Course Schedule
page last updated 3/31/2008, 2 PM
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Part I: What is a “socio-historical and literary study” of the NT anyway?? |
M Jan 14 |
Introduction: What is “religion”? What is this class? |
W Jan 16 |
Why Study the New Testament?
Survey on Blackboard
Internet project—what role is the Bible (especially the New Testament) playing in the presidential election? Suggested websites (but you can find your own):
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F Jan 18 |
Studying the New Testament Historically
Ehrman, Excursus to Chapter 1 (”The Historian and the Believer”) and Chapter 15
“What Can We Really Know About Jesus” at http://pbs.gen.in/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/jesus/reallyknow.html
“The Historian’s Task” at http://pbs.gen.in/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/jesus/historians.html
Link to study questions for readings |
M Jan 21 |
MLK Day: No Class |
W Jan 23 |
The Winners Write History: Texts, Scribes, and the Christian Canon
Ehrman Chapters 1 (except Excursus) & 30
Handout: Canon lists Cancelled |
Part II: The Greco-Roman and Jewish Context |
F Jan 25 |
Civilization and Its Discontents: The Roman Empire
Valerie Hope, “Social Pecking Order in the Roman World” at http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/social_structure_01.shtml
“Portraits of Greco-Roman Cities” at http://pbs.gen.in/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/portrait/portraits.html
Link to Study Questions for readings
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M Jan 28 |
Pagans and Polytheism: Roman Religiosity
Ehrman Chapter 2
Required readings on Mystery Religions on Blackboard UPDATED THURS. JAN 24
Optional: “The Empire’s Religions,” http://pbs.gen.in/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/portrait/empire.html
Optional: Visit the Roman Religion Gallery at http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/roman_religion_gallery.shtml |
W Jan 30 |
Diversities of Judaism in the Roman Empire
Study guide for 1/30 Updated Tues Jan 29 (Handout from Class)
Ehrman Chapter 3
1 Maccabees 1-2
2 Samuel 7:1-17
Psalm 2
Daniel 7
Josephus on the Sack of Jerusalem, http://pbs.gen.in/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/maps/primary/josephussack.html
Optional: Read selections from the Dead Sea Scrolls at http://pbs.gen.in/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/portrait/scrollindex.html |
F Feb 1 |
Temple, Law, and Synagogue
Blackboard: Philo and early rabbis on Jewish Law (NT Background, pp. 192-94, 252-54)
“Temple Culture,” http://pbs.gen.in/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/portrait/temple.html |
M Feb 4 |
Literacy and Literature
Ehrman Chapters 4 & 5 |
W Feb 6 |
Review & Lecture from Questions
For Reading Response, post questions and topics for review by noon Tuesday |
F Feb 8 |
Exam 1 |
Part III: Jesus and the Readers and Writers of the Gospels |
M Feb 11 |
Mark: The Secret Messiah
Ehrman Chapter 6
Mark
Study Guide for Mark [updated Friday February 8] |
W Feb 13 |
Class Canceled [updated Friday February 8]
readings moved to Friday Feb 15 |
F Feb 15 |
The “Synoptic Problem” & Jesus' Birth and Baptism [updated Friday February 8]
Ehrman Chapter 7
Mark review chapter 1
Matthew 1-4
Luke 1-5:11
Ehrman Chapter 8 |
M Feb 18 |
Presidents’ Day: No Class |
W Feb 20 |
Jesus’ Life and Teachings in Matthew, Luke, and Thomas
Gospel of Thomas at
http://pbs.gen.in/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/maps/primary/gthomas.html
Matthew 5-25
Luke 5:12-chapter 21 |
F Feb 22 |
Jesus’ Trial, Death, and Resurrection in Matthew and Luke
Ehrman Chapter 9
Matthew 26-28
Luke 22-24 |
M Feb 25 |
Luke’s Second Act(s)
Ehrman Chapter 10
Acts |
W Feb 27 |
John: Jesus as Divine Logos
Ehrman Chapter 11
John |
F Feb 29 |
The Johannine Tradition Continued
Ehrman Chapter 12
1, 2, 3 John |
M Mar 3 |
Paper 1 due at beginning of class and on Blackboard |
W Mar 5 |
No reading assignment
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F Mar 7 |
Lost Gospels -- UPDATED
Gospel of Peter on Blackboard
Ehrman 215-218 (pages about Gospel of Peter)
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Mar 10-14 No classes: Spring Break |
M Mar 17 |
Imagining Jesus’ Birth and Childhood -- UPDATED
No reading responses due. Read for class:
Infancy Gospel of Thomas
Protoevangelium of James
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W Mar 19 |
The Historical Figure of Jesus
Ehrman Chapter 14, 17
Study Guide for March 19
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F Mar 21 |
Jesus the Jew and Anti-Judaism in the Gospels
Blackboard: Fredriksen, “Did Jesus Oppose the Purity Laws?”(PDF also available here)
Study Questions
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M Mar 24 |
No Class: Travel day |
W Mar 26 |
Review: Lecture from Questions
For Reading Response, post questions and topics for review by noon Tuesday |
F Mar 28 |
Exam 2 |
Part 4: Paul and the Pauline Communities |
M Mar 31 |
Meet the Apostle: 1 Thessalonians
Ehrman Chapters 19 & 20
1 Thessalonians |
W Apr 2 |
Sex in the City: Paul’s Letters to the Corinthians
Ehrman Chapter 21, section on 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians
Study Guide for 1 Corinthians
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F Apr 4 |
More Sex in the City-- UPDATED
Blackboard: Reading TBA --No additional readings (updated 3/31/2008)
Ehrman Chapter 21, section on 2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians |
M Apr 7 |
Law & Order: Galatians
Ehrman Chapter 21, section on Galatians
Galatians |
W Apr 9 |
Letters from an Asia Minor Jail (or Two)
Ehrman Chapter 21, sections on Philippians and Philemon
Philippians
Philemon |
F Apr 11 |
All Roads Lead to Rome
Ehrman Chapter 22
Romans |
M Apr 14 |
The Pretenders, Part 1
Ehrman Chapter 24 sections on Pseudonymity and the Deutero-Pauline Epistles
2 Thessalonians
Colossians
Ephesians |
W Apr 16 |
The Pretenders, Part 2
Ehrman Chapter 24, section on the Pastoral Epistles to end of chapter
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus |
F Apr 18 |
The Pauline Tradition and Women
Ehrman, Chapter 25
Reread “Household Codes” in Colossians and Ephesians
Blackboard: Acts of Paul and Thecla |
M Apr 21 |
Paper 2 due in class and on Blackboard |
Part 5: Persecution, Identity Crises, and the End of the World |
W Apr 23 |
Christian and Jewish Self-Definition
Ehrman Chapter 26
Hebrews |
F Apr 25 |
Pagans and Persecutions
Ehrman Chapter 27
1 Peter |
M Apr 28 |
Christians and Christians
Ehrman Chapter 28
James
Jude
2 Peter |
W Apr 30 |
The End of the World as We Know It
Daniel
Ehrman Chapter 29, selections TBA
1 Enoch selections at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/apocalypse/primary/enoch.html
Revelation 1-3
Optional: Surf around more on the PBS site http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/apocalypse/ |
F May 2 |
Apocalypse Now
Finish Ehrman Chapter 29
Finish Revelation
Blackboard: Apocalypse of Peter |
M May 4 |
The New Testament Today: Debunking the DaVinci Code
Assignment: Film Screening of The DaVinci Code, time and location TBA |
W May 6 |
Review & Lecture from Questions
For Reading Response, post questions and topics for review by noon Tuesday |
M May 12 |
Exam 3: 9:30-11 |