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SYLLABUS AND COURSE INFORMATION

I.  BIBLE TRANSLATIONS:  
In this study the teacher will be working out of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible and the Nestle-Aland Greek text.
The student is encouraged to work out of the Bible translation with which he/she is most comfortable.  We do, however, recommend any one of the following: The King James Version, the New King James Version, the American Standard Version, the New American Standard Version, the New International Version, and the New Revised Standard version.

II.  COURSE STUDY METHODOLOGY
 We recommend that you begin by carefully reading this Syllabus to identify the Course Information that we will be using for the study of this material.  Pay special attention to the Suggested Reading.

Click on Course Outline and survey this.  The Course Outline will link you to Notes for your study.

We also recommend that you Print the Web Pages of this course and bind them into a loose leaf folder into which you can add additional notes that you may make during the course of your study.  You may prefer rather to open a file on your computer into which you can scan or write additional notes.  We recommend that you personalize your notes as much as possible.

Whenever you are advised to Click on Links that you do so, especially to the Glossary of Biblical and Theological Terms.

Since this is a Bible Course we recommend that you Read the Biblical Text covered in each lesson several times while studying that section.

Be sure to Complete Each Assignment in the order in which they appear in the course.  E-mail the teacher should you need additional help.

Discipline Yourself to work steadily through the course.  You have One Year in which to complete the study.

 III. COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is taught at an intermediate level for students desiring an in-depth study of the Gospel of Matthew.

The course includes an introduction to the study of the Synoptic Gospels, the origins of the New Testament Canonical Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John), the Synoptic Problem, Biblical Criticism and Gospel study, and other matters related to the study of the Synoptic (Matthew, Mark, Luke) Gospels.

The Course includes an Introduction to each of the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke), paying attention to redactional elements (the theological message), structure, and the theology of each of the Synoptic Gospels.

The bulk of the course is an exegetical (verse by verse) and theological (the theological message Matthew wants us to know about Jesus) study of the Gospel of Matthew, making observation where relevant to the other Synoptic Gospels.

IV. COURSE OBJECTIVES
To acquaint the student to the full range of Gospel studies.
To acquaint the student with the unique theology and structure of each of the Synoptic Gospels.
To introduce the student to an appropriate exegetical approach to Gospel interpretation.
To lead the student into a detailed study and knowledge of the theology of the Gospel of Matthew.
To explore the call to discipleship in the Gospel of Matthew.

V. READING
The following books and readings are suggested background reading for the course.  The course study, however, is not dependent on the reading of these books.
The first three books marked by an * are for beginning students.   The last three are for advanced reading.

 Primary Reading for the Course
      Read the Gospel of Matthew through twice before you begin the course study
      proper.
      * Leon Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew, Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1992.
      * R. T. France, The Gospel According to Matthew, Tyndale Commentaries,
          Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1985.
      * David Hill, The Gospel of Matthew, Marshall, Morgan, and Scott, 1972.
      Craig S. Keener, A Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, Wm. B.
          Eerdmans1999. (This is an advanced commentary.)
      Donald A. Hagner, Matthew 1-13, and Matthew 14-28 (2 Vols), Word Books,
         1993, 1995.  (These two books are advanced studies and are not recommended
          for beginning students.)
      Douglas R. A. Hare, Matthew, Interpretation, 1993.  (This commentary was
          written for preachers and teachers.   It is an advanced work and not suitable for
          beginning students)

 Additional Reading for Advanced Students
      Read the following dictionary articles:
      "The Synoptic Problem," Anchor Bible Dictionary.
      "Gospel Genre," Anchor Bible Dictionary.
      "Gospels, Apocryphal," Anchor Bible Dictionary.
      "Gospel of Matthew," Anchor Bible Dictionary.
      "Gospel of Mark," Anchor Bible Dictionary.
      "Gospel of Luke," Anchor Bible Dictionary.
      "Gospel of Thomas," Anchor Bible Dictionary.
      "Apocalyptic, Apocalypticism," Anchor Bible Dictionary.
      James W. Thompson, "The Background and Function of the Beatitudes in
         Matthew and Luke," Restoration Quarterly, Vol. 41, Number 2, 1999

You may read the above dictionary articles in the Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible if you cannot find the Anchor Bible Dictionary, but I would prefer the Anchor Bible Dictionary articles.

 VI.    GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHY ON THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
For a detailed and comprehensive bibliography on the Gospel of Matthew see Donald Hagner, Matthew 1-13: Word Biblical Commentary, 1993, and Craig S. Keener, A Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, Wm. B. Eerdmans1999.

Donald Hagner, Matthew 1-13, Word Biblical Commentary, 1993
Donald Hagner, Matthew 14-28, Word Biblical Commentary, 1995
David Hill, The Gospel of Matthew, Eerdmans, 1972
Douglas R. A. Hare, Matthew, Interpretation, 1993.
Craig S. Keener, A Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, Wm. B.
    Eerdmans, 1999
Jack Dean Kingsbury, Matthew, Fortress Press, 1986
Jack Dean Kingsbury, Matthew: Structure, Christology, Kingdom,
    Fortress Press, 1975.
Leon Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew, Wm. B. Eerdmans,
    1992.
R. T. France, The Gospel According to Matthew, Tyndale
    Commentaries, Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1985.
John R. W. Stott, Christian Counter-Culture, IVP, 1978 (Now
    published as The Sermon the Mount.)  An excellent study on the
    Sermon.
R. H. Gundry, The Use of the Old Testament in St. Matthew's Gospel,
    Brill 1967
R. H. Gundry, Matthew: A Commentary on His Literary and
    Theological Art, Eerdmans, 1982
E. P. Sanders, Jesus and Judaism, Fortress, 1985.
W. D. Davies and D. C. Allen, Jr., A Critical Commentary on the
    Gospel According to Matthew, ICC, 2 vols, 1988, 1981.
R. H. Mounce, Matthew, NIBC, Hendriksen, 1991.

VII.  OUTCOMES ASSESSMENT
Student learning and comprehension of the content and theology of the course will be measured by assignments, tests and a final exam.  Students will be required at certain points in the course to respond (reflective responses) by e-mail to the materials covered in a specific section of study.  The assignments, tests, exams, and reflective responses will be graded and recorded in the student's grade book.

VIII.  COURSE PROGRESS
Since this course is a self guided course, the student must be disciplined enough to work systematically and regularly through the course.  A certificate is awarded for those students who complete all of the assignments with a passing grade, and who complete the course within one year of registering for the course.

IX.  GRADES AND GRADING POLICY
The final grade will be an average of all assignment grades, i.e. an average of any test grades, reflective response grades, and the final examination grade.  Students completing the course with an A grade will have the following reflected on their certificate:  Completed with Honors.

A = 90%+ Excellent work
B = 80%+ Good work
C = 70%+ Acceptable work
D = 60%+ Poor work
F =  59%- Failing work

X. THE TEACHERS PHONE  NUMBER AND INTERNET ADDRESSES
   Home Phone:  (970)259-4781
   E-Mail: fair@frontier.net
   Web: www.centerce.org

XI. SAMPLE OUTLINE
This is a "sample" outline.
For the full outline, click on OUTLINE in the menu to the left.
 Lesson 1    Introduction to the Course 
                  The Synoptic Gospels  
                  Assignment #2
                  The Gospels in the Life of the Church
                  The Nature and Purpose of the Gospels
                  Assignment #3
Lesson 2    Biblical Criticism and the Gospels
                  The Synoptic Problem
                  The Historical Jesus
                  Reading and Research Assignment #4 on Biblical Criticism and the
                  Synoptic Problem
Lesson 3    Synoptic Gospel Introductions:  Introduction to Mark
                  Introduction to Luke  
Lesson 4    Introduction to Matthew 
                  Introduction to Matthew,   Preview Literary Structure
                  Test #1 Review Materials
Test #1       Click here to go to Test #1
Lesson 5    Matt 1
                  Matt 2-3
Lesson 6    Matt 4-5 
Lesson 7    Matt 6-8 The Sermon on the Mount  
                 Matt 9-10, Matt 10, The Limited Commission  
Lesson 8    Matt 11-12 
Lesson 9    Matt 13 Kingdom Parables  
                 Test #2 Review Materials
Test #2     Click here to go to Test #2             
Lesson 10  Matt 14-16
                 Matt 17-19 Matt 18, The Christian Community  
                 Theological Reflection Assignment
Lesson 11  Matt 20-22
                  Matt 23-25 The Destruction of Jerusalem      
Lesson 12  Matt 26
                  Matt 27-28 
Lesson 13  Review