DESCRIPTION: This course is an exegetical study of the epistle to the Ephesians, which seeks to develop confidence in interpreting the Greek text as well as familiarity with historical, literary, and theological themes in this document, particularly with reference to the theology and ethics of unity and diversity in the church.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: Ephesians is a crucial New Testament text for reflection on the nature of the church as a blended body of diverse believers who practice an ethic of Christian unity and reconciliation.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students who successfully complete this course will have demonstrated (1) an understanding of Ephesians and its social, cultural, and literary context; (2) an understanding of the epistle's ecclesiology and concept of Christian identity and ethics; (3) use of a responsible and engaging method of interpreting Ephesians both in its context and for the church today; (4) an expanded competency in translating the Greek New Testament.

COURSE FORMAT: The course will meet weekly for three-hour sessions.

REQUIRED READING:

The epistle to the Ephesians. A critical text of the Greek New Testament (either a UBS 4th edition (ISBN: 3438051494; $34.95); or Nestle-Aland 27th edition (ISBN: 1598562002; $59.95).

Also see the Biblical Division bibliography "Linguistic and Exegetical Books Required in the Master of Divinity Programs" available at http://schedule.fuller.edu/sot/ecds/Ling-Exeg-Biblio.html.

Glancy, Jennifer A. Slavery as Moral Problem: In the Early Church and Today. Fortress, 2011. (ISBN: 0800696700; $11.99) ~100 pp.

Lincoln, Andrew T. Ephesians. Word Biblical Commentary 42. Word, 1990 (ISBN 084990241X: $49.99), ~400 pp.

Verhey, Allen, and Joseph S. Harvard. Ephesians: A Theological Commentary on the Bible. Westminster John Knox, 2011 (ISBN: 0664232663; $35.00). ~230 pp.

Course reader including ~100 pages of reading from such works as:

Fong, Bruce W. "Addressing the Issue of Racial Reconciliation According to the Principles of Eph 2:11-22." JETS 38/4 (1995): 565-80.

Osiek, Carolyn, Margaret Y. MacDonald, and Janet H. Tulloch. A Woman's Place: House Churches in Earliest Christianity. Fortress, 2005 (selected pages).

1. Exegetical Working Papers: Students will choose a passage and prepare a three-page single-spaced summary of the exegetical and theological issues in that passage according to guidelines given in class, which will focus the class discussion of these issues (30%).

2. Formal Exegetical Paper: Beginning with the working paper above, students will prepare a 10-15 page exegetical paper on the same passage (45%).

3. Journals: Using guidelines given in class, students will submit their translations of the Greek text and/or reflections on an English version (25%).