Purpose/Goals:

• for you to gain a basic overview of the life, teachings, and actions of Jesus of Nazareth
• for you to begin thinking about the evangelists' role in the production of the Gospels
• for you to become aware of some of the different levels of history that affect the text:
• the historical man named Jesus and his initial disciples (ca. 30 AD)
• the original author & readers of the Gospels (ca. 60's to 90's AD)
• the modern translators, readers, and interpreters (i.e. all of us today)
• for me to get an initial sample of the quality of your academic reading and writing skills

Read the entire Gospel according to Mark quickly, but carefully, if possible at one sitting:

• for now, read the Gospel itself, not what any commentator or other scholar says about Mark
• for now, read only the text and the brief introduction in your HCSB, not all the detailed footnotes
• pick a time when you can read the whole thing without interruption (only 35 pages in the HCSB)
• it should only take you between one and two hours, depending on how fast you read

1. What did you notice that surprised or impressed you about the way JESUS is portrayed here?
2. How would you summarize the main message that MARK wanted to give his original readers?
3. What major images and themes stood out as most important for YOU as you read this Gospel?

Writing Assignment:

Write 1½ pages about your initial impressions of Mark, addressing all three of the questions above (about JESUS, about MARK, about YOU):

• write more than one, but not more than two pages; see my GENERAL GUIDELINES for proper paper format;
• do not just outline or retell the contents of all 16 chapters; think about the impact of the Gospel as a whole;
• do not restate what the HCSB or any scholar says about Mark's Gospel; write about your own impressions;
• try to use Markan language; avoid using words and ideas from later Christianity that are not in Mark's Gospel;
• support your claims with some specific examples from Mark (citing chapter and verse references in parentheses);
• do not include a bibliography with this paper, since you are all using only the HarperCollins Study Bible.

Exercise #2 - The Christology of the Gospel according to . . .   (due Monday, 2/19/01)

Purpose/Goals:

• to become aware of the wide variety of claims made about and titles used for Jesus by the early Christian writers.
• to see how Jesus is portrayed through his actions, described by the Evangelist, and identified by other characters.
• to learn that all the Christological titles originally had different meanings, even though all were ascribed to Jesus.
• to notice how various Christological titles are used by different characters with different meanings in each Gospel.
• to recognize how the Christologies of the later Gospels have slightly different emphases than in the Gospel of Mark.
• to become familiar with Bible Dictionaries and the "Bibloi" program as important tools for biblical studies.

• how does this Evangelist portray the actions of Jesus, and what do these say about Jesus' identity?
• what does this Evangelist himself directly say or claim about the identity and significance of Jesus?
• what do the other characters in this Gospel say about Jesus, and which titles do they attribute to him?
• what does Jesus say about himself in this Gospel, and which titles does he use, accept, avoid, or reject?

• my webpages on the "Four Gospels: Comparisons" and the "Christological Titles"; note especially how the Christology of each Gospel is different, despite their shared use of some of the more common or basic titles.
• chapter 6 of Perkins' Reading the NT, as well as the appropriate chapter on your Gospel (ch. 13-15);
• the appropriate introductory pages for your Gospel in the HCSB (pp. 1857-59, 1953-54, or 2011-13);
• the articles explaining the pertinent Christological titles in one or two of the following Bible Dictionaries:  the HarperCollins Bible Dictionary; the Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible; the Anchor Bible Dictionary; or Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (all available in LMU Library Reference - but avoid other dictionaries that are too small or too old!)

•  Caution: Search both the RSV and the NSRV translations, since there are some differences in modern English.
• Also, think creatively!  For "Son of God," don't forget "God's Son," or a voice from heaven saying "my Son."
• Then go back to your Bible and look up these references in the Gospels; for each title, determine exactly where, when, how, and by whom it is used in your Gospel (and if it is used differently in the other Gospels).

• compare and contrast at least three (or more) distinctive titles ascribed to Jesus in your Gospel;
• mention how each title is used in your Gospel (where, when, by whom, and with what meaning?);
• describe how the words and actions of Jesus in this Gospel are related to the titles attributed to him;
• be aware that your Evangelist's use of these titles may differ from their use in other OT or NT books;
• but focus on your chosen Gospel, with only brief comparative comments about the other NT Gospels.

At the end of your paper, briefly list the bibliographical information for the specific dictionary articles you used (not just the dictionary itself). Use the proper format for these bibliographical references, as explained on the "Writing Guidelines" webpage.  Do not list the HCSB, Perkins, my webpages, or the Bibloi program, but only the articles from the Bible Dictionaries you used.

If possible, in order to save paper, please print on both sides of the same page (if you can adjust your printer settings). Use either double-spacing or 1½-line spacing, but not single-spacing, to leave room for the professor's comments.
 

Purpose/Goals:

• to learn about the expansion of early Christianity, especially as an urban phenomenon within the Roman Empire.
• to see the correlation between the Acts of the Apostles and the geography of the lands around the Mediterranean Sea.
• to get more practice using some standard biblical reference tools, esp. the Bibloi program and Bible Dictionaries.

1) Choose ONE of the following Roman Provinces with its cities [signup on the list in class - first come, first served!]:

• Syria (esp. Damascus & Antioch) - CAUTION: there is more than one city named "Antioch"
• Cilicia (esp. Tarsus) and Pamphylia (esp. Perga)
• Galatia (incl. the regions Pisidia, Lycaonia, and their towns: Antioch, Lystra, Derbe) - CAUTION: there is more than one city named "Antioch"
• Asia (esp. Ephesus & Colossae)
• Macedonia (esp. Philippi & Thessalonica)
• Achaia (esp. Athens & Corinth)
• Mediterranean Sea & Islands (esp. Cyprus, Crete, Malta)
• Italia (incl. Sicily/Syracuse and esp. Rome)

3) Use the Bibloi program to find out exactly where this province (and its important cities - listed in parentheses above) is mentioned in the New Testament. Then look up those passages in your Bible, especially but not only in the canonical Acts of the Apostles, to see what happens in that province and/or its cities in the first Christian century.

4) For information about the geographical location and political history of your province, look up all of the appropriate articles in at least two of the following standard references: the Anchor Bible Dictionary (6 vols.), the Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible (3 vols. plus Supplement), the HarperCollins Bible Dictionary, the Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible, or the Illustrated Bible Dictionary (all in the reference area of the LMU library). Do not use online sources for this assignment!

Writing/Revising:

Write a report (2-2½ pages, slightly longer than usual) on the region/cities you selected:

• Very briefly tell about the geography and history of your region, esp. its political status during the 1st cent. CE.
• Briefly describe the capital city and the other important cities and towns of your region.
• Mostly explain how and why this region and its cities are important in the NT (esp., but not only, in the Book of Acts):

    analyze and summarize what happens there in the NT (but do not merely quote long passages from the NT).
• Include your bibliography of the specific Bible Dictionary articles you used, in proper bibliographical format.

REMINDER on Bibliographical Format: Be specific! Give credit where credit is due!
List not only the names of your two Bible dictionaries, but the exact authors, titles, volume & page numbers of all the articles you used.

    Author's last name, first name. "Article Title." Dictionary Title (editor; city: publisher, year), vol. & pp. #s.

See the "Writing Guidelines" webpage for examples.

Exercise #4 - Pauline Teachings Then and Now (extended deadline: Friday, 4/6/01)

Purpose/Goals:

• to reflect on the relevance of the NT (esp. Pauline Ethics) for our world and our own lives today.

• to consider the differences in social circumstances between the first and the twenty-first centuries.

• to learn how to use Bible Commentaries and to find other works of modern biblical scholarship.

Choose one of the following passages from Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians:  5:1-13; 6:1-11; 7:1-24; 7:17-40; 11:1-16; 12:1-31
Read it closely and carefully, and reread it in several different modern English translations.

Analyze carefully what is stated, what is implied, and what is presupposed in your passage:

1. What do the Corinthian Christians to whom Paul is writing seem to be saying and doing?
   Why? Why do they think their thoughts and actions are compatible with their Christian faith?

2. What is Paul himself arguing that they ought to do and/or think instead?
   Why? What reasons does he give in trying to convince them to change their ways?

3. What is the continued relevance of this passage for our world today?
   Is any situation in our own society the same or similar today? Do Paul's arguments still apply? How?
   Is the situation today different? How? What aspects of Paul's arguments no longer apply? Why not?

Write a short paper (2 to 2½ pages) explaining the results of your analysis of the passage you selected.

• Do your own reading, thinking, analyzing, and preliminary writing first.

• After writing a rough draft or at least an outline, check at least two Bible Commentaries on 1 Cor; don't let the authors do the thinking for you, but let them help you check whether you've missed something important.

• Some recommended single-volume commentaries include the HarperCollins Bible Commentary, the New Jerome Bible Commentary, or the Interpreter's Bible Commentary (all in the Library Reference section); also, check some larger commentaries that deal with 1 Cor only, and thus provide more detail (LMU library: any recent BS2675.3)

• Append a brief bibliography of the Bible Commentaries you consulted (not just those you explicitly cited).

• As usual, make sure you back up your claims with specific biblical references (citing chapter and verse numbers).

• Also, obviously, make sure you proof-read carefully (for spelling and grammatical accuracy).

Exercise #5 -  "The New Testament and. (Your College Major or Other Field of Interest)"
(extended deadline: Friday, April 20, 2001 - but proposals due Friday, April 6)

Purpose/Goals:

• to think about the interconnectedness between biblical studies and other academic fields of study.
• to apply what we have learned about the New Testament to some other area of interest to you.
• to allow you to do something more creative, and yet still academically serious, in studying the NT.

1. Choose any topic you wish that is somehow related to the New Testament and another field of interest to you, preferably your college major here at LMU, or some other academic area.
2. Think about the interconnectedness between the two. How does our study of the NT affect your understanding of the other field? How does the other field affect your understanding of the NT?
3. Think about how you would like to present the results of your research. It could be in the form of a written paper (2-3 pages), but could also be an academic or creative project of some other kind.
4. Use some additional reference works for your research - but which ones will depend on what topic you propose.

1. Write up a brief (one full page) but sufficiently detailed outline or proposal of what you would like to research and write about. Turn this in by Friday, April 6 (or earlier), so that I can look it over and give you some feedback.
2. Turn in your completed project or paper by Friday, April 20 (one week before classes end).

Purpose/Goals:

• to become even more familiar with the life, actions, and teachings of Jesus, in the context of the 1st century world.
• to recognize that Jesus' life, actions, and teachings are portrayed quite differently in the four canonical Gospels.
• to learn to analyze films and videos more critically by comparing them closely with the foundational biblical texts.

• Note that some films claim to be based on one particular Gospel.  If so, how closely does the film you chose stick to that Gospel?  What does the film change or omit from that Gospel?
• Other films are not based on only one Gospel, but pick and choose scenes from all four Gospels.  If so, which episodes does your film pick from which Gospel? What is the effect of such a mixture?
• Some films even add characters or episodes that are not found in any of the canonical Gospels.  What new elements were added in your film, and what is the effect of such additions?
• Documentaries usually involve scholars discussing various issues about Jesus and his times, with some film clips, artwork, and/or dramatizations. What questions do they address, what biblical passages do they use as evidence, and what perspectives do they presuppose?

Videos Available in LMU Library:
(Hints: first check the library's online catalog for descriptions of each one;  most of these productions are about two hours long; if they are significantly longer, you should cover about a 2-hour portion, as indicated below;  the library has a few other videos that are too old, too boring, or too short, so only use the ones listed here):

• Cotton Patch Gospel, Bridgestone Productions  [PN1997 .C8336 1988 - almost 3 hours, but watch it all]
• Godspell: A Musical Based on the Gospel acc. to St. Matthew (orig. 1973)  [PN1997.G5678 1998 - about 2 hours]
• The Gospel according to St. Matthew, by Pier Paolo Pasolini  [PN1997.9.R4 G686 1964 - about 2¼ hours]
• The Greatest Story Ever Told, by George Stevens (orig. 1965)  [PN1997.G6893 1990 - over 3 hours, but see it all]
• Jesus: His Life, by FilmRoos for A&E Television  [BT301.2 J47 1995 - about 2 hours]
• Jesus: Then and Now, by Simon Jenkins (orig. 1983)  [BT303.J35 1987 - two 2-hour parts; watch either one]
• Jesus and His Times, by Readers' Digest Association  [BT301.2.J46 1991 - three 60-min parts; watch any two]
• Jesus Christ Superstar, by Tim Rice (orig. 1973)   [PN1997.J48 1990 - about 2 hours]
• The Jesus File: Tracking the Messiah, by CTVC  [BT301,2 J468 1999 - four 30-min. episodes; watch all four]
• Jesus of Montreal (French, with English subtitles)  [PN1997.J488 1989 - exactly 2 hours]
• Jesus of Nazareth, by Franco Zeffirelli (orig. 1977)   [PN1997.J47 1993 - three 2-hour tapes; watch any one part]
• King of Kings, by Nicholas Ray (orig. 1961)  [PN1997 .K565 1996 - almost 3 hours, but watch it all]
• Lives of Jesus, by BBC/ Das Erste  [BT301.2 L58 1997 - three 50-min segments; choose any two parts]
• The Revolutionary: I & II, by TBN Films, Robert Marcarelli  [PN1997 R49 1996-97 - watch both parts]
• The Unknown Jesus: Revealing Perspectives on the Life of Jesus, FilmRoos  [BT202 U54 1999 - watch both parts]

Extra Credit Opportunity B - Films and Videos about the Growth of the Early Church

Purpose/Goals:

• To further deepen our understanding of the historical growth of Christianity in the Roman world of the first century.
• To analyze critically how the film industry portrays the story of Early Christianity (how closely they follow the Bible).
• To continue improving our academic skills of thinking critically, researching carefully and writing well.

If you choose a different video or film, please let your professor know in advance what it is: title, date, producer.
If your video is extremely long (over 4 hours), watch at least two full hours. If it is about 3 hours, watch all of it.

Writing/Revising:

• Briefly summarize the plot of the film, and briefly tell of the main characters in the film.
• Analyze carefully any episodes or quotations that are taken directly from (or closely based on) the Acts of the Apostles, the letters of Paul, or other books of the New Testament.
• Discuss also what parts of the biblical text are omitted, and what parts of the film are added to the biblical story.
• Write some concluding evaluations of your own: How closely does this film stick to the biblical texts? What aspects of Early Christianity does it seem to emphasize? Why?

Videos Available in LMU Library:
(Hints: first check the library's online catalog for descriptions of each one;  most of these productions are about two hours long; if they are significantly longer, you should cover about a 2-hour portion, as indicated below;  the library has a few other videos that are too old, too boring, or too short, so please ask the professor if you wish to use any video not listed here):

• Peter and Paul; produced by Stan Hough; story by Christopher Knopf & Stan Hough; directed by Robert Day. (2 parts - 194 min. total - watch it all).  Summary: "This epic network television mini-series brings to life the precarious existence of the early Christian church which was beset by violent opposition from without and within. Peter and Paul emerge as two key leaders and struggle to keep the faith alive."
• Quo Vadis; based on the novel by Henryk Sienkiewicz; originally produced as a motion picture in 1951. (2 parts - 171 min. total - watch it all). Summary: "The story of a renowned and successful Roman general who falls in love with a lowly Christian woman, risking everything for her, during the corrupt and decadent reign of Nero."
• A.D. Anno Domini; directed by Stuart Cooper; written by Anthony Burgess and Vincenzo Labella. (3 parts - 120 min. each - watch at least one full part). Summary: " A dramatization of the Book of Acts and the apostolic era."
• From Jesus to Christ: The First Christians; written, produced, and directed by Marilyn Mellowes and William Cran. (4 vols. - 60 min. each - watch both vols. 2 and 4). Summary: "Explores the life of Jesus and the movement he started, challenging familiar assumptions and conventional notions about the origins of Christianity."
• The Rise of Christianity: The First 1000 Years. FilmRoos; produced by Tim Evans, Roberta Grossman, Kathryn Christy. (4 vols. - ca. 50 min. each - watch both parts 1 and 2). Summary: "Traces the rise of one of the world's great religions from the Crucifixion to the coming of the Crusades."
• The Twelve Apostles. Weller/Grossman Productions for the History Channel; narrated by Martin Sheen. (1 videocassette - ca. 100 min.). Summary: "They started out as average, unexceptional men of their time: fishermen, farmers, local magistrates. But their dedication to a prophetic Jewish preacher in the backwaters of the Roman Empire transformed them into revolutionaries and, in the process, changed the world itself in ways that would reverberate across time for two thousand years."