RS 214 "Paul of Tarsus": Honors Spring Semester, 2000

Professor Jeffrey Trumbower

TTh 1:00-2:15

The purpose of this course is to engage the student in an intensive study of the life and thought of Paul of Tarsus, the Jewish preacher and theologian who, in the form of letters written to early Christian communities he founded, authored roughly one-third of what Christians call the New Testament. In undertaking this study, students will learn a great deal about the Greco-Roman, Jewish, and early Christian worlds in which Paul lived. Attention will also be paid to Paul's legacy, both in history and in today's world. The course will examine the literary, sociological, political, psychological and theological contexts for the surviving letters of Paul, in order that the student might gain a greater understanding of Paul's message in its historical setting. This course presupposes no particular faith relationship to Paul and his letters, though it acknowledges that for many students the study of the Bible is of more than mere antiquarian interest. Students of all religious perspectives are welcome, and all are invited to discuss their perspectives in class over the course of the semester. The main goal is to achieve a deep understanding of one of the most fascinating and important figures of Western culture.

Required Books:

Calvin J. Roetzel, The Letters of Paul: Conversations in Context (4th Edition, 1998)

E. P. Sanders, Paul, 1991

Florence M. Gillman, Women who Knew Paul, 1992

The HarperCollins Study Bible, New Revised Standard Version, 1993. You MUST have this version of the Bible since we will be making extensive use of the introductions and footnotes, in addition to the translation itself.

Course Requirements:

One short essay (3-4 pages, double spaced) on a topic assigned by the instructor, due Tuesday, Feb 22. 10% of the grade.

Midterm examination: 20% of the grade

One research paper (10-12 pages) on a topic chosen by the student in consultation with the instructor. Due on May 2 (the last day of class). 40% of the grade.

Overall class participation combined with oral presentation of research: 10% of the grade.

Final Examination: 20% of the grade

Academic Integrity

Consistent with the policies of St. Michael's College, each student is to do his or her own work. Of course, studying together for exams is encouraged, but anyone who cheats on an exam will receive a zero on that exam. Cheating includes (but is not limited to) giving or receiving answers on an exam, or using unauthorized notes during an exam. Once an exam begins, no one will be allowed to leave the room except in dire emergency. In the research paper, all ideas from, allusions to, summaries of, and citations of others' works must by properly acknowledged. Procedures for doing so will be discussed in class. Claiming someone else's ideas as your own is called plagiarism, and will result in a zero on the paper, meaning probable course failure. In the last two years I have given zeroes to four students for various types of plagiarism on papers. Each one as a result failed the course, and has a notation of plagiarism on file in the associate dean's office. DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU! If you have any questions about what constitutes plagiarism, consult with me immediately. All assignments are due at the beginning of class on the due date. Late assignments will be accepted for up to one month at a penalty of one full letter grade.

Grading Scale

A = 92-100; A- = 90-91; B+ = 88-89; B = 82-87; B- = 80-81; C+ = 78-79; C = 72-77; C- = 70-71; D+ = 68-69; D = 60-67; F= 59 or below.

Office Hours

My office is in St. Edmund's Hall, Room 246, phone 654-2373. My email address is jtrumbower@smcvt.edu I will keep office hours MWF 11:20-12:00, and also TTh 2:20-3:00 . I am available at many other times by appointment; see me before or after class.

Course Schedule:

Tu Jan 18 Introduction. Why study Paul? Who was he? What are our sources for finding out?

Th Jan 20 Paul's Context: Hellenism. Readings: Roetzel, pp. 1-36.

Tu Jan 25 Paul's Context: Judaism. Readings: Genesis 1-7; 11-12; 17; 25; 35; 46; Exodus 1-3; 13-14; 19-21; Deuteronomy 34

Th Jan 28 Paul's Context: Judaism. Readings: 2 Samuel 5-7; Psalm 2; Habakkuk (entire book); Haggai (entire book); Zechariah 9 and 14.

Tu Feb 1 Paul's Context: Judaism and the Roman Empire at the time of Jesus. Readings: Pslams of Solomon 17 (handout); Three fragments from the Dead Sea Scrolls: 1QpHab, 1Qsa, and 4Q521 (handout); Roetzel, pp. 36-50.

Th Feb 3 Paul's Context: Early Christianity. Readings: Sanders, pp. 1-33; R. J. Z. Werblowsky, "Shabbetai Tsevi" in Mircea Eliade, ed., Encyclopedia of Religion (on reserve in the library); also read Luke 24.

Tu Feb 8 Luke's account of Paul's early career. Readings: Acts 1-15.

Th Feb 10 Paul as a Letter Writer. Readings: Roetzel, pp. 51-83 and 1 Thessalonians.

Tu Feb 15 Film and discussion. Readings: Sanders, pp. 34-43.

Th Feb 17 Galatians. Readings: Roetzel, pp. 96-103; Galatians

Tu Feb 22 Galatians continued. Readings: Sanders 44-64. First writing assignment: Write a hypothetical letter from a Galatian Christian to the Jewish-Christian apostles outlining your response to Paul's letter.

Th Feb 24 The Corinthian Correspondence. The Corinthian Correspondence. Readings: Roetzel, 83-86; 1 Corinthians 1-5.

Tu Feb 29 & Th Mar 2 WINTER BREAK--NO CLASS

Tu Mar 7 The Corinthian Correspondence continued. Readings: 1 Corinthians 6-14; Sanders 101-116; Roetzel 86-92.

Th Mar 9 Corinthian Correspondence continued. Readings: 1 Corinthians 15-16; Roetzel pp. 130-131.

Tu Mar 14 2 Corinthians. Readings: Roetzel 92-96; and 2 Corinthians, read in the following order: 2 Cor. 10-13, then 2 Cor. 1-9.

Th Mar 16 Midterm examination.

Tu Mar 21 Philippians. Readings: Roetzel 113-116 and 131-132; Philippians; Sanders 77-83.

Th Mar 23 Philemon and Colossians. Readings: Roetzel 116-118 and 134-141; Philemon and Colossians.

Tu Mar 28 Romans. Readings: Roetzel, 103-113 and 128-130; Romans 1-8; and Sanders, 65-76 and 84-100.

Th Mar 30 Romans continued. Readings: Romans 9-15; Sanders 117-128.

Tu Apr 4 Luke's account of the end of Paul's Career. Readings: Acts 16-28; Gillman 11-42.

Th Apr 6 Paul and Women. Readings: Romans 16; Gillman, 43-94; Review 1 Corinthians 7, 11, 14; Roetzel 182-190.

Tu Apr 11 Struggles over the interpretation of Paul. Readings: 1 Timothy; Acts of Paul and Thecla (on reserve in the library); Roetzel, 153-160.

Th Apr 13 The legacy of Paul: Marcion, Augustine, Luther. Readings: Roetzel 161-170.

Tu Apr 18 Presentation and discussion of student research.

Th Apr 20

Tu Apr 25

Th Apr 27 NO CLASS (I'll be at my niece's wedding in Florida

Tu May 2 Last day of class.