INTRODUCTION TO THE CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURES

The Pauline Epistles

Course Syllabus

Office of the Permanent Diaconate                                                   

Reverend Timothy A. Gadziala, J.C.L., M.A., M.Div                         Sacred Scripture

I.                   Course Description: The primary objective of this course, Introduction to the Christian Scriptures: the Four Gospels, is to prepare the Deacon Candidate to take up the work which the Second Vatican Council called the Deacon to “Attend to the preaching of the Word of God in accordance with the will and attention of the bishop” (Moto Propio: Apostolic Letter concerning the norms regarding the Holy Order of Deacons). 

In facilitating this objective, this course will survey the person of Paul of Tarsus in brief, especially his conversion experience; in doing so, the student should be able to understand the writings of Paul as contrasted to the other pastoral epistles and the Book of Acts.  Each epistle will be discussed in brief so as to demonstrate a development of a concrete theology of Paul. Care will be given to the seriousness of the usage of the tools of biblical criticism and basic concepts in Greek to aid the student to attain a deeper appreciation of the text.  Included in class discussions will be detailed exegesis of selected passages the Gospel.  By the end of the course, the student should possess a basic knowledge of the person of St. Paul and his theology as depicted by his writings to the various churches.  The student should be able to do some simple exegesis and interpret these writings in any basic pastoral setting.

II.                Required Reading:

The Holy Bible: The Revised Standard Version – Catholic edition. San Francisco, California : Ignatius Press, 1966.

III.             Requirements and Examinations:

The student will be expected to be prompt in attendance at all classes and to have completed all the recommended preparations for each class.  Class participation will be included in the final grade.  Vocabulary words will be considered each week, and, a pop test may be rendered if the instructor feels as though the class is not prepared.  A Midterm Exam will be given in this class that may require some exegetical expertise.  A final exam will be given at the end of the course. The grade for this course will be determined on the basis of the following formula: 50% - Midterm, 30% - Final Exam, 20% - Class participation.

IV.              Brief Outline of the Course Instruction:

September 9, 2006: Introduction to St. Paul and his Epistles.  The person of Saul of Tarsus to St. Paul of the Church (the family of Paul, his education, his pharisaic studies, his persecution of the Church); his conversion will be discussed (and its consequences).  The Jewish Heritage of Paul and this influence in his preaching of Christ shall be considered.

September 23, 2006: An overview of the style of writing an epistle, as distinct from writing a Gospel; the Pauline style of writing letters to the various churches amid his missionary journeys.  The student shall understand the classical notion of writing “epistles” and the distinguishing characteristics and common themes of these letters; moreover, the student shall understand the basic composition of the letter, as well as Paul’s omission of certain sections of the “epistle” in various letters included in the Bible. 

October 14 and 28, 2006:  St. Paul’s three (four) missionary journeys will be discussed as depicted by St. Luke in the Acts.  St. Paul’s first letter, to the Thessalonians, will be discussed; as will be the life and situation of Thessalonica.  The Jerusalem Council will be discussed in brief; specifically, why the notion of circumcision.  

November 11 and the 18, 2006: The Epistles to Ephesus and Galatia will be discussed in brief.  The life and situation of these writings will be considered.  Specifically, two journeys through Asia Minor to the West, the founding of the Church of Ephesus and imprisonment.  The conflict of Galatia will be discussed as will the cause of this conflict.  The community of Philippi and the Christological hymn of Philippians 2:6-11.

November 23, 2006: The book of Colossae will be compared and contrasted with the Epistle to the Ephesians.    The confusion of Corinth will be considered as will the life and situation of this community will be discussed in depth, giving rise to St. Paul’s greater writings and development of his theology.  The meaning of Kephale in 1 Corinthians 11:3 will be discussed, as well as the notion of glory reflected on the face of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:7-4:6).

December 2, 2006:  The Pastoral Epistles to Timothy and Titus.  The date, place and authorship will be discussed, as will be distinguishing characteristics and themes, as well as the structure of these Epistles

December 16, 2006:  The Book of Romans will be discussed as will be his martyrdom in Rome.   This epistle is Paul’s masterpiece in his theology.