July 9-13, 2018 (Intensive) Rev. Dennis R. Edwards, PhD E-mail: dedwards@faculty.seminary.edu NOTE: 1. Work due before July 9: a. Reading of A Week in the Life of a Roman Centurion and a paper on NT background b. Reading of Gospels According to Mark and Matthew c. Strauss, pp. 23-85; 93-167 2. Work due after July 13: a. Exam on bible content (1 week after end of class) b. Short paper on Kingdom of God in the Teachings of Jesus (2 weeks after end of class) c. Exegetical paper (4 weeks after class) Purpose of the Course (from catalog): This course provides a basic introduction to Matthew, Mark, Luke (the "Synoptic Gospels") and the Gospel of John, and acquaints students with an overview of the teaching and mission of Jesus in these Gospels. Prerequisite: IN 301. (Required) Objectives/Outcomes: The student, upon completion of this course, will be able to: Understand the major models of critical interpretation in Synoptic Gospel studies and John. Articulate major themes in each of the Synoptic Gospels as well as in John. Sketch in essay format major critical issues in Gospel studies in words understandable to ordinary laypersons in a church. Demonstrate a capacity to interpret passages in the Gospels attuned to the literary form, sensitive to the historical context, consistent with the rule of faith, and relevant for the 21st century church. Connect the themes of the Gospels to the contemporary Christian Church. Required Textbooks: The Holy Bible (preferably a modern version). Students will read all four Gospels in their entirety (approximately 120 pages). Blount, Brian K. The Synoptic Gospels: Kingdom Ethics and John: The Christology of Active Resistance, in Then the Whisper Put On Flesh: New Testament Ethics in an African American Context. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2001. ISBN: 978-0687085897. Pages 45-118 (74 pages). $28. Burge, Gary M. A Week in the Life of a Roman Centurion. Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2015. ISBN: 978-0-8308-2462-5. $11.33 (Amazon). (189 pages.) Page 1 of 6
Gench, Frances Taylor. Back to the Well: Women s Encounters with Jesus in the Gospels. Louisville: WJK, 2004. ISBN: 978-0-664-22715-9. $16.50 (Amazon). (189 pp.) Strauss, Mark L. Four Portraits, One Jesus: An Introduction to Jesus and the Gospels. Grand Rapids, Mich: Zondervan, 2007. ISBN: 978-0310226970. $31.57 (Amazon). 560 pp. (Will read 362 pp.). Required Reading (article; not in a textbook): Perkins, Pheme. I Have Seen the Lord (John 20:18): Women Witnesses to the Resurrection, Interpretation 46:1 (1992). Pp. 31-41 (10 pages) Recommended Resources: Gorman, Michael J. Elements of Biblical Exegesis A Basic Guide for Students and Ministers. Revised Expanded edition. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2008. Green, Joel B., ed. Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels. Second Edition. Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2013. Course Requirements: 1. All assigned papers and essays are to be submitted on Moodle. 2. Essays should be condensed and tight, full of evidence when needed, and not brief, fluffy papers. Be prepared to read your paper aloud in class. (Write with that end in view.) They will be graded for: a. Comprehensive perception b. Articulation c. Display of evidence and inductive method d. Proper formatting. 3. Late submissions: for each day late in submission, the grade will be reduced 10%. 4. Contribute meaningfully and in a civil manner to class discussions and lectures. 5. Do all assignments in the syllabus; submit a report of percentage of reading at the end of the term. 6. Class attendance: It is expected that students will attend and participate in all class sessions. Students are expected to communicate with me in advance if they are to miss a class session. 7. All essays are to be submitted in accordance with Turabian, 8 th edition. 8. I urge each student to download and begin to learn how to use Zotero, a bibliography and footnoting program that formats the notes in proper style. Zotero is tied to Amazon so that you can click once and have a bibliographic item downloaded into your Zotero library. 9. Papers submitted electronically are to be in Word.doc or.docx (preferably the latter) format. Page 2 of 6
Student Evaluation: 1. Essay on the cultural background of the New Testament (15%). After reading the Burge book, students will write a 1000-word essay briefly describing the social setting of the New Testament, noting the social class breakdown, the makeup of the typical household, religious diversity, and other matters the student deems important for understanding New Testament texts. Students should consult two other sources besides Burge, and the Strauss textbook may be one of those sources as needed Consult at least 3 sources of information (this may include some of the required readings). This essay is due at 11:59pm on July 9. 2. Final Exam on Biblical Content (25%). Students will take a closed-book (largely multiple choice and true/false) test on class discussions, course readings, and New Testament Gospels content. The exam will be taken in Moodle (see course schedule for due dates). The exam may be taken any time after the last day of class, but please note: the exam will NOT be available on Moodle after midnight on July 20 th. 3. Essay on Kingdom in the teachings of Jesus (15%). Students will write a 1000- word essay on the meaning of kingdom in the teachings of Jesus. Students should use Strauss along with at least two other resources. This essay is due at 11:59pm on July 27 th (2 weeks after the last day of class). 4. Final Exegetical Essay (35%): Each student will compose a 2000-word research paper interpreting a Gospel text (approved by the instructor) using the methodology described in class, and relying on more than 4 sources. This is a research paper. Your paper will be evaluated on depth of research, clarity of argumentation, and quality of writing. The passage selected for this paper should be submitted for approval no later than the 3 rd day of class, July 11. The paper is due August 10. 5. Active Class Participation and Required Reading (10%). Students will submit a report of the percentage of the required reading that they ve completed and are expected to participate in class discussion. Grading: Scale: A = 100-95 A- = 94-90 B+ = 89-87 B = 86-83 B- = 82-80 C+ = 79-77 C = 76-73 C- = 72-70 D+ = 69-67 D = 66-63 D- = 62-60 F = 59 and below Page 3 of 6
Course Outline and Weekly Assignments: DAY DATE TOPIC READING & ASSIGNMENTS DUE 1 July 9 Introductions Historical Context of the Gospels Gospel Genre Gospel Methodology (Textual, Source, Form, Redaction, Literary, Narrative criticisms) Reading due: Strauss, pp. 23-85; 93-167 (136 pages), being prepared to discuss questions at the end of the chapters. Assignment Due: Essay on the cultural background of the New Testament 2 July 10 The Gospel According to Mark Reading due: Entire Gospel of Mark Entire Burge book Strauss, 171-211 (40 pp.), being prepared to discuss questions at the end of the chapter 3 July 11 The Gospel According to Matthew Reading Due: The entire Gospel of Matthew Strauss, pp. 213-58 (45 pp.), being prepared to discuss questions at the end of the chapter. Assignment Due: Exegesis Paper topic 4 July 12 The Gospel According to Luke Reading Due: The entire Gospel of Luke. Strauss, pp. 259-96 (37 pp.), being prepared to discuss questions at the end of the chapter. 5 July 13 The Gospel According to John Historical Jesus Studies Reading Due: The entire Gospel of John Strauss, pp. 297-343 (46 pp.), being prepared to discuss questions at the end of the chapter. The 2 chapters by Blount (in Then the Whisper Put on Flesh) Page 4 of 6
Pheme Perkins, I Have Seen the Lord (John 20:18): Women Witnesses to the Resurrection, in Interpretation 46:1 (1992). Pp. 31-41. Gench, Back to the Well: Women s Encounters with Jesus in the Gospels (entire book) Strauss, pp. 347-82 (35 pp.); pp. 399-409 (10 pp.); pp. 481-91 (10 pp.) July 20 July 27 Aug 10 Assignment Due: Exam (taken on Moodle) Assignment Due: Essay on Kingdom in the teachings of Jesus Assignments Due: Final Exegesis Paper Due Reading Report POLICIES FOR ALL MASTERS CLASSES NOTE: All communications from the seminary will go to your seminary email account. Contact helpdesk@seminary.edu if you need help forwarding your seminary email address to your personal email address. As a seminary community we hold integrity/hospitality as core values. Individuals are able to do their best work and thinking when their peers are fully present and engaged. We expect each person to both participate in class and carefully listen to others with the belief that everyone s contribution is equally important. Therefore, the following policies have been established in order to provide clarity in regard to attendance expectations and relationships in the classroom. Diploma/Certificate Student Course Requirements The amount of work required of Diploma/Certificate students will be at the discretion of the professor. Students will be responsible for contacting the professor about what assignments are required. Page 5 of 6
Class Attendance Policy It is expected that students will attend and participate in all class sessions. Failure to attend at least 80% of class sessions is grounds for automatic failure. A professor may set other more strict attendance expectations for a given course. Students are always expected to communicate with a professor in advance if they will be absent. Attendance expectations are higher for online, intensive courses, and integrative seminar (see syllabus for specific requirements). Class Tardiness Policy The third time a student is late to the start of class, it will be counted as a class absence. It is also expected that students will return from a break by the time specified by the professor. Food in the Classroom Drinks are welcome in the classroom. Food should only be consumed in the student commons and the breakroom. Please limit eating to before, after or during breaks from class. Late Work Policy If a student cannot complete the work for a course by the due date listed on the syllabus, they must submit a Request for a Grade of Incomplete form to the Registrar by 4:30 of the last day of the term. The form must be signed by the instructor and Dean of Students. The professor may set stipulations and grade reductions. In the absence of a formal request form, the student will receive a grade based upon work completed by the last day of the term. Turabian Format All papers, including footnotes and bibliography, must be submitted in the correct format according to Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 8 th ed., 2013. Plagiarism Plagiarism is the act of passing off as one s own the words or ideas of someone else without providing proper acknowledgement or documentation. See the Academic Honesty Policy in the Seminary Catalog for more information on plagiarism and how to avoid it. Electronic Format Unless otherwise specified by the professor, all work submitted electronically must be in a Word document format (.doc,.docx). Technology Use in the Classroom Unless it is directly tied to note-taking or research for the class, students are expected to refrain from using cell phones, laptops, or other electronic devices during class.. Page 6 of 6