Content

This unit explores Paul’s interaction with the Corinthian community, with a focus on First Corinthians and on the social and historical background to that interaction. Students will become more aware of the complexities of Paul’s relationship with the Corinthian house churches; the dialogical and rhetorical structure of the letters; the underlying social, political and cultural factors shaping the exchanges; and the christological ethical, ecclesiological pneumatological and eschatological themes that emerge. The unit will build on the skills of exegesis (historical-critical and socio-rhetorical methods) and encourage students in the task of applying their findings to the life and mission of the church today.

Unit code: BN9731W

Unit status: Archived (New unit)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Elective

Unit discipline: New Testament

Delivery Mode: Online

Proposing College: Whitley College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Give an informed account of the history of interpretation of First Corinthians

2.

Describe and discuss the socio-political and rhetorical context in which the letter first circulated;

3.

Analyse the christological, ethical, ecclesiological, pneumatological, missiological and eschatological themes and ideas in First Corinthians;

4.

Exegete selected texts in First Corinthians by employing a range of appropriate exegetical methods and resources

5.

Critique postcolonial, crosscultural and intercultural approaches to interpreting First Corinthians in light of contemporary socio-political and cultural issues

Unit sequence

Foundations unit in NT (BN8001W or equivalent)

Pedagogy

Interaction with online resources, including forum, peer discussion, lecture MP3s, PPTs, readings.

Indicative Bibliography

  • Collins, Raymond F. First Corinthians (SP), Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1999
  • De Vos, Craig S. Church and Community Conflicts: The relationships of the Thessalonian, Corinthian and Philippian churches with their wider civic communities (SBLDS 168), Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1999.
  • Elliott, Neil. Liberating Paul: The justice of God and the politics of the Apostle. Maryknoll: Orbis, 1994.
  • Fee, Gordon D. The First Epistle to the Corinthians (NICNT), Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1987.
  • Gorman, Michael J. Apostle of the crucified Lord: A theological introduction to Paul and his letters. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004.
  • Hays, Richard B. First Corinthians (Interpretation), Louisville: John Knox Press, 1997.
  • Horsley, Richard A. Wisdom and Spiritual Transcendence at Corinth: Studies in First Corinthians. Eugene: Cascade, 2008.
  • Horrell, David G. Solidarity and Difference: A contemporary reading of Paul’s ethics. London: T&T Clark, 2005.
  • Kwon, Oh-Young Kwon, 1 Corinthians 1-4: Reconstructing its Social and Rhetorical Situation and Re-Reading It Cross-Culturally for Korean-Confucian Christians Today. Eugene: Wipe and Stock, 2010.
  • Rosner, Brian S (ed.). Understanding Paul’s Ethics: Twentieth century approaches. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995
  • Thiselton, Anthony C. The First Epistle to the Corinthians: A commentary on the Greek text. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000. (Recommended for purchase)
  • White, Adam G. Where is the Wise Man: Greco–Roman Education as a Background to the Divisions in 1 Corinthians 1–4. London: Bloomsbury T & T Clark, 2015. (Recommended for purchase)
Approvals

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

Unit record last updated: 2020-10-09 14:01:44 +1100