THE LIFE AND LETTERS OF PAUL

A Course Syllabus

NT 623                                                                                  Houston Graduate School of Theology

Fall 2006                                                                                   Professor Ronald D. Worden, Ph.D.

E-mail: rdworden@hgst.edu

COURSE DESCRIPTION

            Catalog Description: An overview of Paul’s life, letters and enduring influence within early Christianity, with special attention given to the course of his life and ministry as set forth in the narrative of the Acts of the Apostles. Attention will also be given to his multi-cultural (i.e. Jewish and Greco-Roman) background and education, and recurring themes in his letters. Prerequisite NT 501. Three hours.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

        The student should aim to be able to do many of these upon completion of the course:

A.        Outline the course of Paul’s life and Christian ministry in general and in some detail, based on the record in the Acts of the Apostles, what he reveals in his own letters, informed reflection on this material in modern scholarship.

B.        Recall and reproduce, describe, or summarize the content of major Epistles in general outline.

            1.         Identify and complete significant short quotations from the Epistles and identify their context.

            2.         State the thesis, main ideas, and arguments of the Epistles in essay form or in an analytical outline.

            3.         Identify the sources of quotations and allusions to the Old Testament and explain why and how they were used.

            4.         Describe and illustrate (with examples) features of rhetoric and style, vocabulary, and tone.

C.        Describe major themes from Paul’s teaching including supporting texts, and their interpretation and application in modern scholarship and church life.

            1.         Present and support conclusions about:

                        a.         Authorship

                        b.         Time of writing

                        c.         Circumstances of the author and first readers

                        d.         The political and social contexts within which they were written

                        e.         Theological affinities of the Epistles and their unique theological achievement and contribution

            2.         Identify several authors (8-12) of works that are helpful for understanding these Epistles and their setting in the life of the early Christian community.

            3.         Illustrate and assess the influence that Paul has had upon the Christian Church; apply its teachings appropriately to modern life.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

            1.         Read the assignments from the Assignment Schedule.

            2.         Seek to understand the biblical passages assigned. Suggestions for understanding:

                        a.         Basic outline of content and structure

                        b.         Genre and form (or element of form)

                        c.         Main point, for Paul and his first readers

                        d.         Identify and use commentaries and supplementary reference works

                        e.         Place within the larger context (larger section or whole epistle)

                        f.         Appropriate application in a modern Christian setting

            3.         Read the assignments from textbooks before the class for which they are assigned.

            4.         A term paper of a minimum of twelve typewritten double-spaced pages, written according to the HGST Writer’s Manual, and the style presented in Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. The thesis topic and outline is due September 28 (four weeks from the beginning of the class), and the completed paper is due November 30 (the first class session after Thanksgiving).

            5.         Two examinations: Mid-term Examination, October 19, and Final Examination December 14.

PLAGIARISM POLICY

            One might not expect that plagiarism would occur in a seminary class, but it is important to do and understand your own work. Written assignments should not be shared among students nor borrowed from any work published in written form, on the Internet, or elsewhere.

            Proper documentation of sources of quoted material is required. Quotations should be marked with quotation marks or the indented block quotation form. They should provide examples for your own ideas expressed in your own words. Don’t use quotations to make your points; use them rather to illustrate and elaborate. Plagiarism will invalidate any assignment.

The following is school policy.

Plagiarism is presenting the work of another person as your own without giving proper credit for the use of the information. Students must not quote books, articles, essays, or internet sites without giving proper credit to the author(s) of the work. Any student who is found guilty of plagiarism is subject to a range of consequences including failure of this course work and dismissal from HGST.

SUGGESTED TERM PAPER TOPICS (not an exhaustive list)

            Jewish Christianity versus Gentile Christianity

            Pauline Chronology (conversion, early obscure period, missionary journeys, etc.)

            Rhetoric in the Greco-Roman World

            Social Status, Social Diversity, and Social Networks in Paul’s World

            Imputed Righteousness versus Reckoned Righteousness

            Roman Imperial Eschatology

            Paul, Patronage and Power

            The Collection for the Saints

            Paul’s Missionary Accomplishments in the Decade of the 50s

            Cultural factors as problems for/opposition to Paul’s Mission

NOTE: Other appropriate term paper topics may be suggested by chapter titles and/or major subject headings in the textbooks by Meeks and Wright.

GRADING

            The following percentage scale applies to objective test questions and in general to the quality of complex assignments. There may be minor adjustments for the difficulty of some assignments:

            A = 94 -100%, B = 86 - 93%, C = 78 - 85%, D = 70 - 77%

            The final grade will give equal weight to three components: the two examinations and the term paper. This average may be adversely affected by inadequate class preparation, participation or attendance.

ATTENDANCE

            Regular attendance is expected. Your work is bound to suffer if you miss more than two class sessions during the term. The material is cumulative and complete classroom instructions and discussions are difficult to reproduce. Absences in excess of two weeks of class sessions will lower the grade, by one letter for each week of absence. Two weeks means two class sessions, since we will be meeting one time per week.

LATE WORK

            Timely work is necessary. Late work may receive some credit, depending on the circumstances, but not full credit. Within the term difficulties are compounded by untimely work.

Work completed late and submitted before the end of the semester

            Grades for work that is submitted late within the semester will be reduced proportionately..

            Work not completed by the end of the semester

The following is seminary policy:

Any student who requests an extension for this course must complete a “Request for Extension/Grade Change” form, which can be obtained from the Registrar. The form must be signed by both the student and the instructor and returned to the Registrar’s Office along with a fee of $25.00 before the deadline for extensions (December 16, 2005). Extensions are granted only for extenuating circumstances and may not exceed thirty calendar days from the end of the semester (January 15, 2006). All extensions are subject to review by the Dean of the Faculty.

The extension, if granted, may apply to all required assignments that are not competed before the end of the semester, subject to a half-letter grade or more reduction on the final grade (i.e. A to A-; B to B-; etc.). If an extension is granted, the instructor will record a grade of “I” (Incomplete) and set an extension of time within which to complete the work that shall not exceed thirty (30) calendar days from the end of the term. The student is responsible to ensure that all necessary paperwork is submitted to the Registrar’s Office by the deadline listed in the school calendar.

Additional extensions may be granted only by the Dean of the Faculty and only after a student has petitioned the Dean in writing. If the course work is not competed within the extended time allotment, the grade of “I” will be converted to the grade earned by the student up to that point. A failing grade or “F” will be counted as hours attempted in computing the grade point average.

TEXTBOOK AND REQUIRED MATERIALS

            A study Bible in a standard edition. The following are recommended: New Revised Standard Version (NRSV); Revised Standard Version (RSV); New International Version (NIV); New English Bible (NEB); The Jerusalem Bible; the New Living Bible. (There are other good versions.)

Bruce, F. F. Paul, Apostle of the Heart Set Free. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, (new paperback ed., 2000 (originally published 1977).

Meeks, Wayne A. The First Urban Christians: The Social World of the Apostle Paul. Second ed.; New Haven: Yale University Press, 2003.

Wright, N. T. Paul: In Fresh Perspective. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2006.

LIBRARIES

1.         Fondren Library at Rice University is probably the best Houston library for your purposes. The Fondren Library (713-348-5113) is located at 6100 Main. For more information, please visit www.rice.edu/fondren. The procedure for borrowing books at the Fondren Library is:

                        i.         First, search the online catalog (www.rice.edu/fondren) for available books;

                        ii.        Second, fill out the appropriate form for each book (available in the HGST library), have the form signed by an authorized HGST library representative, and take with you to the Fondren Library;

                        iii.       Third, retrieve the book(s) yourself at Fondren Library;

                        iv.       Fourth, take the book(s) and the signed form(s) to the circulation desk at the Fondren Library to complete checkout (return the yellow copy to the HGST Library);

                        v.         NOTE: When you return your book(s) to the Fondren Library, they will indicate so on the pink and gold copies; return the pink copy to the HGST Library and keep the gold copy for your records.

2.         Cardinal Beran Library at St Mary's Seminary is the home of an extensive theological library. St Mary's Seminary (713-686-4345) is located at 9845 Memorial Drive. For more information, please visit http://beran.stthom.edu. The Doherty Library on the main campus of University of St Thomas is also an option.

3.         The Houston Public Library is conveniently located for HGST students. The Central Library (832-393-1313) is located at 500 McKinney. In addition, HPL has many other locations. For more information, please visit www.hpl.lib.tx.us.

4.         Harris County Public Library. For more information on locations and hours please visit www.hcpl.net.

5.         The Library of the Presbytery of the New Covenant, located in their offices at 1110 Lovett Blvd, Houston, TX 77006.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

NOTE:           See the textbooks listed above and their bibliographies (Wright, pp. 182-184; Meeks, pp. 243-282, and Bruce, pp. 476-479. Also see the comments on Scripture on the Professor’s personal web page, now indexed in biblical order: http://rworden.markworden.com/Dev_ThisWeek.html

“The Apostle Paul,” on the Internet web site All About Turkey with tour guide Burak Sansel: http://www.allaboutturkey.com/paul.htm

Agosto, Efrain. Servant leadership : Jesus & Paul / Efrain Agosto. St. Louis, Mo. : Chalice Press, 2005.

Beare, Frank W. St. Paul and his Letters. New York: Abingdon Press, 1962.

Bakirtzis, Charalambos, ed. Philippi at the Time of Paul and after his Death. Harrisburg, Penn.: Trinity Press International, 1998. 939.8 Phi

Chilton, Bruce. Rabbi Paul; an Intellectual Biography. New York: Doubleday, 2004.

Cities of Paul [electronic resource] : images and interpretations from the Harvard New Testament Archaeology Project / edited by Helmut Koester ; with contributions by Charalambos Bakirtzis, Marianne P. Bonz, Steven Friesen ... [et al.]. Minneapolis : Fortress Press, 2005.

Crossan, John Dominic, and Jonathan L. Reed. In search of Paul: how Jesus's Apostle opposed Rome's empire with God's kingdom : a new vision of Paul's words & world. New York (?): HarperSanFrancisco, 2004. In this book Crossan has enlisted the cooperation of a Palestinian archaeologist and seeks to offer “a new vision of Paul’s words and world.

Drane, John W. Paul; an illustrated documentary on the life and writings. New York: Harper & Row, 1976.

Dunn, James D. G. The Theology of Paul the Apostle. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997.

Ehrman, Bart D. Peter, Paul, and Mary Magdalene : the followers of Jesus in history and legend. New York : Oxford University Press, 2006.

Freed, Edwin D. The Apostle Paul and his letters. London; Oakville, Conn.: Equinox Pub., 2005.

Gager, John G. The Origins of Anti-Semitism: Attitudes toward Judaism in Pagan and Christian Antiquity. New York: Oxford University Press, 1983. 296.387 Gag

Kim, Dae Won. Paul, the Human Characteristics. M.Div. thesis, Houston Graduate School of Theology, 1988. R The 1988 Kim

Licona, Mike. Paul meets Muhammad : a Christian-Muslim debate on the Resurrection. Grand Rapids, Mich. : Baker Books, 2006.

Manson, T. W. On Paul and John; Some Selected Theological Themes. London: SCM Press, 1967. 225.06

Meeks, Wayne A. In Search of the Early Christians. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2002.

Murphy-O’Conner, Jerome. Paul: A Critical Life. Oxford University Press, 1998. 225.92 Mur

Polaski, Sandra Hack. A Feminist Introduction to Paul. St. Louis: Chalice, 2005.

Pollock, John. The Man who Shook the World. Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1977. 225.92 Pol

Ramsay, William Mitchell, Sir. St. Paul the Traveller and the Roman Citizen. Third ed.; New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons; London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1898. 225.92 Ram

Ramsay, W. M. And Ramsay W. M. The Cities of St. Paul: Their Influence on his Life and Thought. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1907. 225.9 Ram

Roetzel, Calvin J. The Letters of Paul: Conversations in Context. Fourth ed.; Louisville, Ky: Westminster John Knox Press, 1998. 227.06 Roe

Schoeps, H. J. Paul: the Theology of the Apostle in the Light of Jewish Religious History. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1961. 225.92 Sch

Thompson, James W. Pastoral Ministry according to Paul : A Biblical Vision. Grand Rapids, Mich. : Baker Academic, 2006.

Wilson, A. N. Paul; the Mind of the Apostle. New York, London: W. W. Norton & Company, 1997. 225.9 Wil

Witherington, Ben, III. The Paul Quest: The Renewed Search for the Jew of Tarsus. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 2001.

Wright, N. T. What Saint Paul Really Said: Was Paul of Tarsus the Real Founder of Christianity? Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997.

Yang, Tae [Bong]. Apostle Paul’s Last Voyage in the Storm. M.Div. thesis, Houston Graduate School of Theology, 1999. R The 1999 Yan. Mr Yang was a captain in the Korean navy and a student of currents, knowledge which he used in study of St. Paul’s voyage to Rome.

Also see the Internet resources listed at http://rworden.markworden.com/Docs/Class/Gospels/Comprehensive%20Web%20Sites.htm