Vanderbilt University Department of  Religious Studies, College of Arts and Science

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Interpreting the Gospels: MATTHEW

PROCEDURES: "Reading the Bible Is Not a Spectator Sport!" (DP) You need to get involved. (See end of syllabus; description of Three Roundtables). "I learned never to speak a word of judgment without speaking a word of grace… I learned that my understanding of sin was far too prominent and that I needed to have a more robust doctrine of creation . . . Concern for justice must be tempered with grace." Emilie M. Townes, "Washed in Grace." Christian Century June 29, 2010, 30-34, (most recent book, Womanist Ethics and the Cultural Production of Evil, 2006) You need to show the legitimacy and plausibility of an interpretation, before questioning its value.

Each class meeting will have three segments.

During the first part of the semester:

1) Methods for Reading the Gospel of Matthew (and other Gospels): Patte's report on existing readings/interpretations of a section of the Gospel of Matthew emphasizing how these interpretations are grounded in the text (reviewing the textual choices [aka, analytical or exegetical choices] that interpreters have made) = Preparing for Roundtable # 2

2) Discussion of Your own reading of an assigned section of Matthew, focused on a chosen theme emphasizing the contextual choices of your own interpretation, and also its theological/religious choices; = Roundtable # 1

3) Comparing readings from the class (including yours!) with (at least two) scholarly readings/interpretations of the section of Matthew; emphasizing the theological/religious choices (and also, as we progress, the textual choices). = Roundtable # 2 (and preparing Roundtable # 3)

 

During the second part of the semester, we will follow a similar pattern; although the focus will be on your paper topics (see the Guidelines for your Proposal and for your Paper, at the end of the syllabus).

 

THE THREE ROUNDTABLES (as discussed and illustrated in Daniel Patte, Monya Stubbs, Justin Ukpong, Revelation Velunta, The Gospel of Matthew: A Contextual Introduction, 2003).

 

Participating to a ROUNDTABLE means that there is no head of the table; all participants have equal status and will be listened to; all interpretations will be equally respected, listed to, analyzed, and discussed.

 

ROUNDTABLE # 1: FORM Parts A & B Formulating the Teaching of the Text for/by Christian believers today in a Particular Context and its Preliminary Analysis. Discussing it with others, recognizing the DIFFERENCES with their own formulations of the teaching of the text for/by believers in other contexts. Contextual Frame of the Interpretation.

 

ROUNDTABLE # 2: FORM Part C Comparing the DIFFERENT Understandings of the given Theme and the DIFFERENT choices of Textual Evidence emphasized in other interpretations with those emphasized in your own interpretation:

a) Elucidation of their hermeneutical frames: What are the themes which focus these interpretations, and the understandings of these themes? How do Christian believers make sense of these texts in terms of these themes? How do scholars interpret the same themes? How did you?

b) Elucidation of their analytical frames: What is most significant in a biblical text according to each interpretation? What is the specific (textual, historical, literary, sociological, etc.) evidence upon which these interpretations are based? How do Christian believers and scholars ground their interpretations in the text? How did you?

 

ROUNDTABLE # 3: FORM Part D: Assessing the Reasons for Choosing One Interpretation as the best. Further elucidation of the contextual frame. Why was this interpretation chosen? Is it the best in a given context? Since we have a choice we have an ethical responsibility. Two basic points of references: loving neighbor and loving God. Thus, more specifically, about each interpretation (both the scholars' choices of interpretations and your choice of an interpretation) we ask:

1) (Loving Neighbor): What needs of certain persons does it address or fail to address in a specific context? What problematic effects does it have (or could potentially have) for certain persons or groups? Who benefits? Who is hurt?

2) (Loving God): What is the role of convictions and values in the Christian believers' choices of an interpretation?

 

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