Course Description
The aim of this course is to become acquainted with the main characteristics of the three Synoptic Gospel accounts: Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The first section is entitled “introducing the Synoptic Gospel accout.” This part will examine preliminary questions like genre, the rejection of a jumbo gospel, the synoptic problem, and, finally, form criticism (miracles and parables). The second part, “the good news of Jesus Christ”, will entail reading through, from beginning to end, the more significant texts in each Synoptic Gospel.
Bibliography
EVE-MARIE BECKER, Historiographical Literature in the New Testament Period (1st and 2nd Centuries CE) Handbook for the Study of the Historical Jesus (ed. TOM HOLMÉN – STANLEY E. PORTER), Leiden: Brill 2019, II, 1787-1817;
DAVID E. GARLAND, A Theology of Mark’s Gospel. Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, BTNT; Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic 2015;
JONATHAN T. PENNINGTON, Reading the Gospels Wisely. A Narrative and Theological Introduction, Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic 2012;
PHEME PERKINS, Introduction to the Synoptic Gospels Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans 2009;
LUKE PITCHER, Writing Ancient History. An Introduction to Classical Historiography, LCS 1; London: I. B. Tauris & Co. Ltd. 2009.