Content

In this unit students will explore Paul’s letter to the Galatians with a focus on the themes of faith, the law, and the Spirit-inspired love-centred community through examination of the plausible reconstructions of the social and historical contexts of the letter, as well as the different rhetorical structures proposed by scholars. Students will engage with recent scholarship regarding the traditional, salvation-historical, and apocalyptic readings of the letter. Exegesis of selected key texts in Galatians will be undertaken, employing a combination of literary, rhetorical, and social-scientific approaches. Students will also investigate the christological, ethical, pneumatological, ecclesiological and missiological themes of the letter, and explore the implications for the life and mission of the church today.

Unit code: BN3032W

Unit status: Archived (New unit)

Points: 18.0

Unit level: Undergraduate Level 3

Unit discipline: New Testament

Delivery Mode: Face to Face

Proposing College: Whitley College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Critique the social, cultural, religious, and historical contexts in which the letter was written

2.

Evaluate the possible identities of the “agitators” in Galatians, and how they may influence the interpretation of the key issues of the letter

3.

Articulate Paul’s understanding of faith and the law in the communal life of the Galatian house churches

4.

Analyse the use of the Old Testament in Galatians

5.

Critically analyse selected texts in Galatians using a range of interpretative methodologies

6.

Reflect critically on the implications of Paul’s Christology, ethics, pneumatology, and ecclesiology for the life and mission of the church today

Unit sequence

BN1001W or equivalent

Pedagogy

lectures, discussion, tutorials

Indicative Bibliography

  • Barclay, John. Paul and the Gift. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2015.
  • Bird, Michael J. and Preston Sprinkle, eds. The Faith of Jesus Christ: Exegetical, Biblical, and Theological Studies. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2009.
  • de Boer, Martinus. Galatians: A Commentary. NTL. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 2011.
  • Elliott, Mark W., Scott Hafemann, N. T. Wright and John Frederick, eds. Galatians and Christian Theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2014.
  • Hays, Richard B. The Faith of Jesus Christ. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2002.
  • Longenecker, Bruce, ed. Narrative Dynamics in Paul. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 2002.
  • Longenecker, Bruce. The Triumph of Abraham’s God. Nashville, TN: Abingdon, 1998.
  • Lopez, Davina. The Apostle to the Conquered: Reimagining Paul's Mission. Minneapolis, MN: fortress, 2010.
  • Martyn, J. Louis. Galatians. Anchor Bible. New York, NY: Doubleday, 1997.
  • Moo, Douglas. Galatians. BECNT, Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2013.
  • Nanos, Mark D. ed. The Galatians Debate: Contemporary Issues in Rhetorical and Historical Interpretation. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2002.
  • Oakes, Peter. Galatians. Paideia. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2015.
  • Witherington, Ben. Grace in Galatia. A Commentary on Paul’s Letter to the Galatians. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1998.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Essay

2,000-word thematic essay

2000 40.0
Exegetical Essay

2,000-word exegetical essay

2000 40.0
Tutorial Paper/Seminar Paper

1,000-word thematic tutorial paper

1000 20.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by John Capper on 1 Nov, 2017

Unit record last updated: 2022-10-27 13:50:14 +1100