Theology and Religion
Encountering the Historical Jesus
- Overview
- Module description
Encountering the Historical Jesus (THE3031)
| Staff | Professor Louise Lawrence - Convenor |
|---|---|
| Credit Value | 30 |
| ECTS Value | 15 |
| NQF Level | 6 |
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Co-requisites | None |
| Duration of Module | Term 1: 11 weeks; |
ILO: Module-specific skills
- 1. Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of the various aims, agendas, sources and methodologies of contemporary historical Jesus scholars
- 2. Apply diverse historical critical tools to selected New Testament texts and other relevant literature and evidence
- 3. Critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of diverse interpretive methods and judge the plausibility of various constructions of the historical figure of Jesus
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
- 4. Demonstrate knowledge of, and critical reflection on, contrasting scholarly and historical perspectives
- 5. Show the ability to make careful use of core methods of historical-critical and social-scientific biblical interpretation
ILO: Personal and key skills
- 6. Communicate clearly and imaginatively in both written and oral form
- 7. Construct logical and lucid arguments using appropriate methods
- 8. Participate appropriately within group work
- 9. Generously engage with methods and people who represent opinions and viewpoints different from your own
Syllabus plan
Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:
- Introducing the Quest[s] for the Historical Jesus
- Sources: Inside and Outside the New Testament
- Methods of E.P. Sanders
- Methods of J. D. Crossan and Jesus Seminar
- The Birth of Jesus and the Infancy Narratives
- John the Baptist: Forerunner or Guru?
- Kingdom of God versus Kingdoms of World
- Jesus' Teaching (Parables; Wisdom)
- Magician/ Miracle Worker: Exorcisms andHealings
- Roles, Titles and Self-Understanding
- The Execution: Jewish/Roman Involvement
- Easter Morning: What Really Happened?
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | 266 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 22 | 11 x 2 hour lectures |
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 11 | 1 x 1 hour seminars |
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 1 | 1 x 1 hour tutorial |
| Guided independent study | 266 | Private study |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay (draft for summative essay) | 3000 words | 1-9 |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 40 | 10 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 50 | 3000 words | 1-9 | Written and oral feedback |
| Seminar presentation | 10 | 8-10 minutes | 1-9 | Written feedback |
| Take home examination | 40 | 24 hours | 1-9 | Written and oral feedback |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Essay | 1-9 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Seminar presentation | Seminar presentation | 1-9 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Take home examination | Take home examination | 1-9 | Referral/Deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- G. Theissen and A. Merz, The Historical Jesus: A Comprehensive Guide (1998)
- General Reading M. J. Borg, ed. Jesus: A New Vision (1987)
- M. J. Borg and N. T. Wright, The Meaning of Jesus: Two Visions (1999)
- J. D. Crossan, The Historical Jesus: The Life of a Mediterranean Jewish Peasant (1991)
- J. D. Crossan, Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography (1993)
- C. J. den Heyer, Jesus Matters: 150 Years of Jesus Research (1996)
- P. Fredriksen, Jesus of Nazareth. King of the Jews: A Jewish Life and the Emergence of Christianity (1999)
- R. Horsley, Jesus and the Spiral of Violence : Popular Jewish Resistance in Roman Palestine (1987)
- R. Horsley, Bandits, Prophets and Messiahs: Popular Movements in the Time of Jesus (1999)
- J. P. Meier, A Marginal Jew: Rethinking the Historical Jesus, Volumes 1 , 2 & 3 (1991; 1994; 2001)
- E. P. Sanders, Jesus and Judaism (1985)
- E. P. Sanders, The Historical Figure of Jesus (1993)
- N. T. Wright, Jesus and the Victory of God (1996)
Module has an active ELE page?
Yes
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
- ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=3863
Available as distance learning?
No
Last revision date
30/10/2018
