Gospel of John N9315

Dr. Daniel Fletcher

1200 Taylor Road ● Montgomery, AL 36117 334.387.3877 ● 800.351.4040 ● FAX 334.387.3878

www.amridgeuniversity.edu

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Catalog Course Description NT 9315 – The Gospel of John (3 Semester Hours) This course is a critical introduction to and exegetical study of the gospel of John. Attention is given to the literary character, narrative techniques, and theology of the fourth gospel and to its relation to the Synoptic Gospels. Instruction will be in English with students required to translate portions of the text covered. Prerequisite: FD 9002.

Instructor Contact Information Telephone Numbers:

Amridge University Ext. 334.387.7808 Toll Free 800.351.4040

Email: danielfletcher@amridgeuniversity.edu

Course Objectives and Assessment of Learning Outcomes

Course Objective: Critically interact with the contents, theology, and themes of John’s Gospel and develop a working knowledge of its history of interpretation

Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:

! Discuss the major themes, theology, and contents of John’s Gospel

o This objective will be demonstrated by Db participation

! Comprehend the literary character of John’s Gospel

o This objective will be assessed by writing a book digest

! Translate select pericopes from the original Greek text of John

o This objective will be assessed by weekly translation quizzes and a final translation exam

! Comprehend the introductory issues of John’s Gospel

o This objective will be demonstrated by completing the final exam

! Perform scholarly exegesis of a pericope in John’s Gospel

o This objective will be measured by writing a major research paper (including research log) and presenting the results to the class

! Perform scholarly research on a theological theme or topic in John’s Gospel.

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o This objective will be measured by writing a major research paper (including research log) and presenting the results to the class

! Critically engage the current methodological trend that applies sociological criticism to John’s Gospel

o This objective will be measured by writing a book digest

Required Textbooks Carter, Warren. John, Storyteller, Interpreter, Evangelist. Peabody: Hendrickson, 2006. Horsley, Richard, and Tom Thatcher, John, Jesus, and the Renewal of Israel. Grand Rapids:

Eerdmans, 2013. Köstenberger, Andreas. John. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand

Rapids: Baker Academic, 2004.

Kysar, Robert. John, The Maverick Gospel. 3d ed. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2007.

Selected Course Bibliography Bauckham, Richard. Gospel of Glory: Major Themes in Johannine Theology. Grand Rapids:

Baker Academic, 2015. Bauckham, Richard, and Carl Mosser, eds. The Gospel of John and Christian Theology. Grand

Rapids: Eerdmans, 2008. Burge, Gary. Interpreting the Gospel of John. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1992. ________. The Anointed Community: The Holy Spirit in the Johannine Tradition. Grand Rapids:

Eerdmans, 1987. Chennattu, Rekha M. Johannine Discipleship as a Covenant Relationship. Peabody:

Hendrickson, 2006. Culpepper, R. Alan, and C. Clifton Black, eds. Exploring the Gospel of John. Louisville:

Westminster John Knox, 1996. Fletcher, Daniel H. Signs in the Wilderness: Johannine Intertextuality and the Testing of

Nicodemus. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2014. Keener, Craig. The Gospel of John. 2 vols. Peabody: Hendrickson, 2003. Koester, Craig. Symbolism in the Fourth Gospel: Meaning, Mystery, Community. Minneapolis:

Fortress, 2003. ________. The Word of Life: A Theology of John’s Gospel. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2008.

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Kysar, Robert. Voyages with John: Charting the Fourth Gospel. Waco: Baylor University Press, 2005.

Michaels, J. Ramsey. The Gospel of John. New International Commentary on the New

Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2010.

Moloney, Frances. The Gospel of John: Text and Context. Boston: Brill, 2005. Pryor, John W. John: Evangelist of the Covenant People: The Narrative and Themes of the

Fourth Gospel. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1992. Ridderbos, Herman. The Gospel According to John: A Theological Commentary. Translated by

John Vriend. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997. Smith, D. Moody. The Theology of the Gospel of John. New York: Cambridge University Press,

1995. Thompson, Marianne Meye. John. New Testament Library. Louisville: Westminster John Knox,

2015.

Weekly Schedule (An academic week is Monday-Sunday except the last week of the semester which

ends at 5:00pm Central Time on Friday.) Week 1 Syllabus overview. Critical Introduction Read: Kostenberger commentary (Introduction); Kysar, Introduction. Week 2 History of interpretation; Read: John 1-2; Kostenberger commentary; Kysar, chapter 1; Colwell’s Rule; Fletcher, “Logos”; “Johannine Signs I and II.” Week 3 John’s use of the OT; Read: John 3-4; Kostenberger commentary; Kysar, appendix B; Fletcher, “Nicodemus and LXX Numbers”; Fletcher, “Kingdom of God and Jesus’s Kingship in John”; Fletcher, “Typology”; “Johannine Intertextuality”; “OT Allusions and Echoes.” Week 4 Johannine signs and faith; Read: John 5-6; Kostenberger commentary; Kysar, chapter 2. Week 5 Johannine messianism; Read: John 7-8; Kostenberger commentary; Kysar, chapter 3; Gary Burge, “A Specific Problem in the New Testament Text and Canon: The Woman Caught in Adultery,” JETS 27.2 (1984): 141–48.

Week 6 John and the Synoptics; Read: John 9-10; Kostenberger commentary; Fletcher, “Servant and Son of Man.” Week 7 Read: John 11-12; Kostenberger commentary.

Week 8 Read: John 13; Kostenberger commentary; Fletcher, “Foot Washing.” Week 9 Read: John 14-17; Kostenberger commentary; Kysar, chapter 4; appendix A.

Week 10 Read: John 18; Kostenberger commentary. Week 11 Read: John 19; Kostenberger commentary; Fletcher, “Cross/Crucifixion.” Week 12 Read: John 20-21; Kostenberger commentary.

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Week 13 The Holy Spirit in the Gospel of John. Week 14 The Audience of the Gospel of John.

Week 15 Final exam; Final Greek translation exam. Assignments in Detail

o Write two papers in Chicago/SBL Style. The papers are: 1) exegesis of a specific pericope of John’s Gospel, discussing Greek syntax and grammar, any text-critical issues, John’s use of this passage to further his themes, purpose and structure, and any related OT motifs. 2) topical/theological research paper relating to Johannine theology or theme. Papers should be 20-25 pages in length, and should include title page and bibliography

o Grading Rubric for paper: 25 pts Grammar, spelling, clarity; 25 pts style guide usage; 100 pts content; 50 pts research/bibliography.

o Possible research paper topics: John’s use of the OT, John’s relationship to the Synoptic Gospels, the Holy Spirit in John, John’s concept of the Messiah, Johannine signs and faith, Discipleship, John’s sacramental theology, the audience of the Gospel of John, Johannine eschatology, women in John’s Gospel, predestination and faith, textual criticism, water symbolism, light symbolism, …

o Enter research sources into library Research Log. Each entry is worth a maximum of 10 points with a minimum of 20 total entries for the RL. Points will be awarded based on the academic quality of each source. The entries are basically the same sources as in your bibliography for the research paper, but you may also have additional sources that you read pertaining to the course throughout the semester.

o Present both research papers during live sessions. Students may use power point or distribute a manuscript for others to read. Whichever you choose, your presentation should include a working bibliography, properly formatted, for distribution.

o Final exam: the final exam is composed of 5 essay questions covering the lecture and reading material; I will give you some possible topics as the date nears.

o Final translation exam: translate a pericope composed of 15-20 verses (you will know the possible pericopes to study beforehand)

o Weekly Greek quizzes. You will have a total of 10 quizzes composed of translation (usually 1 verse from a given pericope), parsing, and syntax.

o Interact with the Discussion Board: 5 discussion questions covering various themes in John that we may or may not be able to discuss in detail during the live sessions. The Db is designed to supplement that lecture material.

o Write 2 book digests (essentially a book review but more comprehensive in regards to the contents of the book). The books are Warren Carter’s John, Storyteller, Interpreter, Evangelist and Richard Horsley and Tom Thatcher, John, Jesus, and the Renewal of Israel. Each digest is approx. 6-8 pages; footnotes are not needed (only page numbers in the main text).