Winter 2010/Pasadena
NE506
Sechrest
NE506: NEW TESTAMENT EXEGESIS: GALATIANS. Love Sechrest.
DESCRIPTION: This course is an exegetical study of the epistle to the
Galatians, which seeks to develop confidence in interpreting the Greek text as
well as familiarity with the main themes of this epistle, particularly its
ecclesiology, understanding of salvation and of participation in Christ.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: Satisfactory completion of this course
should increase the student's understanding of Galatians and its main themes,
give practice and skill in exegesis of the Greek text, and deepen understanding
of the scope of the life, death, and work of Jesus, and of one way in which his
life and death were understood and interpreted by early believers.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: This course, through discussions and assignments, will
enable students to (1) better know and understand Galatians and its social
and cultural context; (2) understand more about Paul's biography and his
circumstances at the time that this epistle was written; (3) solidify and
expand on earlier learning of the Greek language; (4) develop a responsible and
engaging method of interpreting Galatians both in its context and for the
church today.
COURSE FORMAT: The course will meet once a week for three-hour sessions. Class
time will be devoted to translation of the Greek, discussion of key exegetical
points, and discussion of the theology of the epistle.
REQUIRED READING:
- The Epistle to the Galatians. RSV or NRSV English translation and a
critical text of the Greek New Testament (either a UBS 4th edition or
Nestle-Aland 27th edition).
- Martyn, J. L. Galatians. Anchor Bible.
Doubleday, 1997.
- Coursepack including readings from the following books:
- Braxton, B. No Longer Slaves: Galatians and African
American Experience. Liturgical Press, 2002.
- Boyarin, D. A Radical Jew: Paul and the Politics of Identity.
University of California Press, 1994.
- Hays, R. B. The Faith of Jesus Christ: An Investigation of the Narrative
Substructure of Gal. 3:1-4:11. 2nd ed. Eerdmans, 2002.
- 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 and in the Academic Advising office.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Bruce, F. F. The Epistle to the Galatians: A Commentary on the
Greek Text. New International Greek Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids:
William B. Eerdmans, 1982.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT: (1) Exegetical Working Paper (30%): Students will
choose a passage and prepare a three-page single-spaced summary of the
exegetical and theological issues for the passage according to guidelines given
in class. The papers will provide the framework for class discussion of the
exegetical issues in the passages. (2) Using the passages from item 1 above,
students will prepare a 10-15 page exegetical paper (35%). (3) Exegetical
Notebook (25%): Using guidelines given in class, students will submit
translations and journal assignments that address the other passages in
Galatians. (4) Class participation (10%).
PREREQUISITES: NE502 and NS501.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in New Testament New
Testament Exegesis (NTE) and MA program requirements for New Testament book
study (NTBK).
This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (11/09)