Rev. Patrick G. Stefan Ph.D. Candidate, University of Denver Cell: NT 516 – Introduction to Acts and Romans

NT516–IntroductiontoActsandRomans
2CreditHours
Rev.PatrickG.Stefan
Ph.D.Candidate,UniversityofDenver
Location:ReformedTheologicalSeminary/DCCampus
Time:January7–9,2016;8:00AM–5:00PM
Contact:[email protected];Cell:585-200-1777
Introduction:“Paul,aservantofJesusChrist,calledtobeanapostle,setapartforthegospelofGod,
whichhepromisedbeforehandthroughhisprophetsintheholyscriptures,thegospelconcerninghisSon,
whowasdescendedfromDavidaccordingtothefleshandwasdeclaredtobeSonofGodwithpower
accordingtothespiritofholinessbyresurrectionfromthedead,JesusChristourLord,throughwhomwe
havereceivedgraceandapostleshiptobringabouttheobedienceoffaithamongalltheGentilesforthe
sakeofhisname,includingyourselveswhoarecalledtobelongtoJesusChrist”(Rom.1:1-6).This
passageaccuratelysumsupthecourse–theologyshouldleadustoJesus.It’saboutJesusinhisflesh,
hispower,andhisresurrection.It’saboutspreadingthemessageoftheGospelandparticipatinginthe
growthofChrist’sKingdom.ThisclasswillserveasanintroductiontoLuke’saccountoftheHistoryof
Redemption(Acts)andPaul’smagnumopus(Romans),bothofwhichinformusaboutthenatureofthe
Kingdom,andtherealitiesofbeingpartofthatKingdom.
LeaningObjectives:
• StrengthenyourfaithinJesus.Oneofmyprimaryobjectivesisthatyouleavewithapassionfor
thebiblicalJesusthatcaninformyourministry.
• ProvidetoolstoseetheActsandRomansnotasdryhistoryandtheologybutasengaging
historical/theological-literaturesothatthisengagementwillfinditselfinthepulpitandthe
heartsofGod’speople.
• UnderstandtheliteraryandtheologicaldynamicsofActs.
• UnderstandthehistoryofinterpretationinRomansandhowpastthoughtsinfluencepresent
conclusions.
• Demonstrateengagementwiththesetwotextsinaconstructivewaythatdealsseriouslywith
God’sWordbutalwayshasaneyeonthepresent.
• UnderstandActsandRomansintheirJewishandRomancontexts.Thesetwosocio-historical
worldsinformLukeandPaul,therefore,wemustseethemcouchedwithinthosecontextsin
ordertoexperiencetheworld-changingimpacttheyhadonthe1stCentury.
• BeabletoarticulatemodernscholarlycontroversiesinRomansinafair,clear,andconcise
fashion.
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Approach:
• Thisclasswillfunctionasalecturewithsomehybridelementsofseminarformat.Eachdaywill
haveaboutonehourofdiscussiononthepre-coursereading.Forthisreason,itisabsolutely
vitalthatyoucompleteALLofthe‘pre-course’readingspriortothestartofclass.Thesuccessof
theclassdependsuponthis!...andsodoesyourgradeJ.Whenyoudothepre-course
readings,thinkaboutthetwotextsforthedayinconversationwithoneanother.Inother
words,ifthesetwoauthorswereinaroomtogether,whatwouldtheysaytooneanother?
• MoreinkhasbeenspilledontheinterpretationofRomansthanonanyotherbookintheBible.
Putanotherway–Romanshasahistory,andifwewanttounderstandtherolethatthisbook
hasplayedinGod’schurchwehavetomakeaneffortatunderstandingthathistory.Todothis,
wewilllookatthehistoryofinterpretation.Wewillbeginwithquestionsfromantiquity(e.g.
howtoreadanancientletter),andthenmovetowardissuesinthepresent(e.g.New
Perspectives,Post-LiberalreadingsofPaul,andPaulamongModernPhilosophy).
• OurultimategoalwillbetobuildaReformed,coherent,andscripturallyfaithfultheologyof
RomansandActs.Intheprocesswewillbecomecarefulandintentionalreadersofancient
lettersandhistories.
GradeBreakdown:
• FinalExam(TakeHome,OpenNotes/Books):30%-Due:Feb.26
• TwoShortPapers(3-5Pages)orSermonSeries(2Sermons):30%-Due:Feb.12
• IndividualOnlinePresentation&Response:30%-PresentationDue:Jan.25;ResponseJan.29
• InClassParticipation:10%
RequiredReading:
(Selectionshighlightedandmarkedwithanasterisk*mustbereadbeforemeetinginclass)
Iexpectthatallstudentswillhavereadtherequiredpre-coursematerialbeforeseminardiscussion
begins.ThisisVERYimportanttoyourgrade.Iwillprovideareadingchecklistforyouwhenyouregister
forclassthatwillindicatewhattextsmustbereadbeforeclassandwhattextscanbesavedforafter
class.
PurchaseTheseBooks:
• StudentsmustreadthroughtheActsandtheRomansinanyTranslationtwotimes.Oncebefore
classbegins,andoncefollowingthelectures,readings,andassignments.Iaskthatyouread
eachbookinonesitting.
• TheActsoftheRisenLordJesus,AlanJ.Thompson.IntervarsityPress,2011(Pages17-196)
• PropheticJesus,PropheticChurch,LukeTimothyJohnson,Eerdmans,2001(Pages1-186)–
Chapters2,6-8arepre-coursereadings*
• PerspectivesonPentecost,RichardGaffin,P&RPublishing,1993(ReadAll)*
• RomansinFullCircle:AHistoryofInterpretation,MarkReasoner.WJK,2005(Pagesxix-149)
• JustificationReconsidered:RethinkingaPaulineTheme,StephenWesterholm.Eerdmans,2013
(Pages1-99)*
• Paul:AnOutlineofHisTheology,HermanRidderbos,1997(Pages44-197)
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TheFollowingRequiredReadingsdonotneedtobepurchased;Iwillprovidescannedcopiesthrough
Self-Service:
• Stendahl,Krister,Bp.1963."TheapostlePaulandtheintrospectiveconscienceofthe
west."HarvardTheologicalReview56,no.3:199-215.*
• TheRomansDebate(Rev.Ed.).KurtP.Donfried,ed.BakerAcademic,1991(Chs.8,11,16,18,
20)–Chapter20ispre-coursereading*
RecommendedResources,butnotrequired:
• IntroducingRomans:CriticalIssuesinPaul’sMostFamousLetter.RichardN.Longnecker.
Eerdmans,2011(SelectionsTBD)–thisbookisnotrequiredtopurchase,butIhighly
recommenddoingso.Itisafantasticresourcetohaveonyourshelf.
• TheSavingRighteousnessofGod,MichaelF.Bird.Paternoster,2007
• “PaultheRhetorandWriter”and“EarlyChristianHomilies:TheRhetoricalSpeechSummariesin
Acts”inNewTestamentRhetoric:AnIntroductoryGuidbook,BenWitheringtonIII.Wipf&Stock,
2009
• PrettymuchanythingbyStephenWesterholm
• Paul:AnOutlineofhisTheology,HermannRidderbos.Eerdmans:1997
• TheMessageofActsintheHistoryofRedemption,DennisE.Johnson.P&RPublishing:1997
• DictionaryofPaulandHisLetters.GeraldF.Hawthrone,RalphP.MartinandDanielG.Reid,eds.
IVPAcademic:1993–Ifyoudon’thavethis,Istronglysuggestyoupurchaseit
• ByFaith,NotBySight:PaulandtheOrderofSalvation(2nded.).RichardB.GaffinJr.P&R
Publishing:2013
• PaulineEschatology.GeerhardusVos,P&RPublishing:1979.
• ResurrectionandRedemption:AStudyinPaul’sSoteriology.RichardB.Gaffin,Jr.P&RPublishing:
1987.
CourseOutline:
Thursday,January7th,2016
8:30–10:00–ActsIntroductoryMatters/Dating/Authorship
10:00–10:20-Break
10:20–12:00–HowtoReadtheActsNarrative/ConversationonImportantThemes
12:00–1:00-Lunch
1:00–2:40–HowtoReadtheActsTheology/ConversationonModernControversy
2:40–3:00-Break
3:00–4:20–Lab–ReadingActsClosely
4:20–4:30–Break
4:30–5:30–SeminardiscussiononthemeaningofActsforMinistry
[RequiredReadings:PropheticJesus,PropheticChurchandPerspectiveson
Pentecost]
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Friday,January8th,2016
8:30–10:00–IntroductiontoRomans/AncientandModernControversies
10:00–10:20-Break
10:20–12:00–Readingareallyoldletter:Howtodoit
12:00–1:00-Lunch
1:00–2:40–What’sthedealwithalloftheperspectives?
2:40–3:00-Break
3:00–4:20–Lab–HowtoreadpistisChristouanddikaiosuneTheouandwhyitmatters
4:20–4:30–Break
4:30–5:30–SeminardiscussiononRomansandJustification
[RequiredReadings:Stendahl,Donfried(ch.20),Westerholm:Justification
Reconsidered
Saturday,January9th,2016
8:30–10:00–TheRhetoricalStructureofRomans
10:00–10:20-Break
10:20–12:00–Lab–ReadingRomansClosely(LookingattheRhetoricalBreaks)
12:00–1:00-Lunch
1:00–2:40–Whythereadermatters–or,who’sgettingtheletter?
2:40–3:00-Break
3:00–4:00–Puttingitalltogether:TheTheologyofRomansinCovenantalContext
4:00–4:10–Break
4:10–4:30–Lab–Thereaderandthereading
4:30–5:30–Conclusion:Acts,Romans,andtheNewTestament
AssignmentRequirements:
FinalExam:Thefinalexamwillbeanopennotes/openbookexam.TheexamwillbeavailableonCanvas
andwillhaveathree-hourtimelimit.Itwillconsistoftwosections–sectiononewillhave10
terms/conceptsfromwhichyoumustpick7andprovideashortanswer/definitionto;sectiontwowill
have5essayquestionsfromwhichyouwillpick2.Youranswerforeachessayquestionshouldbeno
lessthanoneparagraph,butnogreaterthanonepage.
TwoShortPapersorTwo-PartSermonSeries:Youhaveanoptionforyourfinalpaper.Youmayeither
writetwoshortpapers(3-5pages)thatcovereitherapericopeortopicofyourchoiceoryoumay
prepareandpreachatwopartsermonseriesinActsorRomans.
Papers:Ifyouchoosetowritethepaperstheymustfollowtheseguidelines:
• Thefirstpapershouldbeexplanatoryorexegeticalandshoulddealwitha
pericopeortopicofyourchoice.Itshouldincludeafairsummaryofthe
importantissuesathandinyourpericopeortopic,youranalysisofthoseissues,
andtheimplicationsofyourconclusionontheology.Forexample,ifyoutalk
abouttonguesoffireinActs2andyouconcludethatGodgavethemfora
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particularmomentinthehistoryofredemption,thenyoumustspendtime
explaininghowthatconclusionfitsintoyourlargertheologicalframework.
Followthepaperguidebelowforthispaper.
• Thesecondpapershouldbeapersonalreflection.Itshoulddealwithsomething
youlearnedeitherinclassorinthereadings.Itshouldincludeasummaryofthe
topicyouarereflectingonandanexplanationofhowthattopichastakenroot
inyourlifeandministry.Youdonotneedtofollowthepaperguidebelowfor
thispaper;however,ifyoureferencesomethingyoumustciteitproperly.
Sermons:Ifyouchoosetowritethesermonstheymustfollowtheseguidelines:
• Thetwo-partseriesshouldworktogether–inotherwords,thesecondsermon
shouldflowfromthefirst.Todothis,Isuggestyoupicktwopassagesthatreside
nexttooneanother(i.e.Romans12:1-8and12:9-21)
• Youmustsubmittomeacopyofyourmanuscriptsandanaudiorecordingof
thesermons.
OptionThree:Ifyoudesiretoworkonyourexegeticalskills,youmaywritea12-15page
exegeticalpaper.However,youmustreceivepermissionbeforebeginningthisproject.Iwill
workwithyoutocraftacompellingthesisandpaper.
IndividualPresentations:Inmyexperience,presentingonatopicisthebestwaytolearnthe‘insand
outs’ofthatparticulartopic.Becausewearelimitedinourtimetogether,wearegoingtodoelectronicpresentationsandresponses.Youwillberequiredtopickonetopicbelowandpreparea15minute
presentationonthattopic,accompaniedbyahandout.Yourpresentationshouldincludeananalysisof
thetopic/problem,afairsummaryofscholarshipthathasbeendoneonthattopic,andyourresolution
ofthetopic/problemwithadefenseofthatresolution.
AsPresenter:YourpresentationmustbedoneonPrezi.Createyourslideswithrelevantinformation,
thenrecordlecturematerialusingthedevice’ssoundrecordfunction.YouwillprovidealinktothePrezi
onthecourseCanvaspage.Thepresentationshouldbenolessthan7minutesandnomorethan12
minutes.Iwillprovideinstructionsforthisinclass.
AsObserver:View1presentationandprovideaone-paragraphwrite-upthattellswhatyoulearned
fromthepresentationandhowithelpsyouunderstandthegospelsmoreclearly.Thisparagraphshould
bepostedtotheCanvaspage.
IndividualPresentationOptions:
• Iwillprovidealistofpresentationoptionsonthefirstdayofclass.
InClassParticipation:Iexpectthatallstudentswillhavereadtherequiredpre-coursematerialbefore
thecommensurateseminardiscussion.ThisisVERYimportanttoyourgrade.Unfortunately,duetothe
structureofthecoursewecannotdiscusseachindividualreadingtheweekafteritisassigned;however,
Istillneedyoutobeconversantwiththematerialsothatourdiscussionscanbefruitful.Therefore,I
recommendyoukeepareadinglogtojotdownnotes,thoughts,orimportantquotesthatyoumaywant
tobringupinclass.Thiswillalsoprovideyouwithareferencetolookbackonaswellasameansof
interactingwiththetextinamorethoroughmanner.SeethecourseparticipationguideonCanvas.
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FinalPaperGuide
• Eachpapermustbe3-5pagesexcludingbibliography.
• ThepapersmustbeuploadedtotheCanvaswebsiteunderthelistedassignment.Thedocument
mustbesentaseitheraword(.docor.docx)documentorPDF(wordispreferable).
• Greek,Hebrew,andAramaicwordsmustbetypedout,nottransliterated.
• Papershouldincludeanintroductionwithaclearly-statedthesisstatement.
• Papershouldbeclearlyarguedandarticulated.
• Papershoulddealfairlywithsecondaryliterature.
• Papershouldhaveatleastfourreferencesofthefollowingkind:
o Academicmonographs
o Articlesinscholarlyjournals
o Academiccommentaries
o Reformedliterature
o Literaturefromanycenturyisfine(i.e.earlyChristian,reformation,medieval,
enlightenment,ormodernliterature);however,atleast3sourcesmustbenewerthan
1960.
• Papershouldemployfootnotesthataresinglespacedand10pointfont.
• EachpageshouldbenumberedaccordingtoSBLstyleguide.
• Papermustemploy12pointfont,1inchmarginsoneachside,and½inchindentation.DONOT
includeaspaceaftereachparagraph;beawarethatMSWorddoesthisautomatically.
• AlldocumentationmustbedoneaccordingtothestandardsintheSBLHandbookofStyle,both
thefootnotesandthebibliography.
• Proofreadyourpaper.Ensurealltypographical,spelling,andgrammaticalerrorshavebeen
corrected.
InClassParticipationGuide
• ForinclassparticipationIexpectyoutobeengagedinthelecturesanddiscussions.
• Duringthelectures,pleasedonotcheckyoure-mail,facebook,oranyotherwebsiteduringthe
class.Thisisamatterofrespectforthematerial,theclass,andtheprofessor.
• Computers/electronicdevicesareallowed,butIexpectyourwi-ficonnectiontobeturnedoff.
• Duringtheseminardiscussion,Iexpecteveryonetocontributetotheconversation.Youmust
makeatleastoneproductivecomment.
• Iexpectallstudentstohavereadthepre-coursematerialandinteractwiththatmaterialduring
theseminardiscussion.
• Courseparticipationisanimportantparttoyourlearningprocess,andso,itisavitalpiecetomy
pedagogy.Thisclasswillcontainseveralhoursworthofdiscussiontimeandgroupprojects.Ten
percentofyourgradeisdeterminedbyyourlevelofinteractionintheclassroomduringthese
times.
• Here’sthegradebreakdown
o 4pointsaregivenforparticipationingroupprojects.Iexpectyoutobeakeyplayerin
thegroupwork.
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o
6pointsaregivenforindividualcontributiontoseminardiscussion(ofwhichtherewill
be2).
§ 1Point–
Yousayonethingintheconversationor,youspeak
oftenbutyourcommentsareunrelatedtotheassignedprecoursereadingsand/ortheirimplicationsinministry.
§ 2Points–
Yourcontributionissomewhereinbetweenpointsone
and3J
§ 3Points–
Yourcontributionadvancestheconversationand
demonstratessubstantiveinteractionwiththeassignedprecoursereadings.
LatePolicy
• Iexpectallassignmentstobeturnedinnolaterthan11:59PMESTonthedaytheassignmentis
due.
• Assignmentsturnedinafterthedeadline,foranyreason,willbemarkeddown10%perday.
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Course:
Professor:
Campus:
Date: CourseObjectivesRelatedtoMDiv*StudentLearningOutcomes
ActsandRomans
PatrickStefan
WashingtonDC
Jan.7-9,2016
MDiv*StudentLearningOutcomes
Rubric
InordertomeasurethesuccessoftheMDivcurriculum,RTShasdefined
thefollowingastheintendedoutcomesofthestudentlearningprocess.
Eachcoursecontributestotheseoveralloutcomes.Thisrubricshowsthe
contributionofthiscoursetotheMDivoutcomes.
Ø
Ø
Ø
Ø
Mini-Justification
Strong
Moderate
Minimal
None
*AstheMDivisthecoredegreeatRTS,theMDivrubricwillbeusedinthissyllabus.
Articulation
(oral&
written)
Broadlyunderstandsandarticulatesknowledge,both
oralandwritten,ofessentialbiblical,theological,
historical,andcultural/globalinformation,including
details,concepts,andframeworks.
Strong
Scripture
Significantknowledgeoftheoriginalmeaningof
Scripture.Also,theconceptsforandskilltoresearch
furtherintotheoriginalmeaningofScriptureandto
applyScripturetoavarietyofmoderncircumstances.
(Includesappropriateuseoforiginallanguagesand
hermeneutics;andintegratestheological,historical,
andcultural/globalperspectives.)
Strong
Reformed
Theology
SignificantknowledgeofReformedtheologyand
practice,withemphasisontheWestminster
Standards.
Strong
Sanctification
Desirefor
Worldview
DemonstratesalovefortheTriuneGodthataidsthe
student’ssanctification.
Moderate
BurningdesiretoconformalloflifetotheWordof
God.
Strong
Winsomely
Reformed
EmbracesawinsomelyReformedethos.(Includesan
appropriateecumenicalspiritwithotherChristians,
especiallyEvangelicals;aconcerntopresentthe
GospelinaGod-honoringmannertonon-Christians;
andatruth-in-loveattitudeindisagreements.)
Moderate
Preach
AbilitytopreachandteachthemeaningofScripture
tobothheartandmindwithclarityandenthusiasm.
Strong
Worship
Shepherd
KnowledgeableofhistoricandmodernChristianworshipforms;andabilitytoconstructandskillto
leadaworshipservice.
None
-Studentswillengagewithdifferent
positionstowardtheologicalissues
inRomansandActsandbegraded
byarticulatingdifferencesin
conversationandwrittenexam.
-Indepthreading,lectures,andlabs
onidentifyingkeyexegeticalissues
presentinScriptureandworking
throughthehistoryof
interpretationtoknowtheoriginal
meaning.
-Wewillgiveseriousconsideration
tothepresentandhistorical
challengespresentedtoareformed
understandingofJustificationand
Sanctificationasexpressedinthe
WestminsterStandards.
-Lecturesemphasizethegloryof
theresurrectedChristandhisrole
inlifeandtheology
-Readingsanddiscussionsfocuson
thewayScripturechallengesour
lifeandpractice.Studentsassigned
ashortpersonalapplicationpaper.
-Readingscontainscholarsfrom
severaltraditions.Lectures
emphasizetheneedtoproperly
representpositionsandlearnfrom
others.
-Lecturesandlabworkfocuseson
applicationoftheWordtoGod’s
people.Studentsgivenopportunity
toturninatwopartsermonseries
forgrade.
Abilitytoshepherdthelocalcongregation:aidingin
Minimal
-TheBibleisoursubjectofstudy,
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spiritualmaturity;promotinguseofgiftsandcallings;
andencouragingaconcernfornon-Christians,both
inAmericaandworldwide.
Church/World Abilitytointeractwithinadenominationalcontext,
withinthebroaderworldwidechurch,andwith
significantpublicissues.
Minimal
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whichnaturallylendsitselfto
Shepherding,thoughitisnotthe
emphasis.
-Inonparticularassignedtext,
studentswillbechallengedto
considertheapplicationofActsto
theChurch’sroleinpublicissues.