MASTER SYLLABUS
RELI 4084/6084 Gospels
1. COURSE TITLE: RELI 4084/6084
OASIS TITLE: GOSPELS
2. COURSE DESCRIPTION: A study of the four gospels in the New Testament (Matthew,
Mark, Luke, and John). An examination of the genre of these four writings, their historical
contexts, theories about their formation, their primary themes, methods used for interpreting
them, and significant scholarly interpretations of these four New Testament books.
3. PREREQUISITES:
Undergraduate prerequisite: Junior or senior standing or permission of department.
Graduate prerequisite: None. However, consultation with the instructor before registration is
highly recommended.
4. COURSE OBJECTIVES OR EXPECTED OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS OF THE
COURSE: Each student will gain some mastery of the critical issues in modern scholarship of
the gospels and an understanding of the formation, contents, and interpretive tools used for
the study of the four gospels in the New Testament.
5. TOPICAL OUTLINE FOR THE COURSE:
a. Introduction to the Course
b. The Gospel Genre
c . Summary of the Gospel Contents
d. The Synoptic Problem
e. Gospel of Mark
f. Gospel of Matthew
g. Gospel of Luke
h. Gospel of John
6. HONOR CODE AND ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY
All academic work must meet the standards contained in "A Culture of Honesty."
Each student is responsible to inform themselves about those standards before
performing any academic work.
7. DISCLAIMER
This course is a general plan for the course; deviations announced to the class may be
necessary.
8. PRINCIPAL COURSE ASSIGNMENTS:
Week 1---Introduction to the course
Weeks 2-4---Gospel of Mark, textbook chapters, other assigned readings
Weeks 5-7---Gospel of Matthew, textbook chapters, other assigned readings
Week 8---Midterm Exam
Weeks 9-12---Gospel of Luke, textbook chapters, other assigned readings
Weeks 13-16---Gospel of John, textbook chapters, other assigned readings
Week 17---Final Exam
9. COURSE REQUIREMENTS
a. Regular and punctual attendance.
b. Midterm exam and final exam (each 30% of the grade). The exams for the graduate students
will be more difficult than the undergraduates’ exams and each count 30% of the grade.
c. Undergraduates taking the course must write two 5 page papers (10% each) and one 10 page
paper (20% of the grade), not counting the endnotes. Undergraduates taking the course as
an honors option course are required to write a 15 page paper (20% of the grade), not
counting the end notes. Honor option students are expected to write a paper of exceptional
quality, both in form and content.
d. Graduate students are required to write two 5 page book reviews (20% of the grade) and a
20-25 page paper, not counting the endnotes (20% of the grade).
10. GRADING POLICY
A= 90 and above, B=80-89, C=70-79, D=60-69, F=59 and below
11. ATTENDANCE POLICY
Students are expected to be regular and punctual in attendance. The instructor reserves
the privilege of lowering a student’s grade for frequent tardiness and absences.
12. REQUIRED COURSE MATERIAL
Students should check with the professor before purchasing the textbooks for the course. The
instructor may use different textbooks from year to year.
a. a modern translation of the Christian Scriptures, approved by the professor.
b. Raymond Brown. The Community of the Beloved Disciple. Paulist Press, 1979.
c. Mitchell G. Reddish. An Introduction to the Gospels. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1997.
d. Carol A. Newsom and Sharon H. Ringe, eds. The Women’s Bible Commenary. Expanded
edition. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1998.
e. From year to year additional required reading may be placed on reserve in the library,
prepared in a class pak, or provided in some other fashion.
13. MAKE-UP EXAMINATION POLICIES
a. Students are expected to take the exams on the days designated and should be prepared to
provide tangible evidence for absences (physician’s appointment slip, funeral bulletin, etc.)
b. Students who are absent for exams should be ready to accommodate the professor’s
schedule and policies for setting the time for makeup exams.
c. University policy prohibits taking the final exam early. However, students who meet the
qualifications can request to take the final exam on a day later during exam week. It is
highly advised that rescheduling requests be made no later than the last day of class.
d. Students who become ill and must postpone the final exam must contact the professor so
so that an incomplete can be submitted for the grade. It is the student’s responsibility
during the next semester to initiate the rescheduling of the exam.