A. The purpose of this assignment is to give you the opportunity to read books of the Bible in a way most people do not, but which may open to you a new way of seeing and understanding them. You will read entire books of the New Testament at once, and will read them in comparison with one another.

B. First, choose a version of the Bible from which you do not ordinarily read. Do not use The Message Bible, The Living Bible or the King James Version.

C. Begin with the Gospel of Mark, and read the entire gospel all at once, in a single sitting. Then write a one- to two-page description of what you encountered there (taking notes as you read may help you gather your thoughts afterward). As you read, observe what the author says, as well as how he tells his story, answering questions such as, What impressed you most about the story? Could you identify any themes that kept arising, recurring ideas, concerns or emphases? Is there anything distinctive or characteristic of the way the author writes? What else is distinctive about the book? How would you describe its overall picture of Jesus? How would you summarize its general message?

D. Repeat this procedure with the Gospels of Matthew, Luke and John, in that order . As you read each gospel, keep in mind questions like the above. Be sure to support your observations with reference to specific passages.

E. As you read each gospel, also consider how the gospel compares with the other gospels you have read. Comparing the gospels is an important part of this assignment. Your observations are not complete unless they include comparisons.

F. Important: This is not a research assignment; it is about your own readings and observations. You are to record what you find in these books, not the findings of anyone else. So you are not to consult textbooks, commentaries, reference works, study Bible notes, or any other secondary source. Read from the gospels only, and report only what you find there.

G. You will be graded on:
• Careful reading of the gospels – observing not only what the authors say, but how they say it
• Comparisons among the gospels – each gospel should be compared with the other three, in addition to being described on its own
• Original observations – no use of any secondary source, but your own observations only
• Length – at least one page per gospel (there is no maximum length)
• Mechanics – spelling, punctuation, grammar, typos, etc.; the paper should be typed (12 pt) and double spaced.