S606 – World of the Apostolic Writings
S606 – Seminar: World of the Apostolic Writings
Instructor: Dr. Vered Hillel
Blogsite: Orbund – https://server11.orbund.com
Dates: March 18 – May 27, 2018 (Spring Quarter, 2017-18)
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is an introduction to the social, political, religious and cultural world of the Second Temple Period and the backgrounds of the Apostolic Writings. The course provides a panoramic view of the topics, methodology, and sources necessary for responsible study of the Apostolic Writings and early Yeshua-believing community. Some of the topics addressed are Temple, Sanhedrin & Synagogue, Greco-Roman Religions & Philosophies, Sects, Rabbinic Literature, and the Dead Sea Scrolls.
RELATIONSHIP TO THE CURRICULUM: This course is an elective.
RELEVANCE: Often the Apostolic Writings are read as a direct descendant of the Tanakh, without any regard to the changes precipitated by the fusion of the Occident and Orient by Alexander the Great and the subsequent conquests by the Roman Empire. Understanding these changes and their influence on the world into which Yeshua came clarifies and illuminates our understanding of the Apostolic Writings, Yeshua and the Early Yeshua believing community. These insights are particularly relevant for Messianic Jewish Believers as they clarify the canonical narrative and shed insight into Messianic Judaism and Messianic Jewish theology.
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PREREQUISITES: There are no prerequisites for this class.
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS: This is an online course. The student must have a computer and internet access. Please contact Joyce Klayman, our IT assistant, for technical help at jbklay@gmail.com
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COURSE FORMAT: The course will include podcasts, conference calls and asynchronous online discussions. The course is designed as a seminar, which means that the main form of instruction should be class discussion related to the required readings and assignments. Because of its online format, there will be a lecture at the beginning of each week that supplements the reading and explains key issues. The emphasis of the class will be placed on the asynchronous blog discussions. Therefore, it is mandatory that students properly complete their reading so they are prepared to discuss the relevant topic.
REQUIREMENTS: Listen to all lectures, attend the video conference in week 5, full participation in all blog discussions, completion of all reading and course assignments, and the completion of a research paper
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REQUIRED TEXTS:
- Ferguson, E. Backgrounds of Early Christianity. 3rd ed. Grand Rapids: W.B. Eerdmans, 2003. (Any edition will work, but the page numbers may vary)
- Skaursaune, Oskar In the Shadow of the Temple. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2002.
- Theissen, Gerd. The Shadow of the Galilean. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2007.
- Coursepack
RECOMMENDED READING: The recommended reading for this class is vast. A comprehensive, categorical list is included in the Coursepack which every student can download from Orbund after they have registered for the class.
ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS AND DEADLINES:
Reading and Class Preparation
Each student is required to complete all of the required reading (Coursepack, books and articles) before class begins on Sunday of the week the y are due. In addition to the reflection questions provided in the Coursepack, each student is requested to ponder areas where the reading has enhanced your understanding of the World of the Apostolic Writings, and any areas that you might disagree with the writer’s interpretation of the evidence and why you disagree.
Class Assignment: Each student will be assigned a book from the Apocrypha or Pseudepigrapha to present to the class in Week 5
(video conference)
Discussion Threads (Blogs):
Regular and timely participation in the discussion threads posted on Orbund is required.
Discussion questions will be posted on Sunday of each week. To insure proper participation, you are required to post separate 250-300 word answers to all discussion questions each week. Your first posts are to be made by Monday of each week. In addition, you must respond to at least three of your classmates’ posts in each discussion thread each week. Discussion threads will close at 11:59 EST on Thursday evenings.
The “classroom” interaction through discussion threads is your opportunity to discuss the topics with others students and to express yourself and in the process learn how to formulate opinions, defend positions, and/or reconsider your positions when evidence and reason call for it. As graduate students, you should engage in higher-level critical thinking and analysis. In your analysis, be sure to reference authorities and/or sources, using parenthetical references when citing articles read in class.
Reading Report: A 1500 (±10%) word report is to be submitted on the reading of Gerd Theissen, The Shadow of the Galilean. The
report on Theissen should focus on critical interaction with his account rather than summarizing the content. Discuss such things as his perspective and interpretation of history, his biases and presuppositions, as well as his interpretation of texts and events. Give concrete examples of how the reading illuminates your understanding of the world of the Apostolic Writings This report is due on or before May 27 at 5:00 pm EST.
Research Project: Each student is to write a short research paper of 8-10 pages (2500-3,000 words, not including bibliography)
that will further develop your understanding of the historical, archaeological, sociological, cultural, or geographical background of the
world of the Apostolic Writings. This paper is designed to help you learn how to research a topic quickly, concisely, and accurately through utilizing basic reference works.
Suggested Paper topics: The paper may focus on a topic stemming from the material to be covered during the course. You may choose a topic that is prompted by a text in the Apostolic Writings (e.g. who were the Nicolaitans in the book of Revelation?) or you may opt to explore an area of history (e.g. the cult of the Ephesian Artemis).
The first four-weeks of class focus on Judaism and the life of Yeshua. The following are some appropriate topics:
- what was the city of Nazareth like in the first century (or, Capernaum, Caesarea, etc.)?
- what is the nature of 4 Maccabees and what are the implications of this text for interpreting the Apostolic Writings?
- the life, projects, and ruling style of Herod the Great – in Israel and in the Diaspora
- Messianic expectations at Qumran as reflected in the Dead Sea Scrolls (or, Psalms of Solomon , etc.)
- Judaism or Judaisms – diversity or unanimity in the 2nd Temple Judaism?
- develop three or four historical events that demonstrate how HaShem sent Yeshua in “the fullness of time ” (Gal. 4).
- others …
The final four – weeks of class focus on Hellenism, the Roman world, and the early church. Some appropriate topics are:
- the cult of Dionysus within the Greco-Roman world at the time of the Apostolic Writings
- how did Paul philosophize in Acts 17?
- who were the Nicolaitans?
- what was the city of Antioch like when Paul was there?
- did Paul receive some education in Greek rhetoric while he was in Tarsus?
- how were theaters used in the Roman cities?
References: The research paper is to be 8-10 pages in length (not including bibliography). A paper this size should rely on at least 10 sources. In addition to any other relevant books and articles you may find, you will be required to consult at least three (3) of the following reference works:
- Safrai and Stern, The Jewish People of the First Century (CRINT 1.1-1.2).
- Shürer, The history of the Jewish people in the age of Jesus Christ. New English version revised and edited by Vermes, Millar & Black.
- Hubbard, Christianity in the Greco-Roman World (Hendrickson, 2010).
- Dictionary of New Testament Background (IVP).
- Anchor Bible Dictionary
- The IVP Dictionaries: Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, or Dictionary of the Later New Testament and its Developments.
- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (new edition, 1979-1988; do not use the old edition published in 1915).
- Oxford Classical Dictionary (3rd edition).
- Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (3rd edition).
- Oxford Encyclopedia of Archaeology in the Near East.
- The New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land (4 Vols.)
- Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible.
- Ferguson, Backgrounds of Early Christianity.
- Rousseau and Arav, Jesus and His World.
- McRay, Archaeology and the New Testament.
- Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible (5 Vols.) (note: this was published in 2009)
- Brill’s New Pauly: Encyclopedia of the Ancient World (*an outstanding new resource)
- Eckhard Schnabel, Early Christian Mission (2 Vols; IVP)
If anyone has trouble accessing any of these books, please contact the instructor for help. Please consult the bibliography at the end of each section of the World of the Apostolic Writings course pack for other further quality reference works.
Paper Format: The paper should include an introduction, body and conclusion. In the introduction of your paper, please describe the purpose of your paper, the methodology and the most helpful resources you used. The paper must have proper footnotes and bibliography. Please conform to standard conventions of style (Turabian, MLA, SBL). Please use footnotes and not parenthetical references. Avoid plagiarism in the composition of your paper (see class policies). Paper topics are to be approved by the instructor on or before April.19. Final papers are due Sunday, May 27 11:59 pm EST..