The Johannine Writings, NT3211
Spring Semester 2001
Monday/Wednesday/Friday: 9:00-9:50 – NW 240
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James Boyce, Instructor Web page: http://www.luthersem.edu/jboyce |
Office: Bockman 110, ext. 252 Hours: Mon, Wed, Fri: 11-12:30 Other times by appointment |
A study of John's Gospel as the context for reflection on the mission of the church and preparation for pastoral leadership. The primary focus is on the Gospel of John with attention also given to issues in the Johannine community and the significance of this Gospel for ministry in the church and the world.
1. Reflection on the similarities and differences with the Synoptic tradition and on central theological issues and themes in John and the Johannine epistles;
2. Continue to develop skills in use of important primary resources (lexicons, concordances, grammars, translations, interlinears) and secondary works (word books, commentaries, monographs, articles);
3. Continuing development of your own exegetical method, including such aspects as analysis of unit, syntax, text, form, context, words, and intention of selected texts;
4. Practice in the consolidation of textual, exegetical, and interpretive findings so as to set forth the significance of the text and how it is to be taught or proclaimed.
5. Development and presentation through group process on selected texts which demonstrate your own personal competence and growth in these objectives.
Gospel of John (in English, and portions in Greek)
R. Alan Culpepper. Anatomy of Fourth Gospel, Fortress
R. Alan Culpepper. The Gospel and Letters of John, , Abingdon IBT
EITHER/OR
Francis J. Moloney. The Gospel of John, , Liturgical Press, Sacra Pagina
Robert Kysar. John ACNT Augsburg
D. Moody Smith. John. Proclamation Commentaries 2nd ed. Fortress
(For more extensive bibliography, see Culpepper, Anatomy; for a more selective or user friendly bibliography, see Kysar, Maverick Gospel; and for an annotated bibliography, see Smith, John or the recommended and annotated bibliography in Professor Craig Koester's syllabus for John, fall 2000, at http://www.luthersem.edu/ckoester/NT3211/NT3211syl.htm)
Raymond E. Brown, The Gospel According to John. vols. 1: 1-12 & 2:13-21 Anchor Bible Doubleday, 1966, 1970.
Craig R. Koester, Symbolism in the Fourth Gospel. Minneapolis, Fortress, 1995.
Robert Kysar, John: the Maverick Gospel . Louisville, Westminster John Knox, 1993.
Gail R. O'Day, Revelation in the Fourth Gospel. Fortress, 1986
Mark Alan Powell. Fortress Introduction to The Gospels. Fortress, 1998.
David Rensberger. Johanine Faith and Liberating Community. Philadelphia, Westminster, 1988.
David Rensberger. 1 John, 2 John, 3 John. Abingdon
D. Moody Smith, John Among the Gospels . Minneapolis, Fortress.
D. Moody Smith, Theology of the Gospel of John. Cambridge, 1995.
Mark W. G. Stibbe. John's Gospel. NT Readings. Routledge
Cullen I. K. Story. The Fourth Gospel: Its Purpose, Problem and Power. Ragged Edge
1. Attendance and participation in class lecture, presentations and discussions.
2. Read through the Gospel of John in English (For class January 5).
3. Read Culpepper, Anatomy. (This reading is to be completed for class discussion on Friday, January 7.)
4. Read Culpepper, The Gospel and Letters of John in conjunction with particular Johannine material addressed in class sessions.
5. Additional reading: Moloney, Kysar or Smith as chosen, and supplementary reading of your choice. Total, approximately 1000-1200 pages on Gospel and Epistles of John (commentaries, essays/articles [use ATLA index], etc.). Keep a reading list and append this list to the final examination.
6. Weekly Textual Work: Mdiv. Students: Translate approximately 10-15 verses of Greek text of John; MA students compare the same text in at least two (preferably dissimilar) translations. Both: note textual/translation issues that arise in the text.
7. As part of small group, prepare exegetical/interpretive presentations on two selected texts from the Revised Common Lectionary texts from John and present and lead class discussion based on these papers. For the lectionary texts from John see the attached copy from The Revised Common Lectionary: Consultation on Common Texts. Abingdon, 1992 (in Library Reference Room).
8. Final Examination. The Final Examination will be an essay examination selected from a list of questions on Johannine interpretation to be distributed in advance. These questions may address aspects of overall interpretation of John, of particular themes in John in relation to the gospel as a whole, comparison of John to the Synoptics, or focus on interpretation of specific texts.
Class sessions will be divided between 1) lecture and/or discussion of aspects of the overall structure and message of the Gospel of John as noted in the schedule below (specific guides for focus/preparation to be given later) and 2) class presentations and discussion of selected texts chosen from the lectionary reading of John's Gospel (see instructions below).
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Fri. Feb 9 |
Introduction and Organization |
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Text for the coming Week: John 1:1-18 |
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Mon. Feb 12 |
Read Gospel of John in English. Come prepared to discuss issues that arise in your reading that are striking or that raise questions: general outline, language and style, themes and images, theology and content, personal experience. Begin to shape some questions or issues that will focus your own study in light of concerns of preparation for leadership and mission in the church and the world. |
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Wed. Feb 14 |
John 1:1-18 |
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Fri. Feb 16 |
Discussion of Culpepper, Anatomy |
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Text for the coming Week 2: John 1:43-51 |
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Mon. Feb 19 |
John 1 & 2 |
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Wed. Feb 21 |
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Fri. Feb 23 |
Team 1: John 2:1-11 OR 2:13-22 |
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Text for the coming Week 3: John 4:7-15 |
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Mon. Feb 26 |
John 3 & 4 |
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Wed. Feb. 28 |
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Fri. Mar. 2 |
Team 2: John 3:1-17 OR 3:14-21 |
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Text for the coming Week: John |
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Mon. Mar. 5 |
John 5 & 6 |
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Wed. Mar. 7 |
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Fri. Mar. 9 |
Team 3: John 6:35, 41-58 |
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Text for the coming Week: John 5:30-38 |
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Mon. Mar. 12 |
John 7 & 8 |
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Wed. Mar. 14 |
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Fri. Mar. 16 |
Team 4: John 7:37-52 |
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Text for the coming Week: John 9:30-41 |
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Mon. Mar. 19 |
John 9 & 10 |
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Wed. Mar. 21 |
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Fri. Mar. 23 |
Team 5: John 10:1-18 |
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Text for the coming Week: John 11:17-27 |
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Mon. Mar. 26 |
John 11 & 12 |
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Wed. Mar. 28 |
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Fri. Mar. 30 |
Team 6: John 12:1-19 or 12:20-36 |
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Text for the coming Week: John 13:12-20 |
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Mon. Apr. 2 |
John 13 & 14 |
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Wed. Apr. 4 |
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Fri. Apr. 6 |
Team 3: John 13:1-17 |
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Text for the coming Week: John 17:1-17 |
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Mon. Apr. 16 |
John 15, 16, 17 |
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Wed. Apr. 18 |
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Fri. Apr. 20 |
Team 4: John 14:1-14 |
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Text for the coming Week: John 18:33-40 |
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Mon. Apr. 23 |
John 18 & 19 |
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Wed. Apr. 25 |
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Fri. Apr. 27 |
Team 1: John 19:17-30 |
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Text for the coming Week: John 20:11-18 |
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Mon. Apr. 30 |
John 20 & 21 |
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Wed. May 2 |
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Fri. May 4 |
Team 2: John 20:19-31 |
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Text for the coming Week: I John 1:1-10 |
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Mon. May 7 |
1, 2 & 3 John |
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Wed. May 9 |
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Fri. May 11 |
Team 5: John 21:1-19 |
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Mon. May 14 |
Team 6: I John 4:7-21 |
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Wed. May 16 |
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Thurs. May 17 |
Final Examination Due by 5:00 p.m. |
The class sessions on Fridays will focus on the interpretation of selected Johannine texts, with attention to issues of moving from text to preaching or instruction. The discussion will be guided by presentations lead by teams who have worked in advance on the texts. The preparation should consider important aspects of:
1. Text and translation
2. Exegesis
3. Interpretation
See the attached sheet of guidelines toward an exegetical method.
Students will work within groups of two on two passages during the course. Each group should prepare a summary/outline of major points in the three areas above and duplicate copies to be distributed to members of the class at the time of the class session. In class we will read the text together; then the presenters will have time for a brief introduction (20 min.) followed by open class discussion of issues of interpretation in relation to the message of John for today's community of faith (25 min.).
Sudents who are not presenting are expected to have read and reflected on the assigned texts for the day in advance of class. Students who have had preparation in Greek should consider any important insights gained from looking at the text in the original language (use of an interlinear, lexicons, concordances, or other resources is encouraged in this task). Students who are not required to have preparation in Greek should do this reading/reflection through comparison of several English translations of their choosing.
A PROPOSAL TOWARD AN EXEGETICAL METHOD FOR NT STUDY
based on model by Paul Berge
Exegesis is an attempt to engage or be engaged by a text in a conscious and deliberate way. Exegesis is both a science and an art. It is a form of disciplined meditation, whereby the exegete is opened by the Spirit to hear the text new or anew. The outline below offers a method whos goal is to allow the text to be what it is intended to be—the Word of God. It is not to be followed slavishly. Exegesis should be primarily an encounter between the exegete and the text. Secondary resources are to be used only as aids to criticize and extend your own exegetical work. Thus they should be read with your (1) developed questions, (2) identified problems, and (3) working conclusions in mind. Thereafter you might revise your own work as you are persuaded by others.
TEXTUAL WORK (Goal: To arrive at a faithful translation of the text)
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UNIT |
Determine the proper limits of the text. |
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a. Read the text several times in Greek (or good English translations), seeking to get its language in mind. b. What is the proper exegetical unit? What words or shifts of thought mark the beginning and end of the unit? c. What sub-divisions constitute the structure of the unit?
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SYNTAX |
Observe the sentences and clauses in the text a. Identify words and phrases in the Greek text and determine the way they function within the sentence. b. Through parsing identify the verbal structures in the sentences. c. Are there Semitic or Greek constructions and idioms which cannot be easily translated into English?
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TRANSLATION |
Derive a good working translation of the text. a. Begin by comparing the Greek text with at least two English translations NRSV or RSV as one, NEB, ASV, JB, NIV, NAS. b.
Are there important textual variants? How have the translations treated these variants?
c. Are there specific problems of textual interpretation?
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EXEGETICAL WORK (Goal: To draw out the meaning of the text and state its central thought) |
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LITERARY |
Analyze the form or forms of the unit. |
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or NARRATIVE FORM |
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Do a synoptic underlining where applicable. What do you learn of the gospel's uniqueness?
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How is the movement of thought expressed in a coherent
literary structure? c. How does the text address the hearer—as conflict, proverb, parable, prophetic/apocalyptic saying, teaching, miracle (healing, nature), or narrative event?
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CONTEXT of HEARER |
Discern the various settings of the unit. a. What is its setting in the life and ministry of Jesus? b. What is its setting in the life of the early church? c. What is its setting in this Gospel?
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WORDS & THEIR LINKS |
Complete studies on important and thematic words or concepts. a. Determine how they are used in this context and in other contexts in the work, if any? b. Exegete the text toward understanding its thought. c. State the central thought of the text in a single sentence.
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INTERPRETIVE WORK (Goal: To proclaim the message of the text) |
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INTENTION |
Allow the text to be what it is and have its say. (Consider implications of tradition/history; social/cultural context; and the experience of the hearer both personal and communal) a. What is its purpose according to its hearing in its different contexts? b. What does it say as a Word of God to the church today? How does it address the hearer as a word of judgment and hope? Law and gospel? c. Determine how you will proclaim or teach from this text so that it addresses your community. |