This course presents critical and introductory issues in the scholarship of the Gospels and Acts. The issues will be such topics as the synoptic problem, seeming contradictions between the gospels and historical considerations in the book of Acts. This class will divide itself into three sections: first, the background of second-temple Judaism before the birth of Christ, second, the Gospels and particular exegetical issues inherent in Gospel’s scholarship including the life of Jesus, third, the book of Acts and introductory/historical issues that are particular to this important book of Church History.