NBST 611 – Life of Christ
NBST 611
Life of Christ
Summer 2015 Intensive
Leo Percer, PhD
(434) 592-4178
LBTS Carter Building Room 217
Please note that this syllabus may change at the instructor’s discretion
- Course Description
Using a harmony of the Gospels as a basis, the life of Christ will be studied in the light of its historical background, geographical setting, political situation, and religious conditions. Special emphasis will be given to Jesus’ mission and message. Each Gospel will also be considered in order to get a general understanding of the respective presentations of Christ. In those studies emphasis will be placed on matters of text, authorship, date, authorial purpose, and theme development.
- Rationale
Any in-depth study of the New Testament needs to be based upon a general knowledge of the life of the founder of Christianity. Jesus Christ is the primary focus of the writings of the New Testament, and his life and mission provide for us not only salvation, but a model by which to compare our own lives and ministries. Without knowledge of the life of Christ, the study of Scripture seems to lack context. Students often possess many bits of piecemeal information which need structure, unity, and completion. This course will try to “tie these together” while supplementing the student’s knowledge with other perhaps new information.
In addition, a thorough, systematic understanding of the Christ’s life and ministry is absolutely essential for Christian leadership as well as for all the various ministries performed in today’s church. Such knowledge will form the foundation for preaching, teaching, and ministry and may well act as a guard against heresy and errors of interpretation.
III.Prerequisites
None
IV.Materials List
Required Textbooks
Steven L. Cox and Kendell H. Easley. HCSB Harmony of the Gospels. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2007. ISBN: 978-0-8054-9444-0
Kenneth E. Bailey. Jesus through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2008. ISBN: 978-0-8308-2568-4
Craig L. Blomberg. Jesus and the Gospels: An Introduction and Survey. Second Editions. Nashville, TN: Broadman and Holman Publishers, 2009. ISBN: 978-0-8054-4482-7
Jonathan Pennington. Reading the Gospels Wisely: A Narrative and Theological Introduction. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2012. ISBN: 978-0-8010-3937-9
Mark L. Strauss. Four Portraits, One Jesus: A Survey of Jesus and the Gospels. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2007. ISBN: 978-0-310-22697-0
V.Measurable Learning Outcomes
Upon successfully completing this course, you should be able to:
A.Identify the historical background, political situation, and religious conditions surrounding the life and ministry of Jesus Christ as found in the Gospels (Journal; Book Critiques; Research Paper).
B.Identify the main themes and context of the message of Jesus (Journal).
C.Evaluatesome major critical and hermeneutical problemsconfronting the study of the life of Christ (Research Paper; Book Critiques).
D.Analyze the major theme/purpose, general contents, and the special features of each of the Gospels (Book Critiques; Journal).
- Course Requirements and Assignments
A variety of activities comprise the basic requirements for this class. Some of these activities will be graded and those combined grades will constitute the student’s score for the class. A student MUST complete all the assignments listed below in order to pass this course.
A.Reading Assignments (100 points)
The student is required to read the books by Bailey and Blomberg before the first class meeting. The books by Pennington and Strauss must be read entirely before the end of the summer, and students will include a statement in their journal that tells the professor what percentage of the readings were accomplished before the end of the semester. The Harmony will form the outline for our discussions for the week. Select articles from it will be given by the instructor. Additional reading may be assigned as needed during the semester.
B.Journal (200 total points)—Learning Outcomes A, B, D
Each student will compile a journal of the readings and the lectures for that class and turn that notebook in for evaluation at the end of the semester. This journal should include descriptions of the student’s experiences in the lectures and readings during the course term. The goal of this assignment is to give the student an opportunity to reflect on the information gained from the readings and lectures and to provide student feedback on how that information and experience helped the student to understand the Gospels and the life of Christ better. The notebook should contain references to the materials covered in class and may contain outlines to specific New Testament Gospels and other materials as desired. The primary sources for this material will be the textbook readings, class lectures, and other course materials. This assignment will be due AFTER the intensive meets. Deadlines will be posted on Blackboard.
C.Book Critiques(150 points each/300 points total)—Learning Outcomes A, C, D
Each student will do two (2) book reviews. The first book reviewed must be Reading the Gospels Wisely. The second book for review will be Jesus through Middle Eastern Eyes. This assignment is worth a total of 300 points of the final grade. Instructions for the proper submission and form of these reviews will be posted in the appropriate area on Blackboard. These critiques should include a summary and analysis of the book and should be between 5 to 10 pages long. These papers should be double-spaced, use a 10 or 12 point Times New Roman font, and contain one inch margins. Dates for the critiques will be announced at the beginning of the semester. Papers submitted after the due date will receive a penalty.
D.Outline and Thesis Statement (100 points)
Students will be required to turn in a copy of the following materials for their final research papers: thesis statement, outline, and bibliography. This assignment will be turned in before the paper, so students will want to pick a topic in advance. Outlines will be due before the final research papers are submitted. Papers submitted after the stated due date will receive a penalty.
E.Research Paper (300 points)—Learning Outcomes A, C
The student is required to write a research paper (not less than 12 pages and not more than 20 pages) on a topic chosen by the student from a list of approved topics. Approved topics will be provided in advance by the professor. Style guidelines will be provided and detailed instructions for the paper will be given in class and posted on Blackboard. This research paper must be at least 12 pages but not over 20 double-spaced typewritten pages (including footnotes but not counting the bibliography, title page, or table of contents). The due date for the research paper will be announced by instructor. Papers submitted after the due date will receive a penalty.
F.Late Assignment Penalties
If the student is unable to complete an assignment on time, then he or she must contact the instructor immediately by email.
Assignments that are submitted after the due date without prior approval from the instructor will receive the following deductions:
1.Late assignments submitted within one week of the due date will receive a 10% deduction.
2.Assignments submitted more than one week late will receive a 20% deduction.
3.Assignments submitted two weeks late or after the final date of the class will not be accepted.
Special circumstances (e.g. death in the family, personal health issues) will be reviewed by the instructor on a case-by-case basis.
VII.Course Grading and Policies
A.Points
Thesis and Outline / 100Reading / 100
Journal / 200
Book Critiques / 300
Research Paper / 300
Total / 1000
B.Scale:
A / 940-1000A- / 920-939
B+ / 900-919
B / 860-899
B- / 840-859
C+ / 820-839
C / 780-819
C- / 760-779
D+ / 740-759
D / 700-739
D- / 680-699
F / 0-679
C.Attendance Policies
Your participation in this class is indispensable. Attendance will be taken daily, and a student runs the risk of seriously affecting his or her final grade with excessive absences. Excessive absences for this class will be defined as missing more than 4 classes unexcused. Since the class is based on a 1000 point score, each unexcused absence over 4 will result in 75 points off the final grade. An absence may be excused if a student can properly document the reason for the absence, and if that reason includes one of the following: participation in an authorized Liberty University event or ministry, documented illness, a family or other emergency, or any other event discussed in advance with and approved by the instructor. Such documentation should be given to the instructor within a week of the recorded absence. An absence will be considered unexcused if the student fails to present proper documentation. Tardy students should report to the instructor at the end of class to remove the absence from the attendance records.
D.Drop/Add Policies
The student is obliged to follow the drop/add policies identified in the graduate catalog.
E.Academic Misconduct
Academic misconduct is strictly prohibited. Students are referred to the Graduate Catalog and the seminary web site for policies regarding academic honesty and integrity. Some specific policies for this class include the following: Students should not recycle papers from other classes without obtaining explicit permission from the instructor. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. The penalty for plagiarism is a failing grade on the assignment and an F for the class. Plagiarism in this class is the presentation of another person’s works or ideas as your own, whether you mean to or not. Copying or paraphrasing passages from another’s work without acknowledging that you’ve done so is plagiarism. Copying another person’s work without proper attestation or citations is plagiarism. Quoting a source without quotation marks (even if you give a citation) is plagiarism. Simply put, plagiarism will cost you because you will fail this class. Your papers and other assignments may be submitted to Safe Assign or a related source to check for plagiarism.
F.Dress Code (applies to classes meeting on campus)
Students are expected to maintain a neat, professional appearance while in class. Consult your department for additional guidelines.
G.Classroom Policies (applies to classes meeting on campus)
Students are expected to conduct themselves in the classroom in a manner consistent with the respect due to the topic addressed. With that in mind, this course will require that all cell phones be turned off or set to vibrate prior to the beginning of the class. Also, while computers may be used for note taking, please be aware that choosing to use your computer for other purposes during class may cause problems for your classmates. Be respectful of the needs of others in this area or your computer use may be curtailed or even banned.
- Disability Assistance
Students with a documented disability may contact the Office of Disability Academic Support (ODAS) in Green Hall 2668 to make arrangements for academic accommodations. For all disability testing accommodation requests (i.e. quieter environment, extended time, oral testing, etc.) the Testing Center (Green Hall 2700) is the officially designated place for all tests administered outside of the regular classroom.
- Student Conduct Policy
The student is expected to conduct himself/herself in a Godly and civil manner when addressing the professor or other students. While good healthy discussion will be expected and encouraged, at no time will personal attacks be tolerated.
VIII.Tentative Course Outline—To BE Announced
IX.Bibliography
Bauckham, Richard. Jesus and the Eyewitnesses: The Gospels as Eyewitness Testimony. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2006.
Bruce, F. F. Jesus: Lord and Savior. Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 1986.
Bock, Darrell L. Studying the Historical Jesus: A Guide to Sources and Methods. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2002.
Bock, Darrell, and Herrick, Gregory. Jesus in Context: Background Readings for Gospel Study. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2005.
Bockmuehl, Marcus. This Jesus: Martyr, Lord, Messiah. Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1994.
Carson, D. A., and Moo, Douglas. An Introduction to the New Testament. Second Edition. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 2005.
Casey, P. M. From Jewish Prophet to Gentile God: The Origins and Development of New Testament Christology. Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1991.
Charlesworth, James H. Jesus Within Judaism: New Light from Exciting Archaeological Discoveries. New York: Doubleday, 1988.
Chilton, Bruce. Rabbi Jesus: An Intimate Biography. New York: Doubleday, 2000.
Dunn, James D. G. The Evidence for Jesus. Louisville, KY: Westminster, 1985.
. Christology in the Making: A New Testament Inquiry into the Origins of the Doctrine of the Incarnation. Second Edition. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm.. B. Eerdmans, 2005.
. A New Perspective on Jesus: What the Quest for the Historical Jesus Missed. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2005.
Ehrman, Bart. Jesus: Apocalyptic Prophet of the New Millennium. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999.
Evans, Craig A. Jesus and His Contemporaries: Comparative Studies. Leiden: Brill, 1995.
Green, Joel B., McKnight, Scot, and Marshall, I. Howard. Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1992.
Hengel, Martin. Studies in Early Christology. Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1995.
Hurtado, Larry W. Lord Jesus Christ: Devotion to Jesus in Earliest Christianity. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2003.
Jeffrey, Grant R. Jesus: The Great Debate. Nashville, TN: Word, 1999.
McKnight, Scot. A New Vision for Israel: The Teaching of Jesus in National Context. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1999.
Mrázek, Jirí, and Roskovec, Jan, editors. Testimony and Interpretation: Early Christology in Its Judeo-Hellenistic Milieu. Studies in Honor of Petr Pokorný. London: T & T Clark, 2004.
Osborne, Grant. The Resurrection Narratives: A Redactional Study. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1984.
Pokorný, Petr. Jesus in the Eyes of His Followers: Newly Discovered Manuscripts and Old Christian Confessions. N. Richland Hills, TX: BIBAL Press, 1998.
Powell, Mark Allan. Jesus as a Figure in History: How Modern Historians View the Man from Galilee. Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1998.
Powell, Mark Allan, and Bauer, David R., editors. Who Do You Say that I Am? Essays on Christology in Honor of Jack Dean Kingsbury. Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1999.
Stein, Robert H. The Method and Message of Jesus’ Teaching. Rev. ed. Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox, 1994.
Van Voorst, Robert E. Jesus Outside the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2000.
Witherington, Ben, III. The Christology of Jesus. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1990.
Wright, N. T. Jesus and the Victory of God. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1996.
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