1. NBIB 4203: The Synoptic Gospels Course Introduction Dr. Steve Mathews

2. Your ProfessorYour professor for this course is Dr. SteveMathews. Dr. Mathews earned the D.Min.from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, andis a candidate for the Ph.D. from theUniversity of Pretoria. He has been active inpastoral ministry since 1997, and has beeninvolved in theological education since 2005. 3. Course OverviewThis course introduces the student to the studyof the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, andLuke) of the New Testament. Students willstudy the differences between the synopticgospels and the gospel of John, and therelationships between the synoptic gospels.Students examine the interpretation of thesynoptic gospels, as well as the cultural andhistorical setting of the gospels. 4. Course OverviewStudents will examine key elements of thesynoptic gospels, including parables, miracles,and discourses. Additionally, students willevaluate the application of synoptic gospelinterpretation for preaching, ministry, andscholarship. 5. Course Competencies- Lesson One The student will demonstrate anunderstanding of the basic structure of thegospel genre, the relationship of the synopticgospels to the Gospel of John, and thehistorical and cultural context of the synopticgospels. 6. Course Competencies- Lesson Two The student will demonstrate a grasp of theprimary hermeneutical methodologies used tointerpret the Synoptic gospels, includinghistorical criticism, social-scientificcriticism, redaction criticism, formcriticism, and textual criticism. The studentwill demonstrate an appreciation of thehistorical critical approach to the synopticgospels. 7. Course Competencies- Lesson Three The student will demonstrate a grasp of thecast of characters presented in the synoptics,including Jesus, the Pharisees, the Sadducees,the scribes, the Essenes, Romans, Jesusdisciples, and the Samaritans. The studentwill demonstrate a grasp of the broad political,religious, and cultural setting of second-temple Judaism as a backdrop for the synopticgospels. 8. Course Competencies- Lesson Four The student will demonstrate the ability toanalyze the content of the synoptic parables,to interpret these parables, and to apply aninterpretation of the parables to the largercontext of New Testament interpretation. 9. Course Competencies- Lesson Five The student will demonstrate the ability tointerpret miracle narratives in the synopticgospels, in the broader context of Jesusmessianic identity, the messianic secret, andthe gospel. Attention will be given tointerpretations with affirm and those whichdeny the historicity of the miracle narratives. 10. Course Competencies- Lesson Six The student will demonstrate the ability tointerpret Jesus discourses in the synopticgospels. The student will identify themes inJesus discourses, such as the Kingdom of God,the Day of the Lord, heaven and hell,righteousness, etc. The student willdemonstrate the ability to synthesize thesynoptic discourse material into the broadercontext of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 11. Course Competencies- Lesson Seven The student will demonstrate the ability toapply the gospel message of the synopticgospels to contemporary ministry andtheological scholarship. 12. To Complete this Course Each lesson contains readings and/or audiolectures, a learning exercise, and a test. Thereadings comprise the content of the lesson.The learning exercise is for the studentspersonal benefit, and is not submitted. Eachlesson test consists of questions which mayappear on the final examination.