Spring 2011/Houston

NE 506

Chung

NE506: NEW TESTAMENT EXEGESIS: PHILIPPIANS. Michael Chung.

DESCRIPTION: This course is an exegetical study of the letter to the Philippians, which includes interpretation of selected passages of the Greek text with lecture and discussion of the basic themes of the letter.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students successfully completing the course will have demonstrated that they:

1. have a knowledge and understanding of Philippians, its literary features, its historical and cultural context, and the way it illustrates works of its genre;

2. can offer an exegesis of passages from Philippians in light of a range of appropriate interpretive approaches, including ones that take account of the diversity of contexts from which the text can be read;

3. have articulated some reflection on the significance of Philippians for their discipleship and ministry;

4. have a competence in working with texts in their original language, including familiarity with apparatuses and tools requisite to such study.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: Philippians is a crucial New Testament text for reflection on the nature of Christian ministry and the life of joy.

COURSE FORMAT: The course will meet weekly for a three and one half hour session. Class time will be devoted to close readings of the Greek text, discussion of key exegetical points, and discussion of the theology of the epistle.

REQUIRED READING:

Philippians in a good modern translation (TNIV, NRSV) and a critical text of the Greek New Testament:
either The Greek New Testament: With English Introduction (4^th ed.; NY: American Bible Society, 1998) 1195 pp., ISBN: 978-3438051134; $32.95
or Nestle, E. & Aland, K., ed., Novum Testamentum Graece (27^th edition; Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1999) 850 pp. ISBN: 978-1598562002; $41.53.

Carolyn Osiek Philippians, Philemon (Nashville: Abingdon, 2000) 160 pp. ISBN: 0687058228; $18:72.

Moises Silva, Philippians (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2005) 272 pp. ISBN 0801026814; $24.00.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Peter T. O’Brien The Epistle to the Philippians (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1991) 638 pp. ISBN: 0802823920; $35.00.

Marcus N.A. Bockmuehl The Epistle to the Philippians (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1998). ISBN: 978-1565633506; $25.50.

For further resources, see the Biblical Division bibliography "Linguistic and Exegetical Books Required in the Master of Divinity Programs" available at http://www.fuller.edu/sot/ecds/084/Ling-Exeg-Biblio.html.

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. Regular preparation for and participation in class discussions of exegesis of the assigned text, including translation of the Greek (20%).

2. Class Small-Groups discussion (10%).

3. Small Groups will pool their individual work on the text and compile it into a usable commentary of the letter of Philippians (20%).

4. Two exegetical papers, 8-10 pp. each (50% total).

PREREQUISITES: NS501; LG512.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets NT exegesis requirement for M.Div.

This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (1/09)