This unit explores the stories of the early Christians as preserved in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) and Acts. Students will engage these texts within their historical, cultural, religious, and literary contexts, examining how early Christian communities understood and communicated the significance of Jesus. The unit fosters critical and theological reflection on the diversity of Gospel narratives and the development of early Christian identity, using historical-critical and literary methods.
Unit code: BN9802Z
Unit status: Approved (New unit)
Points: 18.0
Unit level: Postgraduate Elective
Unit discipline: New Testament
Proposing College: St Francis College
Show when this unit is running| 1. | Evaluate the historical, cultural, and theological contexts of the Synoptic Gospels and Acts. |
| 2. | Interpret key themes and narrative structures within selected New Testament texts. |
| 3. | Apply exegetical and literary methods to Gospel and Acts passages. |
| 4. | Assess the relevance of early Christian narratives for contemporary theological and ecclesial contexts. |
This unit requires at least one Postgraduate Foundation level unit to be completed.
Synchronous and asynchronous lectures and text-based tutorials.
Ahearne-Kroll, Stephen P., ed. The Oxford Handbook of the Synoptic Gospels. Oxford University Press, 2023.
Barton, Stephen C., and Todd Brewer, eds. The Cambridge Companion to the Gospels. 2nd ed. Cambridge University Press, 2021.
Brown, Jeannine K. The Gospel as Stories: A Narrative Approach to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Baker Academic, 2020.
Carter, Warren. Mark. Wisdom Commentary Series. Liturgical Press, 2019.
Kim, Yung Suk. How to Read the Gospels: An Introduction. Rowman & Littlefield, 2024.
Levine, Amy-Jill, and Ben Witherington. The Gospel of Luke. New Cambridge Bible Commentary. Cambridge University Press, 2018.
Maloney, Linda M. Acts of the Apostles. Wisdom Commentary Series. Liturgical Press, 2022.
Myers, Alicia D. An Introduction to the Gospels and Acts. Oxford University Press, 2022.
Smith, Mitzi J., and Yung Suk Kim. Toward Decentering the New Testament: A Reintroduction. Cascade Books, 2018.
Talbert, Charles H. Matthew. Paideia Commentary. Baker Academic, 2010.
van Kooten, George. Reverberations of Good News: The Gospels in Context, Now and Then. William B. Eerdmans, 2026.
| Type | Description | Word count | Weight (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | 0 | 100.0 |
Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 15 Apr, 2026
Unit record last updated: 2026-04-15 10:14:22 +1000