REL. 252: The Epistles of Paul

AIM OF THE COURSE

The goal of this course is to understand the writings of Christianity’s greatest missionary, the apostle Paul, whose letters (“epistles”) are the earliest surviving Christian documents. While our primary concern will be to understand Paul’s letters in terms of their original historical and cultural context, some attention will also be given to their possible meaning and relevance for contemporary Christians. Among the more complicated issues we will need to consider are Paul’s ideas about the role of women in the churches, homosexuality, and the status of non-Christian Jews (Paul was himself a Jewish convert to Christianity).

CLASS MEETING TIMES

Class meetings will be held on Monday through Friday, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

1. Class Participation (20% of final grade). Regular attendance at class meetings and regular participation in class discussions are expected. More than one absence from class will progressively lower this portion of your grade. Additionally, you will be required, on a daily basis, to write a one-page reflection on a specific passage in the assigned texts. The purpose of this exercise is to facilitate informed participation in class discussion. These written reflections will be collected from time to time, without prior notice. Therefore, you should always bring your written reflection with you to class. Late submissions of written reflections will not be accepted.

2. Midterm Exam (25%), which will take place on the second Thursday of the term. The exam will contain short answer and short essay questions.

3. A 4-5 page essay (25%), due on the third Thursday of the term. Late essays will not be accepted without prior consent of the professor.

4. A Take-Home Final Exam (30%), which will be due by 1:00 PM on the fourth Wednesday of the term. An assignment handout will be distributed that Monday.

REQUIRED TEXTS

1. C. Roetzel, The Letters of Paul: Conversation in Context.
2. K. Stendahl, Paul Among Jews and Gentiles.
3. V. Furnish, The Moral Teaching of Paul.
4. A Bible (Preferred translation: New Revised Standard Version).

ACADEMIC HONESTY

Consult the COMPASS for the College's policy on cheating and plagiarism. More will be said about plagiarism when your essay assignment is distributed.

STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Cornell College is committed to providing equal educational opportunities to all students.  If you have a documented learning disability and will need any accommodation in this course, you must request the accommodation(s) from the instructor no later than the third day of the term.  Additional information about the policies and procedures for accommodation of learning disabilities is available at http://cornellcollege.edu/academic_affairs/disabilities/.

COURSE CALENDAR

Note: The reading assignments listed in this course calendar are to be completed PRIOR to that day's meeting of the class.

WEEK 1

Monday: Getting oriented.

Wednesday: The First Letter to the Thessalonians and the Letter to Philemon.
(a) Roetzel, chaps. 2-3, and pp. 79-83, 116-118 of chap. 4.
(b) 1 Thessalonians.
(c) Philemon.

Thursday: The Letters to the Galatians and Philippians.
(a) Roetzel, pp. 96-103, 113-116.
(b) Galatians.
(c) Philippians.

Friday: The First Letter to the Corinthians.
(a) Roetzel, pp. 83-92 (also the outline on pp. 94-95).
(b) 1 Corinthians.

WEEK 2

Monday: The Second Letter to the Corinthians.
(a) Roetzel, pp. 92-96.
(b) 2 Corinthians.

Tuesday: The Letter to the Romans.
(a) Roetzel, pp. 103-113.
(b) Romans 1-8.

Wednesday: The Letter to the Romans (continued).
(a) Romans 9-16.
(b) [Optional: Roetzel, chap. 5.]

Thursday: MIDTERM EXAM, 1:00 P.M.

The Disputed Letters

Friday: The Letters to the Colossians and Ephesians, and the Second Letter to the Thessalonians.
(a) Roetzel, pp. 133-152.
(b) Colossians.
(c) Ephesians.
(d) 2 Thessalonians.

WEEK 3

Monday: The Two Letters to Timothy, and the Letter to Titus.
(a) Roetzel, pp. 153-160.
(b) 1 Timothy.
(c) 2 Timothy.
(d) Titus.

Tuesday: Where Things Stand Between Jews and Gentiles.
(a) Roetzel, pp. 162-166, 174-181.
(b) Stendahl, Paul Among Jews and Gentiles, pp. 1-40, 125-133.

Wednesday: On Weakness, Love, and Glossolalia.
Stendahl, pp. 40-67, 109-124.

Thursday: ESSAY DUE AT 1:00 PM.
In-class viewing of the film, Journeys of St. Paul.

Friday: On Marriage, Divorce, and Homosexuality.
Furnish, The Moral Teaching of Paul, chaps. 1-3.

WEEK 4

Monday: Women in the Church; Christians and Governing Authorities.
(a) Roetzel, pp. 182-190.
(b) Furnish, chaps. 4-5.

Tuesday: No class--work on take-home final.

Wednesday: TAKE-FINAL FINAL DUE, 1:00 P.M.

A LIST OF REFERENCE RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN THE LIBRARY

Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (Ref 203 Ox2)
The Anchor Bible Dictionary, 6 vols. (Ref 220.3 An21)
Eerdmans Bible Dictionary (Ref 220.3 Ee72)
Harper's Bible Dictionary (Ref 220.3 H231)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 4 vols. (Ref 220.3 In8)
Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible, 5 vols. (Ref 220.3 In83)
Mercer Dictionary of the Bible (Ref 220.3 M534)
Oxford Companion to the Bible (Ref 220.3 Ox2)
New Oxford Annotated Bible, 3rd ed. (Ref 220.5204320 N42h)
The New Revised Standard Version Concordance (Ref 220.520433 K824n)
Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible (Ref 220.7 Ee72 2003)
Harper's Bible Commentary (Ref 220.7 H234)
Interpreter's One-Volume Commentary on the Bible (Ref 220.7 In84)
New Jerome Biblical Commentary (Ref 220.7 N42)
The Oxford Bible Commentary (Ref 220.7 Ox2b)
The Women's Bible Commentary (Ref 220.7082 W842)
New Interpreter's Bible, 12 vols. (Ref 220.77 N42)
Oxford Bible Atlas (Ref 220.9 M451o)
Women in Scripture (Ref 220.92 W842m)
Encyclopedia of Early Christianity, 2 vols. (Ref 270.103 En19)

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