'Working out Salvation': Theology and Ethics in Paul (BN9120P)

Content

This unit will introduce and investigate the theology of the apostle Paul, and its relationship to his ethical teaching. You will explore the core theological ideas that lead Paul to the articulations of Christian faith and practice that we find in his letters. You will consider the strengths and weaknesses of different accounts of Paul’s theology and will learn how they relate to contemporary theological and ethical issues, including debates about questions of identity, race, gender and political engagement. By studying Paul’s letters in detail, you will gain a deeper understanding of the development of early Christian theology and its relevance for today.

Learning outcomes

Unit sequence

One unit of introductory New Testament study: BN9000P/BN8009P or equivalent.

Pedagogy

Lectures for this unit will be provided in the classroom and captured and supplemented by pre-recorded video material accessible to both face to face and online students.

Seminars relating to the interpretation of key texts from the Pauline letters will be held in the classroom and/or through real-time online conference.

Indicative Bibliography

Note: introductory texts relating to the unit content and learning outcomes are listed in the undergraduate version of the unit. The following titles reflect the more advanced treatments, suitable for postgraduate level engagement.

• Barclay, John M. G. Paul and the Gift. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2015.
• Bertschmann, Dorothea H. Bowing Before Christ—Nodding to the State?: Reading Paul Politically with Oliver O’Donovan and John Howard Yoder. LNTS 502. London: Bloomsbury, 2014.
• Campbell, Douglas A. T*he Deliverance of God: An Apocalyptic Rereading of Justification in Paul*. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2009.
• Cosgrove, Charles H., Herold Weiss, and Khiok-khng Yeo. Cross-Cultural Paul: Journey to Others, Journeys to Ourselves. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2005.
• Ehrensperger, Kathy. Paul and the Dynamics of Power: Communication and Interaction in the Early Christ-Movement. LNTS 325. London / New York: T & T Clark International, 2007.
• Fredriksen, Paula. Paul the Pagans’ Apostle. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2017.
• Gaventa, Beverly Roberts. Our Mother Saint Paul. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2007.
• Horrell, David G. Solidarity and Difference: A Contemporary Reading of Paul's Ethics. London / New York: T & T Clark International, 2005.
• Stanley, Christopher D., ed. &The Colonized Apostle: Paul through Postcolonial Eyes. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2011.
• Wright, N. T. Paul and the Faithfulness of God. Christian Origins and the Question of God 4. London: SPCK, 2013.

Assessment