Weekly Adult Education Series
for Christians and Seekers

Slow Religion/Matthew

Zoom Link

The class is offered weekly on Zoom.  
Tuesday 4-5 PM PT
Contact Us for a Zoom link

Class Description

Slow Religion/Matthew is a lay person-led, adult education weekly series for Christians and seekers. The class is a slow and careful reading of the Gospel, it considers a range of commentaries, tries to understand the cultural, historical, and religious contexts and how to apply them today.
21st Century readers recognize Matthew as the source of many of the best-known stories and sayings of Jesus as well as a social philosophy that many non-Christians believe in. Famous for its Sermon on the Mount, The Beatitudes, and other teachings, Matthew is often called the most Jewish of the Gospels, while also contributing to antisemitism.

Why Matthew and why now?

Three reasons:
  1. Matthew is the lectionary Gospel for the upcoming church year;
  2. Matthew is a foundation of the church; and,
  3. Matthew wrestles with how to maintain your traditions, while embracing the new, in a basically hostile world.

What to expect

Each week’s attendees are provided an outline and overview readings for a chapter or section of a chapter. (See links below under Classes and Materials.) Reading the chapter is sufficient, reading the overview provides a deeper context for the class.

Class Structure

Each class is one hour and consists of:
  • Opening Prayer
  • Read the appointed scripture  
  • Brief discussion: What stands out to you?
  • Joe’s overview (20 Minutes)
  • Moderated Discussion (20 minutes)
  • Closing prayer

Classes and Materials

Introduction, Week of Sept. 18, 2022
Play Video
Chapters 1-2 Genealogy, Birth, Gentiles, Week of Sept. 25,, 2022
Play Video
Play Video
Chapters 3-4, JohnBap, Baptism, Temptations, Ministry, Week of Oct. 2,, 2022
Play Video
 
Chapter 5, Part 1, First Discourse, Sermon on the Mount, The Beatitudes, Week of Oct. 9, 2022
Play Video
Chapter 5, Part 2, First Discourse (cont.) Jesus on the Torah and Love, Week of Oct. 16, 2022
Chapter 6, First Discourse (cont.) The Lord’s Prayer, Wealth, and God, Week of Oct. 23, 2022
Chapter 7, First Discourse (cont.) Golden Rule, Apocalyptic Warnings, Week of Oct. 30 2022
Chapter 8, Healing and Faith, Discipleship and Hardship, Week of Nov. 6, 2022
Chapter 9, Discipleship, Healing and Faith, Week of Nov. 13, 2022
Chapter 10, The Mission Sermon/Discourse, Week of November 20
Chapter 11, Christology, Eschatology, Prophecy, Jesus as the new Moses, Week of Nov. 27
Chapter 12, Mission to Gentiles, Suffering Servant, Give Us A Sign, Week of Dec 13
Chapter 13, Discourse on Parables, Rejection in Nazareth, Week of December 20
Chapter 14, Murder and Miracles, Week of January 10, 2023
Chapter 15, Opposition and Loyalty, Week of January 17, 2023
Chapter 16, Revealing Jesus, Turning toward Jerusalem, Week of January 24, 2023
Chapter 17, Revealing Jesus, Transfiguration, Week of January 31, 2023
Chapter 18 Early Christian Community Discourse, February 7, 2023
Chapter 19, Everyday Life Teachings, February 14, 2013
Chapter 20, On The Way To Jerusalem, February 21, 2023
Chapter 21, Jerusalem, February 28
Chapter 22, Teaching in the Temple, March 7
Chapter 23, “But Woe To You”, March 14
Chapter 24, The Eschatological Prophet, March 21
Chapter 25, The Second Coming Foretold, March 28
Chapters 26, The Arrest and Trial, April 4
Chapter 27, The Crucifixion, April 11
Chapter 28, The Resurrection, April 18 

Bibliography

Publications
Allison, Dale C. Jr., The New Moses, A Matthean Typology, 1993
Barton and Muddiman Editors, Dale C. Allison Jr., Matthew Contributor, Oxford Bible Commentary, 2001
Biblegateway.com All Bible quotations and footnotes are from the New Revised Standard Version, 2021
Borg, Marcus J. & John Dominic Crossan, “The First Christmas, What the Gospels Really Teach About Jesus’ Birth” 2007
Boyarin, Daniel, The Jewish Gospels, The Story of Christ, 2012
Brown, Raymond E., S.S., An Introduction to the New Testament, 1997
Bultmann, Rudolf, Primitive Christianity: In Its Contemporary Setting, 1956
Childs, Brevard S., Biblical Theology of the Old and New Testaments, Theological Reflection on the Christian Bible, Fortress Press, 1992 
www.Gospelparallels.com, Comparing the Gospels
Harper Collins Study Bible, NRSV Version, 1989
Crossan, John Dominic, The Power of the Parable, 2012
Davies, W.D., Allison, D.C., Matthew International Critical Commentary, Volumes 1, 2, 3, 1998
France, R. T. ,  The Gospel of Matthew (The New International Commentary on the New Testament) – July 27, 2007
Fredricksen, Paula, Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews, 1990
Josephus, The Jewish War, Translated by G.A. Williamson, 1959
Kittel, Gerhard Editor, Geoffrey W. Bromley, Translator, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Volume III, 1965
Lemcio, Eugene E. The King Who Teaches: St. Matthew’s Royal Curriculum. A Pedagogical Aid (unpublished typescript), 2022
Levine, Amy-Jill, and Marc Zvi Brettler Editors, The Jewish Annotated Bible, Second Edition, New Revised Standard Version, 2011, 2017
Lewis, C.S., God in the Dock: Essays on Theology and Ethics, Eerdmans, 1970
Lewis, C.S., Miracles A Preliminary Study, C.S. Lewis Pte. Ltd., 1947
Longenecker, R.N., and M.C. Tenney, New Dimensions in New Testament Study, Grand Rapids, 1974
Malina, Bruce J., and Richard L. Rohrbaugh, Social-Science Commentary on the Synoptic Gospels, 2003
Mills, Watson E., Mercer Dictionary of the Bible, 1990
Morris, Leon,  The Gospel according to Matthew (The Pillar New Testament Commentary (PNTC))– July 29, 1992
New Revised Standard Version Bible, © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America
Paul, Ian, Adjunct Professor, Fuller Theological Seminary, “How did John influence the Synoptic Gospels?” 2020, www.Psephizo.com
Ramsey, A. M., The Glory of God and the Transfiguration of Christ, London, 1949
Sanday, W., “The Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard”, Expositors first edition, 1876, pp 81-101
Stott, J.R.W., The Message of the Sermon on the Mount, 1978
Smith, Bill, C.S. Lewis on Miracles, Why They Are Possible and Significant, C.S. Lewis Institute, September 7, 2019, 
Walsh, Robyn Faith, The Origins of Early Christian Literature, Cambridge University Press, 2021
Wills, Gary, What the Gospels Meant, 2008
Wright, Tom, Matthew for Everyone Part 1-2, 2002
Videos
The Genius of the Gospel of Matthew, Bart D. Ehrman
Miracles, C.S. Lewis, C. S. Lewis essays
New Testament History and Literature, Martin, Dale B., Woolsey Professor of Religious Studies, Yale University
Walsh, Robyn Faith, ‘The Origins of Early Christian Literature’
Yale Bible Study: Gospel of St. Matthew (Series of 8 Videos) Harold W. Attridge in discussion with Michal Beth Dinkler.

Slow Religion (c) 2023