The Historical Jesus
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last update: 28 June 2006

SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS & ASSIGNMENTS: The readings under discussion in a given class period should be completed before that session. The following class schedule may be revised upon consultation with the class and as circumstances demand.

pleaseNB this "key" to understanding the following schedule of assignments. REVIEW means skim through the material so you know what resources are available when you need them. READ means give careful and critical attention to this material, taking notes and noting points with which you disagree or about which you have questions. REC indicates an optional, recommended reading. VIEW means watch this film and take notes for class discussion. WRITE means this is a written assignment that will be submitted for grading; unlike the other assignments, it will be due the class following the one where it first appears. DUE means the assignment must be submitted for grading during this class session.

CLS#/DATE KEY TOPICS & HIGHLIGHTS ASSIGNMENTS DUE for THIS class session

1 M 6/26

A

B
  • Course Goals, Resources, & Learning Strategies
  • NT Jeopardy Game
  • The History of "the Historical Jesus"
    • The First Quest for the Historical Jesus: From Reimarus to Wrede
    • The Second Quest: From Schweitzer to Bultmann
    • The Third Quest: From Bultmann to Today
    • Current Historical Jesus Research: Topics & Approaches
      • Dominic Crossan's talk for "Jesus at 2000" (35–1.14)

2 W 6/28
  • Early Christian Historical & Cultural Contexts
    • Honor and Shame: Key Mediterranean Values
      • "The Gospel According to Matthew," Scene
    • Law & Social Structures
      • "King of Kings," Scene 16, de adultera (54.48–59.46); Scene 41, Jesus' Trial before Pilate (2.16:17–2.20:53)
    • Palestine in the Hellenistic Era to the Roman Era
      • "King of Kings," Scenes 3–4 (6:12–12:56), 7–8 (20:50–28:32)
      • BAS slides
      • "Jesus of Nazareth" (Appendix of "Historical Information")
    • Jews and Judaisms in I CE Palestine
  • The Apocalyptic Context of I CE Judaism
  • The Gospel and our Gospels: Synoptic Theories
  • The Markan Jesus
  • REVIEW: the Jerusalem Mosaic (2nd Temple & Roman Eras); Infancy Narrative Discussion Questions (prepare responses for discussion in next class)
  • READ: Mark 4; 13; 7:24–30; 12:18–27 & //; John 8:1–11; Matt 19–25; Luke 15–18; 1 Cor 15; 1 Thess 4–5
  • READ: Crossan, Jesus, 1–53
  • READ: Crossan & Reed, Excavating Jesus, 89–223
  • READ: Tatum, Jesus at the Movies, 20–101
  • REC: Burridge, Four Gospels, One Jesus? (entire)
  • REC: Charlesworth, Jesus Within Judaism, 30–130
  • REC: Crossan, Historical Jesus, 1–88
  • REC: Funk, The Five Gospels 263, 470, 474, 500
  • REC: Meier, A Marginal Jew, I:205–371, I:434–437
  • REC: Moxnes, Putting Jesus in His Place (entire)
  • REC: O'Grady, The Four Gospels (entire)
  • REC: Sanders, The Historical Figure of Jesus, 10–97
  • REC: Vermes, The Dead Sea Scrolls in English, viiil–xxxv, 1–65, 119–150, 183–186, 244–245, 353–356
  • VIEW: "King of Kings"
  • VIEW: "The Greatest Story Ever Told"
  • WRITE: Film critique on your choice of films (for next class)
  • In-class workshop: Doing critical film reviews (practice on excerpts from "The Robe" [Palestine scene], "Barabbas" [first 20 min.], and "Ben Hur" [Scenes 57–61, Side 2, 1.02:30–1.20.45])
3 Th 6/29
  • The Film Jesus & The Theological Jesus
    • "Godspell," Scenes 1–4a (0:00–11:24)
    • "Jesus Christ Superstar," Scenes 5–6 ("Hosanna," "Simon Zealotes" [26:03–35:37]), 19 ("Could We Start Again Please?" [1.19:31–1.23:15])
  • The Case of the Infancy Narratives
    • "Ben Hur," Scene 2 (6.32–11:40)
    • "King of Kings," Scenes 5–7 (12:55–20:50)
    • "The Greatest Story Ever Told," Scenes 2–5a (4:48–19:07)
    • "Jesus of Nazareth," Scenes 1–5, 9, 11 (0:00–13:05, 21:48–25:50, 27:17–30:34)
    • "Monty Python's Life of Brian" (0:00–4:12)
  • READ: Exodus 1–2; Matthew 1–3; Luke 1–2, 3:23–38
  • READ: Crossan & Reed, Excavating Jesus, 49–88
  • READ: Stern, et al., Savior on the Silver Screen, 1–94, 231–263
  • READ: Tatum, Jesus at the Movies, 116–133
  • REC: Crossan, The Historical Jesus, 103–224
  • REC: Fredriksen, From Jesus to Christ (entire)
  • REC: Funk, The Five Gospels, 76f, 419
  • REC: Meier, A Marginal Jew, II:1–233
  • REC: Sanders, The Historical Figure of Jesus, 98–168
  • VIEW: "Godspell"
  • VIEW: "Jesus Christ Superstar"
  • VIEW: "Jesus of Nazareth," Part One
  • DUE: Film critique on your choice of films OR a Creative History Paper (follow this link for description)
4 M 7/03 Course Project work day

Old Glory Fourth of July holidayfireworks
5 W 7/05
  • The Politics of Compassion: Jesus Inaugurates God's Basileia
    • "The Gospel According to Matthew" (Scene __)
    • "Jesus of Montréal" (Scene __)
  • "Blessed are the Poor . . .": Jesus' Open Table
    • "Godspell" (Scene __)
    • "The Last Temptation" (Scene __)
    • "Life of Brian" (Scene __)
  • Jesus and God's Basileia: Divine Rule vs. Human Kingship
    • "King of Kings" (Scene 41)
    • "Greatest Story Ever Told" (Scene __)
    • "Jesus of Nazareth" (Scene __)
  • READ: Matthew (entire); Luke (entire); John 6
  • READ: Crossan, Jesus, 54–122
  • READ: Crossan & Reed, Excavating Jesus, 224–324
  • READ: Stern, et al., Savior on the Silver Screen, 95–160, 297–333
  • READ: Tatum, Jesus at the Movies, 102–115, 134–159
  • REC: Crossan, The Historical Jesus, 225–353
  • REC: Funk, The Five Gospels 48, 103, 295, 309, 136f
  • REC: Harrington & Keenan, Jesus and Virtue Ethics, passim, esp. 17–23, 35–40, 61–67, 77–82, 111–119, 126–134
  • REC: Meier, A Marginal Jew, I:372–433; II:137–506, 646–772, 874–1038
  • REC: Sanders, The Historical Figure of Jesus, 169–204
  • REC: Vermes, The Dead Sea Scrolls in English, 69–118
  • VIEW: "The Gospel According to Matthew"
  • VIEW: "Jesus of Nazareth," Part Two
  • DUE: Critical Book/Article/Essay reviews
6 Th 7/06
  • Jesus the Jew
    • "Godspell" (Scene __)
    • "Jesus of Nazareth" (Scene__)
    • slides of Jesus
  • READ: John 1–3
  • READ: Stern, et al., Savior on the Silver Screen, 161–229
  • REC: Charlesworth, Jesus Within Judaism, 131–172
  • REC: Crossan, The Historical Jesus, 417–422
  • REC: Sanders, The Historical Figure of Jesus, 205–248
  • REC: Vermes, The Dead Sea Scrolls in English, 189–287
  • REC: Vermes, Jesus the Jew (entire)
  • WRITE: Film critique on "Jesus of Montréal" (for next class)
7 M 7/10
  • The Trial and Death of Jesus
    • the Alexamenos graffito, first representation of the crucifixion
    • McGinn "Passion" lecture (slides 1–12)
    • "Jesus of Montréal"
    • "Jesus of Nazareth"
    • "The Last Temptation"
    • "Life of Brian"
  • READ: Mark 14–16 & parallels; Luke 1
  • READ: Crossan, Jesus, 123–158
  • READ: Stern, et al., Savior on the Silver Screen, 265–295
  • READ: Tatum, Jesus at the Movies, 160–189
  • REC: Crossan, The Historical Jesus, 354–394
  • REC: Sanders, The Historical Figure of Jesus, 249–275
  • REVIEW: Passion lecture
  • VIEW: "Jesus Christ Superstar"
  • VIEW: "Jesus of Nazareth," Part Three
  • VIEW: "The Last Temptation of Christ"
  • DUE: Film critique on "Jesus of Montreal"
8 W 7/12
  • The Resurrection Proclamation
    • "King of Kings," Scene 50–51 (2.44:30–2.48:40)
    • "The Greatest Story Ever Told," Scene 32 (3.10:58–3.16:16)
    • "Godspell," Scene 15b–16 (1.35.50–1.41:40)
    • "Jesus Christ Superstar," Scene 22 ("Superstar" [1.35:01–1.39.07])
    • "Jesus of Montréal," Scene
  • Jesus and Christ, History and Faith

Final Course Evaluation
  • READ: 2 Cor 4:5–12
  • READ: Catechism of the Catholic Church, #422–682 (Part One, Section Two, Chpt. 2). NB: you must follow the links manually, through the table of contents pages, to get to the proper section of this site.
  • READ: Crossan, Jesus, 159–201
  • READ: Neuner & Dupuis, The Christian Faith, chpt. 6 (Grasselli reserve)
  • READ: Van Beeck article (Grasselli reserve)
  • REC: Crossan, The Historical Jesus, 395–426
  • REC: Funk, The Five Gospels 419; Mk 16 and //
  • REC: Meier, A Marginal Jew, II:509–645, 773–873
  • REC: Sanders, The Historical Figure of Jesus, 276–281

9 Th 7/13

Last Class
  • REC: Sanders, The Historical Figure of Jesus, 282–291
  • REC: Meier, A Marginal Jew, II:1039–1047
  • VIEW: "Monty Python's Life of Brian"
  • DUE: Final project & Class Presentations

If you have any questions about any of the items on this Schedule, ask ASAP to prevent getting behind in the course work.

This site designed and maintained by
Sheila E. McGinn, Ph.D.
Professor of Religious Studies
copyright © 2006 Sheila E. McGinn

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last update 05 June 2006

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