SPT 531/431 SU S1 2023 - JESUS AS MODEL.01

June 12-16, 9am-11am CT Spring Hill College or Online Dr. Timothy Carmody, PhD.

The course will examine discipleship in the Gospel of Matthew using the lens of human identity formation through imitation.  Simply put, Matthew presents Jesus as the model for becoming perfect as the Father is perfect.  Human society is terminally flawed with the sin and blindness of rivalry, violence, and judgment, with the result that all human identity is flawed by imitation of others.  Jesus, as God’s Son, is uniquely able to model the kingdom of God in his teaching and acting (especially in his nonviolent acceptance of his crucifixion).  Our study will focus on key texts in Matthew dealing with imitation, household, and reward that give insight into discipleship as transformation of human identity.