Description: Examines the growth of Christianity from its origins as a Jewish group to a religion in the mid-second century that distinguished itself from Judaism. Includes discussion of Acts, Paul's letters, Johannine corpus, Gospel of Thomas, Pastorals, Catholic letters, Hebrews, and Revelation. RELI 595: Prepare an original thesis on a New Testament text (5,000). Work in original languages is strongly recommended, of not required. Write a lecture about the history of the academic interpretation of the text and present it orally to undergraduates in the course.