Spring 2010/Pasadena
NT866/566
Downs

NT866/566: CRITICAL ISSUES IN THE STUDY OF PAUL. David J. Downs.


DESCRIPTION: This is a 6-unit seminar for doctoral students, also offered at the 500-level as a 4-unit course open to a limited number of master's level students. This seminar offers an examination of selected topics in current study of the Pauline epistles, including literary, historical, and theological issues. In the Spring Quarter of 2010, topics include the nature of Pauline theology; the socio-economic context of the Pauline mission; Paul and the law; Paul and the Gentiles; Paul, ethnicity, and race; Paul and Scripture; Paul as apocalyptic theologian; and Paul and empire.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: This course prepares students primarily for the ministry of teaching and research. The course focuses on the sources and tools for advanced study and research of the Pauline Epistles.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students completing this course will have demonstrated (1) familiarity with a range of recent critical approaches to the Pauline Epistles; (2) skill in the interpretation of the Greek text of the Pauline Epistles; (3) an ability to engage in thoughtful and generous criticism of recent research in the field of Pauline studies; and (4) the capacity to produce sound research reflecting critical abilities.

COURSE FORMAT: This seminar meets weekly for presentations on and discussion of selected topics in current study of the Pauline epistles.

REQUIRED READING: Master's level students will read about 1200 pages from the following:

Course Reader.

Campbell, Douglas A. The Deliverance of God: An Apocalyptic Rereading of Justification in Paul. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2009.

Donaldson, Terence L. Paul and the Gentiles: Remapping the Apostle's Convictional World. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1997.

Elliott, Neil. The Arrogance of the Nations: Reading Romans in the Shadow of Empire. Paul in Critical Contexts. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2008.

Given, Mark D., ed. Paul Unbound: Other Perspectives on the Apostle. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2009.

Hays, Richard B. Echoes of Scripture in the Letters of Paul. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1989.

Johnson Hodge, Caroline. If Sons, Then Heirs: A Study of Kinship and Ethnicity in the Letters of Paul. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007.

Longenecker, Bruce W., ed. Narrative Dynamics in Paul: A Critical Assessment. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2002.

Lopez, Davina C. Apostle to the Conquered: Reimagining Paul's Mission. Paul in Critical Contexts. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2009.

Martyn, J. Louis. Theological Issues in the Letters of Paul. Nashville: Abingdon, 1997.

Meggitt, Justin J. Paul, Poverty and Survival. Studies of the New Testament and Its World. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1998.

Sechrest, Love. A Former Jew: Paul and the Dialectics of Race. Library of New Testament Studies 410. London: T&T Clark, 2009.

Selections From:
Bassler, Jouette, ed. Pauline Theology. Vol. 1: Thessalonians, Philippians, Galatians, Philemon. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1991.

Dunn, James D. G. The New Perspective on Paul. Rev. ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2008.

Gaventa, Beverly Roberts. Our Mother St. Paul. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2007.

Hay, David M., ed. Pauline Theology. Vol. 2: 1 and 2 Corinthians. Society of Biblical Literature Symposium Series 22. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1993.

Hay, David M., and E. Elizabeth Johnson, eds. Pauline Theology. Vol. 4: Looking Back, Pressing On. Society of Biblical Literature Symposium Series 4. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1997.

Käsemann, Ernst. New Testament Questions of Today. Translated by W. J. Montague. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1969.

Kim, Seyoon. Christ and Caesar: The Gospel and the Roman Empire in the Writings of Paul and Luke. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2008.

Porter, Stanley E., and Christopher D. Stanley, eds. As It Is Written: Studying Paul's Use of Scripture. Society of Biblical Literature Symposium Series 50. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2008.

Still, Todd D., and David G. Horrell, eds. After the First Urban Christians: The Social-Scientific Study of Pauline Christianity Twenty-Five Years Later. London: T&T Clark, 2010.

Watson, Francis. Paul and the Hermeneutics of Faith. London: T&T Clark, 2005.

Westerholm, Stephen. Perspectives Old and New on Paul: The `Lutheran' Paul and His Critics. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004.

RECOMMENDED READING: See the course syllabus.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT: (1) Attendance of and participation in all seminar meetings, including the preparation of short response papers to selected readings (ca. 500-700 words each; 20%) and the translation of weekly Greek texts (10%); (2) Seminar Paper and Presentation (ca. 2,000-3,000 words; 30%). (3) Final Paper (ca. 6,000-8,000 words; 40%). Requirements 1 and 3 will be adapted for master's-level students.

PREREQUISITES: Admission into the ThM or PhD program; at master's level: permission of the professor.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Fulfills one New Testament Literature requirement (Pauline Literature) for PhD students with a Major Concentration in New Testament. One of two courses fulfilling a course requirement for PhD students with a minor in New Testament and for ThM students. Elective for master's-level students.

This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (Posted January 2010)