DESCRIPTION:

This is an exegesis course on 1 Thessalonians, with special attention to its historical context and literary structure, to Paul's missionary and pastoral practices, and to his theological development.

From the problems of the young church in Macedonia and the missionary and pastoral practices of Paul, many insights can be drawn for missionary and pastoral work today. An exercise in exegesis should help students in their expository preaching, and a reflection on the early stage of Paul's own theological development will provide them with suggestions for their own theologizing.

The course will meet once a week for three hours for translation, lecture, and discussion.

Bruce, F. F. 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Word Biblical Commentary. Waco: Word, 1982 (pp. 1-136).

Donfried, K. P. The Theology of the Shorter Pauline Letters. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993 (pp. 1-79).

Malherbe, A. J. Paul and the Thessalonians. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1987.

Wanamaker, C. A. Commentary on 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1990
(pp. 1-209).

1. A one or two page exegetical preparation for each class.

2. An exegetical paper (ca. 10 pages).

LG512, NS501, and NE502.

Meets M. Div. core requirement in New Testament Exegesis (NTE).

Yes (accounts for 50% of the final grade).