DESCRIPTION:

This course leads the student into the personal and social world of the Apostle Paul's converts and the profound decisions they faced as they opened themselves to being re-socialized by the Gospel and the Holy Spirit. Primary sources include Paul's letters, the Book of Acts, and various documentations of the prevailing Mediterranean cultural values and related social codes. Themes to be discussed are ethnic identity and race relations; sexuality and gender roles; patriarchy and marriage; civil religion and politics; work and slavery; personal identity and happiness; money and possessions. Participants will explore the interpretation of this historical knowledge for responsible applications to issues faced by Christians in urban America today.

Students who have finished all the requirements for this course should:

1. Possess a comprehensive grasp of the cultural values and social codes with which the men and women in Paul's house-churches had been socialized.

2. Understand more clearly how and why Paul undermined or reinforced these values and codes, that is, appreciating in depth where the cutting edge of Paul's teaching and example in this historical context can be discerned.

3. Be able to formulate a historically-informed, biblical critique of contemporary cultural values and social codes, with the goal of setting priorities and guidelines for personal lifestyle and community formation.

The class will meet weekly for a three-hour session. Each session will include lecture, small workshops, and time for class interaction.

Banks, Robert. Paul's Idea of Community. Rev. ed. Hendrickson, 1994.

Bartchy, S. Scott. Call No Man Father: The Apostle Paul's Vision of a Society of Siblings. Hendrickson, forthcoming (pre-publication MS available from the FTS bookstore).

Furnish, Victor. The Moral Teaching of Paul. Abingdon, 1985.

Jewett, Robert. Paul the Apostle to America: Cultural Trends & Pauline Scholarship. Westminster/John Knox, 1994.

Malina, Bruce J. The New Testament World: Insights from Cultural Anthropology. Rev. ed. Westminster/John Knox, 1993.

Samply, J. Paul. Walking Between the Times: Paul's Moral Reasoning. Fortress, 1991.

Collection of Readings.

These books and other readings from books and articles are on Library Reserve. Total assigned reading: approximately 1,100 pages.

1. Weekly content analyses (one-page, rough draft) of the biblical passages assigned in the syllabus, prepared as the basis for discussion in small groups. (Those who can read NT Greek are expected to do so.)

2. Four of these content analyses developed into a 2-3 page detailed draft.

3. A 12-15 page lecture, dialogue, or letter dealing with one of the key themes in this course.

NS501 or NS502.

Meets M. Div. core requirement in New Testament Theology (NTT).

Yes.