Religious Studies 583 : Jewish and Christian Origins

Wed 7:00-9:40 p.m. * AH 2108 * 3 credits

Fall 2006

Dr. Risa Levitt Kohn 665 AL 619-594-5327/594-5185 email: rkohn@mail.sdsu.edu office: TuThurs 11:15-12:30

Dr. Rebecca Moore 662B AL 619-594-6252/594-5185 email: remoore@mail.sdsu.edu office: MTW 10:00-noon, Wed 2:00-4:00 p.m.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Judaism and Christianity emerge out of ancient Israel and its scripture, yet differ tremendously in their approach to, and interpretation of, this shared heritage. Why didn't early Jews accept Jesus as their messiah? Why did early Christians believe that Jesus was the anointed one? This course will cover the simultaneous emergence of Judaism and Christianity, from the Second Temple period (ca. 545 BCE to 70 CE) to the conversion of the Emperor Constantine (fourth century CE). Topics to be explored will include: the diverse sects that existed during the Second Temple period; apocalypticism; the relationship of the Dead Sea Scrolls to subsequent types of Judaism and Christianity; the early Jesus Movement; the reaction of various groups to the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70 C.E.; the debate over scriptural interpretation between claimants to the heritage of Israel; and early post-biblical Jewish and Christian literature. The course will indicate the common heritage of Jews and Christians, as well as points of divergence and contention as the two religions began to take their modern shape by the end of the second and third centuries CE. The way in which this twin birth shapes modern inter-religious dialogue and understanding will be explored.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Knowledge

Appreciate complexity of Second Temple Judaism

Understand various beliefs and practices that led to emergence of two world religions

Identify key moments, issues, and figures of the period

Skills

Speak and write critically and with sophistication of analysis

Read difficult primary sources with ease and comprehension

Gain confidence participating in graduate level discussions

TEXTS

Paula Fredriksen, From Jesus to Christ, 2d edition

Martin C. Jaffee, Early Judaism, 2d edition

George W. E. Nickelsburg, Ancient Judaism and Christian Origins

Bible, any translation

Course reader to be available from Cal Copy after second session

GRADES

Your grade will be based on the following criteria:

Test # 1	20 points
Test # 2	40 points
Final Exam (comprehensive)	60 points
Historiographical Analysis	30 points
Primary Source Fact Sheet	20 points
Primary Source Presentation	10 points
15-20 pp Paper	50 points
TOTAL	200 points

PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE (subject to revision and amendment)

Date	Topic	Secondary Sources	Primary Sources
30 Aug	Introduction
6 Sept	Key Concepts in Israelite Religion; history up to Exile Questions of canon, scripture, gospel formation, canonicity	N'burg: ch 1, 3 F'sen: Intro, ch 1 Jaffee: ch 1 Reader: Canonization of Hebrew Scriptures, the letter of Aristeas	Gen 1-3, 12-22; Exodus 1, 12, 13-14, 19-22, 25-30; Leviticus 1, 13, 16, 19-21; Num 28-30 1Sam 8; 2 Sam 5-7; I Kgs 6-9
13 Sept	History after Exile Hellenism	N'burg: ch 2 F'sen: ch 2, 4 Jaffee: ch 2 Reader: The Hellenistic Age	Ezra 1, 3, 6, 9-10 Nehemiah 1-8; 1 Macc; 2 Macc 7
20 Sept	Apocalypticism Due: Paper Proposal	N'burg: ch 4, 5 Reader: War Scroll; Pesharim (commentaries)	Isaiah 24-27, 56-66; Ezek 37-48; Daniel 7-12; 1 Thess; Mark 13; Revelation
27 Sept	Judaic Religions after the Exile	N'burg: ch 6 F'sen: ch 5 Jaffee, ch 3 to p.113 & ch 4 Reader: Selections from Josephus and rabbinic literature	Mark 3:18 // Matt 10:4 // Luke 6:15; Mark 12:18 // Matt 22:23 // Luke 20:27; Luke 10:30-27; Mark 2:18-20, 23-3:6; 7:1-19; Matt 23:23
4 Oct	Test # 1	Bring blue book to class
11 Oct	The Dead Sea Scrolls Due: Annotated Bibliography	Reader: Damascus Document; Community Rule
18 Oct	Messiahs, Angels, and other Divine Agents	Reader: 1 Enoch; Ladder of Jacob	Daniel 7-12; Bel and the Dragon
25 Oct	From Jesus to Christ: Varieties of Early Christianity Due: Historiographical Analysis	F'sen: ch 3, 6	NT gospels; Galatians; 1 Thess
1 Nov	Divine Presence in the Absence of the Temple	F'sen: ch 7, 8, 9 Jaffee: ch 5 Reader: Comm Rule; selections from Bible, Qumran, and rabbinic literature	Exodus 25:8, 29:43, 45-46; 1 Kgs 8:4 // 2 Chr 5:5; Ezek 10:18-22, 43:2-4; Zech 8:3; 2 Cor 6:14-16; 1 Cor 3:16-17; John 1:1-14, 2:19-22, 14:7, 9-10; Rev 21:3-4
8 Nov	Test # 2	Bring blue book to class
15 Nov	What Does God Want: Sacrifice, Prayer, and Table Fellowship Oral Presentations		Leviticus 1, 13, 16, 21; Num 28-30; 1 Sam 13; Jer 7:1-26; Isaiah 1:1-17; 1 Ezra 3, 6; Hebrews
22 Nov	No Class, Teachers @ Conference
29 Nov	Oral Tradition to Written Scripture in Judaism and Christianity Oral Presentations	Jaffee: ch 6 Reader: Chain of Tradition; 1 Clement
6 Dec	Questions of Authority and the Parting of the Ways Oral Presentations Due: Final Paper	N'burg: ch 7 F'sen: ch 10 Reader: Parting of the Ways	Luke 24:17-27; Acts 1:1-2; 2 Peter 1:19-21; 2 Cor 3
DATE	Final Exam	Bring blue book to class

THE BOLD PRINT

NO Late Papers and Make-up Exams: The dates for all exams and assignments are listed in this syllabus. The exams and assignments must be completed in order to receive a grade in this class. There will be no make-up exams or writing assignment extensions. Should you have a family or medical emergency, please notify us as soon as possible.

Grades: Please see us throughout the semester if you are concerned about grades you receive on tests, papers, or other assignments. We are happy to look at rough drafts of assignments. Please do not see us the last week of class, or after the semester is over about your grades, because the time is past when you can do anything to improve at that point.

Academic Honesty: If we suspect you of cheating on a test, or of presenting a paper as your own which you have not written, we will confront you with my suspicions and ask you to provide documentary evidence that either you have not cheated (e.g. a complete set of notes) or that the paper is your own (e.g. a rough draft, notes, evidence of original research, etc.). If you are caught cheating you will receive a zero on the assignment/test and we will forward my suspicions and evidence for them to the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities for them to handle. There will be no opportunity to do make-up work on such assignments. Please read the guidelines on academic honesty, and the consequences of cheating by looking at the website: http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/~remoore/honesty.html. Note: Cutting and pasting from the Internet and presenting it as original research or writing is a form of cheating!