LET-TERS OF

THE NEW TESTA-MENT

2030-01

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WELCOME TO THE COURSE!

Olegs Andrejevs, Ph.D. E-mail: oandrejevs@carthage.edu Meeting (class) Room: Lentz Hall 230 Meeting (class) Hours: MF 11.45am – 1.25pm

Student Learning Objectives By the end of the course, students will be able to: 1. Discourse with nuance and objectivity on the academic questions pertaining to the study of the New Testament and the historical Paul(Historical/Global) 2. Identify the underlying structural components of the leading theories of the New Testament letters’ authenticity

and chronological order of composition(Methodological) 3. Articulate the implications of the critical study of the New Testament to contemporary religious discourse (Religion and Contemporary Life/Ethics) 4. Display improved critical and analytical skills in:• Reaching independent conclusions based on data and inde-pendent reasoning, • Developing a formal, scholarly voice in public speaking and in writing • Using research materials and methods with greater nuance and sophistication (Skill Development)

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The New Testament letters contain some of Christianity’s earliest documents, in the form of St Paul’s authentic writings. They also contain letters attributed to such iconic early Christian figures as St Peter, St John (the evangelist and apos-tle), James the Just (Jesus’ brother and the first bishop of Jerusalem), and Jude (James’ brother). Finally, there are also letters that are attributed to St Paul but were likely composed in his name by a pseudonymous author after St Paul’s death. In this course we shall learn about these letters’ authorship, date, occa-sion, and history of interpretation over the last two millennia of Christian history. In the process we shall consult the leading specialists in the respective letters’

Student Learning Evaluation/Assessment Activities Your final course grade will be determined on the following basis: 1. Pre-submitted Questions 20 %2. Midterm exam 25 %3. Final exam 25 %4. Exegetical paper 30 %

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Assignment #1

Please email 1 pertinent question every week. I will answer each question via email. Please make sure that the questions do not already have answers to them in the textbook (such questions will not count toward fulfilling this assignment). Ideally, these will be questions that you will still have after reading the textbook portions (and the required extra materials) assigned for that week.

Assignments #2 &3

Midterm and final exam – 50 multiple choice questions each

Assignment #4Exegetical paper

1. Establish the original wording of the text (to the extent possible nearly two thousand years after the fact). Please compare more than one English translation, including at least two found in critical commentaries (e.g., Hermeneia, Anchor Bible Commentary, Word Biblical Commentary, New Testament Library). While English translations are based substantially on the same Greek text, the different translations may reveal different text critical decisions by the trans-lators (as well as, of course, different understandings of the same Greek words).

2. Comment on individual words or verses. Please clarify certain words or motifs in the passage which are key to the structure or the final interpretation of the text. These might have an important pre-history. Is the author making a re-use of existing traditions, perhaps found in the Hebrew Bible or Jewish pseudepigraphal literature from the late second temple period? Any ob-scure words or concepts represented in the passage ought to be explained here, especially if they are relevant to the overall interpretation of the text.

ADA notice

Support will be arranged for students with documented disabilities including learning disabilities, attention disorders, and physical and psychological disabilities. Students who have a documented disability and want to discuss academic accommodations should speak with the instructor and Services for Students with Disabilities (Sullivan Center) within the first week of the semester.

Textbook

Harris, Stephen L. The New Testament: A Student’s Introduction. Eight Edition.

About the lesson outline

The expectation is that the students will read all of the assigned textbook and additional materi-als, as well as the complete NT letters in English. In our class meetings we will discuss and more closely analyze select passages from these letters and other pertinent ancient documents.

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Assignment #4 (cont-d)

3. Identify parallels elsewhere in the New Testament, if such are present. Once again, here it will be advisable to turn to existing critical commentaries, consulting one or several. Is the parallel in question with Mark, Matthew, Luke, or John? With the synoptic sayings source Q? Or with one of the other letters not composed by the same author? How do you explain this parallel (or multiple parallels)?

4. Intention of the Text. What would the original hearers probably have understood the meaning of the text to be? Has that meaning changed in the ensuing centuries? Is it still the same today?

Please see the deadlines for the submission of each of the above four steps below, in the lesson outline. Submitting the paper step-by-step, rather than in its finished form, will allow you to fo-cus on one aspect of it at a time (as well as help you avoid a lengthy writing process by dividing the paper into four manageable sessions). Please keep a single file even as you submit individual steps, because the finished paper must be at least 5 pages long (Times New Roman, font size 12, double-spaced). Please use footnotes (TNR font size 8.5, single-spaced) and a consistent style of your choice (choosing from existing styles, of course) when referencing other authors. Please keep the footnotes manageable (in a paper like this, there is no need for them to exceed a quarter of a page).

Week 1 (textbook chap. 2)

Sep 6/Fri Biblical era from David until Jesus: Kingdom, Exile, Wisdom, and Prophecy

Week 2 (textbook chap. 13)

Sep 9/Mon ApocalypticismFrom Daniel to the NT gospels via 1 EnochApocalyptic worldview in Paul’s letters

The Synoptic ProblemHow it relates to Pauline studies

Sep 13/Fri Historical PaulThe apostle, the myth, the legend

Corpus Paulinum: literary or not?Greco-Roman rhetoric and epistolography

Week 3 (textbook chap. 14, pp. 335–43)

Sep 16/Mon The Thessalonian correspondenceThe evidence of ActsThe Delphi inscription, Claudius, and Gallio1 Thessalonians 2: a brief overview of the issues

1 ThessaloniansOccasion and date. Letter B?Paul’s ministry in Thessalonica (1 Thess 2:1–12)

Persecution of Thessalonians? (1 Thess 2:14)Timothy’s mission (1 Thess 3:1–5)Instruction on marriage and brotherly love (1 Thess 4:1–12)Eschatological discourse (1 Thess 4:13–5:11)A thief in the night (1 Thess 5:2) -a synoptic echo?

Apocalypticism in 1 Thessalonians

Sep 20/Fri The Corinthian correspondence: 1 Corinthians 1–6The evidence of ActsOccasion and date

Letter B?Introduction and thanksgiving (1 Cor 1:1–10)Divisions in the community (1 Cor 1:10–4:21)

Blessing those who persecute (1 Cor 4:12) -a synoptic echo?

The crisis (1 Cor 5–6)The previous letter (1 Cor 5:9) – Letter A?Greco-Roman catalogs of vicesSlaves and freedpersons in the Roman world

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Add-l required reading: M. Eugene Boring, I & II Thessalonians, pp. 136–39 (excursus: “Paul and the Sayings of Jesus”)

Week 4 (textbook chap. 14, pp. 343–54)

Sep 23/Mon 1 Corinthians 7–16“The Lord’s command[s]” and “ordinance[s]” in 1 Cor 7:10, 9:14

Is Paul in conversation with something like Q 10:2-11?The Lord’s Supper (1 Cor 10:14–22; 11:17-34)

The tradition of the words of institutionPaul and gender-based regulations (1 Cor 11:2–16; 14:33b–36)Love is the answer (1 Cor 13:1–13)

Faith that moves mountains (1 Cor 13:2) -a synoptic echo?Paul’s letter as “a command of the Lord”? (1 Cor 14:37)Resurrection of the Lord (1 Cor 15:1–11)

A traditional Christological formula in 1 Cor 15:3–5?Cephas and James

Resurrection of the faithful (1 Cor 15:12–58)Paul and Adam (1 Cor 15:22)Paul and the beasts of Ephesus (1 Cor 15:32)

Conclusion (1 Cor 16)Timothy’s mission

Sep 27/Fri The Corinthian correspondence: 2 Corinthians 1:1–5:19Occasion and dateLiterary (dis)unity and partition hypotheses

2 Cor 2:3–4 – Letter C?2 Cor 1–9 – Letter D?2 Cor 10–13 – Letter E?

Introduction, thanksgiving, and doxology (2 Cor 1:1–11)The cancelled visit and the Letter C (2 Cor 1:12–2:13)Apostolic service (2 Cor 2:14–5:19)

Apocalypticism in 1–2 Corinthians

Week 5

Sep 30/Mon 2 Corinthians 5:20–13:14Appeals (2 Cor 5:20–9:15)

The mission of Titus (2 Cor 7:4–16; 8:6, 16–24)The collection project (2 Cor 8:1–15)2 Cor 8–9: fragments of another letter(s)?

Paul and his rivals (2 Cor 10–13)Paul’s heavenly journey in 2 Cor 12:2–4Boasting of weakness (2 Cor 12:1–10)

Peroration (2 Cor 13:11–14)

Oct 4/Fri MIDTERM

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Add-l required reading: Joseph A. Fitzmyer, Romans, pp. 25–36 (chap-ter: “Rome and Roman Christians”)

Add-l required reading: Hans Dieter Betz, Galatians, pp. 81–83, 103–5 (excursus: “The Conference at Jerusalem”, “The Collection for Jerusalem”, “The Conflict at Anti-och”)

Week 6 (textbook chap. 15, pp. 355–60)

Oct 7/Mon Galatians 1:1–2:14Occasion and dateThe theological argument in GalatiansIntroduction, traditional Christological formula, and doxology

(Gal 1:1–4)The Jerusalem council in Galatians and ActsCephas in GalatiansJames in Galatians

Oct 11/Fri TERM PAPER STEP #1 DUE TODAYGalatians 2:15–6:18

Thesis (Gal 2:15–21)Demonstration (Gal 3:1–4:31)

Paul and Abraham Apocalypticism in Galatians

Paraenetical section (Gal 5:1–26)Another catalogue of vices and virtues

Conclusion (Gal 6:1–18)

Week 7 (textbook chap. 15, pp. 360–72)

Oct 14/Mon Romans 1–4Occasion and dateIntroduction and thanksgiving (Rom 1:1–15)Thesis (Rom 1:16–17)Demonstration 1/4 (Rom 1:18–4:25)

A traditional hymn in Rom 3:25–26?Paul and Abraham (revisited)

Oct 18/Fri Romans 5–11Demonstration 2/4 (Rom 5:1–8:39)

Paul and Adam (revisited)The chiastic arrangement of Rom 6:4–11

Demonstration 3/4 (Rom 9:1–11:36)Hos 2:1 and 2:25 in Rom 9:25–26An early Christian version of Isa 28:16 in Rom 9:33?Personification of Righteousness by Faith in Rom 10:5–13Salvation of IsraelIsa 59:20–21 / 27:9 in Rom 11:26–27

Week 8

Oct 21/Mon FALL RECESS

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Add-l required reading: Eduard Lohse, Colossians, pp. 41–46 (ex-cursus: “The Christ-hymn”)

Oct 25/Fri Romans 12–16Demonstration 4/4 (Rom 12:1–15:13)

Blessing the persecutors (Rom 12:14) – a synoptic echo?Paul and the Roman authoritiesThe Decalogue and the Golden Rule (Rom 13:8–10)Not judging (Rom 14:1–13) – a synoptic echo?Stumbling blocks (Rom 14:13) – a synoptic echo?Rom 14:20 and Mk 7:19

Conclusion (Rom 15:14–16:24)Paul and gender-based regulations / revisited (Rom 16:1–2)Prisca and Aquila, Timothy (Rom 16:3–4, 21)

PhilemonOccasion and dateMark and Luke (Phlmn 24)

Week 9 (textbook chap. 16, pp. 373–84; chap. 17 pp. 390–

92)

Oct 28/Mon TERM PAPER STEP #2 DUE TODAYPhilippians

Occasion and date: Paul’s situation and location of imprisonmentA composite letter?Introduction and thanksgiving (Phil 1:1–11)

Timothy’s missionConsolatory arguments (Phil 1:12–4:1)

Phil 2:5-11: an early hymn or Pauline composition?Paul’s opponents in Philippians 3A moment of self-reflection (Phil 3:12-16)

Conclusion (Phil 4:2-20)

Nov 1/Fri ColossiansPauline or pseudepigraphal?

Hapax legomenaOccasion and date

Parallels with Ephesians; pseudonimity of Ephesiansas a possible indicator of Colossians’ authenticity

Introduction, thanksgiving, and intercession (Col 1:3–11)Col 1:12–20: an early hymn?Then and Now: Continuing in the faith (Col 1:21–23)Apostolic service (Col 1:24–2:5)

Threat to the community (Col 2:6–23)Paraenesis (Col 3:1–4:6)

The Old and the New (Col 3:5–17)Household code (Col 3:18–4:1)

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Add-l required reading: Raymond F. Collins, 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus, pp. 41–44 (excursus: “This is a Trust-worthy Saying”)

Conclusion (Col 4:7–18)Tychicus, Mark, Barnabas, and Luke

Week 10 (textbook chap. 17, pp. 386–90, 395–97)

Nov 4/Mon 2 Thessalonians / occasion and date (various possibilities)Letter A or B? Or pseudepigraphal?Persecution (2 Thess 1:3–10)

A follow-up to 1 Thess 2:14?The return of Jesus in judgment (2 Thess 1:5–10)

Eschatological discourse (2 Thess 2:1–12)2 Thess 2:2 as a reference to 1 Thessalonians?Apocalypticism in 2 Thessalonians

Radicalized millenarism in Thessalonica?Instruction regarding unruly brothers (2 Thess 3:6–16)

A follow-up to 1 Thess 5:14?Conclusion (2 Thess 3:16–18)

Nov 8/Fri 1 TimothyPauline or pseudepigraphal?

Hapax legomena and point of viewEarly church testimonyRecurring warnings against heresies“This is a trustworthy saying” #1, 2, & 3 (1 Tim 1:15; 3:1; 4:9)

The Pastor and gender-based regulations (1 Tim 2:8–15)Conduct of bishops and deacons (1 Tim 3:1–13)A traditional hymn in 1 Tim 3:16?Instructions to TimothyOther regulations

Week 11 (textbook chap. 17, pp. 392–95, 398–401)

Nov 11/Mon 2 Timothy and TitusAuthorship

Hapax legomena and point of viewEarly church testimony2 Timothy as a testamentAncient Jewish and Christian testaments“This is a trustworthy saying” #4 (2 Tim 2:11)

A traditional hymn in 2 Tim 2:11–13?Titus; Tychicus; Mark and Luke, Prisca and Aquila, and othersPaul’s “farewell” in 2 Tim 4:1–8The purpose of Paul’s books and mantle (2 Tim 4:13)A reference to the Lord’s Prayer in 2 Tim 4:16?

Titus“This is a trustworthy saying” #5 (Titus 3:8)

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Add-l required reading: Andrew T. Lincoln, Ephesians, pp. lxvi–lxxiii (excerpt from the section on the letter’s authorship)

Conduct of bishops and presbyters (Titus 1:5–9)Household code (Titus 2:1–10)

Nov 15/Fri Ephesians (part 1 of 2)Pauline or pseudepigraphal?

Hapax legomena, pleonastic style, and point of viewLiterary dependence on Colossians and the resultant problemsColossians-Ephesians in light of Galatians-Romans

Occasion and date

Week 12 (textbook chap. 18, pp. 421–24)

Nov 18/Mon TERM PAPER STEP #3 DUE TODAYEphesians (part 2of 2)

Introduction, thanksgiving, and intercession (Eph 1:1–23)Faith and works (Eph 2:1–10)Then and Now: Admission of the Gentiles (Eph 2:11–22)

Apostolic service: Estimation of Paul’s legacy by the Writer (Eph 3:1–13)Paraenesis

Psalm 68:18 in Eph 4:8The Old and the New (Eph 4:25–5:2)Household code (Eph 5:21–6:9)

Conclusion (6:21–24)Tychicus

Nov 22/Fri 1-2-3 JohnEarly church testimony, including PapiasPossible sequence of the Johannine documents’ composition

1 JohnAuthorship, occasion and date1John and John’s Gospel: similarities and dissimilaritiesThe word of life and the God of light (1 Jn 1:1–10)Ethical instruction regarding love in action in 1 JohnOpposition from the world in 1 John and the GospelFalse teachers in 1 JohnApocalypticism in 1 John and the Gospel

2-3 JohnAuthorship, occasions and dateLady church and false teachers in 2 JohnThe Presbyter, Gaius, Diotrephes, and the struggle over doctrine in the early church (3 John)

Week 13 (textbook chap. 18, pp. 406–11)

Nov 25/Mon HebrewsOccasion and date

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Add-l required reading: Paul J. Achtemeier, 1 Peter, pp. 28–36 (section: “Persecutions”)

Does 1 Clement exhibit literary dependence on Hebrews?Paraenetic sections of HebrewsDogmatic/christological sections of Hebrews

Christ as the High PriestMelchizedek in the OT and the Dead Sea Scrolls

Nov 29/Fri THANKSGIVING RECESS

Week 14 (textbook chap. 18, pp. 411–17)

Dec 2/Mon JamesAuthentic or pseudepigraphal?Early church testimony

Occasion and dateJames as paraenesisThe multiple scattered Q parallels in JamesApocalypticism in James

Dec 6/Fri 1 PeterAuthentic or pseudepigraphal?Early church testimony

Occasion and dateIntroduction and thanksgiving (1 Pet 1:1–5)Tasks and nature of the community (1 Pet 1:13–2:10; 5:1–5)Subordination in all facets of life (1 Pet 2:11–22)

Household code (1 Pet 2:18–3:7)Enduring persecution (1 Pet 3:8–4:7; 4:12–17; 5:6–11)

Blessing those who persecute (1 Pet 3:14; 4:14) -a synoptic echo?Apocalypticism in 1 PeterThe reference to Mark (1 Pet 5:13)

Week 15 (textbook chap. 18, pp. 417–21, 425–26)

Dec 9/Mon TERM PAPER STEP #4 DUE TODAY

2 Peter & Jude

Final exam study guide review

Dec 11/Wed FINAL EXAM (10.30am – 12.30pm)

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