DESCRIPTION: This is a 6-unit seminar for doctoral students, also offered at the 500-level as a 4-unit course open to a limited number of master's level students. This seminar offers an examination of selected topics in current study of the Pauline epistles, including literary, historical, and theological issues. In the Spring Quarter of 2010, topics include the nature of Pauline theology; the socio-economic context of the Pauline mission; Paul and the law; Paul and the Gentiles; Paul, ethnicity, and race; Paul and Scripture; Paul as apocalyptic theologian; and Paul and empire.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: This course prepares students primarily for the ministry of teaching and research. The course focuses on the sources and tools for advanced study and research of the Pauline Epistles.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students completing this course will have demonstrated (1) familiarity with a range of recent critical approaches to the Pauline Epistles; (2) skill in the interpretation of the Greek text of the Pauline Epistles; (3) an ability to engage in thoughtful and generous criticism of recent research in the field of Pauline studies; and (4) the capacity to produce sound research reflecting critical abilities.

COURSE FORMAT: This seminar meets weekly for presentations on and discussion of selected topics in current study of the Pauline epistles.

REQUIRED READING: Master's level students will read about 1200 pages from the following:

Course Reader.

Campbell, Douglas A. The Deliverance of God: An Apocalyptic Rereading of Justification in Paul. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2009.

Donaldson, Terence L. Paul and the Gentiles: Remapping the Apostle's Convictional World. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1997.

Elliott, Neil. The Arrogance of the Nations: Reading Romans in the Shadow of Empire. Paul in Critical Contexts. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2008.

Given, Mark D., ed. Paul Unbound: Other Perspectives on the Apostle. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2009.

Hays, Richard B. Echoes of Scripture in the Letters of Paul. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1989.

Johnson Hodge, Caroline. If Sons, Then Heirs: A Study of Kinship and Ethnicity in the Letters of Paul. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007.

Longenecker, Bruce W., ed. Narrative Dynamics in Paul: A Critical Assessment. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2002.

Lopez, Davina C. Apostle to the Conquered: Reimagining Paul's Mission. Paul in Critical Contexts. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2009.

Martyn, J. Louis. Theological Issues in the Letters of Paul. Nashville: Abingdon, 1997.

Meggitt, Justin J. Paul, Poverty and Survival. Studies of the New Testament and Its World. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1998.

Sechrest, Love. A Former Jew: Paul and the Dialectics of Race. Library of New Testament Studies 410. London: T&T Clark, 2009.

Selections From:

Bassler, Jouette, ed. Pauline Theology. Vol. 1: Thessalonians, Philippians, Galatians, Philemon. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1991.

Dunn, James D. G. The New Perspective on Paul. Rev. ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2008.

Gaventa, Beverly Roberts. Our Mother St. Paul. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2007.

Hay, David M., ed. Pauline Theology. Vol. 2: 1 and 2 Corinthians. Society of Biblical Literature Symposium Series 22. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1993.

Hay, David M., and E. Elizabeth Johnson, eds. Pauline Theology. Vol. 4: Looking Back, Pressing On. Society of Biblical Literature Symposium Series 4. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1997.

Käsemann, Ernst. New Testament Questions of Today. Translated by W. J. Montague. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1969.

Kim, Seyoon. Christ and Caesar: The Gospel and the Roman Empire in the Writings of Paul and Luke. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2008.

Porter, Stanley E., and Christopher D. Stanley, eds. As It Is Written: Studying Paul's Use of Scripture. Society of Biblical Literature Symposium Series 50. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2008.

Still, Todd D., and David G. Horrell, eds. After the First Urban Christians: The Social-Scientific Study of Pauline Christianity Twenty-Five Years Later. London: T&T Clark, 2010.

Watson, Francis. Paul and the Hermeneutics of Faith. London: T&T Clark, 2005.

Westerholm, Stephen. Perspectives Old and New on Paul: The `Lutheran' Paul and His Critics. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004.