GOSPEL LITERATURE: METHODS (NT-2528)

This foundation course (a combination of lecture and seminar) introduces students to the practice of New Testament interpretation through historical, theological, and contextual study of the Gospels. The course will orient students to the Roman Mediterranean context of early Christianity and introduce a wide range of critical approaches (including feminist, womanist, postcolonial, queer, and disability scholarship). One of the central practices to be cultivated is reading Gospel literature in conversation with readers across time, geography, and social location. Students will develop skills that equip them for rich further study of the New Testament, with an emphasis on learning to find and use tools for biblical scholarship. Students will study the primary texts and practice a range of interpretive methods. They will also read selected secondary scholarship. Student learning will be assessed on the basis of participation, short reading responses, a major guided exegesis project (completed in stages), and a final exam. [20 max enrollment; Faculty Consent required]