Standard curricula in New Testament Exegesis typically focus on the Synoptic Gospels, the Gospel of John, and key Pauline Epistles. This emphasis, while important, often limits study to these “major witnesses.” However, the New Testament canon includes significant writings beyond these core texts that offer valuable and often overlooked perspectives on New Testament theology. This course is dedicated to exploring these so-called “secondary witnesses.”
Texts such as the Epistle of James (Jas), addressing internal crises within the community, and the First Epistle of Peter (1 Pet), responding to external threats, provide unique insights into the (faith) life of the early Church. Similarly, the letters categorized as “Deutero-Pauline” and “Trito-Pauline” adapt and apply Pauline thought to their specific contexts, offering further dimensions to our understanding. The Book of Revelation (Rev/Apk), concluding the Christian Bible, also warrants closer examination, especially considering its historical significance. In the ancient and medieval Church, the influence of this apocalyptic writing, which gave rise to an entire genre, surpassed even that of the Pauline epistles and the Gospel of Matthew.
This course aims to highlight the rich diversity of “theological offerings” within the New Testament. By doing so, it seeks to bring students closer to the “Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Rev 1:2). Furthermore, it aligns with the Faculty of Catholic Theology’s mission to equip students to “be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you” (1 Pet 3:15).
