NT501 - Gospels (English) Dr. Thorsten Moritz

NT501 - Gospels (English) Dr. Thorsten Moritz Spring 2012, SemPM Bethel Seminary Monday 5:30 – 7:30 pm Preferred contact by e-mail: [email protected] Teaching Assistant: Kelly Myers— [email protected]

Course Description:

This course is based on a “learning by doing” approach. Rather than dividing the class, for instance, into method, background, and interpretation, we will simply start with Mark’s Gospel and “do” interpretation and theology. Necessary methodologies and background material will be covered in the process. This approach is unconventional, but didactically more promising in terms of integrated learning. Since some issues can best be illustrated by comparing two Gospels, we will also selectively explore Luke’s Gospel towards the end of the course. The class sessions will be complemented by weekly Moodle discussions.

Course Objectives:

At the end of this course the student should have acquired the following:  In-depth awareness of literary, historical, and theological issues in the interpretation of the Gospels.  An exegetical understanding of selected passages in Mark and Luke against the wider biblical-theological canvas.  An appreciation of the nature of the synoptic relationships.  The ability to integrate hermeneutics with interpretation and theology.

Required Texts/Materials:

 Isaiah (any mainstream biblical translation; such as NRSV, NIV etc.)  Malina, Bruce J., and Richard L. Rohrbaugh. Social Science Commentary on the Synoptic Gospels. (Fortress Press, 2002) ISBN: 978-0-8006-3491-9

Course Requirements:

There will be two quizzes and one written paper. For submission dates see below (Class Schedule). Quizzes to be downloaded from Moodle. Everything to be submitted on Moodle. Graded work will be returned via Moodle.

The quizzes are about understanding, not factual so-called “objective” knowledge. What is required is not extensive memorization of data, but a critical up-to-date awareness of the questions, problems, possibilities, concepts, solutions etc. raised during the course and in the reading. Given their deceptively short format (sample provided on Moodle), don’t underestimate their intellectual depth and “reach.” Your best preparation will be to stay on top of the main arguments and issues advanced in class and in the reading. While the focus is not on details, but on connections, both theological and literary, detailed note taking in class will aid in your quiz preparation. We will discuss the specifics closer to the time of the quiz.

Quiz 1: Take home – 60 min: This quiz examines your understanding of the textbook, with a particular focus on (1) the text book’s general methodology/approach to the Gospels and (2) its discussion of Mark’s Gospel. Quiz 2: Take home – 60 min: This quiz will be about material covered in class up to and including the week prior to the quiz. Good note taking in class and reviewing those notes will be crucial preparation for this quiz.

In the 2000 word integrative paper you will be allocated a Gospels text and will explore possible ways of connecting it integratively to one of two academic areas of your choice: Christian Leadership or Christian Spirituality. The paper must be fully referenced (footnotes and bibliography). It must be analytical (“Why does the content/data present itself in this way to me?”), not purely descriptive (“This is the content/data”). The footnotes are included in the word count, the bibliography is not. Please specify total word count at the end. 10% over/under the assigned word count is acceptable. Make sure to interact with a range of scholars and scholarly opinions, especially the required reading. Typically students will use around eight to ten different academic sources for a paper like this and refer to them up to twenty times. Where appropriate, support your arguments with references to the Biblical text. Chapter and verse suffices, usually no quotations are needed! The same applies to the use of scholarly texts – summary of argument and page number usually suffices. Only include items in the bibliography, which are actually referred to in the text. Assessment Criteria and Course Policy:

Grades will be assigned using the full range of letter grades (A-F), representing the following levels of performance (see below). In addition to the general criteria below, any specific advice given verbally in class or on Moodle (as applicable) will also count as assessment criteria. The grade “Incomplete” is temporary and will be granted only in unusual circumstances (such as serious illness or critical emergencies) and will not be considered for a student who is simply behind in the assignments. It can only be granted via the Registrar’s Office! A First rate work submitted; outstanding evidence of ability to synthesize and utilize course knowledge; initiative expressed in preparing and completing assignments; creativity and originality manifested in assignment process and outcomes; and consistency and thoroughness of work submitted. Consistently high level of analysis. B Really good work submitted; substantial evidence of ability to analyze and utilize course knowledge; and consistency and thoroughness of work submitted. Mix of analytical and descriptive thinking. C Satisfactory performance and thoroughness of work submitted and moderate evidence of ability to utilize knowledge of the subject. Largely descriptive. D Poor performance in comprehension of work submitted; and meets minimal credit standard for the course. F Inadequacy of work submitted. Also applies to LATE SUBMISSIONS.

Grading:

All three assignments are weighted equally. Students will get a letter grade on each quiz and the paper. Submission happens via the link in Moodle in the appropriate week. Submit by 11:55 pm on the day indicated in the course schedule below. Feedback and grades will be returned via Moodle.

There will be no late acceptance of quizzes or the paper after the official submission time, except in unforeseen very serious circumstances. Do your best to complete your work early. Because of a proliferation of extension requests it is not my policy to excuse students for late submissions of assignments for things like church-related activities (e.g., mission trips or conferences), work-related activities (e.g., overtime hours or emergency fill-ins for other employees), or non- emergency activities with family or friends (e.g., weddings or vacations). Extra make-up work is not an option in this class. Back up all your electronic files! Hardware failures, etc. will not be a basis for excusing late work. Do not wait until the last hours to attempt to submit your work.

You will be given a letter grade for each of the three assessment points. The exception to this occurs when a student receives an F grade for an assessed piece. For instance, in the final calculation, an F based on late or non-submission will usually weigh more heavily than an F for very low quality. In other words, if you are indanger of not submitting the finished product on time, it’s better to submit whatever you have on time than to submit the complete work late.

You can expect an average grade (i.e. for a good quality contribution) to be a B or a B-. Grades such as B+ and above are strictly reserved for work that is above average.

Students receive letter grades for each of the three assessments. In order to compute those, numerical values are entered in Moodle. At the end of the course we will calculate the final letter grade. As mentioned, each individual grade contributes equally to the final grade. Those numerical values are strictly computational and mean nothing beyond that. The correspondence between letter grades and their mathematical values are as a follows:

100 A 80 B- 60 D+ 95 A- 75 C+ 55 D 90 B+ 70 C 50> F 85 B 65 C- NB: There are different amounts of points available for different kinds of “failures” (ranging from 0-50). In light of this and the “no late” policy it’s better to submit a part-finished piece (for, say, 40 points) on time than to submit a complete piece late (for zero points).

Academic Course Policies:

Please familiarize yourself with the catalog requirements as specified in Academic Course Policies document found on the Registrar's website at: https://bethelnet.bethel.edu/ureg/bssp/acp. You are responsible for this information, and any academic violations, such as plagiarism, will not be tolerated.

Drops/Withdrawals: If you are dropping or withdrawing from a course, it is important to establish your last day of attendance. Please notify the registrar’s office and contact your instructor of your intent to drop or withdraw from a course. Students carrying financial aid, please contact the financial aid office prior to dropping or withdrawing from the course in order to be informed of the consequences of this action on financial aid. If you are in a course that uses distance education delivery, be sure to sign on to your Moodle course prior to withdrawing in order to establish the last day of attendance in your course.

Accessibility: Please contact the instructor as soon as possible if disability-related accommodations are needed. Accommodations for students with documented disabilities are set up through the office of Disability Services. Contact Kathy McGillivray, director of Disability Services, at (651) 635-8759.

Course Evaluation: Student course assessments are an important part of course development and enhancement. Student feedback is used by professors to modify courses and teaching approaches and is included in decisions on promotion and tenure for professors. In order to recognize the value of your input and to encourage you to provide that input, your completion of the course assessment electronically at the end of the course will be included as a factor in your final course grade. While the content of your responses remains anonymous, failure to submit an electronic evaluation may reduce your course grade by up to one fraction of your final grade. For instance, a B+ may become a B, a B may become a B-, etc. All of your comments will remain anonymous, and no names will be linked to any data or comments. You will receive an email with a link to the course evaluation on May 29, and the evaluation will be available for completion from May 29-June 8. Course Schedule

Date (Very!) Approximate Passages Assignments Mar. 26 Mark 1-2

Apr. 2 Mark 3-4

Apr. 9 Mark 6-8

Apr. 16 Mark 9-11

Apr. 23 Mark 12-13 QUIZ 1 (Textbook) – due April 29, 11:55 pm – Moodle link Apr. 30 Mark 14-16

May 7 Luke 1-9

May 14 Luke 9-19 PAPER – due May 20, 11:55 pm – Moodle link May 21 Luke 19-24

May 28 NO CLASS QUIZ 2 (Interpretation) – due June 3, 11:55 pm – Moodle link