Captivity Epistles Philippians Philemon Colossians Ephesians (BN9319T)

Postgraduate, 24.0 points

Content

This unit provides an in-depth study of a group of letters from the Pauline corpus which are explicitly associated with Paul’s imprisonment (Philippians, Philemon, Colossians and Ephesians). The study of these letters will focus on the social and religious contexts out which the letters arise, and the theology which emerges from them. Attention will be also paid to the question of authorship: whether Paul wrote all four or whether Colossians and Ephesians arise from a later context. The unit will consider the ways in which the letters address issues that are of continuing relevance for the life and mission of the church.

Unit code: BN9319T

Unit status: Archived (New unit)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Elective

Unit discipline: New Testament

Delivery Mode: Online

Proposing College: Trinity College Theological School

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Learning outcomes

1.

Critically interpret key aspects of Philippians, Philemon, Colossians and Ephesians in the light of critical scholarship
2.

Discuss, with exegetical support and consideration of a range of secondary scholarship, the rhetoric and theology of the four letters in their context.

3.

Demonstrate an awareness of the issues involved in the question of the authorship of the letters.
4.

Provide a critically informed account of sections in the letters which explore the relationship between theological conviction, ecclesial identity, and missional practice.

5.

Demonstrate an understanding of hermeneutical principles in relation to the interpretation of early Christian letters.

Unit sequence

30 points of NT study

Pedagogy

6 fortnightly sessions online. Each session consists of the teacher's multi-media lessons augmented by the set texts, online forums and tasks.

Indicative Bibliography

  • Best, Ernest, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on Ephesians. London: T&T Clark, 2004
  • Bockmuehl, Markus. The Epistle to the Philippians. 4th ed. London: A & C Black, 1997.
  • Fee, Gordon. D. Paul's Letter to the Philippians. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 1995.
  • Fowl, Stephen E. Ephesians. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2012.
  • Fowl, Stephen E. Philippians. Grand Rapids / Cambridge: Eerdmans, 2005.
  • Gombis, Timothy G. Paul: A Guide for the Perplexed. London: T&T Clark, 2010.
  • Hay, David M. Colossians. Nashville: Abingdon, 2000.
  • Schnabel, Eckhard J. Paul the Missionary: Realities, Strategies and Methods. Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2008. (recommended for purchase)
  • Sumney, Jerry. Colossians: A Commentary. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2010. (Fowl, Stephen E. Ephesians. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2012.
  • Tolmie, D. Francois, Philemon in Perspective: Interpreting a Pauline Letter. Berlin / New York: de Gruyter, 2010.
  • Ware, James. The Mission of the Church in Paul's Letter to the Philippians and in the Context of Ancient Judaism. Leiden / Boston: Brill, 2005.
  • Watson, Francis. Paul and the Hermeneutics of Faith. London: T&T Clark 2004.
  • Wright, N.T. The Paul Debate: Critical Questions for Understanding the Apostle. Waco: Baylor University Press, 2015. (recommended for purchase)

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Exegetical Essay

2,500 word exegetical essay

 0 40.0
Seminar or Tutorial

Online tutorial engagement across 6 forums (equivalent to 1,000 words)

 0 20.0
Essay

2,500 word thematic essay

 0 40.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by John Capper on 30 Nov, 2015

Unit record last updated: 2021-09-28 17:28:38 +1000