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CRS213Arts Unitsintermediate

Synoptic Gospels

This course, CRS213: The Synoptic Gospels, is a two-credit unit course designed for undergraduate students of Christian Theology. It explores the first three gospels of the New Testament, examining their interrelationships and the 'Synoptic Problem.' The course delves into the authorship, sources, purposes, and unique features of each gospel, while also analyzing various approaches to studying them. It also covers the universalism of the gospel message.

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45h
Study Time
13
Weeks
3h
Per Week
none
Math Level
Course Keywords
Synoptic GospelsMatthewMarkLukeSynoptic Problem

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Intermediate Level
Builds on foundational knowledge
65%
intermediate
📚
Math Level
No Math
📖
Learning Type
Theoretical Focus

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

Gospel

2

Synoptic Gospels

3

Synoptic Problem

4

Authorship of the Gospels

5

Literary Analysis of Gospels

6

Theology of the Gospels

Total Topics6 topics

Ready to Start

No specific requirements needed

This course is designed to be accessible to all students. You can start immediately without any prior knowledge or specific preparation.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (3 methods)

assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

tutor-marked assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

final examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Computer Based Test

Career Opportunities

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Religious Educator

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Theologian

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Pastor

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Missionary

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Chaplain

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Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

Religious OrganizationsEducational InstitutionsCharitable OrganizationsSocial ServicesCommunity Development

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week
1

Module 1: General Introduction and the Gospel of Mark

3h

Unit 1: Preliminaries

3 study hours
  • •Read the introduction to understand the meaning of 'gospel' and its historical context.
  • •Examine the origin of the gospels and the emergence of Christian writings.
  • •Define the term 'synoptic gospels' and understand its significance.
Week
2

Module 1: General Introduction and the Gospel of Mark

3h

Unit 2: The Synoptic Problem

3 study hours
  • •Analyze the literary relationships between Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
  • •Identify the key questions and challenges related to the Synoptic Problem.
  • •Explore proposed solutions to the Synoptic Problem, including the early church approach and the priority of Mark.
Week
3

Module 1: General Introduction and the Gospel of Mark

3h

Unit 3: The Composition of St. Mark

3 study hours
  • •Examine the arguments surrounding the authorship of Mark.
  • •List and describe Mark's literary characteristics.
  • •Evaluate Mark's literary accomplishments and the literary unity of Mark.
Week
4

Module 1: General Introduction and the Gospel of Mark

3h

Unit 4: The Purpose of the Gospel of St Mark

3 study hours
  • •Relate the purpose of writing the Gospel of St. Mark.
  • •Critically examine the doctrine of Christ as contained in Mark.
  • •Evaluate Mark's concept of Jesus as the Agent of God.
Week
5

Module 1: General Introduction and the Gospel of Mark

3h

Unit 5: Special Features of Mark

3 study hours
  • •Unravel the mysteries behind the issue of Messianic Secret in Mark.
  • •Relate the distinctive features of Mark.
  • •Explain the reason for the simplicity of Mark.
Week
6

Module 2: The Gospel of St. Matthew

3h

Unit 1: Preliminaries

3 study hours
  • •Explain who the author of Matthew is.
  • •Identify the place of origin of the book.
  • •Argue convincingly on the possible date of composition.
Week
7

Module 2: The Gospel of St. Matthew

3h

Unit 2: The Sources of Matthew

3 study hours
  • •Identify the various sources of St. Matthew.
  • •Explain how Matthew made use of the Markan source.
  • •Explain what the 'Q' source is all about.
Week
8

Module 2: The Gospel of St. Matthew

3h

Unit 3: The Purposes of Matthew

3 study hours
  • •Evaluate Matthew's purpose of writing.
  • •State Matthew's understanding of the law.
  • •Discuss Matthew's Christology.
Week
9

Module 2: The Gospel of St. Matthew

3h

Unit 4: Special Features of Matthew's Writings

3 study hours
  • •Describe what made Matthew different from other synoptic gospels.
  • •Analyse Matthew's system of relating the miracle stories.
  • •Account for Matthew's humane treatment of issues.
Week
10

Module 3: The Gospel of St. Luke

3h

Unit 1: Preliminaries

3 study hours
  • •Identify the person of Luke.
  • •Explain who the author of Luke was.
  • •Relate the date of St. Luke.
Week
11

Module 3: The Gospel of St. Luke

3h

Unit 2: The Sources of Luke's Gospel

3 study hours
  • •Account for the sources of Luke.
  • •Explain how Luke made use of Mark.
  • •Relate what source 'Q' is all about.
Week
12

Module 3: The Gospel of St. Luke

3h

Unit 3: Luke's Purposes

3 study hours
  • •Assess the extent of accuracy in St. Luke.
  • •Explain how Luke achieved his purpose of persuasiveness.
  • •Examine the currency of Luke for his community.
Week
13

Module 3: The Gospel of St. Luke

6h

Unit 4: Major Themes in St. Luke

3 study hours
  • •Discuss the theology of St. Luke's gospel.
  • •Evaluate Luke's conception of Christ as the expected messiah.
  • •Assess the place of the Holy Spirit in Luke's gospel.

Unit 5: The Universalism of Luke's Gospel

3 study hours
  • •Evaluate the extent of universalism in the gospel of Luke.
  • •Understand how Luke used his knowledge of History to write an orderly account of Jesus tradition.

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

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Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Create a timeline of key events in each Gospel to compare and contrast narratives.

2

Develop a chart outlining the sources used by each Gospel writer (Mark, Q, M, L).

3

Practice essay questions comparing and contrasting the theological themes in Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

4

Form study groups to discuss and debate different interpretations of the Synoptic Problem.

5

Review key passages and parables in each Gospel, focusing on their unique emphasis and context.

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