information necessary for students to appraise the course. However, during the course of the semester the professor reserves the right to modify any portion of this syllabus as may appear necessary because of events and circumstances that change during the semester.
5 READING AND HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS Vol 1 = Borchert, Gerald, John 1-11, New American Commentary Vol 2 = Borchert, Gerald, John 11-21, New American Commentary Kysar = Kysar, Robert, John, The Maverick Gospel Metzger = Metzger, Bruce, Breaking the Code, Understanding the Book of Revelation Readings = Reading Collection for the course JAN TOPIC ASSIGNMENTS 14 Introduction to the Course Syllabus BACKGROUND FOR THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 16 HISTORY: The People and The Culture Readings: #1 (Dockery) #2 (Malina) 19 HISTORY: How John s Gospel Came to Be Vol 1.1-50 Kysar 18-26 21 LITERATURE: Genre and John Vol 1.50-80 Kysar 14-18 23 LITERATURE: A Look at Literary Criticism Readings: #3 (Melick) 26 LITERATURE: Authorship, Dating, and Provenance Vol 1.80-94 28 THEOLOGY: John s Major Themes The Johannine Prologue 30 Logos Christology John 1:1-18 Vol 1.98-125 Kysar 27-45, 55-57 FEB TOPIC ASSIGNMENTS 2 Christological Titles Father-Son Relationship John 1:19-51 Vol 1.125-150 Stage One Due 4 Class Discussion on the Father-Son Relationship Kysar 40 (Do Reader s Prep #2)
FEB TOPIC ASSIGNMENTS THE SEVEN SIGNS 6 6 Water to Wine The Cleansing of the Temple John 2:1 2:25 Vol 1.151-168 9 The Healing of the Nobleman s Son John 4:43-54 Vol 1.216-222 11 The Healing of the Lame Man John 5:1-18 Vol 1.223-236 13 The Feeding of the 5,000 John 6:1-15 Vol 1.249-257 16 The Healing of the Man Born Blind John 9:1-41 Vol 1.310-326 Stage Two Due 18 The Raising of Lazarus John 11:1-44 Vol 1.346-363 20 Class Discussion on the Seven Signs Kysar 80-86 (Do Reader s Prep 80 #1-2) 23 Review and Discussion 25 MID-TERM EXAM JESUS FAREWELL DISCOURSE 27 Foot-Washing and Betrayal John 13:1 14:14 Vol 2.71-119 MAR TOPIC ASSIGNMENTS 1 The Holy Spirit in John: Paraclete John 14:15-31; 15:26 16:16 Vol 2.119-137, 158-171 Readings: #4 (Brown) 3 Jesus the True Vine John 15:1-25 Vol 2.137-158
MAR TOPIC ASSIGNMENTS THE PASSION OF JESUS 5 Betrayal Burial John 18:1 19:42 Vol 2.213-285 Kysar 49-54 8 Betrayal Burial (continued) 10 The Resurrection John 20:1 21:25 Vol 2.287-343 JOHANNINE THEOLOGY AND SCHOLARSHIP 12 John and the Synoptics Kysar 1-14 7 15 The Johannine Jesus The I am Sayings Kysar 55-57; 45-49 Stage Three Due 17 Johannine Dualism Kysar 58-97 (Do Reader s Prep 65, 70) 19 Johannine Concepts of Faith Kysar 78-96 (Do Reader s Prep 86, 88, 90) 22 SPRING BREAK 24 26 NO CLASSES 29 The Work of Raymond Brown Readings: #5 (Brown) 31 The Work of C. K. Barrett Readings: #6 (Barrett) APR TOPIC ASSIGNMENTS 2 The Work of Rudolf Bultmann Readings: #7 (Bultmann) #8 (Osborne) #9 (Schmithals) #10 (Ashton) 5 Sociological Criticism John 7:1-52 Readings: #11 (Moxnes) On-line Article: http://www.nd.edu. ~jneyrey1/trials.html
APR TOPIC ASSIGNMENTS THE JOHANNINE EPISTLES 7 1 John 1 John 1-5 Kysar 136-144 9 GOod friday --- no class 8 12 2 & 3 John 2 John 3 John THE JOHANNINE APOCALYPSE Stage Four Due 14 Introduction to Apocalyptic Literature Kysar 144-146 Readings: #12 (Summers) 16 Introduction to the Revelation of John The Seven Churches of Asia Minor Rev 1:1 3:22 Metzger 9-46 Readings: #13 (Blevins) 19 John s Vision Rev 4:1 8:4 Metzger 47-62 21 John s Vision Rev 8:5 14:20 Metzger 63-79 23 John s Vision Rev 15:1 22:21 Metzger 80-106 26 Millennial Views Readings: #14 (Elwell and Yarbrough) course conclusion 28 Johannine Theology: A Final Synthetic Look Vol 2.21-26, 345-367 Kysar 128-135 FINAL EXAM ou)ai/