N.T.Lit: 1 Corinthians

Instructor:  Pamela Eisenbaum

Course Description and Course Goals

This course is designed as an advanced seminar for students who have completed at least one introductory course in New Testament.  Primary objectives include:

• The in-depth study of Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, including developing better insight into Paul’s theology, the problems he faced, and the kind of people who followed and opposed him.
• The development of more sophisticated exegetical skills; in other words, learning how to engage the biblical text with greater analytical rigor, creativity, and self-reliance.
• Greater understanding of important and controversial issues that arise in the interpretation of 1 Corinthians, such as community integrity, ethics, sexuality, and attitudes toward women, as well as how these same issues have been at issue since Paul wrote his letter.

Required Books

Bible, preferably an NRSV study Bible. (Consider also purchasing the Jewish Annotated New Testament, published by Oxford.  The annotations are very informative.  In any case, you still need access to an NRSV whole Bible.  Electronic versions are fine.)

Hays, Richard B. First Corinthians .  Interpretation:  A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching.  Louisville:  John Knox Press, 1997.  978-0664234409

Martin, Dale B. The Corinthian Body .  New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1995. ISBN 978-0300081725

Evaluation