The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke are the earliest surviving accounts of the life and ministry of Jesus. This course will provide a detailed examination of these texts, paying special attention to the distinctive portrait of Jesus that each gospel presents. We will study these biblical texts in their ancient contexts and discuss contemporary application. We will explore various theories regarding the so-called “Synoptic Problem”: Which gospel do you think came first? The course will also survey different critical methods in Gospel analysis such as literary, redaction, and socio-historical, while paying attention to race, ethnicity, gender and economic status.

Course fulfills the following curricular requirements:
MAIRS – Ministerial Studies: Scripture