Introduction to the course: Resources and Methods (Read: Lareta Finger, Paul and the Roman House Churches, Appendices 2 & 4). Organize seminar; review Syllabus, Texts, and Introductory Materials. NT Jeopardy Game. The Bible Story: Review of key events in Biblical history and their significance for Pauline studies. Historical and Cultural Contexts of Early Christianity (See Religio-National Groups in First-Century Judaism; review Lenski outline of "Social Classes in Agrarian Societies"). Trajectories in Early Christianity (Review Raymond Brown's Four Groups in Jewish-Gentile Christianity; Finger, Paul and the Roman House Churches, 1–3). Orientation to simulation; choose roles and characters. The ascetical discipline of research and writing. Workshop: The process of exegesis -- who, what, when, where, how, why? Workshop: How to read an exegetical article (identifying the thesis, arguments, methods, assumptions, weaknesses).

ASSIGNMENT FOR NEXT WEEK: Develop your simulation character and work on your Paper Proposal during the coming week; visit St. Cloud State's LEO for all sorts of help with your writing; click here for specific help in developing your thesis. Consult NT Bibliography and Pauline Bibliography for assistance. If you are interested, take the "Virtual Jerusalem Tour," including visiting the Jerusalem Mosaic to see what life was like in ancient Palestine, and try your hand at these sample quizzes about the Pauline materials in the NT.

READINGS FOR NEXT WEEK: Romans (entire); 1 Thess; Mark 13; Matt 25; Acts 9–28; Gal 2; Rom 16; Finger, Churches, chapters 1–7; Meeks, The First Urban Christians, Introduction & chapters 1, 5–6; Donfried et al., The Romans Debate, chapters 4–7; McGinn, Celebrating Romans, Introduction, 42–63; McGinn, "Women Co-Workers of Paul," The Bible Today 42.4 (July 2004): 213–17; Meeks, The Writings of St. Paul, Part V: "The Second Founder of Christianity," 273–320.

Reading Paul and Paul's Readers. The Apocalyptic Context of I CE Judaism (Read: 1 Thess; Mk 13 and Mt 25; Meeks, Christians, Introduction & Chpt. 1) Current topics in Pauline research (McGinn, Celebrating Romans, xiii–xix). Biblical texts & translations and their impact on Pauline research. A brief history of research on Romans (McGinn, 42–63). The churches of Rome: cultural, economic, and social conditions (Read: Donfried, chpts. 6–7; Finger, chpts. 4–7; McGinn, Celebrating Romans, 143–61; McGinn, "Women Co-Workers of Paul," The Bible Today 42, No. 4 (July 2004): 213–17). Slides of Rome; Christians under Persecution & Contemporaneous Judaism (BAS #157–180). A Chronology of Paul's Life (Read: Acts 9–28; Gal 2; Rom 16; Meeks, Writings, 273–320; Donfried, chpts. 4–5; Meeks, Christians, chpts. 5–6). Schedule class presentations of reviews and research papers. Workshop: How to write a critical review.

ASSIGNMENT FOR NEXT WEEK: Continue developing your simulation character; begin research and complete your paper proposal with preliminary bibliography
READINGS FOR NEXT WEEK: Rom 1:1–17; Donfried, chpts. 1–3, 8–9; Finger, chpt. 8; Meeks, Christians, chpts. 2–4

The Design & Purpose of Romans (Read: Romans [entire, esp. 1:1–17]; Donfried, chpts. 1–3, 8–9). A structural overview of Romans in light of Greco-Roman rhetoric (Read: Outline of Romans; McGinn, Celebrating Romans, 67–139; Meeks, Christians, chpts. 2–4; Finger, chpt. 8). Workshop: Developing an outline; see also some tips for arguing your case. Simulation begins.

DUE FOR THIS CLASS: Paper proposal with preliminary bibliography
ASSIGNMENT FOR NEXT WEEK: do first critical review of resources relating to your paper
READINGS FOR NEXT WEEK: Rom 1:18–2:29; Finger, chpt. 9

Sin and the Law (Read: Rom 1:18–2:29; Finger, chpt. 9). Workshop: How to write an annotated bibliography. Simulation continues.

DUE FOR THIS CLASS: Begin submitting your critical reviews.
ASSIGNMENT FOR NEXT WEEK: continue literature review and do Sentence outline or Annotated Bibliography due of resources relating to your paper
READINGS FOR NEXT WEEK: Rom 3:1–20; Meeks, Writings, Part VI: "Pauline Christianity and Judaism," 321–60

Who is the True Jew? (Read: Rom 3:1–20; Meeks, Writings, 321–60). Workshop: How to write an exegetical paper.

DUE FOR THIS CLASS: Sentence outline or Annotated Bibliography
ASSIGNMENT FOR NEXT WEEK: continue literature review and write second critical review of resources relating to your paper
READINGS FOR NEXT WEEK: Rom 3:21–4:25; Finger, chpt. 10; McGinn, Celebrating Romans, 177–89

Abraham and God's dikaiosune: Grace beyond Torah through ho pistis Iesou (Read: Romans 3:21–4:25; Finger, chpt. 10; McGinn, Celebrating Romans, 177–89). Simulation continues.

ASSIGNMENT FOR NEXT WEEK: finish critical reviews of resources relating to your paper
READINGS FOR NEXT WEEK: Rom 5–7; Finger, chpts. 11–12; McGinn, Celebrating Romans, 20–41, 190–203; Meeks, Writings, Part IV:  "Law, Grace, and Ethics," 215–72

The Life of Faith means the Death of Sin (Read: Rom 5–7; Finger, chpts. 11–12; McGinn, Celebrating Romans, 20–41, 190–203; Meeks, Writings, 215–72). Simulation continues.

DUE FOR THIS CLASS: Last critical review
ASSIGNMENT FOR NEXT WEEK: write first draft of research paper
READINGS FOR NEXT WEEK: Rom 8; Finger, chpt. 15; McGinn, "All Creation Groans in Labor: Paul’s Theology of Creation in Romans 8:18–23” [In Carol Dempsey and Mary Margaret Pazdan, eds.,Earth, Wind, and Fire: Biblical and Theological Perspectives on Creation (Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press, 2004), 114–23].

The New Creation (Read: Rom 8; Finger, chpt. 15; McGinn, "All Creation Groans in Labor: Paul’s Theology of Creation in Romans 8:18–23” [In Carol Dempsey and Mary Margaret Pazdan, eds.,Earth, Wind, and Fire: Biblical and Theological Perspectives on Creation (Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press, 2004), 114–23].

DUE FOR THIS CLASS: First draft of research paper; NB: Be sure to use inclusive language, and remember to proofread it first! Hints for proofreading, editing, and revising
ASSIGNMENT FOR NEXT WEEK: keep working on your research paper
READINGS FOR NEXT WEEK: Read: Rom 9–11; Finger, chpt. 14; McGinn, Celebrating Romans, 3–19, 165–76; Original Sin; Sievers, "'God's Gifts and Call are Irrevocable':  The Interpretation of Rom 11:29 and Its Uses," SBLSP 1997: 337–57

Universal Salvation in Christ Jesus? (Read: Rom 9–11; Finger, chpt. 14; McGinn, Celebrating Romans, 3–19, 165–76; Original Sin; Sievers, "'God's Gifts and Call are Irrevocable':  The Interpretation of Rom 11:29 and Its Uses," SBLSP 1997: 337–57.) Simulation continues.

ASSIGNMENT FOR NEXT WEEK: complete second draft of your research paper
READINGS FOR NEXT WEEK: Rom 8 & 12; Finger, chpt. 13; Meeks, Writings, Part VII: "Paul and Religious Experience," 361–444

The Mystical Paul? (Read: Rom 8 & 12; Finger, chpt. 13; Meeks, Writings, Part VII: "Paul and Religious Experience," 361–444.) Simulation continues. Workshop: How to give critical feedback on a colleague's paper.

DUE FOR THIS CLASS: Second draft of paper (bring two copies, one for instructor and one for your colleague who will critique it)
ASSIGNMENT FOR NEXT WEEK: keep working on your research paper; do peer review of colleague's paper (to submit by next class)
READINGS FOR NEXT WEEK: Rom 13–15; Conscience; Finger, chpt. 16

Situational or Interim Ethics in Paul? (Read: Rom 13–15; Conscience; Finger, chpt. 16) Simulation continues.

ASSIGNMENT FOR NEXT WEEK: keep working on your research paper
READINGS FOR NEXT WEEK: Comparison of Paul with Deutero-Pauline and Gnostic Traditions; Comparison of Paul with the Pastoral Epistles; Finger, chpts. 17–18, Appendix 3; Meeks, Writings III: "Views of Paul in the Ancient Church," 149–213, especially take note of "The Acts of Paul and Thecla." Recommended: McGinn, "The Acts of Thecla" (in Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, ed., Searching the Scriptures, Vol. 2: A Feminist Ecumenical Commentary and Translation [Crossroads, 1994], 854–82)

The Impact of Paul's Gospel:  The Pauline Churches after Paul. (Read: Comparison of Paul with Deutero-Pauline and Gnostic Traditions; Comparison of Paul with the Pastoral Epistles; Finger, chpts. 17–18, Appendix 3; McGinn, "The Acts of Thecla" [in Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, ed., Searching the Scriptures, Vol. 2: A Feminist Ecumenical Commentary and Translation (Crossroads, 1994), 854–82]; Meeks, Writings III: "Views of Paul in the Ancient Church," 149–213, esp. "The Acts of Paul and Thecla.") Simulation concludes; Agape meal and debriefing.

DUE FOR THIS CLASS: remember your contribution to the Agape meal!
ASSIGNMENT FOR NEXT CLASS: complete Final draft of research paper; begin preparing class presentation and/or response to your colleague's paper

Thanksgiving Break; NO CLASS MEETING

Class presentation of research projects. Final Course Evaluation available.

DUE FOR THIS CLASS: Final draft of research paper
ASSIGNMENT FOR NEXT WEEK: prepare class presentation and/or response to your colleague's paper; complete Final Course Evaluation and bring to class
READINGS FOR NEXT WEEK: Review Rom 16

Final class session: Class presentation of research projects. Paul for a New Day (Re-read Rom 16)

DUE FOR THIS CLASS: Final Course Evaluation
ASSIGNMENT FOR NEXT WEEK: "drop dead" deadline for any last-minute corrections to your term paper is Noon Monday, 12/12
READINGS FOR NEXT WEEK: none!