COURSE SYLLABUS
(Revised 8/2005)
COURSE NUMBER: RELG
2301
HOURS:
Lecture: 3, Laboratory: 0, Clock Hours: 45
SEMESTER CREDIT HOURS: 3
PREREQUISITE: None
FACULTY: Jerry
Klein
OFFICE:
PHONE: 372-5747 or 373-4109
E-MAIL: biblechair@amaonline.com
or jerryklein@amaonline.com
WEBSITE: www.amarillobiblechair.homestead.com
OFFICE HOURS: By Appointment
REQUIRED
EXAMINATIONS:
A post examination will be required
for the completion of this course, as well as any other examinations required
by the instructor.
DESCRIPTION
OF COURSE:
The life of Jesus Christ as
presented in the four gospels, along with the principle tenets of his teaching
chronologically harmonized and integrated (A.C.
Catalog).
TEXTBOOK: A
Bible (a modern, major translation is preferred).
PURPOSE
AND GOALS FOR THE COURSE:
By
the completion of this course, the student will demonstrate his/her knowledge
and understanding of the subject matter by obtaining a minimum of a 70%
competency level on the stated performance/learning objectives.
The
class will introduce, analyze and integrate the historical and literary backgrounds
of the four gospels; and address the issue of the "synoptic
problem." The successful student
will then assimilate the theme, background, and contents of each book of the
gospels in a useable form. The emphasis
of the course is on a factual and chronological evaluation of the life of Jesus
of Nazareth, his teaching and each gospel writer's claims concerning him.
PERFORMANCE/LEARNING
OBJECTIVES (Minimum
Competencies):
After
studying the material in this course, the student will be able to do the following:
1.
Outline and summarize the life of
Jesus Christ, without the aid of supporting materials.
2. Understand
and explain the most widely held theories regarding the relationships between,
and differences in, the four gospels.
3. Reasonably
explain her/his own convictions regarding the relationship between, and
differences in, the four gospels.
4. Identify
and/or describe the background and theme for each of the four gospels.
5. Define
the word gospel as it relates to Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and various other
non-canonical manuscripts, and to the broader New Testament use of the term.
6. Describe
the major characteristics of Jesus' teaching style, methods and content.
7. Note
the different geographical sites of
8. Describe
the cultural and political world of first century
9. Describe
the Roman provincial system of government during the life of Christ and its
societal impact on the Jews.
10. Demonstrate
the ability to use the basic research tools available in the field of religion,
and draw reasonable conclusions on the basis of careful study.
Any student who, because of a disabling
condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course
requirements should contact Accessibility Services (L101, Phone 371-5436) as
soon as possible.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
1.
Regular
attendance.
a.
Your
instructor will keep careful attendance records.
b. Two unexcused absences will be allowed
before your grade is directly affected by your attendance.
c. If you have more than two unexcused
absences, you will be required to do make-up work in order to maintain the
letter grade you are earning.
d. It is your responsibility to ask for
make-up work when your absences are excessive.
e. Your
absence will be excused if it is due to illness or family problems. It is your
responsibility to tell me when your absence should be excused. I will not ask.
2.
A careful reading of all four gospels.
3.
The successful completion of
three exams.
a. These
tests will be spread out through the semester (consult the Course Outline).
b. The
first two tests will only cover material that you have not been tested
over.
c. The
final exam will be comprehensive. However, any question on the final exam that
covers material you have previously been tested over, will be worded in exactly
the same way that it was on the previous exam.
d. Test questions may include listing,
multiple choice, identify and/or define, and essay.
4.
A research paper on any
aspect of the life of Christ.
a. This paper must be five to eight pages
long, with a minimum of four documented sources used, in addition to the Bible
(consult the attached bibliography for possible sources).
b. The paper must be typed neatly, using
size 12 font, double spaced.
c. Good form (MLA) must be used in typing,
documentation, and bibliography.
d. We will devote one class period to a
discussion of possible subjects, and the use of a library, early in the
semester.
e. The purpose of this paper is to test
your ability to do personal research, and think. It is not to be an essay or sermon.
f. This research paper
will be due on
COURSE GRADE DETERMINATION: COURSE
GRADING SCALE:
First Examination 25% A 90-100
Second Examination 25% B 80-89
Research Paper 25% C 70-79
Final Examination 25% D 60-69
100% F
0-59
COURSE OUTLINE:
I. Background and Introduction
A. The
Theology of Christ
1. The Name “Jesus Christ”
2. Jesus as The Christ
3. Common Approaches to Christology
B. The
Historicity of Jesus The Christ
1. Jewish Witnesses
2. Roman Witnesses
3. Christian Witnesses
a. Non-Canonical
b. Canonical
C. The
Quest for the Historical Jesus
1. Epistemology, Hermeneutics, Exegesis
and Exposition
2. Textual Criticism
3. The Question of the Historicity of the
Resurrection of Christ
D. The
World Jesus Knew
1. The Geography and Archaeology of
2. The Influence of the
3. The Politics of
4. First Century Judaism and the Law of
Moses
First Exam
II. The Life of Christ
A. His
Birth (Matt. 1-2; Lk. 1 – 2:40)
B. His
Boyhood (Lk.
C. His
Preparation
1. His Forerunner (Matt. 3:1-12; Mk.
1:1-8; Lk. 3:2-18; Jn. 1:6-8, 19-28; Matt. 14:1-4; Mk.
6:17-18; Lk. 3:19-20)
2. His Baptism (Matt. 3:13-17; Mk.
1:9-11; Lk. 3:21-22)
3. His Temptation (Matt. 4:1-11; Mk.
D. His
Ministry (Matt.
1. His Apostles
2. His Miracles
3. His Teachings
E. From
Second Exam
F. His
Final Week (Matt. 21:1 – 28:15; Mk. 11:1 – 16:8; Lk.
G. His
Last Days on Earth (Matt. 28:16-20; Mk. 16:9-16; Lk. 24:44-53;
Acts 1:1-11; Jn. 21)
III. The Significance of the Christ (Jn. 20;
Acts 2; I Cor. 15; I Thess.
Final Exam (Dec. 14,
SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Aland, Kurt, ed. Synopsis of the Four
Gospels. (ABC)
Baillie, D. God
Was in Christ. (AC)
Barclay, W. Jesus As They Saw Him. (ABC)
. Jesus
of
. The
All-Sufficient Christ. (ABC)
. The
Mind of Jesus. (ABC)
Barrett, C. Jesus
and the Gospel Tradition. (ABC)
Bauckham, R. The Gospels for All Christians.
Bauer, Rick. Anatomy of
Bornkamm, G. Jesus of
Broadus, J.A. A Harmony of the Gospels. (AC)
Bromiley, G. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia,
revised. Four Volumes. (ABC-AC)
Brown, R. The Birth of the Messiah. (ABC-AC)
_______. The
Death of the Messiah. (ABC-AC)
Bruce, F. F, Paul and Jesus. (ABC-AC)
Bultmann, R. Kerygma and Myth. (AC)
Buttrick, G. Jesus
Came Preaching. (ABC)
_______, ed. The Interpreter’s Bible Dictionary. Five Volumes with Supplement. (ABC-AC)
Capon, R. The
Parables of Grace. (ABC)
_______. The
Parables of Judgment. (ABC)
_______. The
Parables of The Kingdom. (ABC)
Cormier, F. The
Humor of Jesus. (AC)
Denney, J. Jesus
and the Gospel. (AC)
Deissmann, A. Light
from the Ancient East. (ABC)
Dibelius, M. Jesus. (AC)
Dodd, C.H. The Parables of the Kingdom. (AC)
Edersheim, A. The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah. (ABC-AC)
Evans, C. Jesus.
(IBR Bibliographies)
Fraser, T. The
Life and Philosophy of Christ. (ABC)
Freednan, D., ed. The Anchor Bible Dictionary. Six Volumes. (ABC-AC)
Goodspeed, E. A Life of Jesus.
(AC)
Guthrie, D. A
Shorter Life of Christ. (ABC)
Hengel, M. Crucifixion. (ABC)
Hoskyns & Davey. Crucifixion-Resurrection. (AC)
Jeremias, J. The Parables of Jesus. (AC)
Johnson, L. The Gospel of Luke. (ABC)
Josephus, F. The Works of Flavius Josephus. (ABC)
Kasemann, E. Essays on New Testament Themes. (ABC)
Kee, H. Jesus in History. (ABC)
Ladd, G. I Believe in the Resurrection of Jesus. (ABC)
.
The
Gospel of the Kingdom. (ABC)
Lightfoot, N. Lessons
from the Parables. (ABC)
Manson, W. The
Sayings of Jesus. (ABC)
Metzger, B. The New Testament: It’s Background, Growth and Content.
(ABC)
Moltmann, J. The Crucified God. (AC)
. The
Way of Jesus Christ. (AC)
Moule, C. The
Origin of Christology. (AC)
Mowinckel, S. He
That Cometh. (AC)
Orr, J. The
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
Five Volumes. (ABC)
Pannenberg, W. Jesus: God and
Powell, M. God with Us. (ABC)
Robertson, A.T. A
Harmony of the Gospels. (ABC)
. Epochs in the Life of Christ. (ABC)
Schillebeeckx, E. Christ. (AC)
.
Jesus. (AC)
Schweitzer, A. The
Quest for the Historical Jesus. (AC)
Sheen, F.
Life of Christ. (AC)
Shepard, J.W. The
Christ of the Gospels. (ABC-AC)
Stott, J. The
Cross of Christ. (ABC)
Tenney. M. The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible.
(ABC)
Tillich, P. Systematic
Theology. Volume II. (AC)
Trench, R.C. The Parables and Miracles of Our Lord. (ABC)
Trueblood, E. The Humor of Christ. (AC)
Vawter, P. This
Man Jesus. (AC)
Weatherhead, L. Personalities
of the Passion. (AC)
Yancey, P. The Jesus I Never Knew. (ABC)
Yoder, J. The Politics of Jesus. (AC)
Other Sources:
Any good, up-to-date exegetical
commentary on any of the four gospels would be a good source.
KEY:
ABC refers to any book available in this
library.
AC refers
to any book available in the