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Many psychologists and sociologists would say that both reconciliation and forgiveness are absolutely necessary for meaningful long-term interaction in any group and any culture. However in the Ancient world, among the Greeks and Romans, forgiveness was often considered vicious rather than virtuous. They usually managed reconciliation in other ways. In the Hebrew Bible, on the other hand, forgiveness, mercy and reconciliation are important concepts, particularly in relation to God. The New Testament continues the Jewish tradition in many ways, but also develops it further. The goal of this course is to understand how Jesus and his earliest followers understood forgiveness, mercy and reconciliation. How did they consider their relationship to God in these terms? How did they practise forgiveness within their group and toward others? How can we understand forgiveness in the New Testament in the light of modern research on forgiveness and of Aancient views on forgiveness? What are the theological and ethical implications of the New Testament’s discourse on forgiveness and reconciliation?
Course Outcomes/Learning Outcomes - as part of a Bachelor’s Degree
On completing the course the student should:
- be able to compare the New Testament concepts of forgiveness and reconciliation with their equivalents in the Ancient Mediterranean world;
- be able to analyse the theology of forgiveness and reconciliation in New Testament texts;
- be able to discuss the group dynamic and ethical implications of the New Testament’s discourses on forgiveness and reconciliation
Course Outcomes/Learning Outcomes - as part of a Master’s Degree
On completing the course the student should:
- be able to discuss how the New Testament concepts of forgiveness and reconciliation can be seen as influenced by and reacting against similar discourses in the Ancient Mediterranean world;
- be able to analyse the theology of forgiveness and reconciliation in New Testament texts, including discussion of the Greek and, to some extent, the Hebrew terminology;
- be able to discuss the group dynamic and ethical implications of the New Testament’s discourse on forgiveness and reconciliation, using analytical tools from contemporary research
Literature
- Bash, A., 2011: Just Forgiveness: Exploring the Bible, Weighing the Issues. London: SPCK. (160 pp.)
- Bruce, F. F., 1984: “Colossian Problems, pt 4: Christ as Conqueror and Reconciler”. In: Bibliotheca Sacra 141. Pp. 291-302. (12 pp.)
- Davies, W. D., and Dale C. Allison, 1988-1997: A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Gospel According to Saint Matthew (2 vols.). Edinburgh: T&T Clark. Sections about Matt 6:12-15, 9:1-17, 12:22-45, 18:1-35. (150 pp.)
- Kazen, Thomas, 2011: “Justice, Integrity, Compassion and Reconciliation: A Psycho-Biological Approach to Self-Preserving and Other-Oriented Concerns in the Jesus Tradition.” Eng. transl. of: “Moralische Emotionen in der Jesusüberlieferung. Ein psycho-biologischer Beitrag zum Verhältnis von Selbsterhaltung und Nächstenorientierung.” In: Evangelische Theologie 71. Pp. 288-306. (18 pp.)
- Konstan, David, 2010: Before Forgiveness: The Origins of a Moral Idea. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (172 pp.)
or
Griswold, Charles and Konstan, David (eds.), 2011: Ancient Forgiveness. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (c:a 200 pp.)
- McCullough, Michael E., 2008: Beyond revenge: The Evolution of the Forgiveness Instinct. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. (238 pp.)
- Roitto, R., (yet) unpublished: “Practices of Confession, Intercession, and Forgiveness in 1 John 1:9; 5:16”. (20 pp.)
- Scholer, David M., 1975: "Sins Within and Sins Without: An Interpretation of 1 John 5:16-17." In: Current Issues in Biblical and Patristic Interpretation. Ed. Gerald F. Hawthorne. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans. Pp. 231-246. (16 pp.)
- Seyoon Kim, 1997: "2 Cor 5:11-21 and the Origin of Paul's Concept of 'Reconciliation'". In: Novum testamentum 39:4. Pp. 360-384. (25 pp.)
- On advanced level, the following Greek texts are also included in the course: Matt 6:9-15, 9:1-17, 12:22-45, 18:1-35; Rom 5; 2 Cor 1:23-2:11; 5:11-6:17; Col 1:9-23; 1 John 1:5-2:17; 2:28-3:24; 4:7-21 5:13-21, i.e. 248 verses in total.
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