Spring 2019/Seattle

NE527

Brenner

NE527: NEW TESTAMENT EXEGESIS: 1 THESSALONIANS (4 Units: 160 hours). Dr. Laurie R. Brenner (Wheeler)

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DESCRIPTION: This course will engage Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians through close reading of selected passages from the Greek text, interpreted in conversation with historical and contemporary approaches to the text. Particular attention will be given to Paul’s pastoral concerns, theological and apocalyptic readings of 1 Thessalonians, and the relationship of this epistle to Paul’s apostolic mission to the Gentiles.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Having successfully completed this course, students will have demonstrated the ability (1) to interpret 1 Thessalonians within its socio-historical, literary, and canonical contexts; (2) to identify central issues in the critical study of 1 Thessalonians; (3) to articulate primary theological and ethical concerns of 1 Thessalonians; (4) to use Greek based language tools for interpreting the text; and (5) to interpret this text for faithful use of Scripture in their own lives and ministries.

COURSE FORMAT: This class meets once per week for three hour sessions for a total of 30 hours of classroom instruction for lecture and discussion plus 10 hours of directed learning activities for a total of 40 instructional hours.

REQUIRED READING: 755 total pages required

Choose ONE of the following: [15 pp. reading in the Greek text]

Aland, K., et al. The Greek New Testament. 5th rev. ed. German Bible Society, 2014 (UBS5). ISBN: 978-1619701380, Pub. Price $59.95.

OR

Nestle, E. & K. Aland. Novum Testamentum Graece. 28th ed. Deutsche Bibelstiftung, 2012 (NA28). ISBN: 978-1619700307, Pub. Price $59.95.

Boring, Eugene. I & II Thessalonians: A Commentary. Westminster John Knox Press, 2015. ISBN: 978-0664220990, Pub. Price $50.00. Available as an e-book in the Fuller Library. [308 pp. assigned].

Course Reader, accessed through e-reserves, that includes articles and chapters by J. Ayodeji Adewuya, John M. G. Barclay, Markus Bockmuehl, Raymond F. Collins, John P. Dickson, Karl P. Donfried, Beverly Roberts Gaventa, Morna D. Hooker, Seyoon Kim, Helmut Koester, Jan Lambrecht, Néstor Míguez, Stanley Porter, Jeffrey Weima [432 pp].

RECOMMENDED READING:

Bruce, F.F. I & 2 Thessalonians. Word Biblical Commentary Series, 45. Zondervan, 2015. ISBN: 978-0310521990, Pub. Price $34.99. Available as an e-book in the Fuller Library.

Donfried, Karl P. Paul, Thessalonica, and Early Christianity. Eerdmans, 2002. ISBN: 978-0802805096, Pub. Price $31.50. Available as an e-book in the Fuller Library.

Fee, Gordon D. The First and Second Letter to the Thessalonians. New International Commentary on the New Testament series. Eerdmans, 2009. ISBN: 978-0802863621, Pub. Price $44.00. Available as an e-book in the Fuller Library.

Furnish, Victor Paul. 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians. Abingdon Press, 2007. ISBN: 978-0687057436, Pub. Price $23.99. Available as an e-book in the Fuller Library.

Gaventa, Beverly Roberts. First and Second Thessalonians. John Knox Press, 1998. ISBN: 978-0804231428, Pub Price $40.00. Available as an e-book in the Fuller Library.

Malherbe, Abraham. The Letters to the Thessalonians: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Anchor Bible Series, 32b. Yale University Press, 2004. ISBN: 978-0300139846, Pub. Price $50.00. Available as an e-book in the Fuller Library.

Wanamaker, Charles. The Epistles to the Thessalonians: A Commentary on the Greek Text. New International Greek Testament Commentary. Eerdmans, 2015. ISBN: 978-0802870926, Pub. Price 38.00.

Weima, Jeffrey A.D. 1-2 Thessalonians. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Baker Academic, 2014. ISBN: 978-0801026850, Pub Price $54.99.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. 755 pp. of logged, required reading (10%). [50 hours].
2. Exegetical worksheets handed in at the end of each course meeting (weeks 2-10) prepared by studying the Greek text of assigned passages, considered interaction with the exegetical judgments of the required Boring text and any assigned articles, and response to interpretive study questions/production of exegetical diagrams (ca. 500 words each, for 9 session assignments) (40%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, #2, and #4]. [36 hours].
3. Theological reflection paper, written in response to three sermons preached on text from 1 Thessalonians (chosen from a list of recommended video/audio files in the public domain) (ca. 1,000 words) (5%, credit/no credit). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #5]. [Directed Learning Activity, 10 hours].
4. One exegetical working paper on a selected passage (ca. 1,250 words) (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, #2, #3, #4, and #5]. [10 hours].
5. A final exegetical research paper on one of several suggested passages in Galatians (ca. 3,000 words) (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, #2, #3, #4, and #5]. [24 hours].

PREREQUISITES: LG510 or LG512A/B or LG512; BI500 or NE502; NT500 or NS500 or NS501.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets the Biblical Language Exegesis requirement in the 120 MDiv program. Meets the NTE in the 144 MDiv Program.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.

NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change. Copyright 2019 Fuller Theological Seminary.