Unit information: The Gospel of John in the Contemporary World (Trinity and Baptist College) in 2013/14

Unit name	The Gospel of John in the Contemporary World (Trinity and Baptist College)
Unit code	THRS30142
Credit points	10
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
Unit director	Dr. David Ball
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	B11002 Getting into the New Testament
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Department of Religion and Theology
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

While a brief introduction to broader issues in the study of John is provided, the exegetical focus on the unit is exclusively upon the sense of the texts in the finished Gospel. The unit deals with a selection of major themes of the Gospel in a context established by an investigation of the background structuring role in the Gospel of a vertical dualism (the world below vs. the world above). It also introduces literary approaches to the study of John in connection with the study of selected texts. Time will also be spent relating the Johannine perspectives to contemporary cultural perspectives.

Intended Learning Outcomes

The unit aims to

1. enable students to relate their own study of the Gospel of John to developments in Johannine studies;
2. identify and explore a selection of important Johannine themes;
3. explore selected texts in connection with a range of more literary approaches to the study of John;
4. explore ways in which a bridge might be built into a contemporary setting for appraisal, communication and appropriation

On completion of the unit students should:

1. have developed sensitivity to Johannine methods of developing themes;
2. have come to appreciate the value of reading individual Johannine texts in relation to the larger thematic developments;
3. have a deepened literary sensitivity, which can be articulated in relation to literary approaches to the study of John;
4. have gained skills in bringing together with some rigour scholarly insight into the Gospel text and vocational concerns and contemporary appropriation.

Teaching Information

The material will be explored in lectures and classroom discussion. There will be course work requirements concerned with relating chosen texts to major Gospel themes, exploring literary approaches to the Gospel and with reflecting on how Gospel themes may be related positively and negatively to contemporary culture.

The unit will consist of 10 contact hours, equating to 2 contact hours per week for 5 weeks.

Assessment Information

Formative assessment will be through preparation for classes and participation in class discussions and seminars.

Summative assessment will be through an essay of 3,000 words involving exegesis of a chosen passage, including relating it to major themes of the Gospel and to at least one literary approach, and then a reflection on the task of bridging from that ancient text to a modern cultural context.

Reading and References

1. Brown, R.E., The Gospel according to John: Introduction, Translation and Notes. (New York: Doubleday, 1966-71)
2. Carter, W., John: storyteller, interpreter, evangelist (Peabody: Hendrickson Publishers, 2006)
3. Culpepper, R.A., Anatomy of the Fourth Gospel: A Study in Literary Design (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1983)
4. Edwards, R., Discovering John (London: SPCK, 2003)
5. Kysar, R., Voyages with John: charting the Fourth Gospel (Waco: Baylor University Press, 2005)
6. Lincoln, A.T., Truth on Trial: The Lawsuit Motif in the Fourth Gospel (Peabody: Hendrickson,

2000)