Introduction to the (Greek) New Testament
Spring 2008
last update: 29 April 2008
Professor Sheila E. McGinn, Ph.D.
Tel: 216-397-3087; Office:  AD B218; Hours: TH 8:30–10:30 A.M. or by appointment
RL 205.51 (V, CS):  TH 11:00 A.M.–12:15 P.M., AD 258
RL 205.52 (V, CS):  TH 12:30–1:45 P.M., AD 258

Part One: New Testament Contexts
Part Two: The Message of Jesus & the Message about Jesus
Part Three: From Rome v. Jesus to a Roman Jesus
Part One: New Testament Contexts
Reading Literally, Reading Historically: A Catholic Approach to the Bible
Day 1 T 01/15 In Class: Review Syllabus; Introductory Materials for Biblical Studies; Resources for NT Study; Harris, "Glossary"; NT Bible Bio,"Images of Jesus" essay, Learning Contracts, Learning Tracks
Day 2 R 01/17 The Biblical "Library": Community, Context, Space, & Texture of the Texts
How the Bible Means
NT Jeopardy Game
Assignment (All Tracks): Blackboard Pretests (due Sunday midnight)
Day 3 T 01/22 Revelation, Inspiration, Canonicity, Community
Read: 2 Tim 3:14–17; Harris 1–2, 21; Ralph 1; Revelation; Dei Verbum summary.
SGD: Divine Revelation DQs
Assignment (All Tracks): Learning Contract & "Images of Jesus" essay (due Thursday 1/24)
Syllabus Quiz
Day 4 R 01/24 Finding the Voice of Jesus in the Gospels: the "Historical Jesus" and the "Synoptic Problem"
Read: Matt 5–7 & parallels; Harris 6 & 12; Ralph 7
DUE (All Tracks): "Images of Jesus" essay; Learning Contract;
Assignments: Study Synoptic Problem & try your hand at a couple of the samples in the Synoptic Gospels Primer
Putting Jesus in His Place
Day 5 T 01/29 Jesus within Judaism
Read Harris 3, 4, & 5; Apocalyptic Judaism
DUE (All Tracks): Registration information for your course project—including proposed mentor/ pericope/ placement/ topic and intended partner(s)—and preliminary CAT (= First project progress report)
(Tracks 0 and A): Mark CHP
Day 6 R 01/31 Jesus within Judaism
The "Four Philosophies" in I C.E. Judaism; Extra-Canonical Sources for the Life of Jesus.
SGD: Was Jesus Married?
Day 7

T 02/05
Shrove Tuesday (Mardi Gras)

 The Roman World in the Time of Jesus
K. Slattery PPT: Some Fun Parts of Roman Culture and Life
Read: Harris 3–5; Ralph 8; optional: visit the New Jerusalem Mosaic (focus on the Second Temple and Roman-Byzantine periods)
SGD: Infancy Narratives DQs
Day 8 R 02/07 The Roman World in the Time of Jesus
K. Slattery PPT: Highpoints of First-Century A.D. Roman History
SGD: Rome v. Jesus DQs
Day 9 T 02/12


 The Material Culture of the First-Century C.E. Roman World: Virtual Field Trip to the Cleveland Museum of Art & Actual Middle Eastern luncheon
DUE (All Tracks): Virtual Tour of the CMA Greco-Roman Art Exhibits
(Tracks 0 and A): Second project progress report and Early Group Assessment
Exam 1 (All Tracks) on the opposite class date of your field trip
Extra Credit: Write a reaction paper to the field trip and CMA tour
Recommended: Review the PBS site "From Jesus to Christ"
Day 10 R 02/14
Part Two: The Message of Jesus & the Message about Jesus
Jesus' Proclamation: "Our God Reigns"
Day 11 T 02/19 "If I, by the finger of God, cast out Satan . . . ."
Read: Mark 1–12; Jesus Message of God's Basileia; Harris 7; Ralph 9.
SGD: Miracles DQs
Day 12 R 02/21 "He spoke in parables . . . ." The "Secret" of the Basileia
Read: Mark 4–5; Luke 15–18; Matt 13, 20–21; Harris 8; Ralph 10–11
DUE (Track 0): Color-Coded Synoptic Analysis of a Gospel Pericope
SGD: Preaching in Parables DQs
No Classes M 02/25 – F 02/29 due to Spring Break
Day 13 T 03/04 Who Opposed Jesus & Why? Basileia Praxis v. Mediterranean Honor & Roman Power
Read: Matt 22:15–46; 26-27 & //; John 4, 7; Phil 2–3; Harris 9, 10, 11, 12
SGD: Who Killed Jesus DQs
Day 14 R 03/06

Jesus' Passion & Death
Read: Harris 16; Ralph 8. Jesus' Arrest and Execution; Crucifixion; Passion Synopsis; Resurrection Synopsis
Optional: Jesus Ossuary
SGD: Christology Timeline
DUE (Tracks 0 & A): Third project progress report, group Instructor conference, and Midway Group Assessment
Assignment (Tracks 0, A, & B): finish rough draft of research project, Synopsis or Soteria essay (due by 3/13)
The Message of Jesus Becomes the Message about Jesus
Day 15 T 03/11 Paul
Read: Harris 14, 15, and 17; Ralph12.
SGD: Rom 9-11 DQs or 1 Cor 15 DQs
Assignment (Track A): mini-version of the “St. Paul at the Movies” film critique
Day 16 R 03/13 Mark
Read: Harris 7
Assignment (Track C): Anointing CHP due
Day 17 T 03/18 Matthew & Co.
Read: Harris 8 & 19
H 03/20 Holy Thursday; No Class
T 03/25 Easter Tuesday; Monday Classes Meet
Day 18 R 03/27 Luke-Acts
Read: Harris 9 & 13.
DUE (Tracks 0 & A): Fourth project progress report; (Tracks 0, A, & C) "JC Movie Star" Film Critique; (Tracks 0 & C) Infancy Narrative Review
Day 19 T 04/01 John
Read: Harris 10
Day 20 R 04/03 Research day; no Class. Assignment (All Tracks): Finish applicable Track Portfolio (Electronic version due midnight Sunday 4/13 to the Blackboard "Safe Assignment" link; bring a hard copy to class on the following Tuesday)
Day 21 T 04/08 Many Gospels, One Jesus?
Read: Harris 11 and 12
Practice: Which Gospel Is It?
Day 22 R 04/10 Exam 2 (All Tracks)
DEADLINE Sun 4/13 Electronic version of you Track Portfolio due at midnight to the Blackboard "Safe Assignment" link; bring a hard copy to class on Tuesday
Part Three: From Rome v. Jesus to a Roman Jesus
Apocalypticism v. Domestication: Can One Serve Both God & Caesar?
Day 23 T 04/15 "This Present Evil Age"
Read: Revelation, esp. 1–3, 12–14; Harris 20; Ralph 13
SGD: Apocalypse DQs
Assignment (All Tracks): Vocation Essay; (Tracks 0 & A): Fifth project progress report; group Instructor conference
Day 24 R 04/17 The Apocalypse of John v. the Apostle Paul
SGD: Social Roles in Paul v. Paulinism DQs
Assignment (Tracks 0 & A): Apocalypse CHP due.
A Theology of Heavenly Escape
Read: John; Colossians; Ephesians; Harris 10 & 18; Commentary on Colossians.
Assignment (Tracks 0 & B): Slavery CHP due
Day 25 T 04/22 Roman Patriarchal Aristocracy & the "Household of God"
Read: 1–2 Peter; 1–2 Timothy; Titus; Acts; Harris 13 & 19; The Battle for Paul
DUE (All Tracks): Seventh (and last) project progress report; final group Instructor conference; Summative Group Assessment
SGD: Charismatic Revolutionaries in Early Christianity DQs
Assignment (Track C):"Corinthian Women Prophets" CHP due;
(All Tracks) Blackboard Post-Tests due Sunday midnight
Day 26 R 04/24 Christianity & Society at the End of the First Century
Read: the Acts of Paul and Thecla; Harris 21.
Assignment (Tracks 0 & B):"Women Apostles" CHP due
Project Presentations (All Tracks): Storyboards;
Day 27 T 04/29 Envisioning Jesus for the 21st Century
Project Presentations (All Tracks): Social-Justice Praxes; Spirituality Praxes; & Culture Research Projects
Day 28 R 05/01 Last Class Guest Lecture on Biblical Archaeology by Aaron M. Gale, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Religious Studies, West Virginia University
FINAL EXAM PERIOD #52, T5/06 1:00-2:50 PM; #51, R5/08 10:00-11:50 AM Third Exam (required only of Track 0 students with a cumulative exam score of less than 75%)
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Sheila E. McGinn, Ph.D.
Professor of Religious Studies
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