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Semester 2

Jesus and the Gospels (DIVI08012)

Subject

Divinity

College

CAHSS

Credits

20

Normal Year Taken

1

Delivery Session Year

2023/2024

Pre-requisites

Course Summary

This course is the partner to Paul and his Letters (level 8). It is an introduction to the study of Jesus and the Gospels within their Jewish and Graeco-Roman contexts and is aimed at students beginning their study of the New Testament. We will pay particular attention to recent work on the historical Jesus and Mark's Gospel (the earliest extant 'life of Jesus'), besides surveying a range of other gospels, both canonical and apocryphal. Finally, we will ask why some Gospels were included in the Christian canon while others were not.

Course Description

Academic Description: This course is the partner to Paul and his Letters (level 8). It is an introduction to the study of Jesus and the Gospels within their Jewish and Graeco-Roman contexts and is aimed at students beginning their study of the New Testament. We will pay particular attention to recent work on the historical Jesus and Mark's Gospel (the earliest extant 'life of Jesus'), besides surveying a range of other gospels, both canonical and apocryphal. Finally, we will ask why some Gospels were included in the Christian canon while others were not. Syllabus/Outline Content: The course begins with a survey of the Jewish and Roman contexts of Jesus's Galilee and the cities where the Gospels emerged. We'll look at what we can know about the historical Jesus, and then go on to analyse the ways in which we might approach the Gospels. Several weeks will be spent looking at Mark's Gospel, followed by a quicker look at Matthew, Luke and John. We'll also look at Gospels which didn't make it into the New Testament (for example, the Gospel of Thomas and the Gospel of Peter), and ask what processes led to their exclusion. Student Learning Experience Information: The course is taught through 3 weekly lectures and a regular tutorial. Background reading is listed for each lecture, and specific tutorial tasks are assigned for each week. In addition, students will be put into small groups to work on one 'artefact' from the time of Jesus, which they will present to the rest of the class in week 11. Students will demonstrate their achievement of the intended learning outcomes through regular essays, the group 'artefact', contribution to tutorial discussion, and the final exam.

Assessment Information

Written Exam 60%, Coursework 40%, Practical Exam 0% 30% Coursework: - For formative feedback only: prepare an outline of your first essay (2, below), due beginning of week 4. - Exegetical Essay 1: apply one reading strategy to a gospel text (form criticism, redaction criticism etc). 1500 words, due beginning of week 6 (ie the week after Innovative Learning Week). - Exegetical Essay 2: on a passage from Mark. 1500 words, due beginning of week 9. 10% - Tutorials and Omeka Project: students to prepare an A4 tutorial sheet as an aide memoir in class. Tutors will check that these are done, but will not take them in or mark them. The final score in this section of assessment will be largely determined on the basis of class participation, after consultation between the tutors as a group and the Course Manager. 60% - Final Written Exam (in person exam)

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