The Synoptic Gospels and Acts (SS 504) Notre Dame Seminary
Dr. Nathan Eubank Spring 2013 Professor of Sacred Scripture 10-11:15 Mon, Wed Notre Dame Seminary Room 2 Email: [email protected] (504) 866-7426 Ext. 3015 Office hours: 1-2:30pm Monday and by appt.
Course Description This course introduces the student to the Gospel according to Matthew, Mark, and Luke (the Synoptic Gospels), as well as the book of Acts. There are four main components to the course: (1) we will address introductory issues such as authorship, date, literary genre, and historicity, as well as the Synoptic problem. (2) We will study the unique literary and theological vision of each of the Synoptic Gospels. (3) We will explore key events the life of Jesus as described by the witness of all three Synoptic Gospels in order to learn the habit of reading each of the Gospels both for their own unique voices and in light of the fullness of revelation. (4) The course concludes with a brief study of the book of Acts.
Course Rationale CCC 125: “The Gospels are the heart of all the Scriptures ‘because they are our principal source for the life and teaching of the Incarnate Word, our Savior.’” (quoting Dei Verbum 18)
Envisioned Outcomes Students will begin to learn to read the Synoptic Gospels and Acts in their historical and canonical contexts. They will be able to explain key events in the life of Jesus (e.g., baptism, Last Supper) in light of the Old Testament and Jesus’ ancient Jewish context. Students will also develop proficiency in the use of modern as well as patristic commentaries on the Gospels as resources for preaching.
Required Texts 1. Mary Healy. The Gospel of Mark. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Baker Academic, 2008. ISBN-10: 0801035864
2. Johnson, Luke Timothy. The Gospel of Luke. Sacra Pagina. Liturgical Press, 2006. ISBN- 10: 0814659667
3. Mitch, Curtis and Edward Sri. The Gospel of Matthew. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Baker Academic, 2010. ISBN-10: 080103602X
4. Synopsis of the Four Gospels, Revised Standard Version, American Bible Society, 2010, ISBN: 978-1585169429
5. Ratzinger, Joseph. Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives. 2012. ISBN-10: 0385346409. Hardback. Recommended Texts 1. The Catena aurea of Thomas Aquinas (available online: http://www.catecheticsonline.com/CatenaAurea.php ) 2. Goodacre, Mark. The Synoptic Problem: A Way Through the Maze. (available online: http://www.archive.org/details/synopticproblemw00good ) 3. Ratzinger, Joseph. Jesus of Nazareth: From the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration. Ignatius Press, 2008. 4. Ratzinger, Joseph. Jesus of Nazareth – Holy Week: From the Entrance into Jerusalem to the Resurrection. Ignatius Press, 2011.
Lecture, Presentation, and Reading Schedule
Week 1 (January 13, 15)
Introduction to the class, Introduction to the gospels. Burridge, Gospel Genre (handout) Simone Weil, “Reflections on the Right Use of School Studies With a View to the Love of God” (handout)
Jan 20-23 (no classes)
Week 2 (January 27, 29)
How do the Synoptic Gospels relate to one another? (Establishing the literary link) Differences in chronology and in parallel passages Who used whom as a source? (a.k.a the Synoptic Problem) TBA Mark Goodacre, The Synoptic Problem: A Way Through the Maze. (available online: http://www.archive.org/details/synopticproblemw00good ) pages 13- 55.
Week 3 (February 3, 5)
Continue discussion of Synoptic relationships The distinguishing theological features of the gospels Why do we have four Gospels when there is only one Jesus? Gospel of Peter (handout) Gospel of Thomas (handout) Protoevangelium of James (handout) Recommended: Hays, The Moral Vision of the New Testament, 73-137 (handout)
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Week 4 (February 10, 12)
The birth narratives Matthew 1:1-2:23 Luke 1:5-2:52 Ratzinger, Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives
Week 5 (February 17, 19)
John the Baptist, Jesus’ baptism, temptation, and initial proclamation Note: it is helpful to read using both a bible and a synopsis Matt 3:1-4:25 Mark 1:2-2:20 Luke 3:1-4:15 Healy, The Gospel of Mark, 28-44
Week 6 (February 24, 26)
The Sermon on the Mount and its Lukan parallels Matt 5:1-7:28 (follow along in the synopsis) Luke 6:17-49 Thomas à Kempis, Imitation of Christ (excerpt handout)
***Paper #1 due February 28 by 5pm in instructor’s email****
March 3-4: Mardi gras holiday March 5: Ash Wednesday
Week 7 (March 10, 11)
Healings and exorcisms Rejection by the people Parables Mark 1:21-8:38 Matt 13:53-58 Luke 4:14-30 G. P. Anderson, “Parable” (handout)
Week 8 (March 17. No classes on 19th)
Turn to the cross Rich young man, Zacchaeus Triumphal Entry Conflict with the leaders Eschatological discourse
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Matt 16:13-20:34 Mark 8:27-10:52 Luke 9:18-19:27 Eubank, “Purchasing the Rewards of Eternal Life” (handout)
Week 9 (March 24, 26)
The Last Supper Matt 26:1-35 Mark 14:1-31 Luke 22:1-38 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 Hengel, Crucifixion, (excerpt handout)
Week 10 (March 31, April 2)
The Passion Matt 26:36-27:66 Mark 14:32-15:47 Luke 22:39-23:56 Joel Marcus, “Crucifixion as Parodic Exaltation” (handout)
Week 11 (April 7, 9)
The Resurrection The Ascension Matt 28 Mark 16 Luke 24:1-53 Acts 1 Ratzinger, Jesus of Nazareth. Holy Week: From the Entrance into Jerusalem to the Resurrection, 241-293
April 12-21: Easter holidays (no classes)
Week 12 (April 23. No class on the 21st)
The birth of the Church Acts 2-15 Harper-Collins introduction to Acts
Week 13 (April 28, 30)
The Politics of the Church
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Recommended: Rowe, World Upside Down: Reading Acts in the Graeco- Roman Age
***Paper #2 due April 28 by 5pm in instructor’s email***
May 6-8: final exams
Important Dates 1. Weekly readings must be completed by Wednesday at class time. 2. Paper #1 due by 5pm Feb 28. 3. Paper #2 due by 5pm April 28.
Evaluation Criteria Reading comprehension/ class participation: 20% Paper #1: 20% Paper #2 30% Final exam: 30%
Reading comprehension will be measured by asking seminarians questions about the readings in class. Class participation refers to one’s alertness, teachable spirit, and willingness to engage in conversation or to ask questions when invited to do so by the professor.
Use of laptops during class We live in an age of distraction. Many of us find it difficult to stop fiddling with electronic devices or to take a break from checking email. To engage in prayerful study – that is, to do our work with rigor and attentiveness to the voice of the Lord – we must learn to be quiet and focus. Therefore, the use of laptops in class is strongly discouraged. Any person who is seen using a laptop (or other electronic device) for something other than taking notes will receive an automatic 5% reduction in the final grade.
Academic Integrity Students are expected to take full responsibility for their academic formation. They are expected to “respect academic scholarship by giving proper credit to other people’s work, while at the same time preparing well for assigned materials and examinations in such a way that their academic integrity will never be questioned.” A student involved in academic dishonesty will receive an “F” for the assignment and will be reported to the seminary administration. Ultimately, a student found guilty of academic dishonesty may be dismissed from the Notre Dame Seminary.
Attendance, Late Papers and Assignment Submissions Policy Unexcused absences and tardiness will adversely affect the class participation grade. A late assignment will lose 10 percentage points for every day it is late after the assigned due date. Assignments will not be accepted unless they are delivered by email to the instructor as a ms word file, 12 point Times New Roman font, one inch margins.
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Make-up Work Students will not be given the opportunity to do additional work or make-up work in order to change their final grade. Make-up work simply changes (and lowers) the standard requirements set forth in the course syllabus and creates a situation that is unfair to all other students who were evaluated according to the syllabus. Extra credit may be offered during the semester; if so, it will be offered to all students equally.
Bibliography Cohen, Shaye J. D. From the Maccabees to the Mishnah A great introduction to the Jewish world of the New Testament. Lagrange Powell, Mark Allan. Jesus as a Figure in History An introduction to historical Jesus research. See the following Catholic commentary series: Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture (self-consciously obedient to the Magisterium and pastoral) Sacra Pagina There are a number of excellent non-Catholic commentary series, including the following: Anchor Bible Commentary International Critical Commentary Bible dictionaries can be helpful entry points into an issue. The standard is: The Anchor Bible Dictionary. Edited by David Noel Freedman. See also the IVP Bible Dictionary Series. ATLA is an important resource for finding scholarly journal articles. The following journals are among the most important New Testament journals: Catholic Biblical Quarterly Journal for the Study of the New Testament Journal of Biblical Literature New Testament Studies Novum Testamentum For patristic biblical interpretation see the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture series, which is available in the library. This series is very helpful, but cannot replace reading the fathers for oneself.
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