Spring 2015/Pasadena
NE517
Givens
NE517: NEW TESTAMENT BOOK STUDY: ROMANS (4 Units: 160 hours). Tommy Givens.
DESCRIPTION: A close reading of selected passages of the Letter to the Romans in various English translations, with lecture and discussion on the broad themes and crucial turns of the letter’s argument, the social setting of the letter, and the theological concerns that occasion and characterize the letter.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Having successfully completed this course, students will have demonstrated the ability (1) to interpret Romans within its socio-historical, literary, and canonical contexts; (2) to identify central issues in the critical study of Romans, including “the parting of the ways” and current political readings of Romans; (3) to articulate primary theological and ethical concerns of Romans; (4) to use English based language tools for interpreting the text; and (5) to interpret Romans for faithful use in their own lives and ministries.
COURSE FORMAT: This class meets twice weekly for two hour sessions of lecture and discussion for a total of 40 instructional hours in the classroom.
REQUIRED READING: approximately 850 total pages required
The Bible in the NRSV, CEB, or TNIV translation
Choose ONE of the following: Witherington, Ben. Paul’s Letter to the Romans: A Socio-Rhetorical
Commentary. Eerdmans, 2004. ISBN: 978-0802845047, Pub. Price $44.00 [459 pp.] OR Keck, Leander. Romans. Abingdon, 2005. ISBN: 978-0687057054, Pub. Price $27.99 [400 pp.], available electronically for no additional cost through the Fuller Library.
Choose ONE of the following: Barth, Karl. The Epistle to the Romans. 6th ed. Oxford, 1968. ISBN: 978-0195002942, Pub. Price $19.95 [576 pp.]. OR Grieb, A. Katherine. The Story of Romans: A Narrative Defense of God’s Righteousness. Westminster John Knox Press, 2002. ISBN: 978-0664225254, Pub. Price $30.00 [192 pp.]; OR Johnson, Luke Timothy. Reading Romans: A Literary and Theological Commentary. Smyth & Helwys, 2013. ISBN: 978-1573122764, Pub. Price $23.00 [260 pp.], available electronically for no additional cost through the Fuller Library.
Course Packet: Includes essays by Agamben, Arichea, Cimpean, Draper, Elliot, Escarfuller, Khiok-khng, Kirk, Nanos, Stendahl, Stowers, Stubbs, Tamez, Thimmes [460 pp.].
Also see “Linguistic and Exegetical Books Required in the Master of Divinity Programs” available at http://schedule.fuller.edu/sot/ecds/Ling-Exeg-Biblio.html.
RECOMMENDED READING:
Nanos, Mark. The Mystery of Romans. Fortress, 1996. ISBN: 978-0800629373, Pub. Price $30.00.
Stowers, Stanley. A Rereading of Romans: Justice, Jews, and Gentiles. Yale, 1997. ISBN: 978-0300070682, Pub. Price $39.00.
ASSIGNMENTS & ASSESSMENT:
850 pp. of logged, required reading (390 pp. NT and commentaries; 460 pp. course packet) (10%). [57 hours].
Preparation for each course meeting by studying a provided English translation of assigned passages, considering the exegetical judgments of two required texts above (one from group 2, the other from group 3) and any assigned articles, and responding to interpretive study questions (ca. 600 words each, for 15 session assignments) (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1 and 2]. [30 hours].
One exegetical working paper on a selected passage (1,500-2,500 words each) (35%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, and 3]. [9 hours].
A final exegetical research paper on one of several suggested passages in Romans or one of several suggested key themes of Romans (ca. 3,000 words) (45%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, and 3]. [24 hours].
PREREQUISITES: NT500 or NS501 and BI500 or NE502.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Counts as a biblical elective for the 120 MDiv Program and meets the NTBK requirement for the MAT Program (Winter 2010)
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.