Fall 2017/Pasadena

NE527

Thompson

NE527: NEW TESTAMENT EXEGESIS: COLOSSIANS AND PHILEMON. (4 units: 160 hours) Marianne Meye Thompson.

DESCRIPTION: This course is an exegetical study of the epistles to the Colossians and Philemon, with particular attention given to the socio-historical setting, theological emphases, and vision for the church found in these letters.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Having successfully completed this course, students will have demonstrated the ability (1) to interpret Colossians and Philemon within their socio-historical, literary, and canonical contexts; (2) to identify central issues in the critical study of Colossians and Philemon; (3) to articulate primary theological and ethical concerns of the two letters; (4) to use Greek based language tools for interpreting the text; and (5) to interpret these texts for faithful use of Scripture in their own lives and ministries.

COURSE FORMAT: This 4-unit course requires 160 hours of participation and work. As part of the required hours, this class meets once per week for three hour sessions for a total of 30 hours of classroom instruction for lecture and discussion plus 10 hours of directed learning activities for a total of 40 instructional hours. Class time will be devoted to translation of the Greek, discussion of key exegetical points, and discussion of the contexts and theology of the epistles.

REQUIRED READING: Approx. 1050 pages.

Hurtado, Larry. Destroyer of the Gods. Baylor, 2016. ISBN: 978-1481304740. Pub. Price, $19.95. [267 pp.]

Thompson, Marianne Meye. A Commentary on Colossians and Philemon. Two Horizons Commentary. Eerdmans, 2005. ISBN: 978-0802827159. Pub. Price $26.00. [297 pp.]

Additionally, students should choose one of the following commentaries:

Dunn, James D. G. The Epistles to the Colossians and to Philemon. New International Greek Testament Commentary. Eerdmans, 2014. ISBN: 978-0802872838, Pub. Price $44.00. [408 pp.]

Moo, Douglas J. Colossians and Philemon. The Pillar New Testament Commentaries. Eerdmans, 2008. ISBN: 978-0802837271. Pub. Price, $48.00 [504 pp.]

Sumney, Jerry. Colossians: A Commentary. New Testament Library. Westminster John Knox, 2013. ISBN: 978-0664239817. Pub. Price $45.00. [283 pp.]

CHOOSE ONE VERSION OF THE GREEK NEW TESTAMENT:

Aland, Kurt, et.al. The Greek New Testament. 5th ed. United Bible Societies, 2014 [UBS 5]. ISBN: 978-1619701397, Pub. Price $69.95; OR

Nestle, E., and Aland, K. Novum Testamentum Graece. 28th ed. Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 2012 [NA 28]. ISBN: 978-1619700307, Pub. Price $59.95.

READING ON E-RESERVES WILL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

Williams, Demetrius K. “‘No Longer as a Slave’: Reading the Interpretation History of Paul’s Epistle to Philemon” in Onesimus Our Brother: Reading Religion, Race, and Culture in Philemon, ed. by Matthew V. Johnson, James A. Noel, and Demetrius K. Williams. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2012, pp. 11-46. [35 pp].

Apuleius. The Golden Ass, Trans. with an introduction by P. G. Walsh. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1994, pp. 218-40. [22 pp].

For work with the Greek text, students should choose one of the following:

Harris, Murray J. Colossians & Philemon. Rev. ed. Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament. B&H Academic, 2010. ISBN: 978-0805448498, Pub. Price $27.99. [304 pp.]

Campbell, Constantine R. Colossians and Philemon: A Handbook on the Greek Text. Baylor University Press, 2013. ISBN: 978-1602582927, Pub. Price $29.95. [155 pp.]