In this course we will be exploring the earliest development of Christianity, using as our primary resource the documents that eventually comprised the New Testament. Because the New Testament represents only one particular stream (or streams) of the earliest Christian era, we will also be looking at archaeology, non-Christian sources, and Christian texts that were not included in the New Testament canon. We will also be considering the ways that the New Testament and its remains have been marshaled in the modern period in various political, religious, and cultural debates. No prior knowledge of the Bible, Christianity, or the ancient Mediterranean is required.

The goals of this course are:
1. To understand the social, religious, and political contexts from which earliest Christianity emerged through close reading of primary sources (textual and material);
2. To compare the diverse theological viewpoints represented in the earliest Christian texts (canonical and noncanonical);
3. To explore the reasons for and implications of the formation of a Scriptural canon;
4. To interrogate the modern fascination with "Christian origins" and "primitive Christianity."

The following books are required for this course and can be found at Huntley bookstore (but you may also buy them online):

Dale B. Martin, New Tesatment History and Literature (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2012). A narrative introduction to the major texts and themes of the New Testament, use these readings as background. [Martin]

*Want to see Martin's original lectures on which these chapters were based? Click here!*

Jonathan Reed, The HarperCollins Visual Guide to the New Testament: What Archaeology Reveals about the First Christians. San Francisco: HarperOne, 2007. [VisGuide] Guide to the material culture that informs the New Testament period: be sure to read the pictures and captions as well as the text!

Harold Attridge, ed., The HarperCollins Study Bible: Student Edition, revd. ed. San Francisco: HarperOne, 2006. [Readings listed by biblical book and chapter] If you would prefer to use your own Bible, please check with the professor to ensure your translation is appropriate for class.

Additional readings can be found on electronic reserve through Sakai and linked directly from the syllabus page of this website.

You are not expected to have prior religious studies or biblical studies experience. You are, however, expected to have proficient reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. Please be familiar with all requirements and expectations as listed below, including the readings required in the reading schedule.

Course Participation (20%). Attendance in this class is mandatory. More than four absences may result in the lowering of your participation grade. Participation in class is discussions is mandatory. Daily sentence: Before each class you must post one sentence from the reading that you found particularly interesting or provocative or confusing (from the primary or secondary sources). Be ready to discuss your sentence in class. All daily sentences must be posted to the designated Sakai forum by 9am on the day of class.

Written Assignments:

All written assignments (apart from the in-class midterm) will be turned in to the DropBox on Sakai. Note all due dates and times for each assignment below. Late papers will only be accepted due to uncontrollable extenuating circumstances. Graded papers will be returned to you via DropBox, as well. Details on formatting and paper prompts may be found on the course website.

Movie Response (10%) (due by 5pm on Sunday, Sep. 21). Following the screening of King of Kings (1927), students will complete a guided analysis of this cinematic portrayal of the figure of Jesus.

Noncanonical Analysis (15%) (due by 5pm on Sunday, Nov. 23). Students will choose (from a list online, or through your own diligent research) a gospel, apostolic history, letter, or apocalypse that was composed in antiquity (before 500 C.E.) but not included in the canonical New Testament and write a guided analysis of it.

Midterm Examination (25%). An in-class examination covering the first half of the course will be given on October 22. The midterm will ask about significant ideas and themes found in the gospels, and also ask you to evaluate different historical and literary methods of interpretation.

Final Examination (30%). A take-home final examination covering all of the semester will be due on the day and time of this course’s scheduled final exam: Thursday, December 18, at 2pm (all final exams should be turned in to the DropBox on Sakai).

Student accommodations:

Students requiring academic accommodations should contact the appropriate person in their Dean of Students office in order to formalize accommodations (be ready to discuss appropriate accommodations and provide necessary documentation). Accommodations may not be provided for students who have not registered through their Dean of Students Office. College accommodations coordinators are:
 

Scripps - Sonia De La Torre-Iniguez, sdelator@scrippscollege.edu

CMC - Julia Easley , julia.easley@claremontmckenna.edu
Pitzer- Jill Hawthorne, Jill_Hawthorne@pitzer.edu
Pomona - Jan Collins-Eaglin, Jan.Collins-Eaglin@pomona.edu
Harvey Mudd – Nikki Ayers, nayers@hmc.edu

Scripps College's policy on academic honesty: "Cheating and/or plagiarism seriously violate the principles of academic integrity that Scripps College expects its students to uphold. Academic dishonesty is not tolerated at Scripps and may result in suspension or expulsion from the College. (See the current Guide to Student Life, pp. 90-93.)"

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