Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE SHG4401

 
TITLE The Synoptic Gospels: Exegesis

 
UM LEVEL 04 - Years 4, 5 in Modular UG or PG Cert Course

 
MQF LEVEL 6

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Sacred Scripture, Hebrew and Greek

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit gives students the opportunity to have a direct encounter with the New Testament texts through exegetical study of the Synoptic Gospels. It provides students with the hands-on use of various exegetical methods and approaches to the study of the text of these gospels.

Study-unit Aims:

- The main aim of this study-unit is to enable undergraduate students to probe into the main exegetical issues encountered in select texts from the three Synoptic Gospels so that the most pertinent theological themes and issues raised by each Gospel will be brought to the fore.
- Students will thus become aware of the history behind the text that reflects the concrete vital situation of the community/ies to whom these three gospels were originally written.
- This will help the students to adopt more critical and analytical tools in studying the text of the three Synoptic Gospels.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- Define and describe the various Biblical exegetical approaches and methods;
- Differentiate between literary forms in Biblical texts;
- Adopt and utilize Biblical exegetical tools appropriate to different New Testament texts;
- Outline the basic structure of each of the three Synoptic Gospels and their sub-sections;
- Determine the authorial intention for each Gospel and its component pericopes;
- Determine the theological messages of each Gospel pericope;
- Correlate the theological messages in specific texts to current everyday situations and issues.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- Appraise and compare & contrast different commentaries on each of the three Synoptic Gospels;
- Use different commentaries for specific pastoral needs and contexts;
- Synthesize analytical studies of different pericopes in the Synoptic Gospels;
- Endorse and apply theological Gospel messages to specific vital contexts and issues.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

- Brown, Raymond, An Introduction to the New Testament. Anchor Bible Research Library. New York, 1997.
- Charpentier, Etienne, How to Read the New Testament. London, 1989.
- Egger, Wilhelm, Metodologia del Nuovo Testamento. Studi Biblici 16. Bologna, 1989.
- Gorman, Michael J., Elements of Biblical Exegesis. A basic guide for students and ministers. Peabody/MA, 2002.
- Guillemette, Pierre, and Mireille Brisebois, Introduzione ai metodi storico-critici. Studi e Ricerche Bibliche. Roma, 1990.
- Harrington, Daniel J., Interpreting the New Testament. A practical guide. New Testament Message 1. Dublin, 1985.
- Schertz, Mary H., and Perry B. Yoder, Seeing the Text. Exegesis for students of Greek and Hebrew. Nashville/TN, 2001.
- Stenger, Werner, Introduction to New Testament Exegesis. Grand Rapids/MI, 1993.

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES Pre-requisite Study-unit: SHG2650

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture and Independent Study

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Assignment Yes 100%

 
LECTURER/S Paul Sciberras

 

 
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It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

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