Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary NT 504: Paul and his Letters June 3-June 19, 2018 Dr. David L. Palmer

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1 I. Course Objectives: Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary NT 504: Paul and his Letters June 3-June 19, 2018 Dr. David L. Palmer This course will prayerfully pursue the following five objectives: Students will deepen their love for God by interpreting Paul and his letters. Students will increase their familiarity with the geographical, cultural, and religious context of Paul s life and missionary journeys by retracing this route through on site visits through Turkey, Greece, and Rome. Students will improve their facility with the academic resources for Pauline exegesis, including archaeological excavation reports, primary sources for historical context, and exegetical commentaries. Students will express the theological message of Paul s letters for the benefit of the church, that is, the Body of Christ. Students will articulate Paul s missionary methodologies in the first century and apply them to global mission in the twenty-first century. II. Course Required Texts: 1. Peter Walker, In the Steps of Saint Paul: An Illustrated Guide to Paul s Journeys. Oxford, England: Lion Hudson, David L. Palmer, CASKET EMPTY: God s Plan of Redemption Through History. New Testament Study Guide (Casket Empty Media, 2016). 3. Thomas R. Schreiner, Paul: Apostle of God s Glory in Christ. Downer s Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, N. T. Wright, Paul in Fresh Perspective. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, Eckhard J. Schnabel, Paul the Missionary. Downer s Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, Recommended Texts: 1. John D. Currid and David P. Barrett, ESV Bible Atlas. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, Gerald Hawthorne and Ralph Martin, eds. Dictionary of Paul and his Letters. Downer s Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, William Ramsay, St. Paul: The Traveler and Roman Citizen, revised edition Mark Wilson, ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, Jerome Murphy-O Connor, St. Paul s Corinth: Texts and Archaeology. Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, Jerome Murphy-O Connor, St. Paul s Ephesus: Texts and Archaeology. Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, DL Palmer NT 504: Paul and His Letters Syllabus Page 1

2 III. Course Requirements: 1. Attend on site lectures in Turkey, Greece, and Rome 20% 2. Complete course required readings 30% 3. Integrative Paper (15-20 pages) 50% IV. Course Outline and Tour Itinerary: June 3 Sun Non-stop direct flight from Boston to Istanbul. June 4 Mon Arrive Istanbul Airport at 16:25 Take domestic flight to Antalya. June 5 Tue We will visit the Greco-Roman city of Perga (Acts 13:13 14; 14:25), then stop at the St. Paul Cultural Center & Church and Antalya Archaeology Museum. Lectures on site by Dr. Mark Wilson, author of Biblical Turkey: A Guide to the Jewish and Christian Sites. TOPICS: Paul the Diaspora Jew, Roman Citizen, and Apostle of Christ The role of synagogue liturgy in shaping Paul s theology Paul s rabbinic education as a Pharisee under Gamaliel June 6 Wed We will travel over land through the Lycus River Valley with a tour of Colossae and Laodicea (Col 2:1; 4:13-16, Rev 1:11; 3:14) ending at Pamukkale. TOPICS: 1 st Missionary Journey, the letter to the Galatians June 7 Thu Miletus (Acts 20:15 38; 2 Tim 4:20) Didyma - Smyrna (Rev. 1:11; 2:8) Izmir. We will drive to Miletus to see the theater where Paul spoke to the Ephesian leaders and follow with a visit to the Temple of Apollo in Didyma, the oracle center of Asia Minor. Our group will proceed to Smyrna (modern Izmir) to see the Smyrna Agora. TOPICS: 2 nd Missionary Journey, the gospel addresses the pagan world Paul s leadership model for the local church June 8 Fri We will spend the day in the city of Ephesus (Acts 18:19-24; 19:1-35; 20:16-17; 21:29, 1 Cor. 15:32; 16:8, 1 Tim. 1:3; 2 Tim. 1:18; 4:12, Rev. 1:11, 2:1), where Paul taught for three years. We will see the Terrace Houses and the Ephesus Archaeological Museum. TOPICS: The gospel forms a new community through faith in Christ Paul s Scriptural preaching of the whole counsel of God June 9 Sat We will leave for Pergamon, with a visit to the Acropolis and the Temple of Trajan. Then we will drive to Troas (Acts 16:8-11; 20:5, 6, 2 Tim. 4:13, 2 Cor. 2:12), also called Alexandrian Troas, founded by Alexander the Great. Paul visited here at least twice. TOPICS: The gospel confronts imperial ambition and extends into Europe Paul receives a vision of a man from Macedonia DL Palmer NT 504: Paul and His Letters Syllabus Page 2

3 June 10 Sun We will make a morning visit to the legendary city of Troy, where we will see a replica of the wooden horse then we will cross Dardanelles strait and drive to Istanbul. TOPICS: The gospel is good news for Israel and the Greeks Paul s use of Greek literature and history June 11 Mon Istanbul Tour. We will spend a full day in Istanbul, including a morning visit to the Roman Hippodrome and Hagia Sophia Church, built by Constantine and reconstructed by Justinian. We will also visit the Istanbul Archaeological Museum and Hagia Irene Church where the Second Ecumenical Council took place (AD 381). TOPICS: The gospel tears down the dividing wall of hostility The contribution of archaeology to biblical studies June 12 Tue Istanbul - Greek Border Kavala. We will drive to the Greece-Turkey border and cross into Greece. We will continue to Kavala with a short visit to Alexandroupolis. TOPICS: Paul s 2 nd and 3 rd Missionary Journeys The competing narrative of Greek history in the first century June 13 Wed Neapolis - Philippi Amphipolis Thessaloniki. We will travel to Neapolis (Kavala), one of Greece s most picturesque mainland ports where Paul landed with Timothy and Silas. We will see the Roman Aqueduct and Acropolis. We will continue to Philippi, where Paul, intending to find a place to pray by the riverside, spoke to the women who had gathered there. This group of women included Lydia, the seller of purple and whose heart was opened by the Lord to hear the words that he spoke (Acts 16:13-15). Lydia was the first Christian to be baptized on European soil. We will visit the Acropolis, the Market Place, the Basilica, and the Theater. We will pass through Apollonia and arrive in Thessaloniki. TOPICS: The gospel advances despite suffering and opposition The competing narrative of Roman history in the first century June 14 Thu Thessaloniki Delphi We will visit the city of Thessaloniki, where Paul was accused of turning the world upside down by his preaching of Christ (Acts 17: 3-6), and the church to which he addressed his Thessalonian epistles. We will visit St. George s Basilica, built over the synagogue where Paul preached. We will view the Old City Ramparts and the Galerius Arch that rises over the Via Egnatia. We then will drive to Vergina to see the Macedonian tombs of Philip II and the connection with Alexander the Great and then arrive at Delphi, the religious center of the ancient Greek world. Delphi was considered by early Greeks to be the center of the world. We will walk the Sacra Via to the Treasury, the Theater, and the Temple of Apollo. We will visit the Archaeology Museum and see the Gallio inscription and other works of art that illuminate the context of Paul s ministry. TOPICS: The gospel provides new life in Christ, 1-2 Thessalonians The Gallio inscription at Delphi as critical confirmation for the chronology of Paul s missionary activity DL Palmer NT 504: Paul and His Letters Syllabus Page 3

4 June 15 Fri Athens We will consider the architectural splendors of the ancient city of Athens as we visit the Acropolis, the Parthenon, and the Erectheum. We will stand on Mars Hill where the apostle Paul proclaimed Christ to the Athenians (Acts 17). Our visit will include the Agora, the ancient market place and center of the Athenian public life. In the afternoon, we will visit the Acropolis Museum and walk to the Plaka district. TOPICS: The gospel addresses Greek philosophy and learning Paul s legacy: the vibrant ministry of the church in Greece today Special meeting with GCTS graduate Dr. Panagiotis Kantartzis, Pastor of the First Evangelical Church in Athens, Greece. June 16 Sat Corinth Mycenae We will drive to Corinth, the city where Paul proclaimed Christ for eighteen months. Here, Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue believed in the Lord as well as many Corinthians who were baptized (Acts 18:8). We will visit the Archaeological Museum, the Market Place and Temples and walk among the ruins and stand on the Bema where Paul stood before Gallio facing charges that were dropped. We will also visit the archaeological site of Mycenae, the birthplace of Agamemnon and Menelaus from Homer s Iliad. We will have dinner in Nafplio by the water and return to Athens. TOPICS: The gospel unmasks the commercial age, 1-2 Corinthians Paul s approach to discipleship and Christian formation June 17 Sun Fly from Athens to Rome We will visit the Flavian Amphitheatre, later knows as the Colosseum, the Arch of Constantine, and the Roman Forum. We will also view the Arch of Titus, built to commemorate the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. TOPICS: The gospel is openly proclaimed in imperial Rome, Romans Paul s missionary plans to reach Spain The offering of the nations and the Jewish War with Rome June 18 Mon Rome We will visit the Ara Pacis, built by Caesar Augustus to announce peace to the world and the Pantheon, constructed to honor the gods of Rome. We will also stop at the Vatican Museum, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter s Basilica. We will also visit the Insula di San Paolo alla Regola where Paul lived under house arrest and the Abbey of the Three Fountains where Paul was martyred just outside the city walls. TOPICS: The gospel continues to extend in global mission today Prison epistles and Pastoral epistles Paul s martyrdom and legacy June 19 Tue Rome Airport Fly Boston We will transfer to the Rome Airport for flight to Istanbul and then take a connecting flight to Boston arriving in Boston at 17:00 same day. DL Palmer NT 504: Paul and His Letters Syllabus Page 4

5 NT 504: Paul and his Letters Integrative Paper The major assignment for this course will be an integrative paper. The paper will allow students to integrate the academic disciplines of archaeology and biblical studies. The paper will also encourage students to apply Paul s missionary methods to the global church today in response to their personal experience of retracing Paul s life and letters. The paper will be organized according to five sections, each approximately 3-4 pages in length. Introduction Section I: City report (3-4 pages) Provide a detailed description of either Corinth or Ephesus in the first century. Describe the local population, including Jewish community, architectural plan, civic institutions, religion, cultural life, and city history. You will find primary resources in the works by Jerome Murphy O Connor cited in the recommended reading. You can also use required readings from the course, Bible dictionaries, a Bible atlas, and the introductions to exegetical commentaries. Present the ministry opportunity and challenge of reaching this city with the gospel. Section II: Paul s missionary activity and mission partners (3-4 pages) Detail Paul s missionary activity in this city from Acts and Paul s letters. How long did Paul stay there? What happened? What challenges did he face? Who did he work with in the city? Section III: Paul s written correspondence with the church (3-4 pages) Summarize Paul s written correspondence with the city. Who does he address? What are the principal concerns of his letter(s)? How were his letters produced, read, and distributed? Section IV: Paul s theology of the gospel (3-4 pages) What is the theological message of Paul s letter(s) to the believers in the city? Describe the content of his gospel concerning the person and work of Christ. Summarize Paul s view of the church and the discipleship demands of the gospel. Section V: Paul s missionary methods then and now (3-4 pages) Describe Paul s missionary methods, including travel, preaching, baptism, church leadership development, discipleship, Christian formation, and writing letters. How can Paul s missionary methods inform global mission and the life of the local church today? Conclude with a personal reflection on how this experience has deepened your own love for God and commitment to serve Christ wherever he might call you. Conclusion Please your paper as a Word and PDF file by July 7 th, 2018 and indicate the percentage of required reading that you have completed at the end of the paper. DL Palmer NT 504: Paul and His Letters Syllabus Page 5

6 Appendix 1: Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary Vision, Mission and Purpose Statement To advance Christ s Kingdom in every sphere of life by equipping Church leaders to think theologically, engage globally and live biblically. Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary is an educational institution serving the Lord and His Church. Its mission is to prepare men and women for ministry at home and abroad. The seminary undertakes this task as a training partner with the Church so that what is learned on campus may be complemented by the spiritual nurture and the exercise of ministry available through the Church. Gordon-Conwell s mission arises out of God s redemptive work in this world effected in Jesus Christ, understood through the biblical Word and mediated by the Holy Spirit. As a theological seminary, it provides learning, resources and training through which men and women may acquire knowledge, gain skills and develop attitudes needed in Christ s ministry. Its mission, accordingly, is to serve the Church in the following ways: Article 1: To encourage students to become knowledgeable of God s inerrant Word, competent in its interpretation, proclamation and application in the contemporary world. Because the teaching of God s Word is indispensable to the well-being and vitality of God s people, the seminary has a fundamental responsibility to encourage in its students a love for Scripture. The seminary is to teach exegetical skills by which they will be able to apply Scripture effectively. Article 2: To maintain academic excellence in the highest tradition of Christian scholarship in the teaching of the biblical, historical and theological disciplines. Theological education, which is properly done within and for the Church, ought to function with rigor and academic integrity. The seminary, therefore, must provide an environment within which teaching and learning can best occur and encourage high levels of scholarly competence and research in its faculty. Article 3: To train and encourage students, in cooperation with the Church, to become skilled in ministry. The Church and the seminary share the goal of seeing knowledge, skills and attitudes integrated in the person who ministers. Both in traditional degree programs and in continuing education, a combination of careful training and supervised experience in ministry are educational practices essential to achieving that goal. Article 4: To work with the churches towards the maturing of students so that their experiential knowledge of God in Christ is evidenced in their character, outlook, conduct, relationships and involvement in society. Academic learning divorced from a life of biblical spirituality neither honors God nor serves His people. Such spirituality is to be expressed cognitively, relationally and socially. It is to be translated into action, God s people embodying His compassion, declaring His justice and articulating His truth in society. Article 5: To provide leadership and educational resources for shaping an effective evangelical presence in Church and society. Gordon-Conwell s academic and institutional resources are to be put into the service of the Christian community to provide careful research on and informed understanding of critical issues, as well as in exercising leadership in learned societies, in movements of renewal and reform and in a variety of off-campus ministries in order to develop a more informed understanding of what the lordship of Christ means in our world. Article 6: To develop in students a vision for God s redemptive work throughout the world and to formulate the strategies that will lead to effective missions, evangelism and discipleship. The central mission of the Triune God is the creation of a fellowship of men and women who are mature in Christ and who will love and serve Him forever. This mission is realized evangelistically through the proclamation of the biblical gospel by those who embody the message they proclaim and who seek to make disciples from all peoples. DL Palmer NT 504: Paul and His Letters Syllabus Page 6