Seminary and Graduate School of Theology - Mundelein Seminary

BI358
MIRACLES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT (SG)
The course will concentrate on Jesus' miracles as presented by the Synoptic gospels
(except for the miracle of the feeding of the crowd, which is also in John's
gospel). We will begin by considering the philosophical problems with the miraculous
(e.g., Hume) and the state of the question today. Then we will survey how
theologians and philosophers have understood the significance of Jesus' miracles
from the Early Church through the Middle Ages, the Reformation, and the Enlightenment.
As we study the various miracle pericopes, we will also consider and
critique the approaches of modern historical-critical studies, especially in light of
more recent developments in exegetical approaches (e.g., sociological interpretation
[Kee], literary interpretation, existential interpretation [Latourelle]). As we
proceed, we will consider the questions of the historicity of the gospel stories as
well as their theological and pastoral significance for various cultures and Christian
communities today.
Lodge
F
BI367
PROTO-ISAIAH
Isaiah, son of Amoz, at the inaugural vision of his call in the year of King Uzziah’s
death (740 B.C.) was struck by the awesome holiness of God, whom he later
called “The Holy One of Israel.” He witnessed the rise of the great Assyrian em
pire under Tiglath – Pilser III (745 – 727), whose policies affected Israel and Judah
tremendously. Working in very difficult times, he tried to rally the Kings of
Judah, (Ahaz, Hezekiah, and Manasseh) to obedience to Yahweh, but with little
success
Akpunonu W
BI368
EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS (Pauline)
The Epistle to the Hebrews can be ranked third among the great theological
works of the NT – after the Gospel of John and Paul's Epistle to the Romans.
Here the life and ministry of Jesus is reflected on by studying his priesthood. The
author with remarkable originality and ingenuity used the life and the liturgy of the
OT to prove that Jesus is Great High Priest, above the angels in the line of
Melchizedek, and superior to the Levitical Priesthood. He is the compassionate
and trustworthy High Priest. (2 hours)
Akpunonu S
BI377
GOSPEL OF LUKE (Pilgrimage)
Our course will consider just the Gospel of Luke, even though Luke’s Gospel is
only Volume One of a two-part work which includes the Acts of the Apostles. We
will give some attention to the relationship between the two, but our main focus
will be upon reading and responding to the gospel narrative. We will make three
methodological assumptions. First, what did Luke intend to say to his original
audience (including how he uses his sources)? Second, how does what he says
compare with the other Gospels and the rest of the New Testament? Third, what
is the “fuller” sense (e.g., anagogical, narrative, reader response)? Fourth, what
connections can we make to living as disciples and evangelists today? All this
means that we need to pay attention to the characteristics of Luke’s storytelling,
especially to the order in which the author arranges his material. This will require
that we do not (as we frequently do) treat each “event” or “pericope” in isolation,
but in relation to what precedes and what follows.
Lodge
W
70