Western Seminary Portland Campus

MATTHEW BLS 636 – 2 credit hours Western Seminary – Portland Campus

Patrick Schreiner E-Mail: [email protected]

Syllabus – Spring 2015

COURSE SCHEDULE Wednesdays // Jan 7th, 21st, Feb 4th, 18th, Mar 4th, 18th, April 8th (8am-12pm)

COURSE DESCRIPTION This course is an expository study of Matthew, with attention to theological themes, literary structure, hermeneutical issues, and relationship to other parts of the Bible. Emphasis will also be placed on practical relevance for society, the church, and church leadership. 3 hours

COURSE OBJECTIVES As a result of this course the student should  Be competent using the learned exegetical skills for interpreting the Gospels.  Understand why the study of the Gospels is important.  Gain familiarity with the themes, theology, and distinctives of the Gospel of Matthew.  Be better equipped to teach, preach, and lead from the Gospel of Matthew.

TEXTBOOKS Required: France, R. T. Matthew: Evangelist and Teacher. Wipf & Stock, 2004. ISBN: 1592449360. $31.50

W. D. Davies and Dale Allison, The Gospel According to Saint Matthew, ICC 3 volumes (London: T & T Clark, 1988-97). ISBN for 1-7: 0567083551. ISBN for 8-18: 0567083659. ISBN for 19-28: 0567083756. $167.04

You are encouraged to purchase these titles through the Amazon.com associate program; you may use the links provided above, or the search option found on the Western website under “Current Students/Portland”: http://www.westernseminary.edu/students/portland

ONLINE CLASSROOM

This class has an online classroom. Your first class assignment is to access this website during the first week of the semester and take a simple quiz confirming your participation in the course. You will also be

1 Schreiner BLS636 S15 Syllabus taking all quizzes and the exams online. There are supplemental PowerPoints online for students to view, but these are optional.

To access the site, go to http://www.westernseminary.edu/classrooms/. Click on ‘login’ (on the right above the calendar), use your student number for your username, and the password you received from the school. For a replacement password, click on ‘forgot your password’ or contact Jon Raibley: [email protected]. The on-line classroom will go live no later than the first Monday of the semester.

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Online Orientation (15 min): Before the end of the first Friday of the semester, you need to log onto the web classroom, download the syllabus for the course, and complete the report indicating that you have read and understand the course requirements. By federal law, we now need to ensure that students participate in classes for the full length of the class. So failure to complete the online orientation on time will result in a grade penalty and may impact your financial aid eligibility.

2. Reading (30 hrs): Students must read carefully both assigned textbooks and the entire Gospel of Matthew (2 times). Articles may be given in class to read in addition. A reading report will be turned in at the end of the semester.

3. Exegetical Notebook (25 hrs): Students must complete an exegetical notebook for the assigned passage. More details are given below.

4. Exam (3 hrs): There will be one exam. The midterm will cover the introductory lectures and the material up to that point. It will consist of multiple choice, short answer, matching, and essay questions.

5. Twitter (2 hrs): Twitter has been gaining tremendous currency in the academic world as an instrument for sharing information, commenting on issues related to higher education, addressing issues in one’s particular field, etc. As such, it has achieved acclaim for its use as a pedagogical tool to extend the work of the classroom. We are going to use Twitter in this course as a complement to our other activities and to augment the analytical work of the class. Beyond its relevance to the coursework, you are encouraged to explore the site as to its possibilities for professional networking for yourselves. Certainly follow me (@pj_schreiner) and the other members of the class, but also follow leaders in your field. Make connections! You will be required to tweet a minimum of five times per week. The only guidelines for tweets are: 1) they must have something to do with the class (i.e. a response to the reading, a link to a related article, a question, etc.); 2) they must be substantive; and 3) they must be respectful. In addition to reading your tweets on a regular basis, I will be using an online archiving tool to keep track of Twitter activity. You must use the hashtag #matthewsp15 in your tweets so that they register as being a part of our class discussion. Any tweets that do not incorporate this hashtag will not be counted, because the website will not record their activity. This Twitter activity will be graded on a pass/fail basis. If you tweet the requisite number of times (5 tweets per week X 14 weeks = 70 total tweets), then you will receive an A for this assignment. If not, you will receive an F.

6. Exegetical Paper (30 hrs): Writing a solid exegetical paper is an important skill and learning experience. Your selected text for the exegetical paper should be of a length that you can 2 Schreiner BLS636 S15 Syllabus reasonably cover all the issues in the text within the confines of this paper. Students should consult with the professor before they start this paper. More information on this project is given below.

7. Final Course Evaluation (15 min): Before the end of the last Friday of the semester, you will receive an email with a link to the final course evaluation. By federal law, we now need to ensure that students participate in classes for the full length of the class. So failure to complete the final course evaluation on time will result in a grade penalty and may impact your financial aid eligibility.

ATTENDANCE: Class attendance is required! You will not be able to do well in this class without attendance.

GRADING

A+ A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D D- 99- 95- 93- 91- 88- 86- 84- 81- 79- 77- 74- 70- 100% 98% 94% 92% 90% 87% 85% 83% 80% 78% 76% 73%

Required Assignments Points Estimated Time to Complete Online Orientation/Final Course Eval 25 30 min Reading 75 30 hrs Exegetical Notebook (6) 180 25 hrs Twitter 20 2 hrs Exam 100 3 hrs Exegetical Paper 200 30 hrs Total 600 90 hrs

COURSE OUTLINE

SESSION LECTURE AND DISCUSSION ASSIGNMENTS 1 INTRODUCTION TO CLASS Matthew 1-13 in one sitting Reading and Interpreting the Gospels: Hermeneutical Matthew 14-28 in one sitting and Exegetical Reflections 2 Introducing Matthew France Intro; Matthew Evangelist and Matthew 1-2 Teacher Matthew 1-2 D&A Matthew 2 EN: 1:18-25 3 Matthew 3-7 Matthew 3-7 D&A Matthew 5-7 EN: 4:1-11 4 Matthew 8-12 Matthew 8-12 D&A 10-11 EN: 9:1-13 Midterm Exam 3 Schreiner BLS636 S15 Syllabus 5 Matthew 13-17 Matthew 13-17 D&A 13 and 17 EN: 16:5-12 6 Matthew 18-23 Matthew 18-23 D&A 21-22 EN: 19:1-12 7 Matthew 24-28 Matthew 24-28 D&A 28 EN: 25:31-46 Exegetical Paper Reading Report

To receive audit credit, you must attend at least 80% of the class sessions and report that fact to the instructor by the final day of class.

MORE INFORMATION Reading Report The purpose of the reading report is to ensure that students have completed the required reading for the course. You must read the required material in conjunction with the course schedule below. The reading report is to be turned in on the last day of class. The form to be used for the reading report is found at the end of the syllabus. See that form for how the reading affects your grade.

Exegetical Notebook (1) Type out your own translation of the entire passage into English.

(2) Record your observations on what you see as the main point(s) and focus of this text, including repeated phrases, ideas. Note also how this particular passage fits into the narrative flow of Matthew and how it may relate to other Matthean texts. Finally, you may reflect on the canonical/biblical-theological sense(s) of the text. This section can include bullet points and short paragraphs.

(3) Identify just one or two other biblical texts – Matthew, other Gospels, OT, rest of the NT – that provide a significant theological connection to this Matthew passage and write a few sentences that unpack the significance of this connection.

(4) Now work through the corresponding section in the Davies & Allison commentary. Any particular insights or reactions to this material? Go back and adjust/expand your notes based on these reflections.

(5) Finally, following the direction of Doriani and my comments on applying narratives (Revelation & Identification; FC, RS, and VF), record your reflections on how we might apply this passage to our personal lives and to our hearers.

Exegetical Paper Writing a solid exegetical paper is an important skill and learning experience. You must briefly discuss your passage or topic choice with the professor before you begin writing on it. Your passage or topic must be approved by me. No appointment is necessary for this; just grab me before or after class to discuss your idea.

In preparation for this paper you should: 4 Schreiner BLS636 S15 Syllabus  Follow the same basic exegetical procedure described above for each of the assigned passages. This includes observing textual critical issues, grammatical and syntactical decisions, and matters of lexical, structural, and conceptual significance, as well as how the text fits into the narrative of Matthew and the canon of Scripture. However, the final format is different.  In addition to your inductive study of the text, you should consult at least the commentaries by Davies & Allison, Luz (English), France (NICNTT) and Hagner (WBC). The best papers will also reference additional resources such as journal articles and/or books that pertain to your passage.  Consult reference grammars and word study tools on significant words, issues, and themes.

The final form of the paper should:  Be between 15-20 pages in length, double-spaced, with 1-inch margins all around. Beside these specifics, follow the seminary’s style guide.  Evidence a unified and coherent thesis which elucidates the main theme and/or persuasive aim of the text in the context of the letter.  Work through the entire passage, observing and noting matters of grammatical, syntactical, and/or theological interest. It is your job to distinguish the relative importance of the issues that arise in your study of the passage. The most important matters should be discussed in the main body of your paper. Less important matters can be relegated to footnotes (if necessary). Unimportant issues should not appear in your paper.  Not be just a concatenation of what others say about the passage.  Be written in good English style and free from spelling and grammatical errors (have your spouse proof-read it for you!). Your general writing ability inevitably will affect your grade. It is strongly suggested that students for whom English is a second language have their paper checked for correct grammar and clarity of expression by a native speaker of English.  Have a title page and bibliography (both not included in the page length).

COURSE POLICIES

Attendance and Late Assignments: Students are expected to attend all class meetings. Students who miss class are responsible for missed work. Absences and tardiness may impact a student’s grade. Students who anticipate an absence should discuss it in advance with the instructor. Students who miss more than 20% of the seat time for the class will not pass the course, without a request for and the completion of additional assignments. Assignments submitted after the due date and time will result in a reduction of the student’s letter grade for that assignment.

Copyright Violation and Plagiarism: Research in secondary sources for the written project is permitted and welcomed. However, any appropriation of either ideas or wording taken from other sources, whether print or electronic, must be properly footnoted. Failure to do so constitutes plagiarism which can result in substantial grade reduction or failure. Any unauthorized copying or use of copyrighted materials, including downloaded files of various kinds, can result in criminal charges and fines. For a fuller explanation of these issues or WS's copyright policy, see the “Copyright Information and Cheating" sections of the Student Handbook: http://www.westernseminary.edu/academic/handbook-copyright

5 Schreiner BLS636 S15 Syllabus Incompletes/Extensions: The final deadline for submitting all course work is the last day of the semester as noted in the Academic Calendar and in the class schedule. In the case of serious illness, family emergency, or similar extenuating circumstances, the student may request an extension. A 1-3 week extension is typical in all except the most extreme cases, and some penalty for late work may apply. Under no circumstances will the student be given more than 5 weeks to complete all required coursework except by petition and approval of the Administrative Committee. (Extensions longer than 5 weeks are rare and should only be requested under extreme circumstances.)

If students face a personal emergency that requires requesting an extension going beyond the end of the semester, it may affect their ability to receive financial aid in the next semester, and they may face the possibility that their next semester’s course registrations will be cancelled. Please contact the Financial Aid Office for assistance.

Audit/Enrichment Students: Enrichment students are encouraged, but not obligated, to participate in assignments and class discussions. Professors are not obligated to grade participation for these students, but may opt to do so depending on class size.

Statement on WiFi Services: Our community at Western Seminary is defined by our membership in the body of Christ. As we share common resources, we wish to do so with respect and consideration for others. Our IT department has created a strong and secure wireless internet network at each of our campus locations to enhance the student learning environment. Some of the considerations in developing our wifi networks have included providing excellent security (better than you’ll find at the local coffeeshop) and doing so within a budget that does not significantly impact tuition costs. Keeping costs low means that we don’t have an endless supply of bandwidth. We ask that you use the wifi network for academic purposes and avoid downloading large files or streaming video. Please be mindful that your internet use (both in class and on campus) can distract others or prevent them from accessing resources they need for their studies. We appreciate your participation in promoting thoughtful, considerate internet use on campus.

The Availability of Disability Services at Western Seminary: Western Seminary is committed to responding to the needs of students with disabilities as outlined in both the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Western students are assisted individually as their needs dictate. It is the responsibility of students with disabilities to identify themselves and the nature of the disability. Any student who has a disability should contact the seminary’s Disability (Section 504) Coordinator, Ashley Mitchell, at 503-517-1819/1-877-517-1800, ext. 1819. Her office is at the Portland campus. Students at the northern California campuses may contact Director of Student Services – San Jose or Director of Student Services – Sacramento, or they may contact Ms Mitchell directly. Appropriate forms will be provided and must be submitted to the Disability Coordinator’s office.

6 Schreiner BLS636 S15 Syllabus Name: ______READING REPORT Designate below (by checking under the appropriate category) the manner in which you fulfilled the reading assignment. Grading Scale: 5 points off your total points for the course for each item skimmed or read late. 10 points off your total points for the course for each item not read. Assignments that are not read by the assigned class period are to be marked in the “Skimmed/Late” category. If there are two/three reading assignments in one box, there should be two/three check marks.

Reading Assignments Read Thoughtfully Skimmed/Late Did not Read

Matthew 1-13 Matthew 14-28

France: Matthew Evangelist and Teacher Matthew 1-2 Davies & Allison

Matthew 3-7 Davies & Allison

7 Schreiner BLS636 S15 Syllabus