Philosophy and Religion 336
New Testament Literature
Jesus in History, Jesus in Film
Fall Semester 2005 - Course Syllabus
Tuesday-Thursday 5:00-6:15 - Bear 261
Instructor:
Dr. George T. Zervos
Office: Bear Hall, Room 277
Office Hours: Tuesday/Thursday 12:30-1:30 PM
E-mail: zervosg@uncwil.edu
Textbooks: None Required
Attendance: Required
Roll will be taken consistently to enhance personal interaction between the instructor and the students and to reward students with excellent attendance (No more than two absences for the semester). More than two absences for the semester will have an incrementally detrimental effect on final grades. Students who come to class late will NOT be counted as present.
Grading: Ten Point Grading System - Plus and Minus Will Be Applied
25% - Midterm examination on the historical Jesus
25% - Written responses to each of the films viewed
25% - Final Essay Exam evaluating Jesus in the films
25% - Professor's discretion based on attendance, class participation, academic attitude
The purpose of this course is to examine the person and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth within the literature of early Christianity from the Academic-Scientific-Historical-Critical Perspective and, based upon these findings, to assess the validity of the portraits of Jesus presented by the modern film industry. Students are expected to approach this subject with an unbiased and non-confessional attitude. Students will be required to learn the scholarly viewpoints presented in the course, but not necessarily to accept them as their own.
Part I: The "Historical Jesus"
August 18 - IntroductionChrist Pantocrator - The Real Face of Jesus
The Puzzle - Historical Jesus Theories - The Jesus Seminar - Historical Jesus Links
From Jesus to Christ - The Present State of the Third Quest for the Historical Jesus
August 23/25 - Early Non-Christian Sources
Jesus According to the Greco-Romans:
The Jesus of the Greco-Roman Historians
The Jesus of the Greco-Roman PhilosophersJesus According to the Jews:
The Jesus of Josephus - The Testimonium Flavianum
The Mystery of Josephus' Jesus Account
The Messiah Jesus Robert Eisler on the Testimonium Flavianum
August 30/September 1 - Christian SourcesThe Rabbinical Jesus
September 6/8 - Paul: Who was he?The Jesus of Q(uelle) - The Synoptic Problem - Gospel Parallels
The Jesus of Thomas - Image - Who Was Thomas? - Mark 6:3Q (links) - Synopsis of Q - The Jesus of Q
The Coptic Text - Image
Michael Grondin (See Logion 3, 113)
The Greek Text - Image
Logion 30 + 77b (See Stigmata)
September 13/15 - OFEILIA (Advantage/Benefit)Paul's Meager Information on Jesus - Paul's Church?
Paul's "Kyrios Christos" (Lord Jesus YHWH?)
September 20/22 - Paul (Continued)
September 27/29 - Mark - Gospel Parallels
October 4 - Luke/Matthew - Gospel ParallelsThe Jesus of MarkThe Synoptic Apocalypse - Mark 13/Matt/24-25/Luke 21
***Compare to Mark 9:1/Matt 16:28/Luke 9:27
October 11/13 - John - Gospel ParallelsThe Jesus of Luke - Color-Coded LukeThe Jesus of Matthew
The Jesus of JohnSeams in John - Signs Gospel - Papyrus Egerton 2
The Gospel
The Book of Revelation
The Jesus of the Church:
Midterm Due - Oct. 18 - Either hard copy or e-mail is acceptable.
Midterm Topic: Review the Images of Jesus we have discussed in class as presented in the Non-Christian and Christian sources linked to our web page above, then provide your own assessment of the "Historical Jesus" based on these sources and according to the Academic, Scientific, Historical-Critical methodology we have been using this semester. Focus on who Jesus was and what he taught.
*This is an exercise in critical thinking, so please avoid personal biases.
Part II: Jesus in Film
Ben-Hur (William Wyler) - Essay
The Robe (Frank Ross)
ref. Barabbas, Quo Vadis
October 18/20
King of Kings (Samuel Bronston)
Credits - Essay - NY Times Review - Review
October 25/27 - November 1/3
November 8/10Jesus of Nazareth (Franco Zeffirelli)
Jesus Christ Superstar (Rice/Webber)
November 15/17
November 22The Last Temptation of Christ (Martin Scorsese)
The Life of Brian (Monty Python)
November 29/December 1
The Passion of the Christ (Mel Gibson)
Sectarian Catholicism and Mel Gibson - True Catholics
Final Exam: 3-5 Page Essay Due By 6:00 PM, Friday, Dec. 9.
Question: Who Killed Jesus?
Evaluate how this question is approached in the various films we viewed this semester. Who was more responsible, the Jews or the Romans, and who is presented in a more positive light. Comment on the possible religious/political motivations of the producers of the films.
