Middlebury

RELI 0285

Historical Jesus and Gospels

Historical Jesus and the Gospels
Who was Jesus of Nazareth? How does the historical Jesus differ from Jesus Christ in the Gospels? In this course we will explore how early Christians remembered Jesus and developed traditions about him. We will read both canonical (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) and non-canonical (e.g., Thomas, Mary, Peter) Gospels within their historical and literary contexts, focusing on Judaism, the Roman Empire, and Greco–Roman cultures. We will then examine the critical approaches modern scholars take to reconstruct the historical Jesus’ life. By comparing diverse portraits of Jesus both in ancient literature and in modern scholarship, we will evaluate such diversity’s implications for our intellectual and cultural life today. How does the historical Jesus matter and for whom? 3hrs. lect.
Subject:
Religion
Department:
Religion
Division:
Humanities
Requirements Fulfilled:
HIS MDE PHL

Sections in Fall 2023

Fall 2023

RELI0285A-F23 Lecture (Lim)