Last modified: 24 Jun 2020 14:40
The writings of the apostle Paul have exercised more influence over the development of Christian theology than almost any other writings, but much scholarship would question whether they have been interpreted correctly. Since the end of the Second World War, there have been significant developments in our understanding of the Judaism of Paul's day and of the socio-cultural realities of the wider Mediterranean world; these have led to the emergence of new readings of the apostle's theology and have demanded fresh accounts of Christian origins. This module will involve some exploration and critique of these new approaches to Paul's theology, but always in relation to the content of the letters themselves. Central to Paul's far-reaching and radical theology and ethics is his particular identification of Jesus, which shapes his distinctive way of speaking about God and salvation and, from this, about the church.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | Second Term | Credit Points | 30 credits (15 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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This module will examine in detail the theology of the writings traditionally ascribed to the apostle Paul, by means of a careful reading of the texts themselves. These letters constitute some of the earliest works of Christian writing and have exercised enormous influence over the development of Christian theology through the centuries. Since the end of the Second World War, there have been significant developments in our understanding of the Judaism of Paul's day and of the socio-cultural realities of the wider Mediterranean world; these have led to the emergence of new readings of the apostle's theology and have demanded fresh accounts of Christian origins. This module will involve some exploration and critique of these new approaches to Paul's theology, but always in relation to the content of the letters themselves. Central to Paul's far-reaching and radical theology and ethics is his particular identification of Jesus, which shapes his distinctive way of speaking about God and salvation and, from this, about the church.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
2000 word essay 30%
4000 word essay 60%
Individual Oral Presentation 10%
Resit: 4000 word essay 100%
There are no assessments for this course.
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Factual | Understand | Detailed knowledge of the content of the letters of Paul. |
| Factual | Understand | Detailed knowledge of the issues of context and background usually held necessary to a responsible reading of Paul. |
| Conceptual | Apply | Detailed knowledge of the various scholarly interpretations of Paul and their methodological dimensions. |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | Ability to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the different interpretations of Paul. |
| Procedural | Analyse | A high level of competency in the complex interpretative skills required for the analysis of the Pauline writings. |
| Conceptual | Create | An ability to identify areas of future research in the Pauline texts. |
| Conceptual | Understand | An understanding and practical knowledge of the questions that bear on how Paul is to be read in relation to other early Christian writings. |
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