Perspectives on the Christian Scriptures

Prof. Frederick J. Murphy

Anna Maria College

Masters in Pastoral Theology

Second Paper Assignment

Due Monday, January 5, 2004

Your assignment is to write a six-page paper, analyzing a theme, symbol, idea, title, or something analogous in any one of the four canonical gospels. This is not a research paper, although if you wish to consult outside sources, you may do so, as long as you acknowledge them. The point of this paper is to show that you are able to work closely and critically with the text of the gospel itself, using the sorts of methods you have read about in Ehrman and that we have used in class. Your priority is to stick to the text. You should be able to argue from the text for whatever you say.

You may want to familiarize yourselves again with my Guide for Writing Papers on my web site. (Look under any of the Holy Cross courses.) The models I use there – that of the courtroom and that of the class presentation – can help you to conceptualize the approach I am looking for. Bottom line – I am looking for tight argumentation based on textual evidence.

The paper can be submitted by e-mail, and it should be in by midnight of the 5^th.