The Gospel of Matthew: Challenge and Mission (BN9120C)

Postgraduate, 24.0 points

Content

This unit investigates the uniqueness of the Gospel of Matthew among the Synoptic Gospels and grapples with key issues in recent scholarship including the Jewishness of the text as well as the tensions in social relations in the Gospel due to disproportionate power distribution. Students will engage the Gospel according to Matthew with regard to its literary, social,religious, cultural, political and historical context, investigate the distinctive Matthean content and gospel structure, and reflect theologically on the challenge for and mission of the Church in today's world.

Unit code: BN9120C

Unit status: Approved (Major revision)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Elective

Unit discipline: New Testament

Proposing College: Catholic Theological College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Develop a concise summary of the religious, cultural, political, historical and social context of the Gospel of Matthew informed by current scholarship.
2.

Evaluate the distinctiveness of the Gospel of Matthew in comparison to the Gospel of Mark and Luke.
3.

Create well-structured arguments from analytical examination of passages from the Gospel of Matthew using detailed exegesis and applying appropriate methods.
4.

Reflect theologically on the key themes in the Gospel of Matthew elucidating contemporary insights for the challenges and mission of the Church in the world today.

5.

Communicate deliberated conclusions from assessing scholarly debate on interpretive issues in the Gospel of Matthew.
6.

Produce critical biblical research in the Gospel of Matthew.

Unit sequence

BA8001C and BN8001C or equivalent introductory biblical units

Pedagogy

This unit is offered in two modes. Each three-hour class comprises:

*1) 2-hour face-to-face lecture in class (1.5 hours of interactive plus 0.5 hour of structured group discussion and interpretation focused on a particular text and readings) PLUS 1-hour asynchronous online Context Activity Forum and preparation for Focus Text discussion.

*2) 2-hour synchronous online class (1.5 hours of interactive lecture plus 0.5 hour of structured group discussion and interpretation focused on a particular text and readings) PLUS 1-hour asynchronous online Context Activity Forum and preparation for Focus Text discussion.

These are regularly scheduled in the same semester with the face-to-face option offered in the day and the synchronous online in the evening.

Indicative Bibliography

  • Aune, David E. ed. The Gospel of Matthew in Current Study: Studies in Memory of William G. Thompson SJ. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001.
  • Brown, Jeannine K. Matthew. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2015. Ebook.
  • Byrne, Brendan. Lifting the Burden: Reading Matthew’s Gospel in the Church Today. Strathfield: St Pauls, 2004.
  • Davies, William D., and Dale C. Allison. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Gospel According to Saint Matthew. 3 vols. International Critical Commentary. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1988–1997.
  • Evans, Craig A. Matthew. New Cambridge Bible Commentary. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2012. Ebook.
  • Konradt, Matthias. Israel, Church, and the Gentiles in the Gospel of Matthew. Baylor-Mohr Siebeck Studies in Early Christianity. Waco: Baylor University Press, 2014.
  • Luz, Ulrich. The Theology of the Gospel of Matthew. Translated by J. Bradford Robinson. New Testament Theology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995.
  • Riches, John, and David C. Sim, eds. The Gospel of Matthew in Its Roman Imperial Context. Journal for the Study of the New Testament Supplement Series 276. London: T&T Clark, 2005.
  • Sim, David C., and Boris Repschinski. Matthew and his Christian Contemporaries. London: T&T Clark, 2008.
  • Wainwright, Elaine M. Matthew: An Introduction and Study Guide: The Basileia of the Heavens is Near at Hand. London: T&T Clark, 2017.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Essay

Option 1:

  • 1000-word Report (essay plan and bibliography) 10% Week 6 outcome 6
  • 6,000-word essay 90% Week 14 outcomes 1-6

or

Option 2:

  • 2,500-word tutorial paper 20% Week 6 outcomes 1-5
  • 3,500-word essay 60% Week 14 outcomes 1-6
  • 1,000-word report (concise summary of context) 20% Week 16 outcome 1
 7000 100.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 7 Jul, 2023

Unit record last updated: 2023-07-12 13:32:50 +1000