Fall 2014/Pasadena

NS522

Downs

NS522: WEALTH AND POVERTY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT (4 Units: 160 Hours). David J. Downs.

DESCRIPTION: This course offers students an opportunity to engage theological perspectives on wealth, poverty in the New Testament and to consider how Scripture calls the church to embody the gospel with respect to material possessions in an age of consumerism and global wealth inequality.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students completing this course will have demonstrated (1) familiarity with theological perspectives on wealth and poverty in a variety of New Testament texts; (2) an understanding of the historical and socio-cultural contexts in which these perspectives developed; (3) an ability to examine critically, in light of the New Testament’s witness, their own and others’ beliefs and practices regarding wealth, poverty, and possessions; and (4) the capacity to engage issues related to the church’s care for the poor and powerless.

COURSE FORMAT: This class meets twice weekly for two hour sessions for a total of 40 instructional hours in the classroom for lecture and discussion.

REQUIRED READING:

Either the CEB, NRSV, or TNIV translation of the New Testament [139 pp. assigned].

Johnson, Luke Timothy. Sharing Possessions: What Faith Demands. 2nd ed. Eerdmans, 2011. ISBN: 978-0802803993, Pub. Price $19.00 [155 pp. assigned].

Longenecker, Bruce W. Remember the Poor: Paul, Poverty, and the Greco-Roman World. Eerdmans, 2010. ISBN: 978-0802863737, Pub. Price $25.00 [250 pp. assigned].

Wheeler, Sondra Ely. Wealth as Peril and Obligation: The New Testament on Possessions. Eerdmans, 1995. ISBN: 978-0802807335, Pub. Price $20.00 [150 pp. assigned].

Course reader. Includes pieces by Steven J. Friesen, Justo González, Joel B. Green, Christopher M. Hays, Richard B. Hays, Douglas Hicks, Ruth Lister, James Hudnut-Beumler, Gerardo Marti, Bryant Myers, Rebecca Todd Peters, Devaka Premwardhana, Helen Rhee, Robert Wafawanaka, Gerald O. West, and Amos Yong. [400 pp. assigned].

RECOMMENDED READING:

Blomberg, Craig L. Neither Poverty nor Riches: A Biblical Theology of Possessions. InterVarsity Press, 1999. ISBN: 978-0830826070, Pub. Price $25.00.

Gonzalez, Justo L. Faith and Wealth: A History of Early Christian Ideas on the Origin, Significance, and Use of Money. Wipf & Stock, 2002. ISBN: 978-1579109356, Pub. Price $25.00.

Longenecker, Bruce, and Kelly Liebengood, eds. Engaging Economics: New Testament Scenarios and

Early Christian Reception. Eerdmans, 2009. ISBN: 978-0802864147, Pub. Price $32.00.

ASSIGNMENTS & ASSESSMENT: 

1. Class preparation and participation.

2. 1,100 pp. of required reading [74 hours].

3. One critical book review (6 pp.) (20%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-2]. [6 hours].

4. A project consisting of either (a) a 15-page research paper or (b) a service-learning project (45%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #3-4]. [30 hours].

5. An open-book, take-home final exam (35%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-4]. [10 hours].

PREREQUISITES: NS500, NS501, or NT500.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Counts as a biblical elective for the 120 MDiv Program. Meets 144 MDiv core requirement in New Testament Theology (NTT).

FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes.