This course offers a socio-historical and literary introduction to the writings of the earliest Christians. The course will emphasize the importance of the historical context of these writings and will investigate the ways these texts fit into ancient Mediterranean cultures. Topics include but are not limited to: the person and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth; early Jewish and Christian relations; the structure and rituals of early Christian communities; the roles of women and slaves in the earliest churches; the spread of Christianity throughout the Empire; the historical significance of the apostle Paul for the development of Christian beliefs. We will also explore the concepts of apocalypticism, the resurrection, and the Christian canon as they are configured in earliest Christian literature. Throughout, the Christian canon will be read alongside the writings of pagans and Jews of the same time period as well as extra-canonical early Christian literature. Although we will study the theological concerns of first and second century Christians, this course will not address contemporary issues of theology and Christian faith.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Identify and explain the significance of people and events important to the development of the New Testament and Christian origins
- Identify and explain major themes of each New Testament text and significant, contemporaneous extra-canonical texts
- Identify and explain issues of authorship, reading communities, and social-historical context for each New Testament text
- Demonstrate an understanding of the historical, religious, and social context of Christian origins in the early Roman Empire
- Demonstrate an understanding of early Christian communities’ relationships with Jews, pagans, and other Christians
- Apply critical reading skills to primary sources from antiquity and secondary sources about antiquity
- Apply methods of scholarly biblical interpretation to New Testament texts and evaluate these methods critically
- Write critical-analytical essays based on close-readings of early Christian sources.
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