Living Tradition I

Reading THE GOSPELS AND ACTS

Information and Readings for Auditors

Course Syllabus

Download Syllabus

Attending Class

As an auditor, you may flexibly avail of the following options:

Additionally, video recording of class sessions will be posted here after class each week so you can follow along asynchronously as well.

Required Study Bible

The following NRSVue study Bible is required for the course:

  • The SBL Study Bible: Including Apocryphal and Deuterocanonical Books (HarperOne, 2023)

This is an updated version — including the updated edition of the NRSV as well as with revised notes and essays — of the following, which remains an adequate substitute for students who already own a copy or do not mind using the online edition:

  • The Harper Collins Study Bible: Including Apocryphal and Deuterocanonical Books with Concordance (HarperOne, 2006)

Also required is the following NRSVue New Testament with verse-by-verse commentary by Jewish scholars to contextualise these writings within first-century Judaism:

  • The Jewish Annotated New Testament (Third Edition), Amy-Jill Levine and Marc Zvi Brettler, eds. (Oxford, 2026)

This latest edition should be procured, if possible, though the earlier second edition (2017) will suffice. Page references will be given for both editions.

Please ensure you have these Bibles with you (in hard copy or online on your laptop or tablet) for all class sessions.

Required Theological Text

The following work will be used throughout the course to guide theological interpretation of the New Testament within the life of the Church:

  • John Behr, The Mystery of Christ: Life in Death (SVS Press, 2006)

Core Companion Texts (Strongly Recommended)

The following book is just short of required, and weekly recommended readings from it are provided throughout the course:

  • NT Wright and Michael Bird, The New Testament and Its World: An Introduction to the History, Literature, and Theology of the First Christians (Zondervan Academic, 2019) 

We will also be reading extensively from the following commentary:

  • The New Testament in Color: A Multiethnic Bible Commentary, Esau McAuley, Janette Ok, Osvaldo Padilla, and Amy Peeler, eds. (IVP Academic, 2024)

In this course, these resources will be used particularly to:

  • situate the Gospels and Acts within the historical, cultural, and religious world of first-century Judaism and the early church
  • explore how the identity and mission of Jesus Christ are revealed through narrative, proclamation, and encounter
  • engage contemporary interpretations of the Gospel and the life of the church in light of Scripture

Week 1: What is the New Testament? What is “Living Tradition”?

Themes

  • Scripture as a unified witness to Christ
  • Reading “from the end”: the cross and resurrection as interpretive key
  • Canon, authority, and the formation of Scripture
  • The New Testament as proclamation within the Church

New Testament

  • Luke 24
  • John 20

Required Readings

  • John Behr, The Mystery of Christ: Preface and “Through the Cross” (chapter 1)

Recommended Readings

  • NTIW, “Introduction to reading the New Testament” (pp 38-85), “Textual criticism of the New Testament” (pp 850-865), and “The canonisation of the New Testament” (pp 866-875)
  • JANT, Prefaces
  • NTIC, “Introduction” (pp 8-13)

Week 2: The New Testament within Judaism

Themes

  • Second Temple Judaism as the matrix of the New Testament
  • Messianic expectation, Temple, and covenant
  • Genealogy, identity, and fulfilment
  • Continuity and tension between early Christianity and Judaism

New Testament

  • Matthew 1–2, 5-7
  • Luke 1–2
  • Mark 7

Required Readings

  • JANT: AJ Levine, “Bearing False Witness: Common Errors about Early Judaism” (pp 650—655 / 501-504), Martin Goodman, “Jewish History, 331 BCE – 135 CE” (pp 658-665 / 507-513), Daniel Schwartz, “Jewish Movements in the New Testament Period” (pp 694-703 / 526-530), David Levenson, “Messianic Movements” (pp 706-716 / 530-535)
  • JANT commentary on Matthew 1-2, 5-7 / Luke 1-2 / Mark 7

Recommended Readings

  • JANT: Shaye Cohen, “Judaism and Jewishness” (pp 668-672 / 513-515), Jonathan Klawans, “The Law” (pp 748-752 / 515-518), Maxine Grossman, “The Dead Sea Scrolls” (pp 809-813 / 569-572)
  • NTIW: “The world of Jesus and the early church” (pp 86-170)
  • NTIC commentary on Matthew 1-2, 5-7 / Luke 1-2 / Mark 7

Week 3: Methods: Historical, Narrative, and Patristic Reading

Themes

  • Historical-critical approaches (source, form, and redaction criticism) and their limits
  • Narrative and literary approaches to the Gospels
  • Patristic exegesis and theological reading
  • Scripture as interpreted within the life of the Church
  • Is this a method or a way of seeing?

New Testament

  • Mark 1–8
  • Selected Synoptic Parallels:
    • Baptism of Jesus: Mark 1:9–11 / Matthew 3:13–17 / Luke 3:21–22
    • Calling of the first disciples: Mark 1:16–20 / Matthew 4:18–22 / Luke 5:1–11
    • Healing of a paralytic: Mark 2:1–12 / Matthew 9:1–8 / Luke 5:17–26
    • Parable of the sower: Mark 4:1–20 / Matthew 13:1–23 / Luke 8:4–15
    • Feeding of the 5,000: Mark 6:30–44 / Matthew 14:13–21 / Luke 9:10–17
    • Peter’s confession: Mark 8:27–30 / Matthew 16:13–20 / Luke 9:18–21

Required Readings

  • Brevard Childs, The New Testament as Canon: “The Rationale of a Canonical Approach” (pp 34-47) and “Methodology of Canonical Exegesis” (pp 48-53)Download “The Rationale of a Canonical Approach” (pp 34-47) and “Methodology of Canonical Exegesis” (pp 48-53)
  • John Behr, The Mystery of Christ: “Search the Scriptures” (chapter 2)
  • St John Chrysostom, “Homily 1 on the Gospel of Matthew”

Recommended Readings

  • Brevard Childs, The New Testament as Canon: “The Canon as an Historical and Theological Problem” (pp 16-33)
  • NTIW: “The New Testament as literature” (pp 60-74) and “Study of the historical Jesus” (pp 172-186)

Week 4: Matthew: Jesus and Israel

Themes

  • Fulfilment of Scripture and the Law
  • Jesus as the new Moses and teacher of righteousness
  • Kingdom of heaven and covenant identity
  • Continuity and transformation within Israel
  • Student-led discussion of discussions from Matthew

New Testament

  • Matthew (entirety)

Required Readings

  • JANT: Aaron Gale, “The Gospel according to Matthew” (introduction and commentary)
  • JANT: David Stern, “Midrash and Parables in the New Testament” (pp 841-844 / 565-569)

Recommended Readings

Patristic Commentaries (Recorded Student Presentations)

  • Matthew 1 (St Jerome)
  • Matthew 5.1-16 (St John Chrysostom)
  • Matthew 5.14, 6.1 (St Augustine)
  • Matthew 7.1-20 (St John Chrysostom)
  • Matthew 11.2-19 (St Augustine)
  • Matthew 22.1-14 (Origen)

Week 5: Mark: Narrative and Discipleship

Themes

  • The “messianic secret” and hidden identity
  • Discipleship, misunderstanding, and failure
  • Suffering and the way of the cross
  • Urgency and narrative movement
  • Student-led discussion of passages from Mark

New Testament

  • Mark (entirety)

Required Readings

  • JANT: Lawrence Wills, “The Gospel according to Mark” (introduction and commentary)

Recommended Readings

  • NTIW: “Gospel of Mark” (pp 554-576) and “Jesus and the victory of God: Profile and praxis of a prophet & Who did Jesus think he was?” (pp 188-240)
  • JANT: Geza Vermes, “Jewish Miracle Workers in the Late Second Temple Period” (pp 794-797 / 536-537)
  • NTIC commentary on Mark

Patristic Commentaries (Recorded Student Presentations)

  • Mark 1 (St Bede the Venerable)
  • Mark 9 (St Bede the Venerable)
  • Mark 14 (St Bede the Venerable)

Week 6: Luke I: Narrative, Structure, and Margins

Themes

  • Salvation history and narrative unfolding
  • Reversal: the poor, the outsider, and the marginal
  • The role of the Temple and continuity with Israel
  • Mercy, justice, and divine compassion
  • How does narrative reveal Christ?
  • Student-led discussion of passages from Luke 1-12

New Testament

  • Luke 1–12

Required Readings

  • JANT: Amy-Jill Levine, “The Gospel according to Luke” (introduction and commentary on Luke 1-12)
  • John Behr, The Mystery of Christ: “For This We Were Created” (chapter 3)

Recommended Readings

  • NTIW: “Gospel of Luke” (pp 604-627)
  • JANT: Michael Fagenblat, “The Concept of Neighbour in Jewish and Christian Ethics” (pp 731-736 / 540-543)
  • NTIC commentary on Luke 1-12

Patristic Commentaries (Recorded Student Presentations)

  • Luke 2:1-7 (St Cyril of Alexandria)
  • Luke 4:1-13 (Origen)
  • Luke 8:4-15 (St Gregory the Great)

Week 7: Luke II: Passion, Resurrection, and Transition

Themes

  • The necessity of the Passion (“it was necessary…”)
  • Resurrection as the opening of Scripture
  • Recognition and revelation (Emmaus)
  • Transition from Gospel to Church (Luke to Acts)
  • Student-led discussion of passages from Luke 13-24

New Testament

  • Luke 13-24

Required Readings

  • JANT: Amy-Jill Levine, “The Gospel according to Luke” (commentary on Luke 13-24)

Recommended Readings

  • NTIW: “Jesus and the victory of God: The death of the Messiah” (pp 242-262)
  • NTIC commentary on Luke 13-24
  • Peter Scaer, “The Glorious Dying of the Son: The Gospel of Luke and Jesus’s Noble Death” from Touchstone

Patristic Commentaries (Recorded Student Presentations)

  • Luke 18:31-43 (St Gregory the Great)

Week 8: John I: Signs and Identity

Themes

  • Signs as revelation of Christ’s identity
  • Belief, misunderstanding, and response
  • Symbolism and theological narrative
  • Festivals, Temple, and fulfilment
  • Does John contradict the Synoptic Gospels?
  • Who are the Ioudaioi?
  • Student-led discussion of passages from John 1-12

New Testament

  • John 1-12

Required Readings

  • JANT: Adele Reinhartz, “The Gospel according to John” (introduction and commentary on John 1-12)
  • JANT: Daniel Boyarin, “Logos, a Jewish Word: John’s Prologue as Midrash” (pp 791-794 / 546-549)

Recommended Readings

  • NTIW: “Gospel of John” (pp 648-678) and “Making of the Gospels” (pp 680-700)
  • JANT: Joshua Garroway, “Ioudaios” (pp 691-694 / 524-526)
  • NTIC commentary on John 1-12

Patristic Commentaries (Recorded Student Presentations)

  • John 3:11-16 (St John Chrysostom)
  • John 5:25-29 (St Augustine)
  • John 10:1-11 (St Cyril of Alexandria)

Week 9: John II: Glory, Cross, and Resurrection

Themes

  • The cross as glorification
  • Love, unity, and divine life
  • Birth of the Church (water, blood, Spirit)
  • Knowing Christ through death and resurrection
  • What does it mean to know Christ?
  • Why is the cross glory?
  • Student-led discussion of passages from John 13-21

New Testament

  • John 13-21

Required Readings

  • JANT: Adele Reinhartz, “The Gospel according to John” (commentary on John 13-21)
  • John Behr, The Mystery of Christ: “The Virgin Mother” (chapter 4) and “Glorify God in Your Body” (chapter 5)

Recommended Readings

  • NTIW: “The New Testament as theology” (pp 76-84)
  • NTIC commentary on John 13-21

Patristic Commentaries (Recorded Student Presentations)

  • John 21:1-14 (St Gregory the Great)

Week 10: Acts I: Scripture, Spirit, and Community

Themes

  • Pentecost and the gift of the Spirit
  • Scripture proclaimed in light of Christ (Scripture being used, not analysed)
  • Formation of the apostolic community
  • Worship, fellowship, and common life
  • Student-led discussion of passages from Acts 1-7

New Testament

  • Acts 1–7

Required Readings

  • JANT: Gary Gilbert, “Acts of the Apostles” introduction and commentary on Acts 1-7

Recommended Readings

  • Mark Kinzer, Jerusalem Crucified, Jerusalem Risen: The Resurrected Messiah, the Jewish People, and the Land of Promise: “Introduction: Jesus, Israel, and the Prophetic Euangelion” (introduction) and “The Resurrected Messiah and Jerusalem” (chapter 1)
  • Cyprian Hutcheon, “God Is With Us: The Temple in Luke-Acts,” St Vladimir’s Theological Quarterly
  • NTIW: “Acts of the Apostles” (pp 628-646)
  • NTIC commentary on Acts 1-7

Patristic Commentaries (Recorded Student Presentations)

  • Acts 2:1-47 (St Bede the Venerable)

Week 11: Acts II: Inclusion, Conflict, and Discernment

Themes

  • Expansion beyond Israel (Samaria, Gentiles)
  • Crisis and discernment (Jerusalem Council)
  • Identity, law, and belonging
  • Authority and decision-making in the Church
  • Mission to the nations
  • Student-led discussion of passages from Acts 8-20

New Testament

  • Acts 8–20

Required Readings

  • JANT: Gary Gilbert, “Acts of the Apostles” commentary on Acts 8-20

Recommended Readings

  • NTIW: “Story of Paul’s life and ministry” (pp 336-364)
  • NTIC commentary on Acts 8-20

Patristic Commentaries (Recorded Student Presentations)

  • Acts 10:1-33 (St Augustine)
  • Acts 17:16-34 (St Augustine)

Week 12: Acts III: Mission and the Church in the World / Synthesis: What Is Living Tradition?

Themes

  • Cultural encounter and adaptation
  • Witness, suffering, and perseverance
  • The Church in relation to empire
  • Student-led discussions of passages from Acts 21-28

Review and Synthesis

  • Scripture as the living Word in the Church
  • Christ as the centre and fulfilment of Scripture
  • Continuity and development of interpretation
  • Reading Scripture faithfully today

New Testament

  • Acts 21–28
  • Luke 24 (revisited)
  • John 20–21 (revisited)

Required Readings

  • JANT: Gary Gilbert, “Acts of the Apostles” commentary on Acts 21-28
  • John Behr, The Mystery of Christ: “A Premodern Faith for a Postmodern Era” (postscript)

Recommended Readings

  • NTIC commentary on Acts 21-28