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
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REL 207: Synoptic Gospels |
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Spring Semester • 2006 |
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Welcome! |
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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
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. |
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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. 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. |
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Requirements and evaluation for the course |
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Evaluation |
For my criteria for evaluation of your work go to Evaluation and read the information carefully. |
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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
Bring your ideas and discoveries to class. |
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Annotated map |
You will draw an
annotated map of the Roman Empire
during the 1st century.
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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.
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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. |
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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. |
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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:
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Extra |
You may earn
extra credit any time during the semester.
: 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. |
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Required books |
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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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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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Tanakh. Philadelphia: The Jewish Publication Society, 1985 (5748). |
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Achtemeier, Paul. Inspiration and Authority: Nature and Function of Christian Scripture. Peabody: Hendrickson Publishers, 1999. |
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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. |
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_____. An Introduction to New Testament Christology. New York: Paulist Press, 1994. |
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_____. Responses to 101 Questions on the Bible. New York: Paulist Press,1990. |
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Bultmann, Rudolf. Jesus Christ and Mythology. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1996. |
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Duling, Dennis C. and Norman Perrin. The New Testament: Proclamation and Parenesis, Myth and History. 3rd ed. Fort Worth: Harcourt Brace College Publishers, 1994. |
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Ehrman, Bart D. 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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Miles, Jack. God: a biography. New York: Vintage Books, 1995. |
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Pelikan, Jaroslav.
Jesus through the Centuries: His Place in the History of Culture. New
Haven: |
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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.) |
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Resources to consider |
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See my Resources page for McGill, AV, & Web resources, esp. The NT Gateway. |
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R-drive: for helpful materials, check not only the course folder but also the "Religion" folder. |
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Bible concordances (McGill library) |
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Ferguson, Duncan S. Bible Basics. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1995. |
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Turner, Nicholas. The Handbook for Biblical Studies. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1982. |
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Keeping in touch |
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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. |
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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 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! |
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C o u r s e S c h e d u l e |
MWF 14:00–15:00 PH 132 |
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• = required > = recommended |
highlight = R-drive file (only on campus & Internet Explorer) red bold = important deadlines
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Jan 18 |
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Welcome to |
•Bible Hunt |
•General orientation |
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Jan 20 |
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•Course syllabus (including Evaluation link) •Synopsis: Preface; Introduction •Goodacre: Preface; •NOAB: 453–66 ES; 543–73 Index (NB: these pages appear after the NT—skim carefully)
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•Copy all relevant Web pages to your hard disk or diskette
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•Preliminary stuff: terms, concepts & approaches |
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Jan 23 |
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•Gospel According to
Matthew (if possible read at one sitting; read any recent NT intro material
on Matt) •Goodacre: ch. 1 •Apostles'
Creed
>From Jesus to
Christ >C. S. Lewis: historical Jesus >Chronology (info & links) |
•Synopsis: 1–6 (Synopsis tips) •Translation
comparison
>Redaction & hermeneutics (funny, interesting & instructive) |
•Matthew matters |
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Jan 25 |
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•Synopsis: 1–6 (Synopsis tips) •Goodacre: ch. 1
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•Synopsis: 1–6 (Synopsis tips)
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•Matthew matters |
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Jan 27 |
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•Synopsis: 1–6 (Synopsis tips) •Goodacre: ch. 1 |
•Synopsis: 1–6 (Synopsis tips)
>Synoptic solutions (found on The NT Gateway) |
•Matthew matters |
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Jan 30 |
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•Gospel According to Mark (if possible read at one sittingread any recent NT intro material on Mk) •Synopsis: 7–12 •Goodacre: ch. 2
>Myth |
•Synopsis: 7–12 |
•Mark matters |
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Feb 1 |
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•Synopsis: 7–12 |
•Synopsis: 7–12 |
•Mark matters |
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Feb 3 |
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•Synopsis: 7–12 |
•Synopsis: 7–12 |
•Mark matters |
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Feb 6 |
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•Gospel According to Luke (if possible read at one sitting; read any recent NT intro material on Lk) •Synopsis: 7–12 •Goodacre: ch. 3
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•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 |
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Feb 8 |
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•Synopsis: 7–12 •Goodacre: ch. 3
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•Synopsis: 7–12
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•Luke matters |
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Feb 10 |
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•Synopsis: 13–20
>Video: “From Jesus to Christ," pt.3: Jesus in the Gospels (if you want to see this helpful video, please come see me) |
•Synopsis: 13–20 |
•Luke matters |
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Feb 13 |
M |
•Synopsis: 13–20
Happy ©alentine's Day |
•Synopsis: 13–20 |
•Preparation |
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Feb 15 |
W |
•Synopsis: 13–20 |
•Exegesis paper proposal due (R-drive; file name = "last name proposal.doc"; see example of file name on R-drive) •Synopsis: 13–20 |
•Preparation |
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Feb 17 |
F |
•Synopsis: 13–20 |
•Synopsis: 13–20 |
•Preparation |
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Feb 20 |
M |
•Synopsis: 30–39 |
•Synopsis: 30–39 |
•Galilee 1 |
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Feb 22 |
W |
•Synopsis: 30–39 |
•Synopsis: 30–39 |
•Galilee 1 |
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Feb 24 |
F |
•Synopsis: 30–39 |
•Synopsis: 30–39 |
•Galilee 1 |
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Feb 27 |
M |
•Synopsis: 30–39
>The Case Against Q (see 10 Reasons to Question Q) |
•Synopsis: 30–39 |
•Galilee 1 |
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Mar 1 |
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•Synopsis: 40–49
>The Case Against Q (see 10 Reasons to Question Q) |
•Synopsis: 40–49 |
•Galilee 2 |
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Mar 3 |
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•Synopsis: 40–49
>The Case Against Q (see 10 Reasons to Question Q) |
•Synopsis: 40–49 |
•Galilee 2 |
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Mar 6 |
M |
•Synopsis: 40–49 |
•Synopsis: 40–49 |
•Galilee 2 |
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Mar 8 |
W |
•Synopsis: 40–49 |
•Synopsis: 40–49 |
•Galilee 2 |
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Mar 10 |
F |
•Synopsis: 40–49 |
•Synopsis: 40–49 |
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Mar 11–21 |
Catch up on some sleep |
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Mar 22 |
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•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 |
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Mar 24 |
F |
•Synopsis: 50–76 |
•Synopsis: 50–76
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•Video: “From Jesus to Christ," pt.3: Jesus in the Gospels •Sermon on the Mount |
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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 |
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Mar 29 |
W |
•Synopsis: 50–76 |
•Synopsis: 50–76 |
•Sermon on the Mount |
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Mar 31 |
F |
•Synopsis: 50–76 |
•Synopsis: 50–76 |
•Sermon on the Mount |
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Apr 3 |
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•Synopsis: 77–83 |
•Synopsis: 77–83 |
•Sermon on the Plain |
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Apr 5 |
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•Synopsis: 77–83 |
•Synopsis: 77–83 |
•Sermon on the Plain |
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Apr 7 |
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•Synopsis: 158–73 |
•Synopsis: 158–73 |
•On the way to the cross |
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