Syllabus for Religion 4082/6082

The Life and Letters of Paul

Wayne Coppins 2008

 

 

1. Course Description

 

A historical-exegetical study of the life and letters of Paul, the relation between Acts and the Pauline epistles, early non-Pauline Gentile Christianity, Pauline theology, and its lasting impression on Christianity

 

2. Objectives

 

a) To learn about PaulÕs life and ministry, to read PaulÕs letters and the Book of Acts critically, to become knowledgeable about some of the main issues in Pauline scholarship

b) To become a careful and thoughtful reader and thinker

c) To discuss religious texts and diverse viewpoints in a constructive and critical manner

d) To develop academic writing and research skills through the process of writing a book review

 

3. Texts and Resources

 

Required:

 

a) A translation of the Bible. I recommend The New Revised Standard Version.

b) D.G. Horrell, An Introduction to the Study of Paul (2nd ed.; London: T&T Clark, 2006) [= H]

c) E.P. Sanders, Paul: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford: OUP, 2001) [= S]

d) Morna Hooker, Paul: A Short Introduction (Oxford: Oneworld, 2003) [= HR]

e) Readings on Electronic Reserve (= ER) at the Main Library

- If you are unable to get a book at the University bookstore, try the other bookshops or order it at christianbook.com, amazon.com or abebooks.com

 

Recommended

 

Westerholm, Stephen. Perspectives Old and New on Paul: The "Lutheran" Paul and His Critics. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003.

 

Completely Optional:

 

f) Gerald F. Hawthorne, Ralph P. Martin, eds. Dictionary of Paul and his Letters (Downers Grove, Ill: InterVarsity Press, 1993). [= DPL]

g) C.K. Barrett, Paul (London: Continuum, 2001) [= BT]

h) Raymond Brown, An Introduction to the New Testament (New York: Doubleday, 1997) [= B]

 

4. Time, Place and Office Hours

 

The course will meet from 8-9.15 on Tuesdays and Thursdays in room 219A (Peabody).

My office hours are from 9am-11.30am on Wednesdays in Room 216B (Peabody).

If you intend to stop by at this time or wish to arrange another time to meet, please contact me at wcoppins@uga.edu.

5. Format: The course will be based around a mixture of brief lectures, small group discussions and class discussions. The lectures will take their basic structure from David HorrellÕs book An Introduction to the Study of Paul. For each class, students will be expected to study selected Pauline texts, the relevant chapter from Horrell and additional material from Sanders, Hooker or the readings on reserve at the library. In addition to this coursework, you will also be required to read through PaulÕs letters outside of class in preparation for two exams on the content of this material. Students will be encouraged to discuss and reflect upon both the primary texts and secondary literature in class. You will also be required to write a substantial book review.

 

6. Course Requirements:

 

            10%     Attendance (see page 8).

20%     Two Multiple Choice Exams on the Content of PaulÕs Letters (10% each)

            30%     Book Review (Undergraduate 9-11 pages; Graduate 12-15 pages).

            40%     Final exam (May 1: 8am-11am; Room 219A)

 

7. Book Review: Write a 9-11 page book review (12-15 for grad students) of the following book:

(1 inch margins; 1.5 spacing; Times New Roman; 12 point font; page count does not include bibliography)  

 

Westerholm, Stephen. Perspectives Old and New on Paul: The "Lutheran" Paul and His Critics. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004. (Undergraduates need only skim over the footnotes; focus on the main text)

 

1. Introduction (ca. 1/2 – 1 page): Introduce your paper; comment here on WesterholmÕs Introduction and provide a concise overview of the book. *You should write this section last.

 

2. Discuss part I of WesterholmÕs work (ca. 1.5 pages), highlighting key points and drawing attention to issues and observations that were of particular interest to you. (= Section 2 of book review)

 

3. Discuss part II of WesterholmÕs work (ca. 3 pages), highlighting key points and drawing attention to issues and observations that were of particular interest to you. After some general comments, you may wish to give greater attention to the views of selected scholars, e.g., E.P. Sanders, J. Dunn, T. Schreiner, and M. Seifrid.

 

4. Discuss part III of WesterholmÕs work (ca. 2-3 pages), highlighting key points and drawing attention to issues and observations that were of particular interest to you. (= Section 4 of book review)

 

5. Conclude your paper with a critical and constructive assessment of WesterholmÕs work, making reference to key texts from PaulÕs letters and some additional secondary literature (ca. 2-3 pages; 5-7 pages for graduate students). I will provide you with a supplementary bibliography for this section.

 

6. If you miss a rough draft deadline, you lose 5 points off your book review grade (see below).

 

8. Key Dates

 

Jan 7-10                      Drop/Add Undergraduate

Jan 7-14                     Drop/Add Graduate

Jan 22                          - Rough Draft of section 2 of book review due (see below)

Feb 7                           - Rough Draft of sections 2-3 of book review due (see below)

Feb 26                         * First Content Exam: Romans, 1-2 Corinthians, Galatians (10%)

March 4                       Withdraw Deadline

March 7/10–14/16       Spring Break

March 18                     - Rough Draft of sections 2-4 of book review due (see below).

April 1                         * Final Draft of book review due (30% of your grade)

April 27                       * 2nd Content Exam: Eph, Phil, Col, 1-2 Thess, 1-2 Tim, Titus, Philemon (10%)

 

May 1 (Th)                  * Final Exam (40% of your grade): 8am-11am in Room 219A.

Class Schedule

 

I have marked the material that you should be reading in preparation for your content exams with an *. In preparation for these exams, you should take time to fill out the content Exam preparation sheets.

 

H = Horrell; S = Sanders; HR = Hooker; DPL = Dictionary; BT = Barrett; B = Brown.

 

Entries marked ŅSession 2, Session 3 etc. are on electronic reserve at the library. To access these materials, 1) go to the Library Website (https://gil.uga.edu/), 2) choose ŅSearch Course ReservesÓ, and 3) locate materials under Course Number (4082). 4) Click Full Text Online; 5) Password = paul

 

You are expected to read all the readings. If you have to cut corners for a given session, then you should never fail to read 1) the texts for discussion and 2) the reading from Horrell, i.e., if you have to omit something, it should be the other readings, e.g., Hooker, Sanders or those on reserve at the library.

 

1. Jan 8 (T): Introduction: Expectations/Objectives/Format

 

Jan 7-10: Drop/Add Undergraduate

Jan 7-14: Drop/Add Graduate

 

2. Jan 10 (Th): Beginning with Luther

           

            Texts for Discussion: Romans 1:1-8:39, esp. Rom 7:1-8:17

            Martin Luther: LutherÕs Prefaces to the Pauline Writings (Session 2: Preface)

            * Romans 1-8

 

3. Jan 15 (T): Approaching Paul with New Eyes

 

            Texts for Discussion: 2 Cor 11.23-29; Rom 15.14-21

            Horrell: Paul the man-mountain (pp. 1-11)

Raymond Brown: An Appreciation of Paul (Session 3: Appreciation = B 446-455)

            [Optional: S 1-8; HR 1-7, esp. 1-3; BT 1-2; DPL 666-695, esp. 666-679]

            * Romans 9-11

 

4. Jan 17 (Th): Pre-Pauline Christianity 1: Acts, ŅHellenistsÓ and ŅHebrewsÓ

 

            Texts for Discussion: Acts 6.1-8.4

            Horell: Pre-Pauline Christianity (12-26)

            Philip Esler: Review of Hellenists and Hebrews by Craig Hill (Session 4: Review 119-123)

            [Optional: HR 3-23, esp. 8-23; BT 3-21, esp. 3-7, 161-166; B 316-322; DPL 542]

            * Romans 12-16

 

5. Jan 22 (T: RD): Pre-Pauline Christianity 2: Paul, Jesus and Pre-Pauline Traditions

 

            Texts for Discussion: Gal 1.18; 1 Cor 7:8-16; Rom 1.3-4; Phil 2.5-11

(cf. also 1 Cor 15:1-11; 1 Cor 11:23-26)

            Horrell: Pre-Pauline Christianity (12-26)

            M. Thompson: Explanations for PaulÕs Lack of Explicit Jesus Tradition (Session 5: Clothed)

            [Optional: HR 3-7; B 489-493; DPL 492-503; 419-423]

            * 1 Cor 1-4

 

Rough Draft of section 2 of book review due (see above, page 2)

6. Jan 24 (Th): PaulÕs Life 1: The Pre-Christian Paul and PaulÕs Call/Conversion

 

            Texts for Discussion Gal 1.11-24; Acts 9.1-30; Phil 3 (cf. Acts 22.3-21; Acts 26.9-23)

            Horrell: PaulÕs Life (27-43, esp. 27-31).

            K. Stendahl: The Apostle Paul and the Introspective Conscience of the West (Session 6)

            L. Hurtado: Covert, apostate or apostle to the nations (Session 6) [read Stendahl first]

            [Optional: HR 8-23; S 9-22; BT 1-21; B 422-430; DPL 156-163, 1016 (Index)]

            * 1 Cor 5-7

 

7. Jan 29 (T): PaulÕs Life 2: PaulÕs Missionary Career

 

            Texts for Discussion Gal 1.13-2.14; Acts 11.29-30; Acts 15.1-29

            Horrell: PaulÕs Life (27-43, esp. 32-43)

            Moises Silva: The Date of Galatians (Session 7)

            [Optional: HR 8-23, esp. 11-12; S 9-22; BT 1-21; B 422-430; DPL 446-456]

            * 1 Cor 8-14

 

8.  Jan 31 (Th): Paul the Letter-Writer

 

            Texts for Discussion: 1 Thess 1:1-5; 1 Cor 1:1-9; Gal 1.1-10; Rom   

            Horrell: Paul the Letter-Writer (44-56)

            D.F. Watson: Rhetorical Criticism of the Pauline Epistles since 1975 (Session 8)

            [Optional: HR 24-31; B 409-421; DPL 550-553; 820-822; 822-826]

            * 1 Cor 15-16 

 

9. Feb 5 (T): Central Elements of PaulÕs Gospel 1: Narrative Dynamics in Paul

 

            Texts for Discussion: 1 Cor 15.1-11 (cf. 1 Cor 15.20-28; Rom 5.12-21; Rom 8.18-25)

            Horrell: Introduction and The Basic Story and PaulÕs Use of Scripture (57-60)

            Richard Hays: Is PaulÕs Gospel Narratable? (Session 9)

            [Optional: B 440-441; HR 39-45; S 23-32, 32-40, 41-51]

            * 2 Cor 1-7

 

10. Feb 7 (Th: RD): Central Elements of PaulÕs Gospel 2: The Death and Resurrection of Christ

 

            Texts for Discussion: Rom 3.21-26; Rom 6:1-11; 2 Cor 5.16-21 (cf. 1 Cor 15.1-11)

            Horrell: Christ: The Death of Christ (60-63)

            Hooker: ŅChrist died É and was raisedÓ (HR 90-102)

            [Optional: S 91-94; BT 103-119; B 437-442; DPL 201-209]

            * 2 Cor 8-9

 

            Rough Draft of sections 2-3 of book review due (see above, page 2)

 

11. Feb 12 (T): Central Elements of PaulÕs Gospel 3: The Height of PaulÕs Christology

 

            Texts for Discussion: 1 Cor 8.1-6; Phil 2.1-10; Rom 9.1-5 (cf. Col 1.15-20)

            Horrell: Christ: PaulÕs Christology: ŌhighÕ or ŌlowÕ (63-66)

            J.D.G. Dunn and R. Bauckham on Jesus as God (Session 11)

            [Optional: S 95-97; HR 46-58; B 437-442, esp. 439; DPL 100-115]

            * 2 Cor 10-13

 

12. Feb 14 (Th): Central Elements of PaulÕs Gospel 4: Corporate Christology

 

            Texts for Discussion: Rom 5:12-21; 1 Cor 15:45-49 (cf. 1 Cor 12; Gal 3.15-18, 23-29) 

            Horell: Corporate Christology (67)

            Hooker: Adam and Christ (HR 80-84); In Christ (HR 84-89)

            [Optional: DPL 9-15; 110-112; 433-436]

            * Galatians 1-2

 

13. Feb 19 (T): Central Elements of PaulÕs Gospel 5: God

 

            Texts for Discussion: 1 Thess 1.9-10; Gal 1.3-5; Phil 2.1-11; R 11.33-36; 1 Cor 15.20-28

            Horrell: God (67-68)

            J. Christian Beker on The Triumph of God (Session 13)

            [Optional: S 41-51; DPL 354-369]

            * Galatians 3-4

 

14. Feb 21 (Th): Central Elements of PaulÕs Gospel 6: The Spirit

 

            Texts for Discussion: Gal 3.1-6; Gal 5:16-26; 2 Cor 3; Rom 8 (cf. 1 Cor 2:6-16; 1 Cor 12)

            Horrell: The Spirit (68-69)

            Max Turner and Gordon D. Fee on the Spirit in Paul (Session 14)

            [Optional: BT 131-142; DPL 404-413]

            * Galatians 5-6

 

15. Feb 26 (T): FIRST CONTENT EXAM: Romans; 1-2 Corinthians; Galatians

 

16. Feb 28 (Th): Central Elements of PaulÕs Gospel 7: Eschatology and Salvation

 

            Texts for Discussion: Gal 1.1-5; Gal 6.14-16; 2 Cor 5.17; Rom 8.18-39; 1 Cor 15.12-58

            Horrell: Eschatology and salvation (69-73)

            J. Louis Martyn and R. Barry Matlock on Paul and Apocalyptic (Session 16)

            [Optional: S 32-33; H 135-141; DPL 253-269; 25-35]

            * Ephesians 1-3

 

17. March 4 (T: WD): Central Elements of PaulÕs Gospel 8: Righteousness and Faith 1

 

            Texts for Discussion: Rom 1.16-17; Rom 3:21-26 (cf. Gal 2.15-21)

            Horrell: Righteousness and faith (73-80, esp. 73-78)

            Ernst KŠsemann: ŅThe Righteousness of GodÓ in Paul (Session 17)

            [Optional; S 52-75, 76-90; HR 73-77; BT 87-103; B 576-577; DPL 517-523]

            * Ephesians 4-6

                                   

            WITHDRAW DEADLINE

 

18. March 6 (Th): Central Elements of PaulÕs Gospel 9: Righteousness and Faith 2

 

            Texts for Discussion: Gal 2.15-21; (cf. Gal 2:20; Gal 3.22; Rom 3.22; Rom 3:26; Phil 3:9)

            Horrell: Righteousness and faith (73-80, esp. 77-80)

            R.B. Hays vs. J.D.G. Dunn: Ņthe faith of ChristÓ or Ņfaith in ChristÓ (Session 18)

            [Optional: B 477-478; HR 104-106; DPL 285-291]

            * Philippians 1-4

** March 7/10 – March 14/16 = Spring Break

 

19. March 18 (T: RD): Central Elements of PaulÕs Gospel 10: Ethics

 

            Texts for Discussion: 1 Cor 5.6-13; Rom 13.8-14 (cf. Gal 5.1-25)

            Horell: Ethics (80-83)

            Sanders: Behavior (118-136)

            [Optional: HR 120-133; BT 131-141; DPL 269-275]

            * Colossians 1-4

 

Rough Draft of sections 2-4 of book review due.

 

20. March 20 (Th): Central Elements of PaulÕs Gospel 11: The Center of PaulÕs Theology

 

            Texts for Discussion: Rom 1.16-17; Phil 2.5-11

            Horrell: Conclusion + Further Reading (83-85)

            T. Schreiner: The Centrality of God in Christ in PaulÕs Theology (Session 20)

            [Optional: B 440-441; DPL 92-95, 674-677]

            * 1 Thessalonians 1-2:16

 

21. March 25 (T): Paul and the Law 1: ŅCovenantal NomismÓ or ŅVariegated NomismÓ

                 

            Texts for Discussion: Phil 3.2-11; Rom 9.30-10.4 (cf. Rom 4:1-8)

            Horrell: Introduction and Paul and the Jewish Law (89-99, esp. 90-94)

            E.P. Sanders, D.A. Carson and S. Gathercole on Second Temple Judaism (Session 21)

            [Optional: BT 74-87; HR 59-70; B 578-580; DPL 529-542, 671-674; 1017 (Index)]

            * 1 Thessalonians 2:17-5:28

 

22. March 27 (Th): Paul and the Law 2: The New Perspective on Paul

 

            Texts for Discussion: Rom 4.1-8 (cf. Phil 3.2-11; Rom 9.30-10.4)

            Horrell: Paul and the Jewish Law (90-99)

            J.D.G. Dunn + S. Westerholm on the New Perspective on Paul (Session 22)           

            [Optional: HR 59-70; S 98-117; BT 74-87; DPL 529-542, 671-674; 1028 (Index)]

            * 2 Thessalonians 1-3

 

23. April 1 (T): Paul and Israel + BOOK REVIEWS DUE (30% of your grade)

 

            Texts for Discussion: 1 Thess 2.13-16; Rom 9-11

            Horrell: What has become of Israel? (99-105)

            Sanders: The Salvation of Israel and of the World: Rom 9-11 (S 137-149)

            [Optional: DPL 441-446, 1024 (Index)]

 

24. April 3 (Th): The Social Level, Character, Leadership + Boundaries of PaulÕs Communities

 

            Texts for Discussion: 1 Cor 1.26-29; 1 Cor 11.23-34; 1 Cor 5:9-13

            Horrell: New Approaches to the Study of Paul (106-124, esp. 106-112)      

            Wayne Meeks: The Fellowship and its Boundaries (Session 24)

            [Optional: HR 116-119; BT 119-131; DPL 892-900; 131-137; 603-608; 883-892]

            * 1 Timothy 1-3

25. April 8 (T): Paul and Politics

 

            Texts for Discussion: Rom 13.1-7; 1 Cor 8.1-6

            Horrell: New Approaches to the Study of Paul (106-124, esp. 113-114)

            R. Horsley and Tom Wright on Paul and Empire (Session 25)

            [Optional: HR 50-51, 116-119]

            * 1 Timothy 4-5

 

26. April 10 (Th): Paul and Women 1: Fellow Believers, Co-Workers,

Deacons, Benefactors, and Apostles (?)

 

            Texts for Discussion: Gal 3.28; Rom 16 (cf. Phil 4)

            Horrell: New Approaches to the Study of Paul (106-124, esp. 114-122)

            B. Gaventa and E. Epp on Junia(s) (Session 27*) Not 26!

            A. Wire, D. Boyarin and J. Gundry-Volf on Gal 3.28 (Session 27*) Not 26!

            [Optional: HR 116-119, 128-129, 131-132, 142-144; B 878 (Index)]

            * 2 Timothy 1-4

 

27. April 15 (T): Paul and Women 2: More Difficult Texts

 

            Texts for Discussion: 1 Cor 11:2-16; 1 Cor 14.34-35; Eph 5:21-6.9; 1 Tim 2.9-15

(cf. Col 3.18-4.1; 1 Tim 5.14; Titus 2.3-5)

 

            Horrell: New Approaches to the Study of Paul (106-124, esp. 114-122)

            T. Schreiner and Elisabeth SchlŸssler Fiorenza on Women in PaulÕs churches (Session 28*)

            [Optional: HR 160 (Index); B 878 (Index); DPL 583-592; 1035 (Index)] *not 27!

            * Titus 1-3

 

28. April 17 (Th): PaulÕs Legacy in the New Testament: Authorship and Development

 

            Texts for Discussion: Rom 6:5 / Col 2.12; 1 Cor 7:39-40/1 Tim 5:14; 2 Tim 4.9-21

            Horrell: PaulÕs Legacy (125-143, esp.125-137)

            Carson/Moo + B.S. Childs on Pseudonymity/Pseudepigraphy (Session 29*)

            [Optional: HR 24-27, 142-143; BT 143-167; B 585-589; DPL 658-666; 1030 (Index)]

            * Philemon 1:1-25

 

29. April 22 (T): SECOND CONTENT EXAM

Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, 1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon

           

30. April 24 (Th): PaulÕs Legacy beyond the New Testament

 

            Texts for Discussion: Romans

            Horrell: PaulÕs Legacy (125-143, esp. 137-143) + Why Study Paul Today (144-146)

            Karl Barth on Interpreting PaulÕs Letter to the Romans (Session 30)

            [Optional: HR 142-150; BT 168-175]

 

31. May 1 (Th): Final Exam (40% of your final grade): 8am-11am in Room 219A

 

Attendance and Participation Policy

 

The UGA attendance policy (http://bulletin.uga.edu/bulletin/ind/attendance.html) states that Ņstudents are expected to attend classes regularly. A student who incurs an excessive number of absences may be withdrawn from a class at the discretion of the professor.

 

If you have more than 13 unexcused absences, you will be withdrawn from the class.

 

An excused absence is one that is unavoidable for emergency or pressing reasons e.g., incapacitating illness, death in one's immediate or close family or of someone close to the student.