Romans

Course Description:
What is the message of Romans? The answer to the question can be found by exploring many channels. One thing is for sure. It is about much more than justification by faith. This course will focus on applying various methodologies in deriving the message of Romans.

The book will be examined in light of modern research and linguistic characteristics. Many new studies have been published recently that will give a surprise answer to the question above. Special investigations will be conducted in Pauline vocabulary, theology, social and literary environment, and the rhetorical argument of the book. As the student will find out, Romans has a message for the present globalizing culture and mission.

Required Readings:
Jewett, R., Romans (Minneapolis: Fortress, 2007) or

Stott, J. R. W., Romans: God’s Good News to the World (Downers Grove: IVP, 1994).

Tsang, Sam, "Are we misreading Paul," 建道學刊 26 (2006) (read it on http://www.otseminary.org/sam_tsang/news_66).

傳到地極－羅馬書初探(基道, 2008).

Optional but recommended:

馮蔭坤：《羅馬書註釋：卷一～卷四》（台北：校園書房，1997）.

Course Goals:
1) Exposure to a combination of various critical methods, thus developing a personal exegetical strategy with clearly delineated presuppositions.

2)Appreciation for various interpretive traditions, thus gaining their insights and avoiding their pitfalls.

3)Learning Paul’s intention as well as his message.

4)Application of principles that follow the legacy of the Pauline message in our community.

Study Goals:

1) Intellectually, students should be able to think in the theological, historical, social, rhetorical, and literary context of Paul’s world.

2) Students will gain a critical mind with which to discuss interpretation from academic traditions different from our own.

3) Students will learn to appreciate the introductory issues and to solve the ‘problems’ in Pauline letters.

4) Students will learn to be comfortable in the exposition and application of a Pauline text.

Assignment:
Reading: Read Romans twice in the first three weeks. One more detailed reading must follow the progression of lectures. Follow along in commentary BEFORE each lecture. At the end of the semester, each student will turn in a pledge that s/he has read all of the assignments. If not, whatever percentage read must be given.

Papers: A 10-page argument of Romans will be submitted at the beginning of class on March 7th. Each student will be grade on methodology as well as thoughtfulness, not on how well s/he can reproduce my lectures. From the wide range of reading, the student will write a 5-10 page paper with full footnotes, on one of the following critical issues of Romans: the impact of Roman imperialism on the mission in Romans, the role of eschatology in reconciliation between Jews and gentiles; or the rhetorical function of justification in Romans. The last paper will be submitted at the beginning of the last class on May 2.
****** WARNING: For each week a paper is turned in late, one letter grade will be dropped. NO excuse will be tolerated except for dire emergencies (e.g. health, death in family, computer/printer crashing last minute etc.). Too much work from another class is NOT an acceptable excuse. Please plan ahead.

Test: None.
Grades:
First paper 45%
Second paper 45%
Reading 10 %

Grade Scale:
A - Thesis quality
B - Above requirements as stated above
C - Met requirements as stated above
D - Below requirements
F - Unacceptable quality.