Assignment Task

Questions

1. Briefly explain the dual perspective that is explained in the course textbook and in the lectures, and how this concept and approach to reading the Gospels contributes to one’s understanding of the purpose(s) themes goal(s) etc. of the Gospels and their audiences/communities.

2. Briefly explain the difference between a horizontal reading and a vertical reading of the Gospels, and how the former (horizontal reading) can reveal important details about the Gospels that might otherwise go unnoticed.

3. Paul’s Epistle (Letter) to the Galatians is one of the most explosive writings in the New Testament. Using the information discussed in the relevant chapters in the course textbook, the PowerPoint slides posted on Moodle, and your notes from the lectures, explain the audience, occasion, opponents (if relevant), issue(s), purpose(s) and themes of Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians (Hint: note and discuss the structural element that is missing from the letter that is explained in the introduction textbook and provides insight regarding the aspects of Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians that help make it unique among his epistles).

• Include in your answer a discussion regarding the audience/ community to which Paul was writing, the occasion (opponents) and purpose(s) that seem to have prompted Paul to write the letter, and the reason(s) for Paul’s "swift, personal and fiery response" (Hatina, M16b). Summarize and explain the key problems that Paul addresses in Galatians, and the argument(s) and themes that Paul uses in Galatians, and how they are used to address the audience and occasion of the letter. Provide specific details from the introduction textbook, the PowerPoint slides posted on Moodle (when relevant), your lecture notes, and the Bible in your answer.
• Select a different Pauline letter that has been discussed in detail this semester (e.g., 1 Thessalonians, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, or Philippians). Discuss the same steps and topics that are listed in the above instructions for Galatians that are relevant for the letter that you choose (e.g., information regarding the receiving community (audience), the purpose(s) for the letter, the key issues/problems/ opponents/concerns, hope, themes, and theology of the letter, etc.). Provide specific details from the introduction textbook, the PowerPoint slides posted on Moodle (when relevant), your lecture notes, and the Bible in your answer. ◦ Note: The Philippians chapter from the introduction textbook has been provided as a PDF document in the Final Exam portal on Moodle.
• Finally, synthesize the information regarding the two Pauline letters that you discuss in the above two steps by explaining how the letters are similar and unique, and what the letters tell us individually and collectively about the early church, the Apostle Paul, his theology, his (church) communities, the rhetoric that he uses to communicate with his audiences (including the ancient practice of letter writing), how the letters contributed to the early church, how the letters contribute the New Testament canon, and any other important aspects and details that are relevant for understanding Paul, the selected letters, the early church, the canon of Scripture, etc.
• You can also include your own personal reflections regarding these two letters of Paul, and/or how each letter impacts the Bible as a whole and/or the contemporary church, if you choose. Select one of the two following essay questions and answer the question that you choose as comprehensively and

This question involves the Synoptic Gospels and the Synoptic Problem discussed in the textbook and lectures. You will take on the role of New Testament Gospel source critic in this essay by summarizing, utilizing, and evaluating the two major source critical hypotheses discussed in the introduction textbook and lectures this semester (i.e., the Griesbach Hypothesis and the Two-Source Hypothesis) to examine and explain The Rich Young Man pericope (section) that is provided for this question. Be certain to follow the steps provided below for this question. Provide specific details from the introduction textbook, the PowerPoint slides posted on Moodle (when relevant), your lecture notes, and the Bible in your essay. Use the following steps to write the short essay.

1. The first step is to explain which Gospels are included in the category `Synoptic Gospels,` why scholars categorize these Gospels as ‘Synoptic Gospels,’ and what the Synoptic problem is.

2. The next step is to summarize and explain both the similar and the unique qualities and interpretive techniques of the Griesbach Hypothesis and the Two-Source Hypothesis that are discussed in the textbook and lectures.

3. You will then use each hypothesis to interpret the parallel accounts of The Rich Young Man pericope in Matthew 19:16-22; Mark 10:17-22; and Luke 18:18-23, and explain how each hypothesis accounts for The Rich Young Man pericope (section) occurring in the similar yet different ways that it does in the Synoptic Gospels. ◦ You can access a parallel reading of the Synoptic passages by clicking the link on Moodle in the Final Exam portal (or click here for the document).

4. Finally, once you have summarized, explained, and applied each of the two hypotheses to The Rich Young Man pericope (section), you will then evaluate each hypothesis and explain which of the two hypotheses best explains how and why this account occurs in the Synoptic Gospels in the ways that it does from a source critical perspective. You will then very briefly discuss which of the two hypotheses proves to be most effective overall hypothesis to explain the parallel passages in the Synoptic Gospels, and is thus the preferred hypothesis to explain the similarities shared between the Synoptic Gospels in general.

5. Remember, this essay is not focused on whether or not you agree with either hypothesis or source criticism in general, but to determine which of these two major hypotheses provides the best explanation for The Rich Young Man pericope provided for this final exam question, and for the Synoptic Gospels in general. Discussing whether or not either hypothesis can be most effective for the Synoptic Gospels in general is a great discussion, but not required.

6. You can also choose to include in the end of your essay your overall assessment of source criticism in general, and/ or the two hypotheses discussed in this question and whether or not you find source criticism and/or either or both of the two hypotheses to be a helpful and/or convincing way to explain why the Synoptic Gospels share a vast amount of material while exhibiting important differences, and why.

Select two of the Gospels that were discussed in detail this semester. You will then use the introduction textbook, your Bible(s), the PowerPoint slides posted on Moodle, and your notes from the lectures to help you examine and interpret each Gospel that you select. Following this initial step, complete the following steps. Provide specific details from the introduction textbook, PowerPoint slides provided on Moodle, your lecture notes, and the Bible in your essay.

1. Using the course material, briefly discuss the most likely approximate dates of composition for the Gospels that you select.

2. Next, provide a detailed discussion about the receiving audiences/communities to which each evangelist is writing (your notes from the lectures, the introduction textbook, and the PowerPoint slides posted on Moodle will help with this). This description must include an explanation of the ways in which the experiences, needs, issues, struggles, hopes, etc. of each audience/community provide the impetus for writing each Gospel, and the unique ways in which each Gospel that you select addresses these experiences, needs, issues, struggles, hopes, etc. Note: Pay special attention to the Introduction, Purpose(s), and Themes sections in the textbook, your lecture notes, and PowerPoint slides to help with this explanation.

3. Summarize and explain the purpose(s), key themes, and theology of each Gospel that you choose, and how each evangelist used their key themes and theological points of focus to address the likely issues, concerns, fears, expectations, hopes, etc. of their communities (i.e., the purpose(s) that provided the impetus for each evangelist to write their Gospel).

4. Compare and contrast the similar and unique aspects of each Gospel that you select, and how each Gospel uniquely contributes to the early church and the New Testament canon. You can also discuss how the Gospels that you select work together to contribute to the New Testament canon.

• You can also include your own personal reflections regarding each Gospel, and/or how each Gospel impacts the Bible as a whole, and/or the contemporary church if you choose.