Draft: December, 2013 1 Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary ~ S. Hamilton NT 622: Exegesis of 1 Corinthians (Spring, 2014) Instructor: Mark A. Jennings Course Syllabus Class Time: 2:00 PM 5:00 PM Class Dates: Jan. 27, 2014 April 28, 2014 Mark A. Jennings Contact Information: Email: mjennings1@gordonconwell.edu Office hours: By appointment only Course Description This course is an exegetical study of the Greek text of the Epistle to the 1 Corinthians with special attention to its overall structure, language, OT and Greco-Roman backgrounds, and theology. A typical session will include translation, discussion, and lecture. Some attention will be given to 1 Corinthians relationship with the other Pauline epistles and the life/mission of Paul, but the primary focus of this course will be what the Paul was inspired to write to the church at Corinth. Each student will be expected to employ all the exegetical tools at their disposal to better interpret the authorial intent of the epistle. Finally, significant portions of each class will be devoted to discussing what our exegesis means for the church, for discipleship, for obedience of faith, for ministering etc. In other words the exegesis of 1 Corinthians (or any Biblical text) is never the end in itself, but is the essential preparatory step of listening that is necessary for proclaiming the truth revealed in God s Word. I am teaching under three working assumptions: (1) The authorial intent is the primary focus because it is the inspired, inerrant Word of God. (2) You desire to teach and preach the Word of God in service to the church. (This service can take many forms.) (3) You agree to be taught by me and will do the required work necessary to benefit from this teaching.
Draft: December, 2013 2 Objectives At the end of the course, students should be able to: 1. Articulate the contemporary issues surrounding the interpretation of 1 Corinthians, especially the views Bailey, Ciampa, Rosner, and Thistelton. (Art 1-2 of GCTS Mission) 2. Understand the Greek of 1 Corinthians through a concentrated grammatical study of a major portion of the epistle. (Art 1-2 of GCTS Mission). 3. Translate into accurate and idiomatic English any portion of 1 Corinthians. (Art 1-2) 4. Deeply examine and consider a particular passage, utilizing all the appropriate exegetical methods. (Art 1-2 of GCTS Mission) 5. Articulate personal conclusions based on sound exegesis regarding the overarching message and purpose of the epistle as a whole as well as individual sections. (Art 1-3) 6. Consider the importance of 1 Corinthians to one s faith and understanding of who Christ is. (Art 3-6 of GCT Mission) 7. Consider how 1 Corinthians informs our understanding of salvation, the church, our ministry, discipleship, etc. (Art 3-6 of GCTS Mission) Texts REQUIRED Greek New Testament (NA27/28 or UBS4) Kenneth Bailey, Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes: Cultural Studies in 1 Corinthians (IVP Acedemics, 2011) AND ONE OF THE FOLLOWING: o R. Ciampa and B. Rosner, The First Epistle to the Corinthians (Pillar Series, 2010) o A. C. Thiselton, The First Epistle to the Corinthians: A Commentary on the Greek Text (Eerdmans, 2000). Advanced Greek Grammar (Daniel Wallace s is preferred). *Other readings may be assigned. Requirements
Draft: December, 2013 3 1. Each student is required to pass A Greek Competency Quiz to take the course. This quiz will be administered on the first day of class. Failure to pass this quiz will result in the student being ineligible from taking the course. 2. Before the First Day of Class, you are to have read 1 Corinthians (in English) and the Introductory Comments in your Required Reading. 3. You are to be prepared each day to translate and discuss the Greek Focus text assigned for that day. Each student will be reading the Greek, translating, and discussing every class. Unpreparedness may result in the reduction of your final grade. 4. Attendance at every class is expected. Failure to attend class may impact your final grade. Besides, who wants to miss class? How often will you get a chance to meet daily with your peers and drink deeply from the 1 Corinthians? 5. You are to read all of your two assigned books (Bailey and Commentary). It is strongly recommended that you read the assigned passages, especially the passages related to the Focus Text prior to the appropriate class session. 6. You are to write an Exegesis Paper of 4500-6000 words (strictly enforced) in which you systematically analyze a complete passage of the Greek text from 1 Cor 4:18 11:1 or 1 Cor 15. Note, Exegesis Papers from 1 Cor 1:1-4:17, 11:2-14:40, or 16:1-24 will not be accepted. SEE EXEGESIS PAPER ASSIGNMENT DETAILS. 7. You are to complete a detailed Translation Notebook on 1 Corinthians 11:2-14:40. SEE TRANSLATION NOTEBOOK ASSIGNMENT DETAILS. 8. You are to write a Devotional Study on 1 Cor 1:1-4:17. SEE DEVOTIONAL STUDY ASSIGNMENT DETAILS. 9. There will be a Final Exam. Details for Final will be given on the first day of class. (You may choose an alternative assignment to the Final Exam. More details to follow). Grade Components Greek Competency Quiz 0% (Students must pass to stay in class, if necessary) Exegesis Paper 25% Translation Notebook 25% Devotional Study 20% Final Exam/Alternative 15% Reading Report 15% POOR CLASS PARTICIPATION WILL LOWER YOUR GRADE.
Draft: December, 2013 4 Final semester letter grades will be assigned as follows: A+ 97% and up A 94% C 74% A- 90 % C- 70% B+ 87% D+ 67% B 84% D 63% B- 80% D- 60% C+ 77% F below 60% A Brief Word Regarding Translations for Class The purpose of this course is not simply to teach Greek grammar but to interpret the New Testament from the Greek text. It is assumed that each student prior to class session will have translated the assigned text. Students will be called upon each class to translate and field questions regarding the assigned text. When we are discussing translations in class it is to be done with a hard copy of the Greek New Testament not an electronic copy. NO EXCEPTIONS. Failure to translate the assigned text (or at least to make a serious attempt) before class renders you ill prepared to sufficiently contribute. On those occasions where life happens and you must choose between doing all the assigned reading or doing your translation work, the latter should always take precedence (with the assumption you will catch up on your reading at the first possibility). Each student is allowed to take one class off from being prepared. NOTE: By end of term, you will be expected to have completed all the assigned translations. In the event that you are unable to translate all of the assigned text for the day, you are to notify the instructor before class of how much you did translate. If you fail to show up for class, it will be assumed that you did zero translation for that day. (If you did do some translation in preparation but were unable to make the class please email me how much of the text you did translate). Naturally a failure to translate will impact your participation evaluation. The reward of continually translating occurs in the effort. Therefore do not feel the necessity for a perfectly dynamic translation. Rough patches can be cleared up. This is part of what the class discussion is to accomplish. Also resist the temptation to do all your translating work with contemporary Bible or computer software on hand. What good does it do to show that you can copy well or move your computer mouse? I encourage you to use a lexicon and a grammar and push yourself to develop your own translating mind. A Brief Note on Intellectual Property Rights No audio or video recordings are allowed. Furthermore no publication (audio, video, written) or live transmission of classroom proceedings will be permitted. Any requests for such privileges must be made in writing and must receive written approval from the instructor. A Brief Note Regarding Internet Usage
Draft: December, 2013 5 Please do not access the internet (email, apps, websites, etc.) for non class-activities during class. This can be extremely distracting to all parties and quite frankly it is unbecoming to do so. Exceptions may be made on occasion. Regarding Extension Requests: No extensions will be granted on the assignments unless there is a last-minute event that was unavoidable and substantial (as determined by me). An extension request may not be granted, even in the event of an unavoidable, substantial, last-minute circumstance, if an appropriate amount of progress (determined by me) on the assignment has not been made prior to the request of the extension. Partially completed assignments are happily accepted. No visitors are allowed to attend class without permission from the instructor. A Final Note It is my prayer that through this study of 1 Corinthians the Holy Spirit will guide your mind and illumine your heart, that your love will abound more and more in knowledge and deep insight, so that you may be able discern the more excellent matter and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ (Phil 1:9-11). Let us come together in full humility, full of joy, crying out in prayer that our Sovereign Almighty might be pleased to reveal Himself to us in the study of His Holy Word.
Draft: December, 2013 6 Course Schedule (subject to instructor s revision at any time) - Required Texts = your chosen commentary and Bailey - Before each class, be sure to read the Topic text and translate the Focus text, read the appropriate pages in your required texts. Note, sometimes the Focus text and the Topic text will be identical, and sometimes they will differ. - Be sure to consider OT references mentioned in your commentaries prior to class (ideally in the LXX). - There are additional assignments that are given to assist in the classroom discussion. Date Topic Readings/Notes Jan 27 Competency Quiz; Course Overview; Introducing 1 Corinthians Feb 3 1 Cor 1:1-2:5 Prep for Comp Exam; Read Introductions in Read all of 1 Corinthians in English RT,; Patronage Readings ; Focus Text: 1 Cor 1:1-25 Feb 10 1 Cor 2:6-3:4 Focus Text: 1 Cor 2:6 3:4 OT/LXX: 1 Kgs 2; Isa 29; Jer 9; Recommend: J. Chow, Patronage and Power: A Study of Social Networks in Corinth Hays The Conversion of the Imagination: Scripture and Eschatology in 1 Corinthians, OT/LXX: Isa 40; Isa 64; Recommend: J. Tucker, You Belong to Christ: Paul and the Formation of Social Identity in 1 Cor 1-4 Feb 17 READING WEEK Work on Exegesis Papers and Translation Notebook Feb 24 1 Cor 3:5-4:17 Focus Text: 1 Cor 3:5-23; 4:6-13 Mar 3 1 Cor 4:18 7:40 Focus Text: 1 Cor 5:1-13; 7:1-16 OT/LXX: Job 5; Ps 94 (LXX 93); Isa 5; Recommend: M. Mitchell s Paul and the Rhetoric of Reconciliation OT/LXX: Gen 2:21-24; Exod 19:15; Lev 15:18; 18:8; 20:11; Deut 5:13; 22:19, 30; 23:1-8; 24:1-4; 27:20; 28-29; 1 Sam 21:4-6; Ps 101:1-7 (100:1-7, LXX); Prov 5:15, 18, 20; 22:15, 23:13-14; Mal 2:15-16; NT: Mark 10:2-12; Matt 5:31-32, 19:3-9; and Luke 16:18.
Draft: December, 2013 7 Mar 10 1 Cor 8:1 11:1 Focus Text: 1 Cor 8:1-13; 10:1-11:1 Recommend: B. Rosner, Paul, Scripture, and Ethics: A Study of 1 Corinthians 5-7 OT/LXX: Exod 12:43-48; 14:2-27; 16; 17:2-3, 6-7: 23:33; 32:6; 34:11-14; Num 11; 12:23; 14; 20:8-11; 21:5-6, 16-20; 25:1-9; Deut 6:4-5; 11:13; 32:17-21; Ps 24:1; 106; Ezek 14:3, 4, 7; NT: Acts 7:39-43 Recommend: B. W. Winter, After Paul Left Corinth Mar 17 READING WEEK Finish Exegesis Papers, Work on Translation Notebook, and Devotionals Mar 24 1 Cor 11:2-12:31 Exegesis Papers Due Focus Text: 1 Cor 11:2-34; OT/LXX: Gen 1:26-27; 2:7, 18-23; Exod 24:8; Deut 16:3; Isa 53:6; Jer 31:31; Recommend: Mark Finney, Honour and Conflict in the Ancient World: 1 Corinthians in its Greco-Roman Context Mar 31 1 Cor 13:1-14:40 Focus Text: 1 Cor 13:1-13; 14:20-40 Apr 7 1 Cor 15:1-28 Focus Text: 1 Cor 15:1-28 OT/LXX: Exod 34:6; Num 12:6-8; 14:18; 1 Chron 16:34, 41:2; 2 Chron 5:13; 7:3, 6; 20:21; Ezra 3:11; Neh 9:17; Ps 7:12; 24:7-8; 30:20; 33:9; 67:11; 85:5, 15; 100:5; 102:8; 105:1; 106:1; 107:1; 118:1-4; 144:8; Isa 28:9-12; 45:14; Jer 33:11; 40:11; Dan 2; 3:89, 95; 4:9; Joel 2:13; Jon 4:2; Nah 1:3; Zech 8:23 Devotions Due OT/LXX: Ps 8:6; 110:1; Isa 26:19; 53:5-6; Ezek 37:1-14; Dan 12:1-3; Hos 6:2; Jon 1:17;
Draft: December, 2013 8 Recommend: N. T. Wright, The Resurrection of the Son of God Apr 14 1 Cor 15:29-59 Focus Text: 1 Cor 15:29-59 Apr 21 1 Cor 16:1-24 Focus Text: 1 Cor 16:1-24 Gen 2:7; Isa 22:13; 25:8; Hos 13:14 Translation Notebooks Due Recommend: B. Witherington, A Week in the Life at Corinth; E. Randolph, Paul the Letter Writer Apr 28 Final Exam May 5 Last Day for Reading Work Reading Reports Due Assignment Due Dates (NO EXTENSIONS): Exegesis Paper: Mar 24 Devotional Notebook: Apr 7 Translation Notebook: Apr 21 Reading Report: May 5 *UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED the deadline time is 5:00 PM.