In the decades after Jesus of Nazareth’s crucifixion and resurrection, Christians shared with one another stories of His life and ministry which developed into the texts that we now know as the Gospels and Acts. In this unit, students will study the three synoptic Gospels – Mark, Matthew, and Luke – as well as Acts, considering them in their historical, social, cultural, religious, and literary contexts. The stories of the early Christians present multiple accounts of Jesus’ life and ministry that each generation of Christians has engaged with to understand who Jesus was and is. This unit will engage with the tension between these narratives and develop exegetical skills with a focus on historical-critical methods, literary analysis, and identification of theological themes.
