NT301 - Jesus and the Gospels

  • 0 Standard Tuition Fee
  • 4
    Credit Points
  • 0.125 EFT 
  • 5
    AQF level
  • new testamentUnit Discipline

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will

A. Know and understand

  1. The contents, themes and character of the canonical Gospel traditions
  2. The life and ministry of Jesus

B. Be able to

  1. Explain the influence of the historical, socio-cultural, religious and political setting of first-century Palestine as the context of Jesus’ life and ministry
  2. Analyse the distinctive features of the four Gospels and the interrelationships between them
  3. Discuss: a) the life and identity of Jesus; and b) the message and ministry of Jesus

C. Be in a position to

  1. Integrate perspectives from ‘Jesus and the Gospels’ with their other theological studies
  2. Apply perspectives from ‘Jesus and the Gospels’  to current issues in Christian life and thought

Content

  1.    Context and setting:

The historical, socio-cultural, religious and political setting of first century Palestine

  1. One Gospel and four Gospels:
    1. A detailed study of one or more gospels
    2. Distinctive features of the Gospels
    3. The interrelationship of the Gospels
  2. The identity and life of Jesus:
    1. The designations and titles of Jesus
    2. The passion and resurrection narratives
  3. The message and ministry of Jesus:
    1. The Kingdom of God in the proclamation of Jesus
    2. The significance and interpretation of the parables
    3. The ethics of Jesus, including the Sermon on the Mount
    4. The miracles of Jesus and their significance
  4. Reflection (through a-d) on the significance of Jesus Christ for contemporary life and ministry

Set Readings

Recommended:

Bauckham, R., Jesus and the Eyewitnesses (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2008).

Blomberg, C. L., Jesus and the Gospels (Leicester: Apollos, 2002 repr).

Bockmuehl, M., The Cambridge Companion to Jesus (Cambridge: CUP, 2001).

Bock, D. L., Studying the Historical Jesus: A Guide to Sources and Methods (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2002).

Borg, M. J., Jesus (New York: Happer One,2008).

Hultgren, A. J., The Parables of Jesus: A Commentary (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000).

Meier, J. P., A Marginal Jew: Rethinking the Historical Jesus (2 Vols, New York: Doubleday, 1991, 1994).

Seccombe, D., The King of God’s Kingdom: A Solution to the Puzzle of Jesus (Carlisle: Paternoster, 2002).

Witherington, B., What They Have Done With Jesus? (New York: Happer One, 2007).