-- BOOKS -RLST 212\DIV\REL3162 SPRING 2013
PAULINE INTERPRETATION OF CHRISTIANITY: ROMANS
Tuesday 4:10-6:40
Garland 301 F
REQUIRED READINGS (in this order):
 Paul’s Letters in at least two translations: e.g. New Revised Standard Version (= Oxford Annotated Bible;
Harper Collins Annotated Bible; New Interpreter's Study Bible); New International Version; New
American Bible (= Catholic Study Bible); Jerusalem Bible; New English Bible; King James Version.
[[BUT NOT a "paraphrased" version, e.g., The Living Bible.]] Use Greek if possible.
 Approaches to Paul: A Student's guide to recent scholarship by Magnus Zetterholm
 Revisiting Paul's Doctrine of Justification: A Challenge to the New Perspective by Peter Stuhlmacher
(Forensic/Theological)
 Reinventing Paul by John G. Gager (from Forensic/Theological to Covenantal/Pastoral, yet remaining
Forensic/Theological)
 Triumph of God: The Essence of Paul's Thought by Christiaan J. Beker (Messianic/Apocalyptic)
 Paul’s Faith and he Power of the Gospel by Daniel Patte (from Juridical/Forensic to
Messianic/Apocalyptic) (out of print; digital copy provided by the author)
 Cross-Cultural Paul: Journeys To Others, Journeys To Ourselves by Charles H. Cosgrove, Herold
Weiss, Khiok-Khng Yeo
 Navigating Romans Through Cultures: Challenging Readings by Charting a New Course (Romans
Through History and Culture Series) edited by Khiok-Khng Yeo
 “Thinking Mission with Paul and the Romans” by Daniel Patte in Mission Studies June 2006, pp 83-104
(on Patte’s web page)
 The Cambridge Dictionary of Christianity D. Patte, editor (weekly readings on key theological
concepts)
RECOMMENDED
Spiritual Exercises Based on Paul's Epistle to the Romans by Joseph A. Fitzmyer (Paperback - Jan 2004)
Introducing Romans: Critical Issues in Paul’s Most Famous Letter by Richard Longenecker Eerdmans 2011
Studying Paul's Letters: Contemporary Perspectives and Methods by Joseph A. Marchal
COMMENTARIES ON ROMANS (to be consulted for your papers and presentations; on reserve)
 Douglas Moo, The Epistle to the Romans (Forensic/Theological)
o Alternate: Peter Stuhlmacher’s Paul’s letter to the Romans : a commentary (beyond the small
book we read) (Forensic/Theological)
o Alternate: C. E. B. Cranfield, Romans ( 2 volume) (Forensic/Theological)
 Robert Jewett (Commentary on Romans) (Usually Covenantal/Pastoral
o Alternate: James Dunn (Commentary on Romans) (usually (Forensic/Theological; some
Covenantal)
 Brendan Byrne (Commentary on Romans) (Usually Messianic/Apocalyptic)
o Alternate: Ernst Käsemann (Commentary on Romans) (Usually Messianic/Apocalyptic)
 Searching the Scriptures: Volume II. A Feminist Commentary (Elizabeth Castelli, "Romans," pp. 272300) (the dangers of Forensic/Theological interpretation [viewed as the only one] for feminist persepctive)
o Women's Bible Commentary (Gaventa, "Romans," pp. 313-320) (reaction against
Forensic/Theological interpretation [viewed as the only one])
o See also Gaventa, Our Mother Saint Paul
SUGGESTED READINGS: You will select several of these books (or at least Essays/Chapters in them) in
preparation FOR YOUR PAPER; used in the second part of the semester (on reserve)
 Theocracy in Paul’s Praxis and Theology Dieter Georgi, (Minneapolis: Fortress, 1991; original, 1987)
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(Toward an apocalyptic reading of Paul)
Paul Was Not a Christian: The Original Message of a Misunderstood Apostle By Pamela Eisenbaum
HarperOne ( 2009) ISBN-10: 0060722916 [not ordered, because kindle edition and “Bargain book” at
Amazon for $10]
Paul: In Fresh Perspective by N. T. Wright (from Forensic/Theological to Covenantal/Pastoral)
Justification: God's Plan & Paul's Vision N. T. Wright
The Arrogance of Nations: Reading Romans in the Shadow of Empire, Neil Elliott (from
Covenantal/Pastoral, and Messianic/Apocalyptic)
Reading Israel in Romans: Legitimacy and Plausibility of Divergent Interpretations (Romans
Through History and Culture Series) Edited by Cristina Grenholm, Daniel Patte (three interpretations of
Paul: Forensic/Theological, Covenantal/Pastoral, and Messianic/Apocalyptic)
Gender, Tradition, and Romans: Shared Ground, Uncertain Borders (Romans Through History and
Culture Series) by Cristina Grenholm and Daniel Patte (three interpretations of Paul Forensic/Theological,
Covenantal/Pastoral, and Messianic/Apocalyptic)
Feminist Companion to Paul: Authentic Pauline Writings (Feminist Companion to the New Testament
and Early Christian Writings Series) edited by Amy Jill Levine,
Engaging Augustine on Romans (Romans Through History and Culture Series) Edited by Daniel Patte &
Eugene TeSelle (three interpretations of Paul: Forensic/Theological, Covenantal/Pastoral, and
Messianic/Apocalyptic)
Early Patristic Readings of Romans (Romans Through History and Culture Series) Edited by Kathy
Gaca & L. L. Welborn (three interpretations of Paul: Forensic/Theological, Covenantal/Pastoral, and
Messianic/Apocalyptic)
Reading Romans with Contemporary Philosophers and Theologians, (Romans Through History and
Culture Series) Edited by David Odell-Scott (three interpretations of Paul: Forensic/Theological,
Covenantal/Pastoral, and Messianic/Apocalyptic)
Spiritual Exercises Based on Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, Joseph Fitzmyer, S.J. (usually
Covenantal/Pastoral)
Romans. Chalice Commentaries for Today. John B Cobb, Jr. David J. Lull (usually
Messianic/Apocalyptic)
A Rereading of Romans , Stanley Stowers
Theology of the New Testament. Rudolf Bultmann
Paul and Pathos Thomas H. Olbricht and Jerry L. Sumney, editors.