Department of Religion
Mary Suydam
Department of Religion
Mary Suydam
Religious Studies 225: The New Testament
Prof. Mary Suydam Spring 2008
Class: Tues-Thurs. 2: 40 - 4
Phone PBX 5067
Ascension 309
Office Hours: MWF 12 - 2
Email: suydam@kenyon.edu
Goals of the Course: This course is an introduction
to the New Testament, focusing primarily on the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), and some of the letters
of Paul. We will also analyze books such as Acts, Hebrews, and the book of Revelations. We will learn
how these books came to be written, who wrote them, and their intended audiences. We will study how the New Testament
slowly assumed its final form. We will learn about some of the methodologies (source, form, and redaction criticism)
that scholars use to study the New Testament. The New Testament is critical to understanding the origins of Christianity.
We will study the many (and sometimes competing) approaches to Christianity within the ancient world. We will particularly
focus upon differing New Testament views of Jesus and his message. We will also study other writings from the ancient
world, such as other gospels, testaments, and books of Acts.
Required Texts:
Harper Collins Study Bible.
Gospel Parallels. B. Throckmorton (Nelson Press), 5th edition.
From Jesus to Christ. Paula Fredriksen (Harper-Collins Press).
Lost Christianities. Bart Ehrman.. (New York: Oxford University Press, 2005).
Suggested Texts (we will be reading portions of these texts):
Who Wrote the New Testament? Burton Mack. (San Francisco: Harper San Francisco, 1995).
Jesus: Apocalyptic Prophet. Bart Ehrman. (New York: Oxford University Press,).
There will also be E-res and Course Reserve Readings.
Class Format: This class is organized as a collaborative exploration with the professor as guide. There will be occasional presentations by the teacher. Classes will focus on serious discussion of the readings. You should come to class each day prepared to discuss the reading for that day. You should also bring the relevant reading materials. Plan especially on bringing the Bible and Gospel Parallels every day. Some classes will begin with a problem-solving or analytical exercise related to the topic to be discussed in class. Then we will discuss our theories and strategies. There will also be weekly written assignments (see below).
Course Requirements:
1. Attendance and Participation: 20%. Regular attendance is a requirement of this course. This course is structured as a collaborative exchange of information between students and professor. The format of the class is a combination of lecture and discussion, with emphasis on discussion and exploration of texts together. Active discussion of the topics is a critical component of this class. If you are present for every class but never say a word, that is a C. Missing more than two unexcused classes will lower your final grade by one full point (B becomes C, for example). You will be given written feedback on your participation midway through the course.
2. Weekly writing assignments: 20% There will be weekly writing assignments each week to aid in preparing for discussions of the texts. These assignments will focus on the methodology for reading the texts and your discoveries as you apply these critical tools.
3. Exegesis Paper: 20%. This will be a critical examination of a portion of New Testament text. For detailed instructions on this assignment, click Exegesis Paper Instructions. Exegesis papers are due March 18.
4. Group Project: 20%. This project will allow you to apply what you have learned in the course to a specific topic related to contemporary debates about the New Testament. The reason there are debates is because there is conflicting evidence on these issues within the New Testament texts. As a group you will have to analyze the relevant texts for your topic, study some competing views about these texts, come to an informed decision about them, and present your findings to the rest of the class. For a list of topics and detailed instruction on this assignment, click Group Project Instructions. Class presentations will occupy the last week of class. For important dates click here. The information presented will be part of the material on the final exam. See also List of Group Members.
For grade criteria click here.
5. Final Exam: 20%. The final exam will test your ability to think critically about the texts you have studied, including aspects of the class presentations. It will be an open book exam.
Topics and Reading Assignments
Week 1: The New Testament World
Jan. 15: Introduction to the class; a short walk through the Roman world
Assignment: gospel beginnings: compare the actual beginnings of each gospel (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) with your original ideas about how they begin or ought to begin. Write a 1-2 page paper about your reactions to this comparison: surprises, questions, issues you would like to know more about.
Jan. 17: The story of Israel; Gospel beginnings
Readings: From Jesus to Christ, chapters 2, 5
Ehrman, Lost Christianities, Introduction
Harper Collins Study Bible, xxxix - xliii: "Strategies for Reading Scripture"
Who was Jesus? Images of Jesus in the 19th and 20th centuries
Film:From Jesus to Christ, part I
Gospel Beginnings
Week 2: Composition of the New Testament: Gospels
Jan. 22: Discovering the gospels; the triple tradition
Readings: From Jesus to Christ, chapter 1
E-res: Jesus, Apocalyptic Prophet (Bart Ehrman)
Schweitzer, The Quest for the Historical Jesus (Handout)
When were the gospels written?
Jan. 24: Understanding the triple tradition; the double tradition and Q
Assignment: The triple tradition: Gospel Parallels #52, pages 42-43
Who was Jesus? What was his historical context?
What's in the Triple Tradition?
Week 3: Q
Jan. 29: Working with Q
Readings: The Lost Gospel of Q, chapter 5 (E-Res)
Gospel Parallels, #167, 2, 18, 19
Ehrman, Jesus, Apocalyptic Prophet, chapter 3, 41-53 (Course Reserve)
Jan. 31: Form criticism
Readings: Ehrman, Lost Christianities, chapter 3
Assignment: The double tradition: Gospel Parallels #35 and 38.
Week 4: Paul
Feb. 5: Who was Paul?
Readings: Galatians 4:1-8; Galatians 5:16-26; I Thessalonians 5: 9-26;
Burton Mack, Who Wrote the New Testament, chapter 4 (Course Reserve)
Film: From Jesus to Christ, part 2
Feb. 7: Paul and other Christians; responses to the resurrection
Readings: Ehrman, Lost Christianities, chapter 2
Readings: From Jesus to Christ, chapter 8
Week 5: Paul and Mark
Feb. 12: Understanding Paul's context
Readings: Burton Mack, Who Wrote the New Testament, chapter 5 (Course Reserve)
From Jesus to Christ, chapter 3, pp. 52-61
Assignment: Pauline terminology
Feb. 14: Understanding Mark's context: the Jewish war and the destruction of the Temple
Readings: From Jesus to Christ, chapter 9, 177-185
Gospel Parallels, #91, 93, 95
Week 6: The Gospel of Mark
Feb. 19: The Secret Messiah
Readings: From Jesus to Christ, chapter 3, pages 44-52
Gospel of Mark, chapters 1-6
Feb. 21: Miracle and controversy stories
Readings: Gospel of Mark, chapters 7-12
Ehrman, Lost Christianities, chapter 4
The "James" Ossuary Controversy
Week 7: Mark Continued: the Passion Narrative
Feb. 26:
Signups to Discuss Exegesis Paper
Reading: Gospel of Mark, chapters 13-16
Assignment: Mark's Passion Narrative
Feb. 28: Passion Narrative continued
Mark's Passion Narrative: Class insights
Film: From Jesus to Christ, part 3
-------------------------------------SPRING BREAK ------------------------------------------
Week 8: Matthew
March 18:
Readings: From Jesus to Christ, 36-43
Matthew, chapters 1-7; 20: 1-16
Gospel Parallels, #59, 60, 63, 68
Exegesis Papers due Tuesday, Mar. 18
Choose Topics for Group Presentation.
The Gospel of Matthew: Background and Motifs
March 20:
Readings: From Jesus to Christ, chapter 9, 185-191
Matthew, chapters 24-28 (and corresponding Gospel Parallels 227-231)
Lost Christianities, chapter 5
Week 9: Luke
March 25:
Readings: From Jesus to Christ, chapter 9, 191-198
Luke, chapters 1-2; Gospel Parallels E-L
Luke, chapters 10-16; Gospel Parallels 139-141, 143-144, 173-174, 177
Factors contributing to the diversity of Christian groups
March 27:
Readings: From Jesus to Christ, 185-191, 36-44
Luke, chapters 21-22; Gospel Parallels 214, 238-240, 244-246, 249-250, 253, CC, DD, EE
From Jesus to Christ, 191-198, 27-36
Ehrman, Jesus, Apocalyptic Prophet, chapters 8-10 (Course Reserve)
Assignment for Thursday: Themes in Luke
Week 10 and 11: John
April 1: The cosmic Christ
Readings: From Jesus to Christ, 198-204, 19-26
John, chapters 1-4
Structure and Features of the Fourth Gospel
April 3: Seeing is believing
Readings: John, chapters 4-9
Robert Kysar, John, the Maverick Gospel, chapter 3 (Online through Netlibrary)
Study Assignment: Themes in John
April 8: John and Qumran
Readings: John, chapters 10-16
The Fourth Gospel and Qumran apocalyptic
Robert Kysar, John, the Maverick Gospel, chapter 2 (Online through Netlibrary)
Study Assignment : Johannine Dualism
April 10: The farewell discourse
Readings: John, chapters 13-17
Ehrman, Lost Christianities, chapter 6
Study Assignment for Thursday: John's Passion Narrative
Meet with instructor to go over data for group presentations.
Week 12: The New Testament in context: Acts
April 15 and 17
Study Assignment for Tuesday: Read the first four chapters of the Book of Acts. Jot down three major themes that are established.
Read also: E-res: Mack, Who Wrote the New Testament, chapter 9: "Inventing Apostolic Traditions"
Ehrman, Lost Christianities, chapter 7
Acts of the Apostles: Sequence of Events
April 17: Dress Rehearsal: Groups 1 and 2 (outside class)
Study Assignment for Thursday: Read the book of Acts, chapters 9-15.
Readings: Lost Christianities, chapter 8
From Jesus to Christ, chapter 10
Week 13: Early Christian Communities
Class presentations will take place Weeks 13 and 14: April 22, 24 and April 29 and May1 .
April 22 and 24
April 22: Dress Rehearsal: Groups 3 and 4 (outside class)
Readings: Colossians, chapters 1-4; Hebrews, chapters 5-10
Mack, Who Wrote the New Testament, chapter 7, pages 183-193 (Course Reserve)
Lost Christianities, chapter 11
April 24: The Pastoral Epistles
Readings:
I and II Timothy; Titus; James
E-Res: Pagels, Gnostic Gospels, "The Controversy over Christ's Resurrection"
Week 14: Revelations
Aprl 29
Readings: Excerpts from The Da Vinci Code (E-Res)
Assignment: Spot the Whoppers
May 1
Revelations 1-7, 17-22
Lost Christianities, chapter 1 and chapter 12
Battle hymn of the republic (performance)
Battle hymn of the republic (lyrics)
Class Presentations:
April 22: The New Testament and Anti Semitism
April 24: The New Testament and Women
April 29 : The New Testament and "Family Values"
May 1: The New Testament: Peace or War?