See also the current syllabus on Paul.
Designed for beginners, this course will provide an overview of the scope and content of those New Testament writings attributed to Paul. Paul was not only the most influential voice in shaping what early Christianity would become, he is also our earliest source for understanding this new movement. For no written Christian literature earlier than Paul survives. This course will study all of Paul's surviving writings and consider his influence on his friends, foes, and disciples. Our goal is to understand these writings in their original context, to see what they reveal about the man Paul and the movement of which he was a part.
Instructor: David L. Barr, Professor of Religion
Textbooks: You should use a good modern translation of the New Testament, of which there are many. If you do not already own a study Bible see the recommendations on page 21 of your text.
While the ancient writings remain always our primary text, we will be assisted in reading them by a thorough study of New Testament Story: An Introduction by David L. Barr (Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1995; any income generated by these sales will be donated to the Campus Scholarship Campaign).
Class Procedure: Classes will be primarily a time to examine Paul's writings together, share insights, and enter into a mutually helpful dialogue over the meanings of the various writings.
Objectives:
Requirements:
The grade will be apportioned as follows:
Your Report:
Read the section of NTS on "Doing your own research" (480ff) and look at the "Resources for Further Study" and "Term Project Suggestions" at the end of each chapter. With the quarter system being so compacted you will have to look ahead at some of the future chapters in order to select a topic. Please select your topic by the end of the third week, 10/6).
These projects are due at the last class session. They will be graded on both content and style (proper use of language and format). You may use any standard research format you choose in writing up your report, including the social science format followed by your text. If you are not familiar with a standard, you might wish to purchase a guide in the bookstore (check the shelf for ENG 112). An excellent one, widely used, is Kate Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. University of Chicago Press [1967] LB2369 .T8 1987. See also her, Student's Guide for Writing College Papers. Chicago : University of Chicago Press, 1976 (LB2369 .T82 1963). Both are available in the library.
9/17 Th Introduction to the Course: methods, concerns, issues.
9/22 T The Three Worlds of the Text. NTS 1-23. Read the difficult text in I Corinthians 11:1-16 and imagine what might constitute knowledge or concerns from each of the three worlds that shape our understanding of texts (these could be statements or questions one wishes one could answer). Make a chart showing your results (I will collect these). Study the Table on the structure of rhetoric on p. 14.
9/24 Th The Ancient World. NTS 26-34. Pick three stories about Jesus from the gospels (any three) and try to imagine a suitable "life situation" in which they might have been told.
9/29 T What Might Paul Have Known about Jesus? NTS 34-51. (R&R 43)
10/1 Th First Thessalonians: Literary Analysis. NTS 54-62. (R&R 58)
10/6 T First Thessalonians: Historical Analysis. NTS 62-69. Using figure 2.2 (p 68), find evidence in I Thessalonians for as many of these elements as you can. Topics for term projects are do. Turn in a sheet with your name, topic, and two or three basic resources with which you will begin.
10/8 Th Second Thessalonians: Comparative Analysis. NTS 69-77. (R&R 72)
10/13 T Philemon & Philippians: Friends, Slaves, and Opponents. NTS 80-90. (R&R 85).
10/15 Th Galatians: The Rhetorical Situation. NTS 90-103. (R&R 98 & R&R 100 ).
10/20 T Paul's Problems at Corinth. NTS 103-115. (R&R 106 & R&R 109).
10/22 Th Other Corinthian Letters: The Rhetoric of Controversy. NTS 115-21. (R&R 115) Turn in a sheet with your topic, thesis statement, and complete bibliography.
10/27 T Mid-Course Examination.
10/29 Th The Shape and Setting of Romans NTS 124-135. (R&R 125).
11/3 T Romans: Argument and Theme. NTS 135-142. Using the basic divisions listed on page 136, give a title to each division, first from the perspective of those who think Romans is about individual salvation and then from the perspective of those who think Romans is about world salvation.
11/5 Th The Patterns of Salvation. NTS 142-155. Imagine it falls to you to write Paul's obituary for the Antioch Times: Who was this fellow?
11/10 T Colossians and Ephesians: Pauline Authorship & Pauline Ideas. NTS 158-166. (R&R 161).
11/12 Th The Paul of Acts: In Whose Image? NTS 166-167 and Acts 13-22. Carefully compare what Paul says about his activities after his call (Galatians 1:13-2:14) with what Acts reports (9:1-31). What is the same? What is different?
11/17 T The Pastoral Letters: A New Story NTS 167-172. (R&R 168).
11/19 Th Paul as Hero and Anti-Hero. NTS 172-187. Find something in one of Paul's undisputed letters that a Gnostic would agree with. Find something a Jewish- Christian would disagree with.
11/24 T The Story After the Writings: Canon. NTS 453-463. Term projects due.
Paul Bibliography
Several writings from early followers of Paul are available on the University of Pennsylvania server, known as CCAT.
The New Testament Apocrypha and non-canonical writings are available on the web.
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