RELS 329: Jesus and the Gospels

Course Description

Full Title: Jesus and the Gospels: Between Fact and Fiction
Who was Jesus or Nazareth? For centuries people seeking an answer have turned to the four gospels of the New Testament. But how reliable are these texts? Were they written as biographies, histories, or to fulfill other purposes? This course will address these and other questions associated with the quest for the historical Jesus. Students will be introduced to a variety of approaches involved in the literaryhistorical study of the gospels and New Testament backgrounds and learn about the methods scholars employ to move from these texts and context. (S)