Jesus of Nazareth in Film & History
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last update: 22 April 2010
pleaseSCHEDULE 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.
NB 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 during that class session.
Week#/DATE KEY TOPICS & HIGHLIGHTS ASSIGNMENTS DUE for THIS class session
1 W 1/20 Ratio et Instrumenta Studiorum
  • REVIEW: Course Web, esp. Syllabus & Schedule; Introductory Materials; Sources for the life of Jesus outside the NT; pointers for academic success; Chronological Bibliography of the Life of Jesus Films
  • READ: Mark (entire)
  • READ: Crossan, Jesus, ix–xiv
  • READ: Crossan & Reed, Excavating Jesus, xiii–48
  • READ: Tatum, Jesus at the Movies, 1–19, 191–214
  • REC: Borg, Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time (entire)
  • REC: Charlesworth, Jesus Within Judaism, 1–29, 187–207
  • REC: Charlesworth and Weaver, Jesus Two Thousand Years Later, 1–61, 94–128
  • REC: Crossan, The Historical Jesus, xi–xxxiv, 427–66
  • REC: Funk, The Five Gospels, xiii–xxii, 1–38
  • REC: Meier, A Marginal Jew, I:1–201
  • REC: Sanders, The Historical Figure of Jesus, vii–xiv, 1–9, 282–291
  • REC: Schweitzer, The Quest of the Historical Jesus (entire)
  • REC: Dominic Crossan's talk for "Jesus at 2000" (35–1.14)
  • 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]
  • Choose: book, films, or articles to critique
2 W 1/27

No formal class session due to Instructor's advance trip to Turkey. See the course Blackboard site for discussions, PPTs, lectures, etc. In your reading/viewing, focus on the following:

  • Early Christian Historical & Cultural Contexts
    • Honor and Shame: Key Mediterranean Values
    • Law & Social Structures
      • King of Kings, Scene 16, de adultera (54.48–59.46)
      • King of Kings, 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)
      • Jesus of Nazareth (Appendix of "Historical Information")
    • Jews and Judaisms in I CE Palestine
      • The Apocalyptic Context of I CE Judaism
        • The Greatest Story Ever Told Scenes 5b–6 (19:07–31:50)
  • REVIEW: the Jerusalem Mosaic (2nd Temple & Roman Eras); PBS Frontline series: "From Jesus to Christ"
  • READ: Apocalypticism in I CE Judaism;   the Religion of Jesus the Jew; Jesus vs. Qumran; Jesus in I CE Judaism
  • 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:434–37
  • 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, 119–50, 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 W2/03 No class session; see Blackboard for discussions, PPTs, lectures, etc. In your reading/viewing, focus on the following:
  • 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])
    • PPT & Lecture: The Passion in
  • 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)
  • REVIEW: Infancy Narrative Discussion Questions (prepare responses for discussion in next class)
  • 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, 231–63
  • 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
  • WRITE: Creative History Paper #1 OR Film critique on "Jesus of Montréal" (or alternate course film) for session 4
4 W2/10
  • Reprise & discussion of topics from weeks 2–3
  • Jesus the Jew
    • "Godspell," Scenes 13–14a (1.17:51–1.30:09)
    • Jesus of Nazareth
  • READ: John 1–3
  • READ: Stern, et al., Savior on the Silver Screen, 161–229
  • REC: Charlesworth, Jesus Within Judaism, 131–72
  • REC: Crossan, The Historical Jesus, 417–22
  • 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)
  • DUE: Essay #1 (Creative History Paper #1 [follow this link for description] OR Film critique on your choice of films OR Critical Review of a Book, Article, or Essay)
5 W2/17
Ash Wed.
    The Gospel and Our Gospels: Synoptic Theories
    • The Markan Jesus
    • The Matthaean Jesus
    • The Lukan Jesus
    • The Johannine Jesus
    • The Pauline Jesus
  • READ: Matthew (entire); Mark (entire); Luke (entire); John 6; Galatians; 1–2 Corinthians; Philippians
  • 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, 134–59
  • REC: Crossan, The Historical Jesus, 225–353
  • REC: Funk, The Five Gospels 48, 103, 295, 309, 136f
  • VIEW: "The Gospel According to Matthew"
  • VIEW: Jesus of Nazareth Part Two
6 W2/24

The Politics of Compassion: Jesus Inaugurates God's Basileia

  • "Godspell," Scene 4 (10:39–22:30)
  • "The Gospel According to Matthew," Scene 
  • "Jesus of Montréal," Scene
  • "Blessed are the Poor . . .": Jesus' Open Table
    • "The Last Temptation," Scene
    • "Monty Python's Life of Brian," Scene
  • Jesus and God's Basileia: Divine Rule vs. Human Kingship
    • King of Kings, Scene 27 (1.25:09–1.35:06)
    • "Jesus of Nazareth" (Scene __)
  • REVIEW: The Synoptic Problem website
  • STUDY: Gospel parallels texts handed out in class
  • REC: Harrington & Keenan, Jesus and Virtue Ethics, passim, esp. 17–23, 35–40, 61–67, 77–82, 111–19, 126–34
  • 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
  • WRITE: Essay #2 for session 7
**7 W3/03 Spring Break  
8–9 W3/10 & W3/17

The Trial and Death of Jesus

  • The Alexamenos graffito, first representation of the crucifixion
  • McGinn "Passion" lecture, Part I (slides 1–12). NB: this PPT includes an audio-recorded lecture; the files are posted on the course BB site.
  • The Greatest Story Ever Told Scene 32a (3.10:58–3.11:55)
  • Jesus of Montréal
  • Jesus of Nazareth, Scenes 83–86
  • The Last Temptation, Scene 29
  • Monty Python's Life of Brian, Trial Scene
  • REVIEW: Passion lecture
  • READ: Mark 14–16 & parallels; Luke 1
  • READ: Crossan, Jesus, 123–58
  • READ: Stern, et al., Savior on the Silver Screen, 265–95
  • READ: Tatum, Jesus at the Movies, 160–89
  • REC: Crossan, The Historical Jesus, 354–94
  • REC: Sanders, The Historical Figure of Jesus, 249–275
  • VIEW: "Jesus Christ Superstar"
  • VIEW: Jesus of Nazareth Part Three
  • VIEW: "Jesus of Montréal"
  • VIEW: "The Last Temptation of Christ"
  • DUE (3/10): Essay #2 (CHP OR Film Critique OR Critical Review)
10 W3/24
  • 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
  • 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 (on BB)
  • 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, 276–81
  • DUE: Essay #3 (CHP, Film Critique, or Critical Review)
**11 W3/31 JCU Friday class schedule; no class tonight DUE: Draft 1 of final project
**12 W4/07 EGLBS annual meeting; no class tonight Research & writing day; revise your essay and prep your class presentation
13 W4/14 Son of Man film discussion DUE: Draft 2 of final project
14 W4/21 Facing the Facts: Reconstructing the Jesus of History for a People of Faith
  • The Case of the Infancy Narratives
    • The rhetorical form of encomium or panegyric
    • The birth of Octavius
      • C. Suetonius Tranquillus, De vitae Caesarum: Divus Augustus
        • 5.1: Natus est Augustus […] regione Palati ad Capita Bubula, ubi nunc sacrarium habet, aliquanto post quam excessit constitutum. ("Augustus was born […] at Capita Bubula [literally either "at the heads of the oxen" or "on the fodder of the oxen"] in the Palatine quarter, where he now has a shrine, built shortly after his death.")
        • 94 (English; Latin)
    • Titles for Octavius after his adoption by Julius Caesar
      • Formal title: Imperator Gaius Iulius Caesar Octavianus Augustus
      • After Caesar's official apotheosis in 42 B.C.E.: Gaius Iulius Divi filius Caesar
      • After C.E. 14: Divus Augustus Divi filius
      • Individual titles:
        • Divi filius ("Son of God"); the hellenistic east uses the anarthrous theou huios (cf. Matt. 4:33; 27:43; 27:54; ho huios tou theou; huios theou [Mark 15:39; Luke 1:35])
        • theios ("divine", "imperatorial"); theotês ("divineness", "imperial majesty")
        • Kyrios ("Lord"); kyriakos ("belonging to the Lord"); kyrios kai theos ("Lord and God")
        • Basileius ("king"; Greek for "Imperator")
        • Sebastos ("worthy of worship"; Greek for "Augustus")
        • Sôtêr ("Redeemer")
    • Portents of Octavius' divinity: C. Plinius Secundus (Pliny the Elder), Natural History II.25, par. 3
15 W4/28
  • READ: Van Beeck article (on BB)
  • DO: Final Course Evaluation
16 W5/05
  • Project Presentations
    • Mike & Siddiq (Jairus' daughter)
    • Jerry (Pontius Pilate)
    • Shane
Readings tba by presenters; see BB

17 W5/12
Finals week; last class session
  • Project Presentations:
    • Jean (Baptism of Jesus)
    • Alternate Messiah group: Michele, Mark, Bridget, & Karen
If you have any questions about any of the items on this Schedule, ask ASAP to prevent getting behind in the course work.
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