THE NATURE OF THE COURSE:
The course offers a critical study of the life and thought of Paul, his letters to the early Christian churches, his role in the expansion of the Christian movement, and his continuing influence today.
The approach is scholarly, rather than moralistic or sectarian. The course will be taught from the perspective of the Bible as a record of God's self-disclosure (revelation). An important objective is that each student will arrive at a greater intellectual appreciation of the corporate nature of our heritage of faith and how large a part of the spirit and content of western civilization flows from the biblical sources.
The course is not designed to give. easy answers to questions of personal faith, although it should provide a considerable foundation of historical, literary, and theological data which will enable the earnest student to arrive at a more mature personal faith. The professor will endeavor to provide an atmosphere of freedom and intellectual honesty in which maturation in faith and understanding is possible. The student's effort to develop his/her own personal religious faith is, of course, a task in which he/she will be engaged, hopefully, for the rest of his/her life.
The methods and content of the course are determined not only be aim and objectives but also by such factors as size of enrollment, varied and limited biblical knowledge on the part of students, and the necessity of examination for learning and evaluation. The course should provide a background for other courses in Religious Studies. Information concerning the major in Religious Studies and the Master of Arts in Religious Studies degree will be provided by the professor or other members of the departmental faculty.
In addition to material covered by lectures, the course structure provides opportunity for class discussion of interesting and enigmatic topics, and the raising of questions which have grown out of our study. This attempt to combine the maximum values of the lecture method and student feedback necessarily places upon both professor and students special responsibility for class preparation and participation.
ASSIGNED TEXTS:
The New Oxford Annotated Bible (with the Apocrypha). New Revised Standard Version. Third Edition. New York: Oxford University Press, 2001 (Paperback, 2001).
Roetzel, Calvin J., The Letters of Paul: Conversations in Context. Fourth Edition. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1998 (Paperback).
Become acquainted with:
The Interpreter's Bible, especially vols. on Paul
The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible, 5 vols.
The Interpreter's One-Volume Commentary on the Bible
The Abingdon Bible Handbook
The Interpreter's Concise Commentary; Vol. VII.
Acts and Paul's Letters
The Anchor Bible Dictionary, 6 vols.
The New Interpreter's Bible, especially vol. VIII
Revised Edition of the The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary.
REQUIREMENTS:
The student should review his/her previous reading assignments and lecture notes, being alert to thoughtful questions for discussion. "Pop" quizzes on previous assigned readings and lectures will not be utilized unless lack of preparation and willingness to contribute warrant such means of evaluation.
A mid-semester examination is scheduled for Thursday, March 1. The professor will discuss the form of same near the time of the examination.
A research paper of approximately ten pages is due on Thursday, April 26. The professor will suggest several possible topics early in the semester. Should the student elect to write on a topic of his/her own choosing, he/she must clear that topic with the professor to insure its being broad enough in scope to satisfy the requirement.
There will be a final examination on Friday, Thursday, May 3, at 9:00 a.m. The professor will discuss its form near that time.
DETERMINATION OF GRADE FOR THE COURSE:
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Introduction
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Introduction
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Introduction
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The Acts Narrative of Paul's Missions; Acts 13-28; Roetzel, pp. 1-50.
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Paul's Conversion; Acts 8:1-3; 9:1-30; 11:19-30; 12:25
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Mission to Cyprus and Galatia; Acts 13-14
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The Jerusalem Conference; Acts 15; Galatians 1-2
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Mission to Macedonia and Achaia; Acts 16:1-18:21
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The Ministry of Paul at Ephesus; Acts 18:22-20:38
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Paul's Last Visit to Jerusalem; Acts 21-26
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The Voyage to Rome; Acts 27-28
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Authenticity and Chronology; Roetzel, pp. 51-78; 119-132; 166-181
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The Letter to Thessalonica; 1 Thes; Roetzel, pp: 79-83
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MID-SEMESTER EXAM
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The Letters to Corinth; 1 and 2 Cor; Roetzel, pp. 83-96; Four Letter?
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Views on Women; Roetzel, pp. 182-190; l Cor 7:29 ff.
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SPRING BREAK – NO CLASS
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SPRING BREAK – NO CLASS
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1 Cor 9:19 ff.; Gnosticism; Roetzel, pp. 162-166.
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1 Cor 15, 11-14.
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The Letter to Galatia; Gal; Roetzel, pp. 96-103; History
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NO CLASS – Dr. Amy-Jill Levine on campus.
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Chapter 1-3
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Chapter 4-6
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The Letter to Rome; Rom; Roetzel, pp. 103-113; Chapter 1
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Chapters 2-4
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Chapters 5-8
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Chapters 12-15
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The Letters to Philippi and Philemon; Roetzel, pp. 113-116.
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The First Interpreters of Paul; Roetzel, pp. 133-160.
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GRADUATE STUDENT REPORTS; RESEARCH PAPERS DUE.
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FINAL EXAM 9:00 a.m.
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