
Romans
Published: Spring 2024
Description
Paul’s letter to the Romans has been enormously influential in the development of Christian faith, Christian theological reflection, and Christian practice. The longest of all the New Testament epistles, Romans contains many famous quotes and the New Testament’s most developed theology of salvation.
This course examines on what occasion Paul wrote to the Romans, what he sought to say to them, and what this meant in the context of Jewish-Gentile relations at the time. Romans offers careful readers much to reflect on, especially when reading and discussing with others.
Course Takeaways
- Explore Paul's theological reflections on the human condition and divine redemption, uncovering the profound implications of faith in Christ.
- Delve into Romans' message of hope and new life in Christ, examining how faith leads to a transformed existence.
- Reflect on the implications of Romans for building inclusive and welcoming Christian communities, embracing the transformative power of the gospel message.
Meet the Instructors
Professor Attridge, dean of Yale Divinity School from 2002 to 2012, has made scholarly contributions to New Testament exegesis and to the study of Hellenistic Judaism and the history of the early Church. His publications include Essays on John and Hebrews, Hebrews: A Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews, First-Century Cynicism in the Epistles of Heraclitus, The Interpretation of Biblical History in the Antiquitates Judaicae of Flavius Josephus, Nag Hammadi Codex I: The Jung Codex, and The Acts of Thomas, as well as numerous book chapters and articles in scholarly journals. He has edited twelve books, including, with Gabriella Gelardini, Hebrews in Context (2016), with Dale Martin and Jurgen Zangenberg, Religion, Ethnicity and Identity in Ancient Galilee; and the centennial Terry Lectures, The Religion and Science Debate: Why Does It Continue? Professor Attridge served the general editor of the HarperCollins Study Bible Revised Edition (2006). He has been an editorial board member of Catholic Biblical Quarterly, Harvard Theological Review, Journal of Biblical Literature, Novum Testamentum, and the Hermeneia commentary series. He has been active in the Society of Biblical Literature and served as president of the society in 2001 and in the Catholic Biblical Association, of which he was president in 2011-12. He was elected to be a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2015. Professor Attridge is a fellow of Saybrook College.
Biography
A graduate of Swarthmore College and Yale University, Prof. Bartlett was the author of numerous publications including Fact and Faith, The Shape of Scriptural Authority, Between the Bible and the Church, and What’s Good About This News? Preaching from the Gospels and Galatians, among others. He was also the co-editor of the Westminster Bible Companion and Feasting on the Word commentary series. An ordained minister in the American Baptist Churches, USA, Prof. Bartlett served as the Senior Minister for congregations in Minnesota, Illinois, and California.
An ordained minister in the American Baptist Churches, USA, Bartlett served as the senior minister of congregations in Minnesota, Illinois, and California. From 1990 to 2005, Bartlett served at YDS on the faculty as well in administrative roles including Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Dean of Academic Affairs. Bartlett published numerous books and scholarly articles. His books include such notable works as Ministry in the New Testament (Fortress-Augsburg, 1993), Romans: Westminster Bible Companion (Westminister/John Knock, 1995), and Between the Bible and the Church (Abingdon, 1999). Bartlett delivered the 2001 Beecher Lectures, entitled “What’s Good About the News?” published as What’s Good About This News?: Preaching from the Gospels and Galatians (Westminster John Knox Press, 2003.). Dr. Bartlett died in 2017.
Biography