Winter 2012/Pasadena
NT866/566
Downs
NT866/566: CRITICAL ISSUES IN THE STUDY OF PAUL. David J. Downs.
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 Winter Quarter of 2012, 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. 0802831265. $60.
- Donaldson, Terence L. Paul and the Gentiles: Remapping the Apostle's
Convictional World. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1997. 0800629930. $26.
- Elliott, Neil. The Arrogance of the Nations: Reading Romans in the
Shadow of Empire. Paul in Critical Contexts. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2008.
0800697685. $22.
- Given, Mark D., ed. Paul Unbound: Other Perspectives on the Apostle.
Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2009. 0801046351. $24.99.
- Hays, Richard B. Echoes of Scripture in the Letters of Paul. New
Haven: Yale University Press, 1989. 0300054297. $22.
- Johnson Hodge, Caroline. If Sons, Then Heirs: A Study of Kinship and
Ethnicity in the Letters of Paul. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007.
0195182162. $65.
- Longenecker, Bruce W. Remember the Poor: Paul, Poverty, and the
Greco-Roman World. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2010. 0802863736. $25.
- Longenecker, Bruce W., ed. Narrative Dynamics in Paul: A Critical
Assessment. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2002. 0664222773. $30.
- Lopez, Davina C. Apostle to the Conquered: Reimagining Paul's
Mission. Paul in Critical Contexts. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2009.
0800697693. $22.
- Martyn, J. Louis. Theological Issues in the Letters of Paul.
Nashville: Abingdon, 1997. 0567030318. $30.
- Sechrest, Love. A Former Jew: Paul and the Dialectics of Race.
Library of New Testament Studies 410. London: T&T Clark, 2009. 0567462749.
$130.
- Selections From:
- Bassler, Jouette, ed. Pauline Theology. Vol. 1:
Thessalonians, Philippians, Galatians, Philemon. Minneapolis: Fortress,
1991. 1589830520. $39.95.
- Dunn, James D. G. The New Perspective on Paul. Rev. ed. Grand
Rapids: Eerdmans, 2008. 0802845622. $36.
- Gaventa, Beverly Roberts. Our Mother St. Paul. Louisville:
Westminster John Knox, 2007. 0664231497. $25.
- Hay, David M., ed. Pauline Theology. Vol. 2: 1 and 2
Corinthians. Society of Biblical Literature Symposium Series 22.
Minneapolis: Fortress, 1993. 1589830539. $39.95.
- 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. 0788503065. $24.95.
- Kim, Seyoon. Christ and Caesar: The Gospel and the Roman Empire in the
Writings of Paul and Luke. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2008. 0802860087. $24.
- 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. 1589833597. $44.95.
- 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. 0567219674. $32.95.
- Watson, Francis. Paul and the Hermeneutics of Faith. London: T&T
Clark, 2005. 0567082326. $65.
- Westerholm, Stephen. Perspectives Old and New on Paul: The `Lutheran'
Paul and His Critics. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004. 0802848095.
$40.
RECOMMENDED READING: See the course syllabus.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT: (1) Attendance at and participation in all seminar
meetings, including the preparation of short response papers to selected
readings (ca. 500-700 words each; 10%) and the translation of weekly Greek
texts (10%); (2) Seminar Paper and Presentation (ca. 2,000-3,000 words; 30%).
(3) Final Paper (ca. 6,000-8,000 words; 50%). Requirements 1 and 3 will be
adapted for master's-level students.
PREREQUISITES: Admission into the ThM or PhD program; at master's level:
permission of the professor.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Fulfills one New Testament Literature requirement
(Pauline Literature) for PhD students with a Major Concentration in New
Testament. One of two courses fulfilling a course requirement for PhD students
with a minor in New Testament and for ThM students. Elective for master's-level
students.
This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (October 2011)