NT 5100: Johannine Literature (3 hrs) Trinity Evangelical Divinity School Hudson Extension Dr. David B. Sloan Spring Semester 2018 614-678-2032 Jan 12-13; Feb 9-10; March 9-10; and April 13-14 david@davidbsloan.com Fridays, 7:00 9:30 pm, and Saturdays, 8:30 am 4:30 pm Course Description Demonstration of the inductive Bible study method and treatment of the Gospel, Letters, and Apocalypse of John based on the English text. Course Objectives By the end of this course the student should: 1. have a greater love for Jesus and passion for his Word; 2. know the background, purpose, structure, contents, theology, and themes of each of John s writings; 3. be equipped to interpret Scripture in its historical, literary, and theological contexts; and 4. be able to apply Scripture in a 21st-century context. Required Textbooks Gary M. Burge, Interpreting the Gospel of John: A Practical Guide, second edition (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2013). ISBN: 978-0801048845. Also available electronically: https://www.logos.com/product/32167/interpreting-the-gospel-of-john-a-practical-guide- 2nd-ed. Michael J. Gorman, Reading Revelation Responsibly: Uncivil Worship and Witness Following the Lamb into the New Creation (Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 2010). ISBN: 978-1606085608. Also available electronically: https://www.logos.com/product/121427/reading-revelationresponsibly-uncivil-worship-and-witness-following-the-lamb-into-the-new-creation. Note: you will also need to read and summarize for the class two of the books listed in the book review options below. Required Bible Software Logos 7 Basic. Available for free at https://www.logos.com/product/136022/basic. (Alternatively you could purchase a package with a larger library from these options: https://www.logos.com/basepackages. If you contact the sales department at 800-875-6467, they may be able to offer you a discount as a Trinity student. The free version is required both for its Bible search capabilities and for access to the Lexham Bible Dictionary.)
NT 5100 Johannine Literature Spring 2018 Page 2 of 8 Course Requirements 1. Attendance, Preparation, and Participation (20%) Students are expected to come to class having completed the assigned readings and to participate in discussions in a manner that demonstrates a thorough knowledge of the readings. Students who miss class time or who are unfamiliar with ideas in the readings cannot get an A on this portion of their grade. Note that you are expected to have read the entirety of Gary Burge s book before our first class meeting. 2. Book Reviews (20%) Choose one book on the Gospel of John and one book on Revelation from the list below. Read the book, write a 3-page book review, and give a presentation of the books ideas to the class. The first review is due Weekend 2 and the second is due Weekend 3. 3. Word Study (10%) Following the methods explained in Chapter 9-10 of Interpreting the Gospel of John and discussed in class, do a word study of a key word in the Gospel of John. Notify the professor beforehand which word you will study. The word study should include a printout of all the occurrences of a word/phrase and comments on how your reading of one particular passage is affected by the other occurrences of the word/phrase. A sample will be given the first week of class. Due the second weekend. 4. Discussion Leading (10%) Choose two passages that you do an in-depth study of, one from the Gospel of John and one from the book of Revelation. Research these passages in at least two commentaries, and lead the class in a discussion of the passages (the first will be on Weekend 2, the second on Weekend 3 or 4, depending on which chapter of Revelation you are discussing). Turn in the notes from your study. 5. Exegetical Paper (20%) Take one of the two passages you studied for the Discussion Leading, and write a 9-to-10-page exegetical paper. Details will be given on the first day of class. Due by 11:59 pm on April 30. 6. Take-Home Exams (20%) Two take-home essay exams will be given. The exam on John s Gospel and Letters will be due by email by 11:59 pm on Saturday, February 17, and the exam on Revelation will be due by email by 11:59 pm on Saturday, April 21. Grading Scale 93-100% = A 90-92.9% = A- 87-89.9% = B+ 83-86.9% = B 80-82.9% = B- 77-79.9% = C+ 73-76.9% = C 70-72.9% = C- 67-69.9% = D+ 63-66.9% = D 60-62.9% = D- 59.9% and below = F Class Attendance Students are required to attend each and every session throughout the entire course period. Due to the nature of Extension classes, attendance at all sessions is especially important with weekend courses. Missing even an hour of a weekend class means a significant portion of the required contact with the instructor and learning community has been lost. For this reason,
NT 5100 Johannine Literature Spring 2018 Page 3 of 8 students missing any portion (hours) of an Extension course can result in a grade reduction; missing more than one weekend class session will result in a grade reduction and possibly failing the course. In the case of extreme emergency or unforeseen circumstances (family emergencies, death, etc.) the student should contact the instructor and secure the necessary permission to miss time in a class and make up the missed class time and assignments. Vacations, ministry responsibilities and travel plans are not considered emergencies and such requests will be denied. As the schedule for the Extension courses is set ahead of time, students should plan ahead to be sure they will be able to make it to all class sessions before they register. If the emergency necessitates a longer absence the student should contact the Dean of Students to request an extension of time, or in rare instances a withdrawal from the class without penalty. Academic Integrity Policy Any work that you submit for this class is presumed to be your own original work that has not previously been submitted for credit in another course unless you obtain prior written approval to do so from the professor. If you use words or ideas that you have found in publications, web sites, or other sources, you must fully identify the original source and the extent of your use of the words or ideas in this source. Course Schedule Dates Topics Discussed Readings and Assignments Due Weekend 1: January 12-13 Weekend 2: February 9-10 Sat, February 17 Weekend 3: March 9-10 Weekend 4: April 13-14 Sat, April 21 Mon, April 30 Introductory Issues Methods of Interpretation John s Letters The Gospel of John How to Approach Revelation Revelation 1-3 Revelation 4-22 Burge, Interpreting the Gospel of John First book review Exegetical discussion with word study Take-home midterm exam due Gorman, Reading Revelation Responsibly Second book review Exegetical discussion Take-home final exam due Exegetical paper due
NT 5100 Johannine Literature Spring 2018 Page 4 of 8 Book Review Options Gospel of John (Due Weekend Two) Paul Anderson, The Riddles of the Fourth Gospel: An Introduction to John (Minneapolis: Fortress, 2011). ISBN: 978-0800604271. Richard Bauckham, The Testimony of the Beloved Disciple: Narrative, History, and Theology in the Gospel of John (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007). ISBN: 978-0801034855. Richard Bauckham, Gospel of Glory: Major Themes in Johannine Theology (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2015). ISBN: 978-0801096129. Cornelis Bennema, Encountering Jesus: Character Studies in the Gospel of John (London: Paternoster, 2009). ISBN: 978-1842276662. Craig L. Blomberg, The Historical Reliability of John's Gospel: Issues & Commentary (Downers Grove, IVP Academic, 2011). ISBN: 978-0830838714. Paul M. Hoskins, Jesus as the Fulfillment of the Temple in the Gospel of John, Paternoster Biblical Monographs (Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 2007). ISBN: 978-1556352232. This is a doctoral dissertation written under D. A. Carson at Trinity. Craig R. Koester, Symbolism in the Fourth Gospel: Meaning, Mystery, Community (Minneapolis, Fortress Press, 2003). ISBN: 978-0800635947. Andreas J. Köstenberger and Scott R. Swain, Father, Son and Spirit: The Trinity and John's Gospel, New Studies in Biblical Theology 24 (Downers Grove: IVP, 2008). ISBN: 978-0830826254. This book shows how John s Gospel presents the Trinity. Brian Neil Peterson, John's Use of Ezekiel: Understanding the Unique Perspective of the Fourth Gospel (Minneapolis: Fortress, 2015). ISBN: 978-1451490312. D. Moody Smith, The Theology of the Gospel of John, New Testament Theology (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995). ISBN: 978-0521357760. Marianne Meye Thompson, The God of the Gospel of John (Minneapolis: Eerdmans, 2001). ISBN: 978-0802847348. Book Review Options Revelation (Due Weekend Three) Richard Bauckham, The Theology of the Book of Revelation, New Testament Theology (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993). ISBN: 978-0521356916. This book traces the theology expressed in the book of Revelation. Darrell L. Bock (ed.), Three Views of the Millennium and Beyond, Counterpoints: Bible and Theology (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1999). ISBN: 978-0310201434. What time period
NT 5100 Johannine Literature Spring 2018 Page 5 of 8 is described by the thousand years mentioned in Revelation 20? Three different authors give their competing views. Stepen L. Cook, The Apocalyptic Literature, Interpreting Biblical Texts (Nashville, Abingdon, 2003). ISBN: 978-0687051960. This book gives an introduction to apocalyptic literature, starting with apocalyptic sections of the Old Testament and working through Revelation. Scott Daniels, Seven Deadly Spirits: The Message of Revelation's Letters for Today's Church (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2009). ISBN: 978-0801031717. This book considers lessons to be learned today from the seven churches described in Revelation 2-3. David A. desilva, Seeing Things John's Way: The Rhetoric of the Book of Revelation (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2009). ISBN: 978-0664224493. This book is a little longer than the others, but it gives a good introduction to the use of rhetoric in the book of Revelation. Alan Hultberg (ed.), Three Views on the Rapture: Pretribulation, Prewrath, or Posttribulation, Counterpoints: Bible and Theology (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010). ISBN: 978-0310277200. Three different authors defend their view of when the rapture will occur in relation to the events described in Revelation. Daniel C. Juster, Passover: The Key that Unlocks the Book of Revelation (Clarksville: Messianic Jewish Publishers, 2011). ISBN: 978-1936716210. This book gives a messianic Jewish perspective on Revelation, highlighting ways that the book connects with the Jewish festival of Passover. Craig R. Koester, Revelation and the End of all Things (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001). ISBN: 978-0802846600. This is a short commentary on Revelation from a somewhat idealist perspective. Judith Kovacs and Christopher Rowland, Revelation, Blackwell Bible Commentaries (Hoboken: Wiley-Blackwell, 2004). ISBN: 978-0631232155. This commentary traces the history of interpretation of the book of Revelation: what effect did it have on commentators, theologians, song writers, artists, and more. Marvin Pate (ed.), Four Views on the Book of Revelation, Counterpoints: Bible and Theology (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1998). ISBN: 978-0310210801. Four different authors defend their approach to Revelation over against alternative approaches. James L. Resseguie, The Revelation of John: A Narrative Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2009). ISBN: 978-0801032134. This book helps you to think about how John uses rhetoric, setting, character, point of view, plot, symbolism, style, and repertoire to communicate meaning in the book of Revelation.
NT 5100 Johannine Literature Spring 2018 Page 6 of 8 Shane J. Wood (ed.), Dragons, John, and Every Grain of Sand: Essays on the Book of Revelation in Honor of Dr. Robert Lowery (Joplin: College Press, 2011). ISBN: 978-0899009353. This is a collection of scholarly essays on various topics in Revelation. Recommended Commentaries on the Gospel of John Craig S. Keener, The Gospel of John: A Commentary, 2 vols (Peabody: Hendrickson, 2003). Craig Keener is one of my favorite authors. At 1696 pages, this is the most thorough evangelical treatment of the Gospel of John. He does as good of a job as anyone helping you to see the historical background of the text. It is probably the best commentary on John you could buy unless you are looking for brevity. (If you d like some of Keener s background insights without purchasing two large volumes on one book of the Bible, check out his IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, which covers the entire New Testament. It won t give you all of the insights of the commentary on John, but it will go verse-by-verse through the whole New Testament and inform you of background issues that you should know in approaching the text.) D. A. Carson, The Gospel According to John, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1991). 715 pages. Written by a Trinity professor, this commentary has been widely regarded as the top commentary on the Gospel of John for the last 26 years. Gary M. Burge, John, NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2000). 624 pages. Commentaries in this series do a good job of helping you think about modern-day situations where the biblical text specifically applies. This volume is written by the author of our main textbook on John. Colin G. Kruse, The Gospel according to John, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Leicester: IVP, 2004). 395 pages. This commentary is briefer but still solid. If you want something that is quicker to the point but not as detailed, this is the commentary for you. Tom Wright, John for Everyone, 2 vols. (London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 2004). 368 pages. N. T. Wright is one of the best New Testament scholars alive today, and his commentaries are more fascinating to read than anyone s. Like Carson, Wright is insightful, often seeing the text in a way that makes so much sense of the Scripture in context. Like Burge, Wright is going to help you think about modern-day application. Like Kruse, his treatment is brief. If you were going to purchase two commentaries on John, I would recommend that this be one of them; if you were only going to purchase one, the problem with making this the one is that it will not give you an in-depth treatment that would answer all the questions you may have about the text. Recommended Commentaries on the Epistles of John Robert W. Yarbrough, 1-3 John, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2008). 464 pages.
NT 5100 Johannine Literature Spring 2018 Page 7 of 8 Colin G. Kruse, The Letters of John, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000). 280 pages. Daniel L. Akin, 1, 2, 3 John, New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2001). 352 pages Gary M. Burge, The Letters of John, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996). 260 pages. Recommended Commentaries on Revelation G. K. Beale, The Book of Revelation, New International Greek Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999). 1309 pages. Beale is phenomenal at showing how imagery from the Old Testament in Revelation helps us understand the message. Idealist/Amillennialist. If you want a shorter commentary along these lines, David Campbell has condensed Beale s massive commentary into a 552-page Revelation: A Shorter Commentary. Grant R. Osborne, Revelation, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2002). 896 pages. This Trinity professor has given us an excellent analysis of Revelation from a mostly futurist, premillennialist perspective. Robert H. Mounce, The Book of Revelation, New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997). At just 475 pages, this is the most accessible of the commentaries I have listed on Revelation (except for Wright) and gives good analysis of the text. Postmillennialist. Craig S. Keener, Revelation, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2000). 576 pages. This series is the best one at helping the reader think about how the text applies today, and this volume is written by one of my favorite New Testament scholars. Stephen S. Smalley, The Revelation to John (Downers Grove: IVP, 2005). 651 pages. Smalley does an excellent job explaining the spiritual realm. Unlike most scholars, he thinks Revelation was written shortly before the destruction of Jerusalem, which at times gives him a different interpretation of passages. Idealist. Craig R. Koester, Revelation: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary, Anchor Bible (New Haven: Yale, 2014). 928 pages. This is the newest of the commentaries listed here. Koester gives an excellent summary of the history of interpretation of Revelation and a probing analysis of the biblical text. He claims that the debates over futurism or preterism or idealism are unhelpful, but he often comes across as an idealist. Koester also has a shorter commentary listed in the book review options (Revelation and the End of All Things), but the shorter commentary does not interact with other scholars and views in the way his longer commentary does.
NT 5100 Johannine Literature Spring 2018 Page 8 of 8 David E. Aune, Revelation, 3 vols., Word Biblical Commentary (Nashville: Nelson, 1998). 1672 pages. This is the most lengthy of the commentaries here, and Aune does a better job than anyone at explaining the Greco-Roman background of the book of Revelation, but he is not always as strong at interpreting the book of Revelation itself. Tom Wright, Revelation for Everyone (London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 2004). 240 pages. The same high praise I gave for Wright s John for Everyone can be offered here. Of all of the commentaries listed, this is the easiest to read and is repeatedly profound. If you want a quick reference, this is the commentary for you, but if you want more depth, look elsewhere.