The Gospel of John (BN9180C)

Postgraduate, 24.0 points

Content

This unit explores the content, literary character, theology, and setting of the Gospel of John. Students are introduced to both traditional interpretations and contemporary insights. They study selected major passages in detail, bearing in mind the Gospel’s literary structure and its theological concerns. Particular attention is devoted to those Johannine passages that play a key role in the lectionaries of the various Christian churches.

Unit code: BN9180C

Unit status: Approved (Major revision)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Elective

Unit discipline: New Testament

Proposing College: Catholic Theological College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Demonstrate close familiarity with the text, structure, and major theological ideas of the Gospel of John.
2.

Critique current theories about the social, historical, and religious context in which the Gospel of John was written.
3.

Deploy appropriate exegetical skills to interpret the Gospel of John.
4.

Evaluate scholarly analyses of topics in the Gospel of John.
5.

Reflect theologically on key themes of the Gospel of John, elucidating their insights for society and the church today.
6.

Identify, explore, and develop a specific topic relating to the Gospel of John, using advanced research skills.

Unit sequence

BA8001C and BN8001C or equivalent introductory biblical units.

Pedagogy

Each 3-hour class comprises 2 hours of interactive lecture and discussion and 1 hour of structured group discussion and interpretation focused on biblical passages and/or secondary readings (in each case, presented in modes appropriate for face-to-face or online learning contexts).

Indicative Bibliography

  • Brown, Sherri, and Francis J. Moloney. Interpreting the Gospel and [the] Letters of John: An Introduction. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2017. (EBook available.)
  • Byrne, Brendan. Life Abounding: A Reading of John’s Gospel. Strathfield: St Pauls, 2014. (EBook available.)
  • Coloe, Mary L. John. 2 vols. Wisdom Commentary 44A–44B. Collegeville: Liturgical Press (Michael Glazier), 2021. (EBook available for vol. 1.)
  • Edwards, Ruth B. Discovering John: Content, Interpretation, Reception. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2015. (EBook available.)
  • Lee, Dorothy A. Flesh and Glory: Symbol, Gender and Theology in the Gospel of John. New York: Crossroad, 2002.
  • Lincoln, Andrew L. The Gospel According to Saint John. Black’s New Testament Commentaries. London: Continuum, 2005. (EBook available.)
  • Loader, William. Jesus in John’s Gospel: Structure and Issues in Johannine Christology. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2017. (EBook available.)
  • Moloney, Francis J. The Gospel of John. Sacra Pagina 4. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1998 (or rev. ed., 2005). (EBook available.)
  • Segovia, Fernando F., ed. “What is John?” 2 vols. SBL Symposium Series 3 and 7. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1996–1998.
  • Schneiders, Sandra M. Written That You May Believe: Encountering Jesus in the Fourth Gospel. Rev. ed. New York: Crossroad, 2003.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)

Variant 1

Report 2000 30.0
Report

essay proposal

 1000 10.0
Essay 4000 60.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 13 Jun, 2023

Unit record last updated: 2023-06-13 16:19:33 +1000