Content

  1. Content This unit provides an introduction to the methodological, historical, theological and contextual issues at stake in scholarly reconstructions of the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. Students will consider the significance of recent scholarship relating to social memory as a way of engaging with the history of New Testament scholarship. The unit will then explore seven or eight key issues in historical Jesus studies including: Jesus and prophetic eschatology/apocalyptic; Jesus and the Torah; Jesus’ self-understanding; the parables of Jesus; Jesus’ healings/exorcisms; Jesus and the temple/scribal elites; the reasons for Jesus’ death. Throughout, students will be invited to consider the potential impact of early memories of Jesus of Nazareth on contemporary Christian faith and practice.

Unit code: BN9020P

Unit status: Archived (New unit)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Elective

Unit discipline: New Testament

Delivery Mode: Face to Face

Proposing College: Pilgrim Theological College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Critically discuss a number of methodological, historical, theological and contextual issues relating to the historical study of Jesus of Nazareth

2.

Interpret all relevant sources, and especially the synoptic gospels, in ways that elucidate the relationship between the sources and history

3.

Articulate the insights of the most recent scholarship on the historical Jesus

4.

Critically compare and adjudicate between competing scholarly reconstructions of the historical Jesus

5.

Present an indepth historical analysis of one main theme or topic related to the historical Jesus and its relation to contemporary Christian faith and practice.

Unit sequence

At least 30 foundation points of Biblical Studies including 15 points of New Testament Study

Pedagogy

Lectures, Class Presentations, Tutorials

Indicative Bibliography

  • Allison Jr, Dale C. C*nstructing Jesus: Memory, Imagination, and History*. Grand: Baker Academic, 2010.
  • Bond, Helen K. The Historical Jesus: A Guide for the Perplexed. London: T & T Clark International, 2012. (recommended for purchase)
  • Crossan, John Dominic. The Historical Jesus: The Life of a Mediterranean Jewish Peasant. Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1991.
  • Dunn, James D. G. Christianity in the Making, Volume 1: Jesus Remembered. Grand Rapids / Cambridge: Eerdmans, 2003.
  • Funk, Robert W. Honest to Jesus: Jesus for a New Millenium. New York: HarperSanFrancisco, 1996.
  • Keith, Chris. Jesus against the Scribal Elite: The Origins of the Conflict. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2014.
  • Keith, Chris and Anthony Le Donne, eds. Jesus. Criteria and the Demise of Authenticity. London: T & T Clark International, 2012.
  • Le Donne, Anthony. Historical Jesus: What Can We Know and How Can We Know It? Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2011.
  • Meier, John P. A Marginal Jew: Rethinking the Historical Jesus (4 volumes) Anchor Bible Reference Library. New York / London / Toronto / Sydney / Auckland: Doubleday, 1987.
  • Sanders, E. P. Jesus and Judaism. London: SCM, 1985.
  • Schröter, Jens. From Jesus to the New Testament: Early Christian Theology and the Origin of the New Testament Canon. Translated by Wayne Coppins. Waco: Baylor University Press, 2013.
  • Wright, N. T. Jesus and the Victory of God. London: SPCK, 1996.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Essay

6000 word essay on a theme or topic related to the historical Jesus and its relation to contemporary Christian faith and practice

0 100.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by John Capper on 19 Oct, 2014

Unit record last updated: 2020-10-28 14:50:32 +1100