This unit focuses on the undisputed letters of Paul and what they reveal to us about the apostle, his co-workers, his mission, the communities he addresses and his theology within the context of Second Temple Judaism and the first century Greco-Roman world. Insights to Paul’s strategies to build sustainable faith communities, support local leadership, expand broader networks and secure identity in Christ are explored. Relevant engagement with the disputed letters and the Acts of the Apostles will be made as appropriate. This unit will encourage theological discussion of the legacy of Paul for the church today.
Unit code: BN3200C
Unit status: Approved (Assessment revision)
Points: 18.0
Unit level: Undergraduate Level 3
Unit discipline: New Testament
Proposing College: Catholic Theological College
Show when this unit is running| 1. | Identify strategic methods employed by Paul in his correspondence that contributed to the growth of the early ekklesia |
| 2. | Delineate the context of the Pauline Letters |
| 3. | Critically examine passages from Paul’s letters within their first century context using detailed exegesis |
| 4. | Reflect theologically on the key themes of Paul’s letters elucidating their contemporary insights for society and the church today |
| 5. | Compare and contrast Paul’s use and development of metaphors and themes |
Two Biblical Studies units at second level
Lectures, Focus Text Workshops, online Context Forum. This unit will be offered online and face-to-face with two hours each week delivered synchronously (F2F and OLS) + 1 hour asynchronous learning activity (OLA).
| Type | Description | Word count | Weight (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forum - Online Context Forum | Submission of one discussion topic of at least 3 points of context for each of 5 Pauline letters across the teaching period e.g. Thessalonians, Galatians, Corinthians, Philippians and romans. |
600 | 10.0 |
| Report - Focus Text Report | 1000 word report on one of the first three Focus Texts. |
1000 | 20.0 |
| Portfolio - In class Portfolio Hurdle/Compulsory task | The Portfolio consists of three (3) writing tasks conducted in class:
This Portfolio is a hurdle/compulsory task. This means passing this Portfolio assessment is required to pass the unit. |
1400 | 40.0 |
| Essay - Main Essay | 2000 word essay on the exegesis passage chosen in the portfolio assessment task. |
2000 | 30.0 |
Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 16 Jan, 2026
Unit record last updated: 2026-01-16 11:13:13 +1100