REL 350-W7 Pauline Theology and Christian Beginnings COURSE SYLLABUS

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1 REL 350-W7 Pauline Theology and Christian Beginnings COURSE SYLLABUS John Trokan, MA, D.Min. Phone (513) Fax: (513) Office Location: CL 21 Office Hours MWF 1-3pm or by appointment Class Dates: Wednesdays 10/14, 10/21, 10/28, 11/4, 11/11, 11/18, 6:30-9:30 pm PREREQUISITES: A desire to study the scriptures. An introductory Hebrew or Christian scripture course is recommended. A pre-assignment is required. I. REQUIRED TEXTS: 1. The Bible (any decent translation with footnotes preferred e.g. New American). 2. Collegeville Commentary on the New Testament. Daniel Durken, ed. Liturgical Press, MN., (any decent commentary can be used. Consult the library, course bibliography or the internet for options) 3. Gorman, Michael. Apostle of the Crucified Lord: A Theological to Paul and His Letters. Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, MI, II. Course Description, Course Objectives, and Learning Outcomes: This course is a study of the content and background of the letters of the Apostle Paul. Emphasis will be placed upon Paul s life, the literary and rhetorical structure of his letters, and the specific theological and pastoral themes addressed in the letters. Particular attention will be given to the social-cultural context of Paul s Christian communities, and how it impacts his message to them. We will also explore the impact of these issues on contemporary theology and spirituality.

2 Learning Outcome Performance Indicator Assessment Artifact Cultural Competence and awareness of other cultures Students will explore the basic theology of the letters of Paul through examination of the rich socio-cultural diversity and historical context out of which the Pauline letters arose and were transmitted. Biographical Paper Exegesis Papers Communication Critical Thinking Critical Thinking Ethical Awareness Integrative Learning and Ethics Students will analyze the literary and rhetorical composition of the Letters differentiating the unique style of the evangelist through class discussion and exegesis research. Students will synthesize and articulate the unique theological perspectives of Paul, in light of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Acts through class analysis and exegesis research. Students will articulate and integrate the unique theological, pastoral, and spiritual message of the Pauline Literature in dialogue with their theological reflection journals. Exegesis Papers Seminar Exegesis Papers Seminar Theological Reflection Journal III. FORMAT Lecture, discussion, group work, audio-visuals, seminar-style presentations, theological reflection, guided meditation, journal reflection, and independent study and research. IV. METHOD OF EVALUATION Students will be evaluated on the basis of their ability to understand the Letters of Paul in the New Testament, the course readings, and research materials as demonstrated in their papers, journals, seminar presentations, and class discussions. Evaluation will include: 1. Biographical paper on the Apostle Paul = 25% (due TBD) 2. Two exegesis papers on letters of Paul = 50% (due TBD) 3. Theological Reflection Journal = 25% (due TBD) Criteria for evaluation of the papers will be on: a) content development of narrative b) depth of analysis c) quality of critical reflection d) clarity of expression and grammar e) documentation of sources Grading Scale will be: A B C D 70-76

3 V. ATTENDANCE POLICY Attendance at class is mandatory. Class participation will assess preparation of assigned readings, seminar presentations, meaningful comments, constructive questions, small group discussions, as well as unexcused absences. An unexcused absence will lead to the reduction of the final semester grade by one letter grade. VI. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY When we use the information and language of others to enrich our reflection and research papers we must: - tell the reader when we are quoting and indicate the source (person, book, article, etc.) of that quotation - tell the reader when we are paraphrasing and indicate the source (person, book, article, etc.) of that information. Quoting or paraphrasing the information and/or language of a source without naming the source is plagiarism. Plagiarism is unacceptable in an academic institution and is subject to penalty. Please consult the Student Handbook for this and other College policies on Academic Integrity. VII. Pre-Assignment Read the assigned chapters 1-6 in Gorman. In light of your observations and reflections upon this material write a brief biography of Paul, summarizing and discussing your key insights on Paul, his world, and his pastoral and theological themes in a five page paper. What are Paul s greatest contributions to the development of Christianity? Also read the Letter to Philemon. As you read the letter, which is the shortest book in the New Testament, note the themes, characters, images and literary style features which are striking, interesting or noteworthy to you. What do you observe in this Letter about the socio-cultural world of Paul? Bring your notes to class for discussion.

4 Pauline Theology Class Outline Session 1 Session 2 Session 3 Session 4 Session 5 Session 6 Session 7 Expectations Syllabus Intro to Paul and Pauline Tradition Process of Letter and Gospel Formation and methodology of biblical interpretation Paul the Apostle Video/ discussion Salvation in Paul Galatians and I & II Thessalonians a)historical Development b) Social Context c)cultural Analysis Seminar Paul:Appealing/Appalling Apostle Video and Discussion Romans a)historical Development b) Social Context c)cultural Analysis Research Seminar Research Theological Reflection Ecclesiology and Ethics in Corinthians a) Historical Development b) Social Context c)cultural Analysis Pauline Colossians, Ephesians, Philippians a) Historical Development b) Social Context c)cultural Analysis Tradition: Jesus, Seminar Research Seminar Research Paul and the Earliest Churches Video and Discussion Qumran, and the Dead Sea Scrolls Video/ Discussion.Seminar Research Pastoral Epistles: Timothy and Titus, a) Historical Development b) Social Context c)cultural Analysis Seminar Research Christology /Conversion in Paul Acts ; Gal 1 Pauline Literary Features Jesus in Paul Search for the Historical Paul READINGS: Philemon Gorman ch:1-6 Theological Reflection. Summary/closure Theological Reflection Theological Reflection Seminar Research. Theological Reflection Summary/ closure Summary/closure Summary/closure Summary/ closure Evaluation / Closure READINGS: Galatians, 1&2Thessolonains Gorman ch:7-9 READINGS: Romans Gorman ch:12 READINGS: 1Corinthians Gorman ch:10-11 READINGS: Colossians, Ephesians, Philippians Gorman ch:13-16 READINGS: Blackboard links READINGS: 1&2Timothy, Titus Gorman ch: 17-20

5 BIBLICAL EXEGESIS PAPER GUIDELINES 1. Purpose: To enable students to research New Testament texts and explore their meanings using the historical-critical tools and methodology of the course. 2. As you research your passage, keep the following in mind: your written report should concentrate on what the passage meant in its original context, exploring the historical, literary and theological dimensions. 3. Familiarize yourself with what current biblical scholarship has to say about your passage. Everyone should consult the Collegeville Bible Commentary, also items in the reference section of the library and commentaries on the Letters of Paul will be helpful. For example: Brown, Raymond, Fitzmyer, Joseph, Murphy, Roland, eds., The Jerome Biblical Commentary. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, A New Catholic Commentary on Holy Scriptures (1969) The Anchor Bible Series 4. For additional resources, consult the selected bibliography in the required readings. Also refer to biblical journals. The following scripture journals are available in the Mount library. For additional electronic journals consult your Online Resources icon on Blackboard and a librarian. Bible Today Catholic Biblical quarterly Chicago Studies Journal of Biblical Literature New Testament Studies Novum Testamentum 5. Sample Outline: Context and Historical Analysis 3. Literary Analysis of Passage 4. Theological Interpretation of Passage 5. Critique 6. Summary Footnotes and bibliography are required. Students may use any format they are comfortable with. Papers should be five pages in length. Students will give a brief seminar presentation of their research in class. Each exegesis paper is worth 25% of final grade.

6 NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION JOURNAL INSTRUCTIONS FORMAT: Personal notebook or journal: 7 journal entries minimum (dates); length determined by inspiration. Theological reflection journal is due on session six. Purpose: 1. To immerse oneself in the meaning of the Letters of Paul 2. To facilitate the ability to read the scripture critically with the mind and heart 3. To develop the habit of theological reflection within students 4. To examine the existential level of the New Testament and enable students to place their personal experience and religious questions in dialogue with the biblical tests. Theology, as the study of God, is a disciplined reflection upon faith. These weekly journal entries are an attempt to develop the habit of theological reflection within us, and to engage our personal experience and questions with the truth and wisdom of the Christian Scriptures. Each week students will be exposed to new ideas and insights about the Christian Scriptures from class, and from our personal readings of the assigned scripture texts. What is the existential meaning of the text? What is it saying to me today in my own life experience? What is the truth of a particular gospel story? How does this gospel truth impact my life? How does it expand my own self understandings as well as my personal beliefs and values? These questions will be the source of rich reflection for your journal. Process. Focus on a particular gospel story/passage (an insight from class, or the assigned readings may also work well). Read the passage. Attend to the particulars of the story: context, setting, characters, dialogue, action. To whom are you attracted to? Why? How does this story make you feel? Pause and write down a word/phrase that is striking. Read the passage a second time. Write your reflections, reactions, feelings, questions, etc. What does the lesson, learning, or truth of this story say to you today? How does it impact you world? Your lifestyle? Your worldview? Your faith? Your fears? Your expectations? Your self-understanding? Theology may be a word-from-god (revelations) through creation and history. Theology may be a wordabout-god (faith) through creation and history. Theology may be a word-to-god (praxis) through prayer and workship, moral action, and practical activity. Your personal theological reflection upon the scriptures may express any one of these words, but will usually express them in combination with each other. Your reflection may discover theology in your experience, or bring theology to the experience. Regardless, theological reflection respects the integrity of your experience and places it in dialogue with the truth of the scriptures. Trust your experience, and befriend your imagination as it guides you to new insight and understanding.

7 The Letters of Paul General Bibliography Baird, W.R. "PauL" In P.J. Achtemeier, ed., Bible Dictionary, pp San Bassler, Jouette. Navigating Paul: to Key Theological Themes. Louisville: Westminster/Knox, Beker, J.C. Paul the Apostle: The Triumph of God in Life and Thought. Philadelphia: Fortress Best, E. Paul and His Converts, Edinburgh Betz, Hans D. "Paul." In O.N. Freedman, ed., The Anchor Bible Dictionary, VoL 5, pp Bornkamm, G. Paul. New York and London 1971 Bornkamm, Gunther. Paul. New York: Harper & Row, Bruce, F.F. Paul: Apostle of the Free Exeter 1977 Bultmann, R. Theology of the New Testament, Vol. I, London Cousar, Charles 8. The Letters of Paul. Nashville, Tenn.: Abingdon Press, Crossan and Reed, In Search of Paul, Harper 2004 Davies, W.O. Paul and Rabbinic Judaism, London Dunn, James O.G. The Theology of Paul the Apostle. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, Dunn, James D.G. Unity and Diversity Within the New Testament, 2 nd ed. Philadelphia: Fitzmyer, Joseph. Paul and His Theology, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, Gorman, Michael. Apostle of the Lord: A TheologieaI to Paul and His Letters. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, Holmberg, B. Paul and Power. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, Hooker, M.D. Continuity and Discontinuity, London Hooker, M.D. Pauline Pieces, London 1979 Jewett, R. Paul's Anthropological Terms, Leiden Jewett, Robert. A Chronology of Life. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, Keck, Leander, and Furnish, V.P. The Pauline Letters. Tenn.: Abingdon Press, Kummel, W.G. to the New Testament, London MacDonald, M. Y. The Pauline Churches, Cambridge 1988 Malina and Pilch, Social-Science Commentary on the Letters of Paul, Fortress Malina, B.J. The Social World of Jesus and the Gospels, Routledge 1996 Marrow, S.B. Paul: His Letters and His Theology. Mahwah: Paulist Press, Meeks, W.A. The First Urban Christians, Yale 1983 Murphy-O'Connor, Jerome. Jesus and Paul: Parallel Lives. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, Murphy-O'Connor, Jerome. Paul the Letter Writer. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, Murphy-O'Connor, Jerome. Paul: A Critical Life. New York: Clarendon, 1996 Neyrey, Jerome H. Paul, in Other Words: A Cultural Reading of His Letters. Louisville, Ky.:Press International, Reid, J.B, Jesus God's Emptiness, God's Fullness: The Christology of Paul, Mahwah: Paulist Press, 1990.

8 Roetzel, Calvin. Paul: A Jew on the Margins. Louisville: Westminster/Knox, Roetzel, Calvin. Paul: The Man and the Myth. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, Roetzel, Calvin. The Letters of Paul: Conversations in Context. Louisville: WestminsterIKnox, Sanders, E.P. Paul and Palestinian Judaism, London Sanders, E.P. Paul, the Law, and the Jewish People. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, Sanders, E.P. Paul. New York: Oxford, Schnelle, Udo. Apostle Paul: His Life and Theology. Grand Rapids: Baker, Schoeps, H.J. Paul, London Schreiner, Thomas. Paul Apostle of God's Glory in Christ: A Pauline Theology. Downers Grove: IVP, Schweitzer, A. The Mysticism of Paul the Apostle, London Segal, Alan F. Paul the Convert: The Apostolate and Apostasy of Saul the Pharisee. New Soards, Marion L. The Apostle Paul: An to His Writings and Teaching. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist press, Stendahl. K. Paul Among Jews and Gentiles, London 1977 Theissen, G. The Social Setting of Pauline Christianity, Philadelphia and Edinburgh, 1982 Watson, F. Paul, Judaism and the Gentiles, Cambridge 1986 Wenham, David. Paul: Follower of Jesus or Founder of Christianity? Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, Whiteley, The Theology of Paul, Oxford Wilson AN. Paul: The Mind of the Apostle. New York: Norton, Witherington, Ben. Paul's Narrative Thought World. Louisville: Westminster/Knox, Witherington, Ben. The Paul Quest. Downers Grove: Intervarsity, Ziesler, John. Pauline Christianity. New Oxford University Press, For many topics, the reader is advised to consult the appropriate entries in Theological Dictionary ofthe New Testament, eds, G. Kittel and G. Friedrich, G.W. Bromiley, 10 vols., Grand Rapids , and in The Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible, especially the Supplementary Volume, 1976, and the New Jerome Commentary, Raymond E. Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmyer, and Roland E. Murphy, eds.,. Online Resources US Bishop's Statements Bible and Theology Software Catholic Resources Sister's of Charity Paul and Pauline Letters American Bible Society Ancient History Source Book Bible History Images and Resources

9 Guide to Early Church Documents Archaeology and Bible Palestine in the Time of Jesus The New Testament Gateway Learning New Testament and Septuagint Greek ATLA Religion database, linked to the MSJ library website World Council of Churches The Vatican Catholic News Service APS Guide to Resources in Theology Documents of the Roman Catholic Church Journal of Religion and Film Fides Quarem Internetum Biblical Resources Search THEOLD (a theological index) ARTFL Project: Bibles The Bible Gateway The Catholic Encyclopedia Dead Sea Scrolls American Theological Library Association Pontifical Biblical Institute Biblical Studies on the Web Biblical Resources Mundelein Catholic Church Documents related to Biblical Studies Johannine Literature Web or New Testament Gateway Research Center for Scripture & Media Society of Biblical Literature The Book of Revelation, Apocalyptic Literature & Millennial Movements

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