GORDON-CONWELL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

NT 950 The Death and Resurrection of Jesus

Fall 2014. Mondays 9:10–12:10 am
E. J. Schnabel
email: eschnabel@gordonconwell.edu

COURSE DESCRIPTION
A study of the death and resurrection of Jesus from historical, literary, and theological
perspectives. Students will read, interpret, and discuss relevant early Jewish, Greco-Roman, and
New Testament texts as well as both older and more recent scholarly work.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
1. Students will consolidate their competency in diverse areas relevant for New Testament
exegesis, both as regards to authors (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, Peter, Hebrews) and
genres (historical narrative, early Christian sermons, theological exposition, ethical
application, apocalyptic texts, doxology).
2. Students will develop their expertise in reading and analyzing texts in Hebrew and Greek in
their original contexts and in the use of Old Testament texts in the New Testament.
3. Students will develop their expertise in interpreting historical narrative and legal texts with a
focus on primary texts and their context.
4. Students will enhance their capability of engaging in theological argumentation both with
regard to the interpretation of texts and the application of New Testament texts in the history
of interpretation.
5. Students will learn to appreciated and critical significance of Jesus’ death and resurrection in
the theology of the New Testament authors.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS
1. Primary texts that every student is required to study are listed in the Course Calendar.
Students must be ready to discuss the texts for discussion in class.
2. Articles and monographs that students are required to consult are listed for each session in
the Course Calendar. It is not expected that students read the monographs and articles listed
for each session in their entirety; rather, students should ascertain the main argument of the
work, focusing on the introduction, summaries of chapters and sections, and conclusions.
3. Each student presents five research papers. The length of each paper is 2,000–3,000 words.
A one-page synopsis of each paper will be distributed to the class. Topics are listed in the
Course Calendar. Students sign up for research topics during the first class session

Grading:
Each of the five papers: 15% of the final grade; participation in class discussion: 25%.
Grading scale: A:96-100. A-:93-95. B+:91-92. B:87-90. B-:84-86. C+:80-83. C:77-79. C-:72-76. D+:69-71. D:67-68. D-:65-66. F:65-0.

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 COURSE CALENDAR

Sep 8
Session 1: Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Sources and Methods. Introduction.

Sep 15
Session 2: The death of Jesus in recent discussion.
(a) Texts for discussion: Contemporary descriptions of Jesus’ trial and death.
(b) Each student introduces a publication on Jesus’ life and death (5-10 minutes each)
(c) General discussion

Texts: R. Bultmann (1934),1 E. Käsemann (1953),2 E.P. Sanders (1984),3 J.D. Crossan (1991),4
M. de Jonge (1991),5 J.L. Houlden (1992),6 M.N.A. Bockmuehl (1994),7 R.E. Brown (1994),8
E. Schüssler Fiorenza (1994),9 B. Witherington (1994),10 J.T. Carroll / J.B. Green (1995),11
R.W. Funk (1996),12 N.T. Wright (1996),13 D. Flusser (1997),14 J. Gnilka (1997),15 D.A. Allison
(1998),16 J. Becker (1998),17 G. Theißen (1998),18 B.D. Chilton (2000),19 J.B. Green /
M.D. Baker (2000),20 J. Roloff (2000),21 J.D.G. Dunn (2003),22 R.A. Horsley (2003),23
G. Vermes (2003),24 S. McKnight (2005),25 M.J. Borg (2006),26 F. Bovon (2006),27
R.A. Harrisville (2006),28 S.M. Heim (2006),29 R.L. Shelton (2006),30 C.S. Keener (2009),31 D.C.
Allison (2010).32

Sep 22
Session 3: Jesus’ last days in Jerusalem in archaeological perspective.
(a) Texts for discussion: Mark 14–15 / Matt 26–27 / Luke 22–23 / John 18–19
Reading: the articles on Gethsemane, the residence of Caiaphas, the palace of
Herod (praetorium), the Sanhedrin, Gabbatha, and Golgotha in the Anchor Bible
Dictionary (1992), Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels (2013), and The New
Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land (2008).
(b) One student introduces the residence of Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin building
(c) One student introduces the palace of Herod / Praetorium
(d) One student introduces Gabbatha and Golgotha
(e) General discussion

Sep 29
Session 4: Jewish and Roman criminal law.
(a) Texts for discussion: mSanhedrin 7.10 (ed. C. Albeck,33 translation J. Neusner34),
P. Hels. I 1 (cf. NewDocs IX 1835) and the lex Iulia de maiestate (Ulpian, Digestae
48.436).
Reading: D. W. Chapman / E. J. Schnabel37
(b) One student introduces mSanhedrin 7.10
(c) One student introduces P. Hels. I 1
(d) One student introduces Ulpian, Dig. 48.4
(e) General discussion

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Oct 6
Session 5: Jesus’ trial before the Sanhedrin and the Roman trial before Pilate.
(a) Texts for discussion:
Jewish trial: Mark 14:53–15:1/Matt 26:57–27:2/Luke 22:54–23:1/John 18:15–27
Roman trial: Mark 15:2–20 / Matt 27:11–31 / Luke 23:1–25 / John 18:28–19:16.
Reading: D. L. Bock.38
(b) One student introduces the Jewish trial
(c) One student introduces the charge of blasphemy
(d) One student introduces the Roman trial
(e) General discussion

Oct 13 Reading Week

Oct 20
Session 6: Crucifixion.
(a) Texts for discussion:
Jewish text: 11QMiqdash LXIV 6–13 (ed. E. Qimron39);
Roman text: Cicero, pro Rabirio 9–17 (ed. H.Grose-Hodge40);
NT: Mark 15:21–41 / Matt 27:32–56 / Luke 23:26–49 / John 19:17–37.
Reading: M. Hengel,41 D. W. Chapman42
(b) One student introduces 11QMiqdash LXIV 6–13
(c) One student introduces Cicero, pro Rabirio 9–17
(d) One student introduces the critical discussion
(e) General discussion

Oct 27
Session 7: Jesus’ death: The Last Supper and the Evangelists’ perspectives.
(a) Texts for discussion:
Last Supper: Mark 14:22–26 / Matt 26:26–30 / Luke 22:14–23.
The Evangelists: Matt 26–27 / Mark 14–15 / Luke 22–23 / John 18–19.
Reading: Last Supper: J. Jeremias,43 I. H. Marshall;44 the Evangelists on Jesus’
death: J. B. Green,45 R. A. Culpepper46
(b) One student introduces critical questions on the Last Supper
(c) One student introduces the theological perspective of the Evangelists
(d) One student introduces the theological perspective of John 18–19
(e) General discussion

Nov 3
Session 8: The significance of Jesus’ death according to Paul.
(a) Texts for discussion: Rom 3:21–26 and 1Cor 1:18–2:5.
Reading: J. D. G. Dunn,47 S. J. Gathercole48
(b) One student introduces Rom 3:21–26
(c) One student introduces 1Cor 1:18–2:5
(d) One student introduces the critical discussion
(e) General discussion

Nov 10 Reading Week

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Nov 17
Session 9: The historical evidence for Jesus’ resurrection.
(a) Texts for discussion: Mark 16 / Matt 28 / Luke 24 / John 20.
Reading: N.T. Wright,49 M. R. Licona50
(b) One student introduces Mark 16 / Matt 28 / Luke 24
(c) One student introduces John 20
(d) One student introduces the discussion about the empty tomb
(e) General discussion

Nov 24
Session 10: The significance of Jesus’ resurrection in Paul’s letter to the Romans.
(a) Text for discussion: Rom 6:1–14.
Reading: A. J. M. Wedderburn,51 J. R. D. Kirk52
(b) One student introduces Rom 6:1–14
(c) One student introduces other relevant texts from Romans
(d) One student introduces the critical discussion
(e) General discussion

Dec 1
Session 11: The resurrection in 1 Corinthians.
(a) Text for discussion: 1Cor 15.
Reading: J. Murphy-O’Connor,53 V. Koperski,54 B. S. Rosner55
(b) One student introduces 1Cor 15:1–11
(c) One student introduces 1Cor 15:12–58
(d) One student introduces the critical discussion
(e) General discussion

Dec 8
Session 12: The significance of Jesus’ death and resurrection in Hebrews and in Revelation.
(a) Text for discussion: Heb 9:15–22; Rev 5:1–14
Reading: D. M. Moffitt,56 I. H. Marshall,57 R. J. Bauckham58
(b) One student introduces relevant texts from the Epistle to the Hebrews
(c) One student introduces relevant texts from Revelation
(d) One student introduces the critical discussion
(e) General discussion

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 Notes
1
Rudolf Karl Bultmann, Jesus and the Word (New York: Scribner, 1934).
2
Ernst Käsemann, “The Problem of the Historical Jesus [1953],” in Essays on New Testament Themes (London: SCM Press, 1964), 15–47.
3
E.P. Sanders, Jesus and Judaism (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1985).
4
John Dominic Crossan, The Historical Jesus: The Life of a Mediterranean Jewish Peasant (San Francisco: HarperCollins, 1991).
5
Marinus de Jonge, Jesus, the Servant-Messiah (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1991).
6
J. Leslie Houlden, Jesus: A Question of Identity (London: SPCK, 1992).
7
Markus N.A. Bockmuehl, This Jesus: Martyr, Lord, Messiah (Edinburgh: T.& T. Clark, 1994).
8
Raymond E. Brown, The Death of the Messiah: From Gethsemane to the Grave. A Commentary on the Passion Narratives in the Four
Gospels (2 vols.; Anchor Bible Reference Library; London: Geoffrey Chapman, 1994).
9
Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, Jesus: Miriam’s Child, Sophia’s Prophet: Critical Issues in Feminist Christology (New York: Continuum,
1994).
10
Ben Witherington, Jesus the Sage: The Pilgrimage of Wisdom (Minneapolis: Fortress, 1994).
11
John T. Carroll and Joel B. Green, eds., The Death of Jesus in Early Christianity (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1995).
12
Robert W. Funk, Honest to Jesus: Jesus for a New Millennium (San Francisco: HarperCollins, 1996).
13
N. T. Wright, Jesus and the Victory of God (Christian Origins and the Question of God Vol. 2; Minneapolis: Fortress, 1996).
14
David Flusser, Jesus (Jerusalem: Magnes, 1997).
15
Joachim Gnilka, Jesus of Nazareth: Message and History (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1997).
16
Dale A. Allison, Jesus of Nazareth: Millenarian Prophet (Fortress: Minneapolis, 1998).
17
Jürgen Becker, Jesus of Nazareth (New York: De Gruyter, 1998).
18
Gerd Theißen and Annette Merz, The Historical Jesus: A Comprehensive Guide (London/Minneapolis: SCM/Fortress, 1998).
19
Bruce D. Chilton, Rabbi Jesus: An Intimate Biography (New York: Doubleday, 2000).
20
Joel B. Green and Mark D. Baker, Recovering the Scandal of the Cross: Atonement in New Testament & Contemporary Contexts
(Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2000).
21
Jürgen Roloff, Jesus (Beck’sche Reihe; München: Beck, 2000).
22
James D. G. Dunn, Jesus Remembered (Christianity in the Making I; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003).
23
Richard A. Horsley, Jesus and Empire: The Kingdom of God and the New World Disorder (Minneapolis: Fortress, 2003).
24
Géza Vermes, The Authentic Gospel of Jesus (London: Allen Lane, 2003).
25
Scot McKnight, Jesus and his Death: Historiography, the Historical Jesus, and Atonement Theory (Waco: Baylor University Press,
2005).
26
Marcus J. Borg, Jesus: Uncovering the Life, Teachings, and Relevance of a Religious Revolutionary (San Francisco: Harper, 2006).
27
François Bovon, The Last Days of Jesus (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2006).
28
Roy A. Harrisville, Fracture: The Cross as Irreconcilable in the Language and Thought of the Biblical Writers (Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans, 2006).
29
S. Mark Heim, Saved from Sacrifice: A Theology of the Cross (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2006).
30
R. Larry Shelton, Cross and Covenant: Interpreting the Atonement for 21st Century Mission (Carlisle: Paternoster, 2006).
31
Craig S. Keener, The Historical Jesus of the Gospels (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2009).
32
Dale C. Allison, Constructing Jesus: Memory, Imagination, and History (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2010).
33
Hanokh Albeck, ed., Mishna (Jerusalem: Bialik Institute, 1953–59).
34
Jacob Neusner, The Mishnah. A New Translation (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1988).
35
Greg H. R. Horsley and Stephen R. Llewelyn, eds., New Documents Illustrating Early Christianity (Macquarie University: North Ryde,
New South Wales, Australia, 1981–2002), IX, 45-53 (No. 18). Editio princeps: Jaakko Frösén, et al., Papyri Helsingienses I: Ptolemäische
Urkunden (P. Hels. I) (Commentationes Humanarum Litterarum 80; Helsinki: Societas Scientiarum Fennica, 1986), 18-22 (H. Zilliacus).
36
See www.thelatinlibrary.com/justinian/digest48.shtml; English translation: Samuel P. Scott, ed., “The Digest or Pandects – Book XLVIII.
Title IV: On the Julian Law Relating to the Crime of Lesse Majesty,” in The Civil Law, including the Twelve Tables, the Institutes of Gaius, the
Rules of Ulpian, the Opinions of Paulus, the Enactments of Justinian, and the Constitutions of Leo, vol. XI (Cincinnati: The Central Trust
Company, 1932), 25–33; also http://www.constitution.org/sps/sps11.htm. Cf. Antonius Matthaeus, ed., On Crimes: A Commentary on Books
XLVII and XLVIII of the Digest (trans. M.L. Hewett and B.C. Stoop; Cape Town: Juta, 1987/1993); Alexander Nogrady, Römisches Strafrecht
nach Ulpian. Buch 7 bis 9 De officio proconsulis (Freiburger rechtsgeschichtliche Abhandlungen 52; Berlin: Duncker & Humblot, 2006), 143-
54.
37
David W. Chapman and Eckhard J. Schnabel, The Trial and Crucifixion of Jesus: Texts and Commentary (WUNT; Tübingen: Mohr
Siebeck, 2014).
38
Darrell L. Bock, Blasphemy and Exaltation in Judaism and the Final Examination of Jesus (WUNT 2.106; Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck,
1998), 5-29.184-237.
39
Elisha Qimron, The Temple Scroll: A Critical Edition with Extensive Reconstructions (Judean Desert Studies; Beer Scheva/Jerusalem:
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Press/Israel Exploration Society, 1996). See also the editio princeps Yigael Yadin, The Temple Scroll (3
vols. with Supplementary Plates; Jerusalem: Israel Exploration Society, 1977–83); also Florentino García Martínez, Eibert J. C. Tigchelaar, and
Adam S. van der Woude, Qumran Cave 11.II (11Q2–18, 11Q20–30) (DJD 23; Oxford: Clarendon, 1998), 411-418. Study edition: Florentino
García Martínez and Eibert J.C. Tigchelaar, The Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition (Leiden: Brill, 1997–98), II, 1287.
40
Cicero, Pro lege Manilia, Pro Caecina, Pro Cluentio, Pro Rabirio perduellionis (trans. Humfrey Grose-Hodge; LCL; London:
Heinemann, 1927). See William Blake Tyrrell, A Legal and Historical Commentary to Cicero’s Oratio pro C. Rabirio perduellionis reo
(Amsterdam: Hakkert, 1978); Adolf Primmer, Die Überredungsstrategie in Ciceros Rede pro C. Rabirio perduellionis reo (Sitzungsberichte der
Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Philosophisch-Historische Klasse Band 459; Wien: Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der
Wissenschaften, 1985).
41
Martin Hengel, Crucifixion in the Ancient World and the Folly of the Message of the Cross (trans. J. Bowden; Philadelphia: Fortress,
1978).
42
David W. Chapman, Ancient Jewish and Christian Perceptions of Crucifixion (WUNT 2.244; Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2008).

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 43
Joachim Jeremias, The Eucharistic Words of Jesus (orig. 1966; repr., London: SCM, 1976), 15-88.
44
I. Howard Marshall, Last Supper and Lord’s Supper (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1980).
45
Joel B. Green, “Death of Jesus,” in Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels (ed. J.B. Green, S. McKnight, and I.H. Marshall; Downers Grove:
InterVarsity Press, 1992), 146–63.
46
R. Alan Culpepper, “Designs for the Church in the Gospel Accounts of Jesus’ Death,” NTS 51 (2005): 376–92.
47
James D. G. Dunn, The Theology of Paul the Apostle (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998), 207-233
48
Simon J. Gathercole, “Justified by Faith, Justified by his Blood: The Evidence of Romans 3:21–4:25,” in Justification and Variegated
Nomism. Vol. 2: The Paradoxes of Paul (ed. D. A. Carson, P. T. O’Brien, and M. A. Seifrid.; Grand Rapids: Baker, 2004), 105–45.
49
N. T. Wright, The Resurrection of the Son of God (Christian Origins and the Question of God Volume Three; Minneapolis: Fortress,
2003), 585-738
50
Michael R. Licona, The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach (Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2010).
51
Alexander J.M. Wedderburn, Baptism and Resurrection: Studies in Pauline Theology against its Graeco-Roman Background (WUNT
44; Tübingen: Mohr-Siebeck, 1987), 37-69.
52
J. R. Daniel Kirk, Unlocking Romans: Resurrection and the Justification of God (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2008).
53
Jerome Murphy-O’Connor, “Tradition and Redaction in 1 Cor 15.3–7,” CBQ 43 (1981): 582–89.
54
Veronica Koperski, “Resurrection Terminology in Paul,” in Resurrection in the New Testament (FS J. Lambrecht; ed. R. Bieringer, B.
Lataire, and V. Koperski; BETL 165; Leuven/Dudley: University Press/Peeters, 2002), 265–82.
55
Brian S. Rosner, “‘With What Kind of Body Do They Come?’ (1 Corinthians 15:35b): Paul’s Conception of Resurrection Bodies,” in The
New Testament in its First Century Setting: Essays on Context and Background (FS Bruce W. Winter; ed. P.J. Williams et al.; Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans, 2004), 190–205.
56
David M. Moffitt, Atonement and the Logic of Resurrection in the Epistle to the Hebrews (NTSup 141; Leiden: Brill, 2011).
57
I. Howard Marshall, “Soteriology in Hebrews,” in The Epistle to the Hebrews and Christian Theology (ed. R. J. Bauckham, et al.; Grand
Rapids: Eerdmans, 2009), 253–77.
58
Richard J. Bauckham, The Theology of the Book of Revelation (New Testament Theology; Cambridge: Cambridge University Press,
1993), 54–108.

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