Courses

This course is an exegetical study of the Gospel of Matthew that relies on either contemporary English translations (for the biblical studies, church and culture, or pastoral studies specializations) or the original Greek (for students doing Greek exegesis). We will consider the ancient cultural context of Matthew, the canonical context in which Matthew is one Gospel among many, and various contemporary cultural contexts in which Matthew is read today. We will pay close attention to the text of Matthew and the messages it conveys. Finally, we will draw these things together into a frank, open dialogue about what Matthew means for readers today.

All class meetings will be on campus. These face-to-face meetings will include brief overview lectures, but you should come prepared for directed class discussions. In place of a major “final paper,” you will complete smaller tasks throughout the semester. Students in NT 3P1050 will prepare for each class meeting by completing assigned reading, locating useful academic resources, and/or supplying informed (i.e. well-researched) answers to specific interpretive questions about Matthew’s Gospel. Students in 3P1060 will further their knowledge of the Greek language and then apply their knowledge of Greek to the study of Matthew’s Gospel.

Knowing

• Know the basic narrative structure of Matthew’s Gospel;
• Be familiar with contemporary scholarship as regards the origin of Matthew’s Gospel;
• Know the main theological and ethical teachings of Matthew’s Gospel;
• Better understand how Greek grammar enables the creation of coherent Greek texts (NT 3P1060);

Being

• Assume a receptive and diligent posture towards the Bible;
• Become self-aware as a modern reader of the Bible, recognizing both the antiquity of the texts and the various ways in which contemporary life influences our understanding of it;
• Dispense with over-confidence (or lack of confidence) concerning knowledge of the Bible, adopting instead an attitude of life-long learning;

Doing

• Have the ability to quickly locate reliable scholarly resources that discuss a particular NT passage;
• Have the ability to ask key questions in order to explore the meaning of a text;
• Have the ability to reflect canonically, theologically, and contextually so as to explore how people can/should understand the New Testament today;
• Have the ability to exegete a Greek text in a way that responsibly relates its grammar to all of the other things that are significant for interpretation (NT 3P1060).