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 930: History of Missiology
  Seminar on the classic Protestant mission theorists of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Required for doctoral students in mission studies.
• STH TM 931: Readings in Contemporary Missiology
  Readings and discussions of important works in missiology from the 1960's to the present. This course begins where TM 930 ends. Required for doctoral students in mission studies
• 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
  Introduces the texts of the New Testament and other early Christian writings: first, to place Jesus of Nazareth in the religious and social context of Second Temple Judaism and the Roman empire; and second, to explain the origins and growth of Christian beliefs, practices, and social formations up to the second century. Effective Spring 2021, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Historical Consciousness, Social Inquiry I, Critical Thinking.
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  • Historical Consciousness
  • Social Inquiry I
  • Critical Thinking
• 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)

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