| REL 329. Jesus and the
Gospels There perhaps is no other person who has both captured the imagination of Western history and still eluded the grasp of history more than Jesus. While contemporary Christians spanning the globe use the life and teachings of Jesus as an ethical, political, and religious model, scholars debate over almost every aspect of Jesus' existence and identity. Was Jesus a Jewish apocalyptic prophet or more like a wandering Cynic? Did Jesus understand himself as a "son of God" or a "son of man," and what do these categories even mean? Was Jesus a social revolutionary or a mystical teacher? Moreover, what significance is the character of the historical Jesus in relation to early Christian beliefs about the risen Christ? In this course we will explore these questions and others through careful consideration of ancient portraits of Jesus, including New Testament and non-canonical sources. We will also consider contemporary reflections on the person and significance of Jesus. Instructor: Huber Semester: Credits: 4 semester hours |  |
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