NT609DE: Syllabus Timothy P. Henderson Spring 2010 Bethel Seminary March 29-June 4 Phone: 612-298-8014 Email: [email protected]

GALATIANS

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

A study of Paul’s letter to the Galatians, with special emphasis on the historical situation that gave rise to its composition, the theological message expressed within it, and its implications for Christian theology and praxis today. This course also explores Paul’s larger theological framework and personal life.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

Students who put forth their best effort in this course will: 1. Expand their awareness of the historical background of the events described in Galatians. 2. Enhance their understanding of Paul’s theological message expressed in this letter and his other letters. 3. Become better acquainted with the issues involved in discussions surrounding the so-called “New Perspective on Paul,” including the views of both proponents and critics. 4. Improve their knowledge of the diverse ways in which Galatians has been interpreted throughout the history of the Church. 5. Grow in their appreciation of the relevance of Galatians’ message for Christian communities today, especially as it pertains to personal and spiritual formation and leadership. 6. Explore avenues for cultivating greater freedom and grace within churches today.

REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS:

Baker, Mark D. Religious No More: Building Communities of Grace and Freedom. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2005. ISBN 1597521051

Dunn, James D. G. The Epistle to the Galatians. Black’s New Testament Commentary 9. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1993. ISBN 156563036X NT609DE: Syllabus

Wright, N. T. Justification: God’s Plan and Paul’s Vision. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2009. ISBN 0830838635 REQUIRED ARTICLES (Available on Blackboard):

Duncan, J. Ligon. “The Attractions of the New Perspective(s) on Paul.” Online paper accessible at: http://www.alliancenet.org/partner/Article_Display_Page/0,,PTID307086_CHID5 60462_CIID1660662,00.html

Fee, Gordon D. “Male and Female in the New Creation: Galatians 3:26-29.” In Discovering Biblical Equality: Complementarity without Hierarchy, edited by R. W. Pierce, R. M. Groothuis, and G. D. Fee, 172-85. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2004.

Hagner, Donald A. “Paul and Judaism: Testing the New Perspective.” In Revisiting Paul’s Doctrine of Justification: A Challenge to the New Perspective. , edited by P. Stuhlmacher, 75-105. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2001.

Riches, John. Galatians through the Centuries. Blackwell Bible Commentaries. Malden, MA: Blackwell, 2008, 245-83.

Stendahl, Krister. “The Apostle Paul and the Introspective Conscience of the West.” Harvard Theological Review 56 (1963): 199-215.

Webb, William J. “A Redemptive-Movement Hermeneutic: The Slavery Analogy.” In Discovering Biblical Equality: Complementarity without Hierarchy, edited by R. W. Pierce, R. M. Groothuis, and G. D. Fee, 382-400. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2004.

ASSIGNMENTS (Detailed instructions for each will be made available):

1. Three Short Response Papers (3 x 10% each = 30%): Students will write a short response paper (600-800 words) for three of the course readings: Stendahl, Webb, and Fee. These require no outside research and in each case are simply a summary of the author’s argument and, more importantly, your constructive reply to the author’s claims. Due: April 5 (Stendahl) and May 9 (Webb and Fee) 2. Wright Book Review (15%): Students will write a review (1000-1250 words) of N. T. Wright’s Justification: God’s Plan and Paul’s Vision. Due: April 26 3. Pastoral Reply to the New Perspective Controversy (10%): Students will address a hypothetical situation related to the controversy over the “New Perspective on Paul,” using their newly acquired knowledge about the issue in a ministry context. This will take the form of a short written reply (600-800 words) addressing one of the hypothetical situations proposed by the instructor. Due: May 2

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4. Spiritual Application Paper (15%): Students will write a paper (1000-1250 words) in which they explore the significance of the message of Galatians for an area of Christian spiritual formation, leadership, or ministry today. Students are free to write on the topic of their own choosing. The instructor will also offer ideas for topics. Due: May 23 5. Baker Book Review (15%): Students will compose a review (1000-1250 words) of Mark D. Baker’s Religious No More: Building Communities of Grace and Freedom. Due: June 6 6. Reading and Discussion (15%): Five times during the quarter we will open a discussion forum to dialogue about the course readings, lectures, and other materials. The instructor will post his comments and questions to begin the discussion. The initial post for each discussion is due by the date in the syllabus (Thursdays) and all follow-up posts are due by Sunday of the week in which the discussion occurs. On weeks when there is a discussion, you should complete all of the assigned reading before joining the conversation. Please plan accordingly. Students are expected to be actively and regularly engaged in these conversations. This includes reading the instructor’s comments, reflecting on the issues, and responding to the comments of the instructor and fellow students. Expect to offer approximately 2-3 posts per discussion, although quality is more important than quantity. If your contributions consistently reflect substantive thought and constructive interaction (and are posted on time), you will earn a perfect score for this part of the grade, pending the results of your reading report. In addition, students will submit to the instructor by June 6 a statement indicating what percentage of the assigned reading s/he has completed.

GRADES

Grades will be assigned using the full range of letter grades (A-F), representing the following levels of performance:

A Excellent work submitted; evidence of outstanding ability to synthesize and use course knowledge; consistent evidence of creativity and originality; insightful contributions; consistent demonstration of integrative and critical thinking skills; and respectful interaction. B Good work submitted; evidence of substantial ability to analyze and use course knowledge; evidence of creativity and originality; thoughtful contributions; some demonstration of integrative and critical thinking skills; and respectful interaction. C Acceptable work submitted; evidence of adequate ability to analyze and use course knowledge; appropriate contributions; attempts at integration and critique; and respectful interaction. D Poor work submitted; little evidence of ability to analyze and use course knowledge; inconsistent evidence of mastery of course content; few contributions; no attempts at integration and critique; and respectful interaction.

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F Inadequate work submitted; insufficient evidence of ability to analyze and use course knowledge; inappropriate and/or disrespectful contributions; or failure to complete course requirements. Grading Scale (in percentages):

A 93-100 C 73-77 A- 90-92 C- 70-72 B+ 88-89 D+ 68-69 B 83-87 D 63-67 B- 80-82 D- 60-62 C+ 78-79 F Below 60

The final course grade will be determined by calculating the percentage of total points (200) earned: Stendahl response (20 points); Webb response (20 points); Fee response (20 points); Wright book review (30 points); pastoral reply (20 points); spiritual application paper (30 points); Baker book review (30 points); reading and discussion forum participation (30 points).

IMPORTANT MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

 Late Work Policy. Assignments are due by 11:59PM (in the student’s time zone) on the dates indicated. Work submitted late without prior approval from the instructor will be penalized 5% for each day late. This means that a late assignment which otherwise would merit a score of 90% would receive a score of 85% if it were one day late, 80% if it were two days late, etc. Please do not ask for due date extensions unless the circumstances are extreme.

 Paper Lengths. Each written assignment has a word-limit range. In order to ensure equity among students, papers with too many or too few words will have their grades adversely affected. Please include the word count at the end of each written assignment submitted.

 Instructor Availability. Because this course does not have any “face-to-face” class time, the instructor will make himself readily available via e-mail (timothy- [email protected]) and telephone (612-298-8014) for students who want to discuss anything regarding the course or its contents.

 Inclusive Language. In accordance with Bethel Seminary policy, inclusive language should be used in class discussions and papers.

 Plagiarism will result in failure of that assignment and will be reported to the Student Life committee.

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 Disability-Related Accommodations. Please contact the instructor as soon as possible if disability-related accommodations are needed. Accommodations for students with documented disabilities are set up through the Office of Disability Services. Contact Kathy McGillivray, Director of Disability Services, at (651) 635-8759. COURSE SCHEDULE

DATE TOPICS ASSIGNMENTS Week One Galatians 1 Read: Galatians (entire letter) (3/29-4/4) - What is the historical Read: Dunn, 1-51 background of Galatians? Read: Stendahl, 199-215 - What did Paul do during the Listen to: Audio Talk years after his conversion? Post: Your personal introduction on - Did Paul have a guilt-ridden Blackboard conscience? DUE: Stendahl Response (by April 5) Week Two Galatians 1-2 Read: Dunn, 51-150 (4/5-4/11) - Who are the “Galatian opponents”? DUE: Online Discussion #1 (first post - What happened at Antioch, by April 8) and how did it shape Paul’s theology? Week Three Galatians 2 Read: Wright, 9-140 (4/12-4/18) - How does Paul view the Listen to: Audio Talk Law? - What does Paul mean by DUE: Online Discussion #2 (first post “works of the law”? by April 15) - Was first-century Judaism a “legalistic” religion? - What is justification? Week Four Galatians 2-3 Read: Wright, 141-252 (4/19-4/25) - What is the “New Perspective Listen to: Audio Talk on Paul”? - What is the “pistis Christou” DUE: Wright Book Review (by April debate about? 25) Week Five Galatians 3 Read: Dunn, 150-208 (4/26-5/2) - Why are some not convinced Read: Hagner, 75-105 by the “New Perspective”? Read: Duncan article (available online)

DUE: Online Discussion #3 (first post by April 29) DUE: Pastoral Reply to the New Perspective Controversy (by May 2) Week Six Galatians 3-4 Read: Fee, 172-185 (5/3-5/9) - What is a good hermeneutic Read: Webb, 382-400

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for reading Paul’s letters? Listen to: Audio Talk - How does Paul view unity in Christ? DUE: Fee Response (by May 9) - What is the relationship DUE: Webb Response (by May 9) between law and promise? Week Seven Galatians 4 Read: Dunn, 209-259 (5/10-5/16) - How does Paul use the Old Listen to: Audio Talk Testament in his letters? - What does it look like to follow Christ? Week Eight Galatians 5-6 Read: Dunn, 260-315 (5/17-5/23) - How has Galatians been Read: Riches, 245-283 interpreted throughout the Listen to: Audio Talk history of the Church? DUE: Online Discussion #4 (first post by May 20) DUE: Spiritual Application Paper (by May 23) Week Nine Galatians in the Church Today Read: Baker, 9-96 (5/24-5/30) - In what ways are some of our Read: Dunn, 316-348 churches today similar to the Galatian churches? DUE: Online Discussion #5 (first post - What would a grace-filled by May 27) Christian community of freedom look like today?

Week Ten Galatians in the Church Today Read: Baker, 97-159 (5/31-6/6) DUE: Baker Book Review (by June 6) DUE: Reading Statement (by June 6)

ALLOCATION OF COURSE WORKLOAD:

Response Papers: 9 hours (3 X 3 hours each) Wright Book Review: 8 hours Pastoral Reply: 3 hours Spiritual Application Paper: 15 hours Baker Book Review: 8 hours Discussion Forum: 10 hours Lectures: 5 hours Reviewing Course Handouts: 5 hours Assigned Reading: 40-50 hours

Total: 103-113 hours

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