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)

 

In much wisdom is much vexation, and those who increase knowledge increase in sorrow.
 (Ecclesiastes 1.18)

 

Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.

(William Butler Yeats)

 

Westminster College 

Westminster homepage

 REL 207: Synoptic Gospels

Spring Semester • 2006 

 

 Welcome!

Welcome to Religion 207: Synoptic Gospels (or "Everything you always wanted to know about the Synoptic Gospels but were too afraid or busy to ask")! This course is a general introduction to and an exploration of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. More specifically, our aim will be

•

to read carefully and critically various passages in the Synoptic Gospels;

•

to explore the meaning of various synoptic pericopes by setting them in their historical context (e.g., cultural, geographical, literary, political contexts) as well as in relation to contemporary thought;

•

to discern major themes and issues in the Synoptics and to consider their significance for the history of western civilization and for us;

•

to become familiar with the methodological issues involved in the Synoptic Problem;

•

to note significant synoptic features that contrast with those in the Gospel According to John; and

•

to cultivate a reading of the Synoptic Gospels that is both critical and creative by developing exegetical skills using modern methods of interpretation, especially the historical-critical method.

Achieving these goals will require hard work on your part. At the same time, you can expect this course to be full of challenging, enlightening, exciting, frustrating, and rewarding experiences.

 

 Caveat

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. 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 it.

 

 Requirements and evaluation for the course

Evaluation

For my criteria for evaluation of your work go to Evaluation and read the information carefully.

Assigned

readings

The readings are essential and should be completed before the class for which they are assigned. Keeping notes on the readings is highly recommended. Occasionally there may be additional readings assigned in class, but these will ordinarily be short. You are required to 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 your best to

1)

understand each of the passage in its particular Gospel context (see Exegesis guidelines page for some starter questions and other tips to consider),

2)

compare with the parallels in the Synopsis to note the similarities and differences, and then also

3)

look at some critical commentaries in our library  (i.e., scholarly books on Matthew, Mark, or Luke with lots of [foot]notes) to see what some scholars have noted about the assigned pericopes.

Bring your ideas and discoveries to class.

Annotated

map

You will draw an annotated map of the Roman Empire during the 1st century.

•

You must draw the map by hand (on a letter-size paper). How colorful or artistic the map is will not affect the grade.

•

The map must show important boundaries, territories, cities, etc. Show

 

1) the most significant places in Palestine, including the main areas of Jesus' ministry, and

2) other significant places around the Mediterranean Sea, including all the places where Paul sent his undisputed letters (see textbook), and the 7 cities mentioned in Revelation 2–3.

 

The map should include at least the following: Alexandria, Antioch, Athens, Jerusalem, Rome.

•

Write a 2–3 page paper on one place (area or city), explaining its significance for the Roman Empire or for understanding the New Testament.

•

Follow all the instructions given on my Evaluation page under Written assignments. Use footnotes to document your sources.

•

The Oxford Bible Atlas and the maps at the end of your study Bible are good places to start. You may find NOAB 505–25 ES also helpful. For a little extra help click here.

•

As soon as you submit your paper, make an appointment to review your graded paper with me.

Exegesis

paper

You will submit a 3–4 page exegesis paper on a synoptic passage of your choice. For ideas, look at some critical commentaries.

•

You must make an appointment with me to submit and discuss the following two preliminary assignments (see due dates below), the quality of which may affect your final paper grade. Make an appointment as early as you can for a consultation.

 

1) Proposal: Submit in one file

 

1.1) a paragraph stating your research interest, including which pericope(s) you propose to analyze and

 

1.2) a bibliography that includes at least 8 secondary sources (besides course textbooks or reference books) you have found to be promising for your paper, including 4 journal articles related to the topic. You may use Web sources for your research, but they will not count among the 8 sources required for this assignment. NB: Electronic sources count only if you provide evidence that they also exist in print form.

Submit your proposal as early as possible in the semester, so that it can be approved for you to begin your work.

 

2) Draft: Submit in one file

 

2.1) a clear introductory paragraph stating the thesis of your paper and

 

2.2) 2 good sample paragraphs and your revised bibliography (or works cited).

NB: You are responsible for scheduling an appointment to bring a hard copy of these two written assignments to discuss them with me (after submitting them on the R-drive). See the schedule below for the last possible dates for them and make an appointment as soon as possible.

•

The paper should represent original work (i.e., your own thoughts), not a mere digest of other people’s opinions. Your own reading and re-reading of the relevant texts, as well as review of other materials, are fundamental to the task. I want to know what you discover in your engagement with the text(s)—a "text" can be written works, art works, music, plays, movies, interview, research results, poll data etc.—whether or not you agree with the authors or the opinions presented in class, including mine.

 

Focus on honing your ability to argue for your opinions and conclusions by supporting them with evidence from texts (especially primary texts) and other relevant sources.

•

Your final bibliography (or works cited) must contain at least 6 secondary sources, including 3 journal articles used in your paper.

 

Use only printed sources in your paper, even if you used Web sources during your research. NB: Electronic sources count only if you provide evidence that they also exist in print form. Use footnotes to document your sources.

•

Follow all the instructions given on my Evaluation page under Written assignments.

•

As soon as you submit your paper, make an appointment to review your graded paper with me.

Terms

Throughout the semester, you’ll be responsible for learning significant terms covered in our texts or in class. You will be responsible for the definitions and, when appropriate, significant biblical passages related to the terms. Use 1) the course texts (e.g., glossary and index), 2) the resources listed in Resources to consider below, or 3) the “terms” file on the R-drive, where the terms to be covered on quizzes and exams will be highlighted and updated.

Exams

&

Quizzes

There will be a midterm exam (ca. 30 mins.) 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.

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:

•

exegesis paper

30%

NB: participation is a significant part of this course.

See my Evaluation page under Participation for more information and instructions.

•

final examination

20%

•

map assignment

20%

•

participation

15%

•

midterm exam

15%

Extra
credit

You may earn extra credit any time during the semester.

•

Submit a 2–3 page reflection paper relating something from popular culture (e.g., movie, play, TV show, book, any performance) to a particular synoptic text or theme (consult the instructor). It should be mostly critique and not merely a plot summary.

•

Do other extra credit assignments described in the file on the R-drive.

Caveat: The instructor reserves the right to make the final determination concerning any extra credit. You can earn a maximum of 5% towards the final grade. You may write more than one, if you wish, but you won't receive more than 5% total in extra credit.

 

 Required books

•

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.

•

Aland, Kurt, ed. Synopsis of the four Gospels. New York: United Bible Societies, 1982.

•

Brown, Michael J. What They Don't Tell You: A Survivor's Guide to Biblical Studies. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2000.

•

Goodacre, Mark. The Synoptic Problem: A Way Through the Maze. London: T. & T. Clark, 2001.

 

 Recommended books (* = highly recommended)

 

Tanakh. Philadelphia: The Jewish Publication Society, 1985 (5748).

*

Achtemeier, Paul. Inspiration and Authority: Nature and Function of Christian Scripture. Peabody: Hendrickson Publishers, 1999.

*

Black, David Alan and David R. Beck, eds. Rethinking the Synoptic Problem. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2001.

*

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.

 

Duling, Dennis C. and Norman Perrin. The New Testament: Proclamation and Parenesis, Myth and History. 3rd ed. Fort Worth: Harcourt Brace College Publishers, 1994.

 

Ehrman, Bart D. The New Testament and Other Early Christian Writings. New York: Oxford University Press, 1998.

 

Hengel, Martin. Judaism and Hellenism. London: SCM Press, 1974.

 

Miles, Jack. God: a biography. New York: Vintage Books, 1995.

 

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.

*

Sanders, E. P. and Margaret Davies. Studying the Synoptic Gospels. London: SCM Press, 1989.

 

Segal, Alan F. Rebecca's Children: Judaism and Christianity in the Roman World. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1986.

* 

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.)

 

 Resources to consider

 

See my Resources page for McGill, AV, & Web resources, esp. The NT Gateway.

 

R-drive: for helpful materials, check not only the course folder but also the "Religion" folder.

 

 

Bible concordances (McGill library)

 

 

Ferguson, Duncan S. Bible Basics. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1995.

 

Turner, Nicholas. The Handbook for Biblical Studies. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1982.

 

 

 Keeping in touch

During the semester check your e-mail regularly for the latest messages from me regarding course matters (e.g., changes in the syllabus). Also visit this page for updates to the syllabus, as well as my home page for other information and resources related to the course. Please feel free to make an appointment any time about any course matters.

 

 Tips from former students

For some practical advice from former students, see the tips page.

 

 One last word …

Regardless of how tough all the stuff above sounds, I’m pretty much a nice guy. I promise to be as fair as possible. I recognize that you’ll be quite busy this semester, striving after all your passions. I understand. I have my passions too: my awesome, wonderful family, music, the Bible, the Reformed tradition, nature, mountain biking, fixing things, and food, among other things. 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 all 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 out when you're stuck while doing 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 opinion or advice. Keep in mind that I'm here to help you learn and to continue learning myself. So, again, welcome to Religion 207: Synoptic Gospels!

 

C o u r s e   S c h e d u l e

MWF 14:00–15:00          PH 132


Date

 


Assigned reading

• = required

> = recommended


Project / text

highlight = R-drive file (only on campus & Internet Explorer)

red bold = important deadlines

 


Class / topic

Jan 18

W

Welcome to
REL 207:
Synoptic Gospels

•Bible Hunt
•Optical illusion (stare at the center for 30 seconds & then look at your hand)

•General orientation

Jan 20

F

•Course syllabus (including Evaluation link)

•Synopsis: Preface; Introduction
•Brown: Prolegomena; ch. 1

•Goodacre: Preface;
•Fisher: Effective Learning

•NOAB: 453–66 ES; 543–73 Index (NB: these pages appear after the NT—skim carefully)


>NOAB: vii–xxvii

>The Diatessaron

>Development of the canon

•Copy all relevant Web pages to your hard disk or diskette


•Reminder: bring your Qs & Cs to each class (see Participation)


 

>Bible in 50 words
>"Quiz"

>Perception quiz
>Riddles

•Preliminary stuff: terms, concepts & approaches

Jan 23

M

•Gospel According to Matthew (if possible read at one sitting; read any recent NT intro material on Matt)
•Synopsis: 1–6 (Synopsis tips)
•Brown: ch. 2 (RoT 1–10)

•Goodacre: ch. 1

•Apostles' Creed
•Nicene Creed
•Gos Thom
•Sec Gos Mk
•Gos Pet
•Inf Gos Thom
•Prot Jas

 

>From Jesus to Christ
>Jesus & Superman? (scroll all the way down to see the comparison)

>C. S. Lewis: historical Jesus

>Chronology (info & links)

•Synopsis: 1–6 (Synopsis tips)
•Review beginnings of the Gospels

•Translation comparison
•The Greeks (interactive site)
•Reminder: bring your Qs & Cs to each class (see Participation)

 

>Manuscript

>Transmission errors

>Redaction & hermeneutics (funny, interesting & instructive)

•Matthew matters

Jan 25

W

•Synopsis: 1–6 (Synopsis tips)
•Brown: ch. 2 (RoT 11–19)

•Goodacre: ch. 1

•Phraseology: KoG & KoH

 

>O Little Town of Nazareth?

•Synopsis: 1–6 (Synopsis tips)
•Translation comparison
•Reminder: bring your Qs & Cs to each class (see Participation)

 

>Manuscript

>Transmission errors

•Matthew matters

Jan 27

F

•Synopsis: 1–6 (Synopsis tips)
•Brown: ch. 3

•Goodacre: ch. 1

•Synopsis: 1–6 (Synopsis tips)

 

>Basic Synoptic solutions

>Synoptic solutions (found on The NT Gateway)

•Matthew matters

Jan 30

M

•Gospel According to Mark (if possible read at one sittingread any recent NT intro material on Mk)

•Synopsis: 7–12
•Brown: ch. 4–5

•Goodacre: ch. 2

 

>Myth

•Synopsis: 7–12

•Mark matters

Feb 1

W

•Synopsis: 7–12
•Goodacre: ch. 2

•Synopsis: 7–12

•Mark matters

Feb 3

F

•Synopsis: 7–12
•Goodacre: ch. 2

•Synopsis: 7–12

•Mark matters

Feb 6

M

•Gospel According to Luke (if possible read at one sitting; read any recent NT intro material on Lk)

•Synopsis: 7–12

•Goodacre: ch. 3

 

>O Little Town of Nazareth?

•Map of Roman Empire due (R-drive; file name = "last name map.doc"; see example of file name on R-drive)

•Synopsis: 7–12

•Luke matters

Feb 8

W

•Synopsis: 7–12

•Goodacre: ch. 3

•Luke: pairs

 

>The "Parable of the Good Samaritan" with a humorous twist

•Synopsis: 7–12

•Cotton Patch: Lk 10.25–37

•Cotton Patch: Lk 15

 

>Reflections on the Cotton Patch Version

•Luke matters

Feb 10

F

•Synopsis: 13–20
•Goodacre: ch. 3

 

>Video: “From Jesus to Christ," pt.3: Jesus in the Gospels (if you want to see this helpful video, please come see me)

>From Jesus to Christ

•Synopsis: 13–20

•Luke matters

Feb 13

M

•Synopsis: 13–20
•Goodacre: ch. 4

 

Happy ©alentine's Day

•Synopsis: 13–20

•Preparation

Feb 15

W

•Synopsis: 13–20
•Goodacre: ch. 4

•Exegesis paper proposal due (R-drive; file name = "last name proposal.doc"; see example of file name on R-drive)

•Synopsis: 13–20

•Preparation

Feb 17

F

•Synopsis: 13–20
•Goodacre: ch. 4

•Synopsis: 13–20

•Preparation

Feb 20

M

•Synopsis: 30–39
•Goodacre: ch. 5

•Synopsis: 30–39

•Galilee 1

Feb 22

W

•Synopsis: 30–39
•Goodacre: ch. 5

•Synopsis: 30–39

•Galilee 1

Feb 24

F

•Synopsis: 30–39
•Goodacre: ch. 5

•Synopsis: 30–39

•Galilee 1

Feb 27

M

•Synopsis: 30–39
•Goodacre: ch. 6

 

>The Case Against Q (see 10 Reasons to Question Q)

•Synopsis: 30–39

•Galilee 1

Mar 1

W

•Synopsis: 40–49
•Goodacre: ch. 6

 

>The Case Against Q (see 10 Reasons to Question Q)

•Synopsis: 40–49

•Galilee 2

Mar 3

F

•Synopsis: 40–49
•Goodacre: ch. 6

 

>The Case Against Q (see 10 Reasons to Question Q)

•Synopsis: 40–49
 

•Galilee 2

Mar 6

M

•Synopsis: 40–49
•Goodacre: ch. 7

•Synopsis: 40–49

•Galilee 2

Mar 8

W

•Synopsis: 40–49

•Synopsis: 40–49

•Midterm exam

•Galilee 2

Mar 10

F

•Synopsis: 40–49

•Synopsis: 40–49

 

Mar 11–21

Catch up on some sleep

Mar 22

W

•Course syllabus (including Evaluation link; review requirements, expectations & criteria for grading—ask Qs, if any)

•Synopsis: 50–76

•Synopsis: 50–76

•Sermon on the Mount

Mar 24

F

•Synopsis: 50–76

•Synopsis: 50–76

 

 

•Video: “From Jesus to Christ," pt.3: Jesus in the Gospels

•Sermon on the Mount

Mar 27

M

•Synopsis: 50–76

•Draft of exegesis paper due (R-drive; file name = "last name draft.doc"; see example of file name on R-drive)

•Synopsis: 50–76

•Sermon on the Mount

Mar 29

W

•Synopsis: 50–76

•Synopsis: 50–76

•Sermon on the Mount

Mar 31

F

•Synopsis: 50–76

•Synopsis: 50–76

•Sermon on the Mount

Apr 3

M

•Synopsis: 77–83

•Synopsis: 77–83

•Sermon on the Plain

Apr 5

W

•Synopsis: 77–83

•Synopsis: 77–83

•Sermon on the Plain

Apr 7

F

•Synopsis: 158–73

•Synopsis: 158–73

•On the way to the cross