Courses

The listing of a course description here does not guarantee a course’s being offered in a particular semester. Please refer to the published schedule of classes on the Student Link for confirmation a class is actually being taught and for specific course meeting dates and times.

• STH TM 935: Asian Christianity
  This course explores the dynamism, co-option, stagnation and renewal of East Asian Christianity throughout its history--from the 7th century to the 21st. Special attention is given to Christianity's complex interaction with the religious, political, and social realities of Japan, China, and Korea. Students are introduced to important Christian leaders and movements across the centuries, and they investigate the implications of East Asian Christianity's recent expansion both at home and abroad.
• STH TM 963: African Christianity
  Seminar exploring African Christian theologies and cultural issues, with special emphasis on Southern Africa. The course covers such themes as the nature of God, the problem of evil, environmentalism, gender, and indigenous churches. Also offered as STH TM 863 for masters students.
• STH TN 721: New Testament Introduction
  Content of the New Testament writing in its historical setting and special attention to its relevance today. This course is a prerequisite for all New Testament II courses. MDIV & MTS CORE REQUIREMENT.
• STH TN 723: New Testament Greek I
  Introduction to the grammar and vocabulary of the Greek New Testament. For students with no training in Greek. (Credit for STH TN 723 is only given after successful completion of STH TN 724.) (Cluster 1)
• STH TN 724: New Testament Greek II
  Continues and presupposes STH TN 723. (Cluster 1)
• STH TN 803: Jesus in the Gospels
  A theological and exegetical study; attention to literary and religio-historical problems. (Requires TN 721 or equivalent) (Cluster 1)
• STH TN 804: The Christian Bible: A History
  This course considers the history of the biblical canon, the Bible as an object or artifact, and shifting views of biblical authority over time. (Requires TN 721 or equivalent) (Cluster 1)
• STH TN 805: Pauline Studies
  Paul's life, letters, and thoughts are considered historically and in their bearing upon Christian theology. (Requires TN 721 or equivalent) (Cluster 1)
• STH TN 806: The Gospel of John
  The purpose of this study of the Fourth Gospel is to acquaint the student with this work from the later New Testament period in a way that provides understanding of and the capacity for criticism of the text involved (in addition to some non-canonical Johannine literature, e.g., the Gnostic Apocryphon of John). Appreciation for both the unity and the diversity within the Johannine literature should increase during this study. (Requires TN 721 or equivalent) (Cluster 1)
• STH TN 808: From Jesus to Christ: The Origins of Christianity
  Places Jesus of Nazareth in his contemporary religious and social context of Second Temple Judaism; and accounts for the origins and growth of Christian life, belief, and spirituality up to the second century, as reflected in the writings of that period. (Requires TN 721 or equivalent) (Cluster 1)
• STH TN 810: The Social Setting of Early Christianity
  The focus of the course will be the economy, society, and culture of the Greco-Roman world in which the first Christians lived. The purpose of the course is to introduce the student to the social world that produced the New Testament and other early Christian literature, including martyrdoms and apologies. We will read primary and secondary sources on Roman history (early imperial period), ancient Judaism (from Alexander the Great to the revolt by the messianic figure Bar Kochba), Greco-Roman religions (with focus on the "pagan spirituality" of the ancient mystery religions), and the reaction by Roman magistrates and pagan intellectuals to the new Christian movement. Such context is essential for reconstructing the life, religion, society, and culture of the ancient Christians. (Requires TN 721 or equivalent) (Clusters 1 and 2)
• STH TN 813: Methods and Exegesis in Paul's Letters
  Introduction to Paul's Letters with special attention to traditional themes (Law, Grace, Justification, etc) and contemporary contextual approaches (Feminist, Postcolonial, and Queer Studies). (Requires TN 721 or equivalent) (Cluster 1)
• STH TN 816: Greek Reading I
  This course builds on Greek language skills by engaging in close readings and translations of New Testament and other Greek literature. (Cluster 1)
• STH TN 817: Greek Reading II
  This course builds on Greek language skills by engaging in close readings and translations of New Testament and other Greek literature. (Cluster 1)
• STH TN 820: The Gospel of Mark
  English exegesis of the gospel according to Mark. (Requires TN 721 or equivalent) (Cluster 1)
• STH TN 823: Last Supper Texts
  TBD (Cluster 1)
• STH TN 826: The Corinthian Correspondence
  A theological and exegetical study; attention to literary and religio-historical problems. (Requires TN 721 or equivalent) (Cluster 1)
• STH TN 841: Luke-Acts
  Luke-Acts as apologetic and missionary instrument in the Roman world. Redefinition of the figure of Jesus, Paul, and the apostles in the late first century. (Requires TN 721 or equivalent) (Cluster 1)
• STH TN 862: African American and Womanist Hermeneutics
  This is a seminar-style, intensive course in which students critically read works of African American and Womanist biblical scholarship on the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, while critically engaging biblical passages and peers in discussions about approaches, contexts, implications, strengths and challenges. The course begins with the conviction that all knowledge is perspectival. That is, how we access and interpret texts has to do with a complex combination of factors, including ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and social-cultural history (just to name a few), that constitute who we are at one particular instance in time. In particular, the course seeks to understand the historic perspectives and approaches of African American and Womanist readings and appropriations of biblical texts as a way to build students' capacities to appreciate the interpretative strategies of others (especially historically marginalized and/or underrepresented groups) as well as to identify and articulate their own critical and socially-situated understandings of biblical passages and its implications. (Cluster 1 or 2)
• STH TO 704: Hebrew Bible I
  Introduction to the religion and literature of ancient Israel; development of Hebrew scripture within its cultural, historical, and social contexts. Required of all students who have not completed a thorough introduction to the Hebrew Bible. A one-hour study section is also required. This course is prerequisite for all Hebrew Bible II courses. MDIV & MTS CORE REQUIREMENT.

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