Michael A Williams
JSIS B 322
Gospel material from early Christianity, including both canonical and noncanonical gospels. Relation of gospels to analogous literature from the Hellenistic-Roman period. Recommended: either ENGL 310 or JSIS B 220. .
This course studies the earliest traditions about Jesus of Nazareth. Students will become familiar with key elements in the modern analysis of ancient Christian "gospels," discuss various modern approaches to the study of these texts, and explore the modern debate about what can and cannot be learned from such sources about the historical figure Jesus of Nazareth. Virtually all of these earliest traditions about Jesus of Nazareth are found in Christian sources--i.e., sources composed by persons who were in some way or another devotees of Jesus. The majority of the earliest Jesus tradition that has survived is to be found in four writings which constitute roughly half of what is now the Christian New Testament: the four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The New Testament (=NT) is a collection of individual writings that were written by early Christians over a period of many years. Christians were writing other things during this period, and in the earliest generations there was no universal agreement on a single collection of NT writings. Various collections with different shapes appeared among Christian communities in different parts of the Mediterranean world, and only gradually, over many generations, did there emerge a standardization of these collections into something closely approximating what is presently called the NT. The NT has become the second part of the Christian Bible, the "scriptures" in which Christians see special testimony to divine revelation. Although the bulk of the earliest Jesus tradition has survived because it came to be included in the NT, there is a significant quantity of other surviving gospel material produced by early Christian communities--writings such as the Gospel of Thomas, for example. This non-NT material is sometimes important for reconstructing Jesus' teaching. But these non-NT gospels are also interesting in their own right, as examples of differing constructions of Jesus' religious significance among ancient Christian communities.
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Student learning goals
Understanding of the nature and function of early Christian gospel literature, both those within the Christian New Testament as well as some other important gospels, and their religious and social contexts.
Learn about modern scholarly methods for exploring historical questions about Jesus of Nazareth, his activities and his teachings.
Opportunities for exercising and developing writing skills
General method of instruction
Lecture and discussion
There are no formal prerequisites. Having had JSIS B 220 Introduction to the New Testament (formerly RELIG 220), or its equivalent from another university, provides a head start on the material. But experience has shown that students without that background can do well and even excel in JSIS B 322. Good study habits, a willingness to read, think and engage the material are the really important factors.
Class assignments and grading
Participation (10%), and a series of 4 essays (ranging from 850-1200 words) on assigned topics or topic areas.
Primarily based on quality of essays, plus participation.