Content

This unit offers a critical scholarly study of the theological, literary and pastoral significance of The Gospel of John within its First-Century context. It will include a study of the emergence of Johannine Christianity and its relationship to Judaism following the destruction of Jerusalem and the distinctive Johannine response to this event. Using narrative-critical methods the unit will follow the text of the Gospel, particularly in its structural and symbolic elements, in order to elucidate the particular theology of this Gospel.

Unit code: BN3013Y

Unit status: Approved (Major revision)

Points: 18.0

Unit level: Undergraduate Level 3

Unit discipline: New Testament

Delivery Mode: Face to Face

Proposing College: Yarra Theological Union

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Learning outcomes

1.

Discuss the background, structure, themes, literary forms and terminology of the Gospel

2.

Demonstrate their ability to gather information from the primary and secondary sources relevant to this subject and effectively communicate it in both oral and written form

3.

Write an exegetical paper on a specific text demonstrating appropriate skills in biblical interpretation

4.

Explain the unique theology of John’s Gospel in relation to its first-century Jewish context

Unit sequence

BA1020 and BN1020 plus 30 points of Biblical Studies at 2nd level

Pedagogy

Through questions and reading tasks I engage students with the biblical text using an enquiry method, supported by lectures.

Indicative Bibliography

  • NRSV Bible with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books [RSV is also acceptable]
  • Brown, R. E. An Introduction to the Gospel of John: Edited, updated, introduced, and concluded by Francis J. Moloney. ABRL. New York, NY: Doubleday, 2003.
  • Byrne, Brendan. Life Abounding: A Reading of John’s Gospel. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2014.
  • Hunt, Steven A., D. Francois Tolmie and Ruben Zimmermann,eds. Character Studies in the Fourth Gospel: Narrative Approaches to Seventy Figures in John, Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2013.
  • Koester, C.R. The Word of Life: A Theology of John’s Gospel. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2008.
  • Lee, D. A. Flesh and Glory: Symbol, Gender and the Theology in the Gospel of John. New York, NY: Crossroad, 2002.
  • Lincoln, A. T. The Gospel According to Saint John. Black’s New Testament Commentary. London: Contiuum, 2005.
  • Moloney, F. J. The Gospel of John. Sacra Pagina 4. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1998. (recommended for purchase)
  • Schneiders, S. M. Written That You May Believe: Encountering Jesus in the Fourth Gospel. New York, NY: Crossroad, 2003.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Essay

Essay 3000 words

3000 60.0
Exegesis

Exegesis 2000 words

2000 40.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by John Capper on 27 Sep, 2019

Unit record last updated: 2021-06-07 08:43:50 +1000