NB: week 7 (posted 22 Feb 2011)
NB: final exam link (check your exam time) (posted 22 Feb 2011)
It is not so very important for a person to learn facts. For that he does not really need a college. He can learn them from books. The value of an education in a liberal arts college is not the learning of many facts but the training of the mind to think something that cannot be learned from textbooks.
(Albert Einstein, 1921, in response to Thomas Edison’s opinion that a college education is useless)
Without education we are in a horrible and deadly danger of taking educated people seriously.
(G. K. Chesterton)
In much wisdom is much vexation, and those who increase knowledge increase in sorrow.
(Ecclesiastes 1.18)
Health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.
(Anonymous)
Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.
(William Butler Yeats)
You must unlearn what you have learned.
(Yoda [Star Wars V: Empire Strikes Back])
The unexamined life is not worth living.
(Socrates [Plato, Apology,
38a])
ΕΝ ΟΙΔΑ ΟΤΙ ΟΥΔΕΝ ΟΙΔΑ.
(Ἓν οἶδα ὅτι οὐδὲν οἶδα.)
(Socrates)
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Westminster College |
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REL 207: Synoptic Gospels |
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Spring Semester • 2011 |
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Welcome! |
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Welcome to Religion 207: Synoptic Gospels This course is a general introduction to and an exploration of the Gospels According to Matthew, Mark, and Luke, i.e., the Synoptic Gospels. More specifically, our aim will be:
Achieving these goals will require hard work on
your part, which will bring many challenging, enlightening, exciting,
frustrating, and rewarding experiences.
Westminster College actively strives for the full inclusion of all our students. Students with disabilities who require access solutions for environmental or curricular barriers should contact Corey Shaw, Director of Disability Resources: 209 Thompson-Clark Hall; 724-946-7192; shawcj@westminster.edu. |
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Caveat | |
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This course is designed so that anyone, religious or not, who does the required work can attain the goals mentioned above. This course is not designed to persuade you to a particular faith or religious point of view. Nor is it intended to build up or disparage existing faith, although an informed understanding of the Synoptic Gospels can lead to a deeper appreciation of Christianity. Students who consider themselves to be followers of any religion, or no religion at all, are all welcome on this semester journey to become better acquainted with the Synoptic Gospels, to learn to appreciate them better, and to become informed and responsible interpreters of them. |
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Requirements and evaluation for the course |
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Evaluation |
For my criteria for evaluation of assignments go to Evaluation and read the information carefully.
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Assigned readings |
Assigned readings should be completed before the class for which they are assigned—use your best judgment to divide the readings evenly for each week. Keeping notes on the readings is highly recommended. Occasionally I may assign additional readings, but these will ordinarily be short. You must come to class with written questions or comments you have about the readings (see Participation). The primary focus throughout the course will be on the biblical texts.
For the pericopes assigned, do the following in order:
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Map paper |
You will draw a map of the Roman Empire during the first century and write a paper on one of the places on the map.
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Exegesis paper |
You will submit an exegesis paper (3–4
pages) on a
synoptic text of your choice. For ideas, look at the back of the
Synopsis book or some critical
commentaries.
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Terms |
Throughout the semester, you'll be responsible for learning significant terms covered in our texts or in class (see the “terms” file on the R-drive). Use the course texts (e.g., glossary, index), the resources listed in Resources to consider below, or any other appropriate sources of information. The terms may constitute a part of any quiz or exam. |
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Exams & Quizzes |
There will be a midterm exam covering all the materials in the course, including the reading assignments and terms we will have covered by the time of the exam. The final exam, which will be an oral exam, will cover the entire sweep of the course. See my Evaluation page under Quizzes and examinations. There may be pop quizzes, the results of which will affect the evaluation of your participation. |
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Grades |
Grades will be assigned as fairly as possible. See my Evaluation page under Grades for more information. The final grade for the course will consist of the following:
NB: If you have any questions about how you're doing in the course, please make an appointment to see me. |
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Extra |
You may earn extra credit any time during the semester.
NB: The instructor reserves the right to make the final determination concerning any extra credit. You can earn a maximum of 5% toward the final grade. You may write more than one, if you wish, but you won't receive more than 5% total in extra credit. |
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Required books |
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Achtemeier, Paul. Inspiration and Authority: Nature and Function of Christian Scripture. Peabody: Hendrickson Publishers, 1999. |
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Aland, Kurt, ed. Synopsis of the four Gospels. New York: United Bible Societies, 1982. |
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Brown, Michael J. What They Don't Tell You: A Survivor's Guide to Biblical Studies. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2000. |
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Goodacre, Mark. The Synoptic Problem: A Way Through the Maze. London: T. & T. Clark, 2001. |
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Recommended books (* = highly recommended) |
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The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha (NRSV), 3rd ed. You may use another Bible, if you wish, but the New Oxford Annotated Bible (NOAB) will be the common text for class assignments and discussions. In all cases, you are encouraged to use other English translations (e.g., NIV) and Bibles in other languages in addition to the NRSV. The Tanakh is especially recommended for comparison of Old Testament passages. |
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Tanakh. Philadelphia: The Jewish Publication Society, 1985 (5748). |
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Black, David Alan and David R. Beck, eds. Rethinking the Synoptic Problem. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2001. |
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Brown, Raymond E. An Introduction to the New Testament. New York: Doubleday, 1997. |
| * | _____. An Introduction to New Testament Christology. New York: Paulist Press, 1994. |
| * | _____. Responses to 101 Questions on the Bible. New York: Paulist Press,1990. |
| * | Bultmann, Rudolf. Jesus Christ and Mythology. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1996. |
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Ehrman, Bart D. The New Testament. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997. |
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_____. The New Testament and Other Early Christian Writings. New York: Oxford University Press, 1998. |
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Hengel, Martin. Judaism and Hellenism. London: SCM Press, 1974. |
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Pelikan, Jaroslav. Jesus through the Centuries: His Place in the History of Culture. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1985. |
| * | Robinson, James M. A New Quest of the Historical Jesus. London: SCM Press, 1959. |
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Sanders, E. P. and Margaret Davies. Studying the Synoptic Gospels. London: SCM Press, 1989. |
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Segal, Alan F. Rebecca's Children: Judaism and Christianity in the Roman World. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1986. |
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Strunk, William, Jr., and E. B. White. The Elements of Style. New York: Macmillan Publishing, 1979. (See my Resources page under Miscellaneous for the first edition of Strunk.) |
| See my Resources page for McGill, AV, & Web resources, esp. The NT Gateway. | |
| Bible concordances (McGill library) | |
| R-drive: course folder and the "Religion" folder | |
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Keeping in touch |
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During the semester check your e-mail regularly for messages regarding course matters (e.g., changes in the syllabus). Also visit this page for updates to the syllabus, as well as my homepage for other information and resources related to the course. Please feel free to make an appointment any time about any course matters. |
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Tips from former students |
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For some practical advice from former students, see the tips page. |
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One last word . . . |
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Regardless of how demanding all of this is, I promise to be as fair as possible. I recognize that you’ll be very busy this semester pursuing various obligations and passions. I understand. I have my passions too, e.g., my wonderful family, music, philosophy, nature, mountain biking, fixing things, food. But I’m also very passionate about education, both yours and mine—I don’t just mean the business of acquiring knowledge, but more importantly the total development of honorable human beings. I don't require you to share my excitement about all the things we'll cover, but I do expect you to complete the requirements for the course. To help you do that as well as you can, I will make myself available outside the class time and the office hours. I'll be more than glad to help you when you're struggling with an assignment. Or if you have any questions, concerns, complaints, and even compliments, I will do my best to take the time to listen and offer my response. Keep in mind that I'm here to help you learn. So, again, welcome to Religion 207: Synoptic Gospels! |
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C o u r s e S c h e d u l e |
TR 1100–1230 PH 215 |
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• = required > = recommended + = read in the library (do not check out)
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bold = primary text(s) for discussion red bold = important date highlight = R-drive file
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Week 1
Jan 18 T Jan 20 |
•Course syllabus (including Evaluation link; review requirements, expectations & criteria for grading—ask Qs, if you have any) •Fisher: Effective Learning
•Synopsis: Preface; Introduction •Brown: Prolegomena; ch. 1 •Goodacre: Preface •Nicene Creed & Apostles' Creed
>NOAB: vii–xxvii; 453–66 ES; 543–73 Index (NB: these pages appear after the NT—skim carefully) >Jesus & Superman? (scroll all the way down to see the comparison) >C. S. Lewis: historical Jesus >Chronology (info & links) |
•Keep (& update) copies of all relevant Web pages
•Reminder: bring your Qs & Cs to each class (see Participation)
•Compare first chapters of the four Gospels •The
Greeks (interactive site) |
•General orientation
•What do you see? |
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Week 2
Jan 25 T Jan 27 |
•Gospel According to
Matthew (if possible read at one sitting; read any recent NT intro material
on Matt) •Goodacre: ch. 1
>Myth |
•Synopsis: 1–6 (Synopsis tips: color coding)
>Synoptic solutions (found on The NT Gateway) |
•Matthew matters |
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Week 3
Feb 1 T
Feb 3 |
•Gospel According to Mark (if possible read at one sitting; read any recent NT intro material on Mk) •Synopsis: 7–12 •Goodacre: ch. 2 |
•Synopsis: 7–12
>Redaction & hermeneutics (funny, interesting & instructive) |
•Mark matters |
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Week 4
Feb 8 T Feb 10 |
•Gospel According to Luke (if possible read at one sitting; read any recent NT intro material on Lk) •Synopsis: 13–20
>The "Parable of the Good Samaritan" with a humorous twist >Video: “From Jesus to Christ," pt.3: Jesus in the Gospels (if you want to see this helpful video, please come see me) |
Last day for exegesis proposal: Feb 11 (R-drive; file name = "last name proposal.doc"; see example of file name on R-drive)
•Synopsis: 13–20
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•Luke matters |
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Week 5
Feb 15 T Feb 17 |
•Synopsis: 13–20 |
•Synopsis: 13–20 |
•Preparation |
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Week 6
Feb 22 T Feb 24 |
•Synopsis: 30–39
>The Case Against Q (see 10 Reasons to Question Q) |
Map of Roman Empire due Feb 25 (R-drive; file name = "last name map.doc"; see example of file name on R-drive)
•Synopsis: 30–39 |
•Galilee 1 |
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Week 7
Mar 1 T
Mar 3 |
•Synopsis: 40–49
>The Case Against Q (see 10 Reasons to Question Q) |
•Synopsis: 40–49 |
•Galilee 2 |
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Mar 4 or 5 F or Sa |
pre-movie night movie night (a first!) with the Nas 7:46
PM-ish
directions on the R-drive or
here
(view in MS Word: in menu, click
View>Print Layout) or
click here | ||
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Week 8
Mar 8 T Mar 10
Mar 14–20 (break) |
•Synopsis: 40–49
•Course syllabus (including Evaluation link; review requirements, expectations & criteria for grading—ask Qs, if any) |
•Synopsis: 40–49 |
•Galilee 2 |
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Week 9
Mar 22 T Mar 24 |
•Synopsis: 50–76 |
Last day for exegesis draft: Mar 25 (R-drive; file name = "last name draft.doc"; see example of file name on R-drive)
•Synopsis: 50–76 |
•Sermon on the Mount |
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Week 10
Mar 29 T Mar 31 |
•Synopsis: 50–76 •Synopsis: 77–83 |
•Synopsis: 50–76 •Synopsis: 77–83 |
•Sermon on the Mount |
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Apr 1 F |
Movie night with the Nas 7:47
PM-ish
directions on the R-drive or
here
(view in MS Word: in menu, click
View>Print Layout) or
click here | ||
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Week 11
Apr 5 T Apr 7 |
•Synopsis: 158–73 |
•Synopsis: 158–73 |
•On the way to the cross |
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Week 12
Apr 12 T Apr 14 |
•Synopsis: 269–95, 305–15, 330–50 (focus on triple trad)
•Course syllabus (including Evaluation link; review requirements, expectations & criteria for grading—ask Qs, if any) |
•Synopsis: 269–95, 305–15, 330–50 (focus on triple trad) |
•Passion |
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Week 13
Apr 19 T
Apr 21–25 (Easter break)
Apr
28 R |
•Nicene Creed & Apostles' Creed •Gos Thom •Charlesworth: "The Historical Jesus and Exegetical Theology" (Princeton Seminary Bulletin 33 [2001]: 45–63)
>C. S. Lewis: historical Jesus >Brown: Intro to NT, 817–30 (“The Historical Jesus”); 105–7 ("Portraits of Jesus")>Resurrection |
•Synopsis: 269–95, 305–15, 330–50 (focus on triple trad) |
•Historical Jesus? |
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Week 14
May 3 T May 5 |
•Gabler: "On the Proper Distinction between Biblical and Dogmatic Theology and the Specific Objectives of Each" (Scottish Journal of Theology 33 [1980]: 133–58) •Meyer: "Faith and History Revisited" (Princeton Seminary Bulletin 10 [1989]: 75–83) |
Last day for exegesis paper: Apr 29 (R-drive; file name = "last name paper.doc"; see example of file name on R-drive)
Last day for extra credit papers: May 6 (R-drive; file name = "last name extra.doc")
•Gabler: bring your Qs & Cs (esp. on the distinction between biblical theology & dogmatic theology) •Bring some synoptic examples that illustrate the issues discussed by Gabler & Meyer (esp. on the distinction between biblical theology & dogmatic theology) |
•Biblical theology •Faith, history & text •Final thoughts |
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May 10 T |
F i n a l e x a m: 1500–1730 (regular classroom) |
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Have a great summer! |
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No class Apr 21 (review course materials & work on research paper)
•Video: “From Jesus to Christ," pt.3: Jesus in the Gospels