I Corinthians (extra credit)

Please read as much as you can of I Corinthians. If you are short of time, read Chapters 1-3, Chapters 6-7, and Chapters 12-13. Choose any one verse in I Corinthians you think particularly interesting, important, or hard to understand, and explain why you think this verse interesting, important, or hard to understand.

Acts--Session II (Extra Credit)

Please read Chapters 13-28 of Acts. Choose a verse from this section that seems to you particularly important in explaining the rapid growth of the early church. Note how this verse sheds light on the leadership, finances, organization, etc. of the first Christians or what the verse shows about conditions in the Roman empire that may have been conducive to the spread and growth of Christianity.

Acts--Session I

What is one ingredient you think would be essential or at least important to the success of a new religious movement? Please read the first 12 chapters of Acts and see if you can find an example of the 1st century church either having or not having that ingredient.

The Gospel of John--Session II

Please read Chapters 11-22 of John's gospel.

I said in class that John may be concentrating on Jesus' esoteric (private) teaching, while the synoptics concentrate on Jesus' exoteric (public) teaching. Choose a verse from the assigned chapters and a "parallel" verse from one of the synoptics on the same subject (e.g., money, leadership, faith, etc.). Compare and contrast the two verses. Do you see here two different ways of making the same point? A "deeper" teaching in one or the other? Explain.

The Gospel of John--Session I

Please read Chapters 1-11 of John's gospel, concentrating on the first four chapters. Cite one thing John includes that *isn't* in the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). Suggest a reason that this material may have been more important to John than to the synoptic writers. What is John's purpose in including the "extra" material?

Matthew, Mark and the Synoptic Problem (Extra Credit)

Read a portion of the Gospel of Mark and a parallel passage in the Gospel of Matthew. Which version of the passage (if either) seems to you to be most likely the original version? Why?

Be not called Rabbi, Rabbi... (Extra Credit)

The Bible in general and the gospels in particularly have strong warnings to those who consider themselves to be great teachers and examples. Look again at the warnings to the Pharisees in Matthew 23 and/or the implied criticisms of religious leaders in Luke 20. Pick out one warning you would particularly like *your* teachers/leaders/professors to pay attention to, and explain why that warning is particularly important.