RELG 312 RELG 312—NEW TESTAMENT STUDIES II MCGILL UNIVERSITY Faculty of Religious Studies Winter 2015 I. COURSE DETAILS Instructor Email Office Office Hours Frederick S. Tappenden, Ph.D. frederick.tappenden@mcgill.ca Birks 016 Monday, 10.30 AM – 12.30 PM, or by appointment Course Webpage myCourses Course Weight Time Location 3 Credit Hours Tuesday and Thursday, 1.05–2.25 PM Birks 111 Prerequisites Language None Lectures will be in English. In accord with McGill University’s Charter of Students’ Rights, students in this course have the right to submit in English or in French any written work that is to be graded. II. COURSE DESCRIPTION AND GOALS According to the McGill University course description, RELG 312—New Testament Studies II is described as follows: An introduction to the critical study of the Gospels. RELG 312 is a complementary course to RELG 311; the former focuses primarily on Jesus and the Gospels, the latter on the rest of the New Testament canon. To fulfil the above description, the Winter 2015 offering of RELG 312 will meet the following goals: 1. To introduce the modern academic study of the canonical Gospels, including introduction to a variety of critical methods, interpretive strategies, and scholarly perspectives. 2. To overview and closely read the canonical Gospels and a selection of other early Christian Gospels with special emphasis placed on their socio-cultural, historical, and religious dimensions. 3. To read the Gospels both literarily as expressions of early Christian thought and memory, and synoptically as expressions of early Christian diversity and change. 4. To situate the canonical Gospels within their historical and cultural milieu. 5. To identify and trace the development of the various forms of early Christian thought and community evident in the canonical Gospels. -1- Winter 2015 RELG 312 6. To distinguish and demarcate theological variety within the early Christian movement, including varying understandings of Jesus and God, nuances within each Gospel tradition, and religious developments (theological and institutional). 7. To read ancient texts from a variety of perspectives, considering questions of social location, personal and collective commitments, and the uses of New Testament texts in ancient and modern communities. 8. To develop critical thinking skills through written assignments and class discussion materials, and to promote proper use of both primary and secondary resources. III. REQUIRED, RECOMMENDED, AND RESERVE TEXTS The following textbooks are required for this course. They can be purchased at the McGill University Bookstore, and they are also on reserve at the Birks Reading Room. Holladay, Carl R. A Critical Introduction to the New Testament: Interpreting the Message and Meaning of Jesus Christ (Expanded Edition with CD-Rom). Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2005. Aland, Kurt. Synopsis of the Four Gospels. New York: American Bible Society, 2010. A Brief Note on Gospel Synopses: There are several Gospel synopses currently published, many of which are quite good. In addition to Aland, students may wish to consult Burton H. Throckmorton, Jr., ed., Gospel Parallels: A Comparison of the Synoptic Gospels (5th ed.; Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson, 1992) or Zeba A. Crook, Parallel Gospels: A Synopsis of Early Christian Writings (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012). Students who have or intend to take Greek may wish instead to purchase K. Aland, Synopsis of the Four Gospels: Greek–English Edition (15th ed.; German Bible Society: Stuttgart, 2013), which has facing Greek and English pages. Some synopsis tools can be accessed online, but these must always be used critically and with full awareness of the English translation and/or Greek text being compared. Of the web options available, John Marshall’s The Five Gospels Parallels (sites.utoronto.ca/religion/synopsis) is the best (though even this can be quite awkward to use). Though online access is convenient, it is not a substitute for the physical manuscript—students are expected to possess a print synopsis and bring it to each class period. Students are required to possess at least one modern Bible translation that includes the entire Christian canon. Please bring your Bible to class with you! Given their helpful notes, the following editions are highly recommended and are available at the McGill University Bookstore: The New Oxford Annotated Bible: New Revised Standard Version with the Apocrypha. Edited by Michael D. Coogan. Fully Revised 4th Edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010. OR The HarperCollins Study Bible: New Revised Standard Version, Including the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books with Concordance. Edited by Harold W. Attridge et al. Fully Revised and Updated. New York, NY: HarperCollins, 2006. -2- Winter 2015 RELG 312 A Brief Note on Translations and Accessibility: Choosing a translation can be difficult due to the plethora of options. The recommended translation for RELG 312 is the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV). Dynamic translations (e.g. New Living Translation), idiomatic or periphrastic translations (e.g. The Message), and classical translations (e.g. King James Version) are not acceptable for class use. Many Bible translations can be accessed online. You can access the NRSV at the following web address: biblia.com/books/nrsv (along with a few other translations that you can study in parallel). Other helpful sites are www.ntgateway.com and www.earlychristianwritings.com, both of which can direct you to all kinds of online resources. Such online resources should always be used critically. Though online access is convenient, it is not a substitute for the physical manuscript—students are expected to possess a print Bible and bring it to each class period. The following books are on reserve at the Birks Reading Room, though they can also be accessed online (linked on myCourses). Readings in Neufeld and DeMaris are required for the two Short Writing Assignments; readings in Ehrman are required for the lecture titled, “Thomas (Non-Canonical Gospels).” Ehrman, Bart D. Lost Scriptures: Books that Did Not Make it Into the New Testament. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003. On reserve at Birks; available online through the McGill Library at mcgill.worldcat.org/oclc/252579895. Neufeld, Dietmar and Richard E. DeMaris, eds. Understanding the Social World of the New Testament. London: Routledge, 2010. On reserve at Birks; online through the McGill Library at mcgill.worldcat.org/oclc/496235681. IV. COURSE REQUIREMENTS Students will be graded on the following requirements: 1. Short Writing Assignments and Reading Reflections (15%): Students are required to complete two short writing assignments and a series of reading reports throughout the semester. The writing assignments are worth 5% each (5% x 2 = 10%) and the reading reports worth 5% of your final grade. Writing Assignments: Students will complete two short (3 page) writing assignments, both of which are designed to help build specific skills in the reading and interpreting the Gospels. Assignment instructions are posted online at the myCourses site; for more information, please see each assignment specifically. Reading Reflections: We will develop skills in close, thoughtful, and critical readings of ancient texts, so you will find that you need to read and re-read the primary texts rather slowly and repeatedly. The reading reports are designed to aid you in this process. For each canonical Gospel, students will submit three consecutive reading reflections (e.g. for the Gospel of Mark, students will submit reports on January 27, 29, and February 3). The first report is simple: it must contain only one question that the student has about the Gospel’s portrayal of Jesus. The second report must also include a second (different!) question about the Gospel’s portrayal of Jesus as well as a critical reflection on the question posed in the first report. The third report follow the same pattern: a new question and a critical reflection to the previous questions. It is hoped that through this process of continually reading and re-reading the gospels, distinct images of -3- Winter 2015 RELG 312 Jesus will emerge from the four canonical portrayals. (NOTE: questions submitted for one Gospel, say Mark, cannot be repeated for another Gospel, say Matthew or Luke.) Both the Writing Assignments and the Reading Reflections are designed to help build specific skills in reading and interpreting the Gospels. They also constitute part of your weekly class preparation. Given that the assignments and reading reflections serve as the foundation upon which weekly class discussions are built, you are expected to do these assignments as preparation for class periods. The Writing Assignments are due 15 January 2015 and 22 January 2015; the Reading Reflections are due in class according to the schedule outlined below. 2. Exegetical Research Papers (50%): Students are required to complete four (4) exegetical research papers, one on each of the four canonical Gospels. Papers are not to exceed 1200 words (approx. 4 pages) in length. These papers provide students the opportunity to examine specific Gospel texts in greater and more extended detail. More information will be handed out in class. The papers are due on 5 February 2015 (Mark), 19 February 2015 (Matthew), 12 March 2015 (Luke), and 26 March 2015 (John). 3. Final Examination (35%): Information pertaining to the final examination will be handed out in class. The date of the final examination is determined by the University and will be announced during the term. A supplemental examination will be available for this course. Grade Breakdown: Writing Assignments and Reading Logs Exegetical Research Papers (x4) Final Examination Total 15% 50% 35% —— 100% V. RESEARCH QUALITY, ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSION, AND GRADING Paper Format and Style: All papers are to be double-spaced, paginated, and typewritten in 12 pt. Times New Roman font; margins set at 1-inch (sides) and 1½ (top and bottom). All sources should be cited as in-line citations. An excellent guide to the preparation of essays, including citation styles, may be found at www.mcgill.ca/religiousstudies/current/papers. This guide also reviews standards of academic integrity; if you have questions on how to avoid plagiarism please see the instructor. Assignment Submission and Due Dates: All assignments are to be submitted on the day they are due as indicated in the Course Outline below. All Writing Assignments and Reading Reflections are due in class on their respective due dates; the Exegetical Research Papers are to be submitted no later than 11.59 PM on their respective due dates. Any extensions of these deadlines must be arranged beforehand (baring unforeseen circumstances). All assignments can be submitted either as a hardcopy to the instructor during class periods, during office hours to Birks 016, or as a softcopy via the myCourses website. When submitting a hardcopy, please be sure the time, date, and signature of the receiver are noted on the -4- Winter 2015 RELG 312 submission. When submitting electronically, be sure that you receive confirmation of your submission via the myCourses system (myCourses will automatically note the date and time of submission). For a helpful overview of electronic submission via myCourses, see the video at the following web address: https://training.desire2learn.com/shared/StudentHelp/Dropbox/ Dropbox.htm. Please note that, baring unforeseen circumstances, appeals to technical difficulties experienced while trying to submit an assignment electronically is not a valid excuse for handing something in late. Late Policy: Assignments are considered late if they are submitted after the prescribed times outlined in the Assignment Submission and Due Dates section above. Late assignments will be penalised one grade point per day (e.g., from B to B- for one late day; from B to C+ for two late days, etc.) up to a maximum of 3 grade points in accordance with the McGill University Grading Scale (e.g., from B to C; or B- to D). Exceptions will only be made for unusual circumstances such as illness or by prior arrangement (or at the discretion of the instructor). Grading Scale: In keeping with McGill University’s grading system, RELG 312 will be graded on the following scale. Grade GPA A 4.0 % Grade Interpretation Guidelines 85–100 Very Good A- 3.7 80–84 B+ 3.3 75–79 B 3.0 70–74 B- 2.7 65–69 C+ 2.3 60–64 Good Satisfactory C 2.0 55–59 D 1.0 50–54 Conditional Pass F 0 1–49 Fail Academic Integrity: McGill University values academic integrity. Therefore all students must understand the meaning and consequences of cheating, plagiarism and other academic offences under the Code of Student Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures (see www.mcgill.ca/students/srr/honest for more information). L'université McGill attache une haute importance à l’honnêteté académique. Il incombe par conséquent à tous les étudiants de comprendre ce que l'on entend par tricherie, plagiat et autres infractions académiques, ainsi que les conséquences que peuvent avoir de telles actions, selon le Code de conduite de l'étudiant et des procédures disciplinaires (pour de plus amples renseignements, veuillez consulter le site www.mcgill.ca/students/srr/honest). -5- Winter 2015 RELG 312 VI. RELATED COURSE INFORMATION Electronic Devices in the Classroom: Mobile computing and communications devices are permitted in class insofar as their use does not disrupt the teaching and learning process. Students are permitted to record lectures only with the instructor’s permission. Disabilities: If you have a disability and feel the instructor should be alerted, please contact the instructor to arrange a time to discuss your situation. It would be helpful if you contact the Office for Students with Disabilities at (514) 398–6009 before you do this. We will make every effort to accommodate your needs and to help ensure successful learning. Such matters will be treated with appropriate confidentiality. Course Evaluations: End-of-course evaluations are one of the ways that McGill works towards maintaining and improving the quality of courses and the student’s learning experience. You will be notified by e-mail when the evaluations are available on Mercury, the online course evaluation system. Please note that a minimum number of responses must be received for results to be available to students. General Policy: My intent and desire is to assist and guide you in the learning of the material of this course, as well as to stimulate your own thinking. Should you have any questions and/or concerns with the course content, readings, assignments, etc., please do not hesitate to contact me by email or in person during office hours. I am also happy to listen to suggestions about how we use class time, the texts, and the assignments. If you need help at any point in the course, please ask. During office hours I hold an open-door policy and look forward to hearing any questions and/or concerns that you may have. Your responsibility is to come to class prepared, especially in terms of familiarity with primary sources for discussion, and to be willing to explore ideas. I ask that you be willing to take risks, venture new ideas, ask questions, critique your preconceptions, and respect the perspectives, questions, and statements of your colleagues. -6- Winter 2015 RELG 312 VII. COURSE OUTLINE Jan. 6 Course Introduction Topics: General Introduction: The Critical Study of the Gospels; Overview of Syllabus Part 1: Prolegomena Jan. 8 Interpreting Topics: Exegesis and Hermeneutics; Ricoeur’s Heremeneutical Arc; The Gospels within Early Christian Literature; Ancient Memory and Modern Historiography; the Jesus of History and the Christ of Faith Read: Holladay, chs. 1–2 Jan. 13 Inheriting Class Trip: Biblical Manuscripts at the McGill Rare Books and Special Collections Note: Meet at the entrance of the McLennan Library at 1.00 PM. Jan. 15 and 20 Contextualising Topics: Alexander’s Greek World; the Rise of Rome; Graeco-Roman Religions, Philosophies, and Political Structures; First-Century Roman Palestine; The Jerusalem Temple; Priests, Sadducees, and Pharisees Read: Neufeld and DeMaris, chs. 7 and 13. Due January 15: Writing Assignment 1 Jan. 22 Reading Topics: What is a Gospel?—the Question of Genre; the Synoptics and John; the Synoptic Problem; Oral/Aural and Written Traditions; Q Read: Holladay, chs. 3–4; Neufeld and DeMaris, ch. 4. Due January 22: Writing Assignment 2 Part 2: According to . . . Jan. 27, 29, Feb. 3, 5 … Mark Topics: Urgency, Secrets, and Suffering Read: Holladay, ch. 6 Due January 27, 29, February 3: Reading Reflections on Mark Due February 5: Exegetical Essay 1: Mark -7- Winter 2015 RELG 312 Feb. 10, 12, 17, 19 … Matthew Topics: Rabbi, Discipleship, and Law-(Re)Giving Read: Holladay, ch. 7 Due February 10, 12, 17: Reading Reflections on Matthew Due February 19: Exegetical Essay 2: Matthew Feb. 24, 26, Mar. 10, 12 … Luke Topics: Traveling, Eating, and Including Read: Holladay, ch. 8 Due February 24, 26, March 10: Reading Reflections on Luke Due March 12: Exegetical Essay 3: Luke NOTE: March 2–6 Reading Week Mar. 17, 19, 24, 26 … John Topics: Signs, Love, and Eternal Life Read: Holladay, ch. 9 Due March 17, 19, 24: Reading Reflections Due March 26: Exegetical Essay 4: John Part 3: Extra-Canonical Images of Jesus Mar. 31 The Gospel of Thomas Guest Lecturer: Dr. Andre Gagne (Concordia University) Read: Gospel of Thomas (Ehrman, pp. 19–28) Apr. 2 Gospels in Fragments Topics: In-class group assignment with a selection of early Christian Gospel fragments (Egerton Gospel, the Gospel of Peter, the Gospel of the Hebrews, etc.). Apr. 7 Jesus in Modern Memory Topics: The Jesus of History and the Christ of Faith; the Quests for the Historical Jesus; Jesus’ Teaching—the Reign of God in Parables; Modern Images of Jesus. Read: Holladay, ch. 5 Apr. 9 Course Conclusion Topics: Overview of Course Content and Major Themes; Final Exam Preparation -8- Winter 2015