Table of Contents
This unit introduces the General Letters, focussing on 1 Peter and 1-3 John. The content is comprised of the following:[1]
An introduction to these Letters, addressing questions of authorship, date, and destination.
The theology of these Letters, including their relationships to the gospel traditions (written and oral) and other theologians of the early church.
Full coverage of 1 Peter and 1-3 John for the English options (NT426, NT626) or 8 chapters (1 Peter 1-3, 1 John 1-3, 2 John, 3 John) for the Greek options (NT436, NT636).
This course has the following aims:[2]
To enable students to interpret and exegete a range of non-Pauline books of the New Testament.
To develop in students the skills of appropriate exegetical methodology, employing various interpretative methods of biblical criticism.
To assist students to reflect upon particular aspects of the theology of certain New Testament writers.
To help students think through the implications of their studies for New Testament exposition in ministry.
The lecturer for this course in the first semester of 2010 is me, Tim Finney. I have a PhD in theology from Murdoch University. Apart from a few units studied at Murdoch, I did all of my theology courses and dissertation research at Vose, which was then called the Baptist Theological College of Western Australia. Dr Richard K. Moore was my New Testament teacher and supervisor of my PhD studies. I am standing in for Dr Evelyn Ashley, who is on study leave this semester.
| Phone | (08) 9467 4125 |
| tjf at tfinney dot net |
All students must read the relevant section of one of the required commentaries before attending the corresponding session. (The relevant section is specified in the “Pre-reading” column of the Schedule, below.) Students taking graduate-level units (NT626, NT636) must also read a book chosen from the list given under the Book Review section, below, by March 30.
Lectures are on Tuesday evenings. The course is divided into thirteen weeks of four sessions.
| Session | Time |
|---|---|
| Greek tutorial | 5.30 - 6.20 pm |
| Seminar | 6.30 - 7.20 pm |
| Exegesis | 7.30 - 8.20 pm |
| Exegesis | 8.30 - 9.20 pm |
Most weeks have a Greek tutorial, seminar, and two exegesis sessions. Only students taking the Greek options (NT436, NT636) are required to attend the Greek tutorials. Only students taking the graduate options (NT626, NT636) are required to attend the book review sessions on March 30 and April 20. Otherwise, all students are required to attend the seminar and exegesis sessions. You are welcome at any session you are not required to attend.
| Week | Date | Session 1 (Greek) | Session 2 (Seminar) | Session 3 (Exegesis) | Session 4 (Exegesis) | Pre-reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Feb 23 | 1 Peter 1.1-12 | General Introduction | Intro. to 1 Peter (part 1) | Intro. to 1 Peter (part 2) | “Introduction” from a commentary on 1 Peter. |
| 2 | Mar 02 | 1 Peter 1.13-25 | Apostles (Peter L.) | 1 Peter 1.1-12 | 1 Peter 1.13-25 | One commentary on 1 Peter 1. |
| 3 | Mar 09 | 1 Peter 2.1-12 | Authors (David S.) | 1 Peter 2.1-12 | 1 Peter 2.13-25 (Peter L.) | One commentary on 1 Peter 2. |
| 4 | Mar 16 | 1 Peter 2.13-25 | Recipients (Kenny H.) | 1 Peter 3.1-12 | 1 Peter 3.13-22 (Travis F.) | One commentary on 1 Peter 3. |
| 5 | Mar 23 | 1 Peter 3.1-12 | Dates (Tim F.) | 1 Peter 4.1-11 (David S.) | 1 Peter 4.12-19 (Alycia P.) | One commentary on 1 Peter 4. |
| 6 | Mar 30 | 1 Peter 3.13-22 | Transmission (Tim F.) | 1 Peter 5.1-14 (Alex S.) | Book review (NT626 and NT636 only; preliminary report) | One commentary on 1 Peter 5. |
| Two week break (Apr 05 - 16) | ||||||
| 7 | Apr 20 | 1 John 1.1-10 | Canon (Bill B.) | Intro. to 1-3 John (part 1) | Book review (NT626 and NT636 only; final presentation) | “Introduction” from a commentary on 1-3 John. |
| 8 | Apr 27 | 1 John 2.1-14 | Form (Travis F.) | Intro. to 1-3 John (part 2) | 1 John 1.1-10 (Cale v. A.) | One commentary on 1 John 1. |
| 9 | May 04 | 1 John 2.15-29 | Sources (Ramzie A., Jaylene S.) | 1 John 2.1-14 (Brent B.) | 1 John 2.15-29 | One commentary on 1 John 2. |
| 10 | May 11 | 1 John 3.1-13 | Rhetoric (Tim F.) | 1 John 3.1-13 (Tony H.) | 1 John 3.14-24 (Geoff L.) | One commentary on 1 John 3. |
| 11 | May 18 | 1 John 3.14-24 | Women (Alycia P., Cale v. A.) | 1 John 4.1-11 (Bill B.) | 1 John 4.12-21 (Bibi L.) | One commentary on 1 John 4. |
| 12 | May 25 | 2 John | Persecution and Opposition (Brent B., Jenni R.) | 1 John 5.1-12 (Kenny H.) | 1 John 5.13-21 (Jay S.) | One commentary on 1 John 5. |
| 13 | Jun 01 | 3 John | Theology (Tony H., Geoff L.) | 2 John (Ramzie A.) | 3 John (Jenni R.) | One commentary on each of 2 John and 3 John. |
Assignments are due on the dates specified in the Assessment summary, below.
See the reverse of the Vose Tuition Fee Schedule 2010 for a list of dates affecting the fee, academic penalty, unit grade, FEE-HELP liability, and up-front payment refund applicable if you vary your enrolment.
These books have been placed in “closed reserve” at Vose Library.
1 Peter
The Institute for New Testament Textual Research (INTF) has some fabulous resources devoted to the text of the New Testament. The New Testament Transcripts site lets you see manuscript texts and provides links to definitions of Greek words given at the Perseus site. The Virtual Manuscript Room lets you see images of the manuscripts! (Click the “VMR” button to get started.)
In addition to the hard copies held in the library, students can access a wide range of journals online, including abstracts and, in many cases, full text. If you are not familiar with these resources or how to search them, ask the Library staff for instructions. Also, the Vose website lists a number of online resources which may be useful.
It is a Vose and ACT requirement that students attend all class sessions. It is also a visa requirement for overseas students. Any student who does not attend 80% of classes may not be permitted to complete the assessment for the unit. Any student who is going to be absent should notify the lecturer in advance. Excused absences (e.g. because of illness and for which a medical certificate is provided) will not exclude a student from completing the assessment for a unit.
Each session will have opportunity for questions and discussion. It is expected that each student will have prepared by completing assigned reading beforehand. This enhances the quality of learning and interaction for all.
All components are assessed by the unit lecturer. All essays should conform to the Vose Guide to the Presentation of Essays, which incorporates ACT requirements. This includes a statement on the use of non-discriminatory language. Students should take special note of the section on “Plagiarism, collusion and cheating.”[3]
It is a Vose and ACT requirement that all set assignments be completed in order to pass a unit. Students must gain a mark of 50% overall to receive a passing grade for the unit. Work submitted after the due date will be penalised unless prior application has been made on the “Application for Extension” form and permission given. Penalties are 5% per day (excluding weekends and public holidays) of the mark allocated to that assessment item, up to 50%. Items submitted more than 10 week days late will be given a mark of 0%, but with notation that the work has been submitted (this is due to the requirement that all assessment items be completed to pass a unit). Refer to the Vose Guide to the Presentation of Essays for late submission procedures.
Results for both individual assignments and the unit as a whole will be given in letter grades using the following:
| Grade | Code | Range (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Fail | F | 0-49 |
| Pass | P | 50-57 |
| Pass+ | P+ | 58-64 |
| Credit | C | 65-74 |
| Distinction | D | 75-84 |
| High Distinction | HD | 85-100 |
Units are assessed as follows:
| Task | Extent | Value (%) | Due date | Sections of syllabus assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NT 426 (Undergraduate, English) | ||||
| Class participation | All sessions | 10 | Aims a, b, c, d; content 1, 2, 3. | |
| Exegetical sketch | 1500 words | 25 | Tuesday, April 20 | Aims a, b, c, d; content 2, 3. |
| Seminar | 1500 words | 25 | Presentation date. | Aims c, d; content 1, 2. |
| Major exegesis | 3000 words | 40 | Tuesday, June 1 | Aims a, b, c, d; content 2, 3. |
| NT 436 (Undergraduate, Greek) | ||||
| Class participation | All sessions | 10 | Aims a, b, c, d; content 1, 2, 3. | |
| Greek translation | 3 passages, 1500 words. | 25 | Tuesday, May 11 | Aims a, b; content 3. |
| Seminar | 1500 words | 25 | Presentation date. | Aims c, d; content 1, 2. |
| Major exegesis | 3000 words | 40 | Tuesday, June 1 | Aims a, b, c, d; content 2, 3. |
| NT 626 (Graduate, English) | ||||
| Class participation | All sessions | 10 | Aims a, b, c, d; content 1, 2, 3. | |
| Book review | 1500 words | 20 | Tuesday, April 20 | Depends on the book chosen. |
| Seminar | 2000 words | 30 | Presentation date. | Aims c, d; content 1, 2. |
| Major exegesis | 3500 words | 40 | Tuesday, June 1 | Aims a, b, c, d; content 2, 3. |
| NT 636 (Graduate, Greek) | ||||
| Class participation | All sessions | 10 | Aims a, b, c, d; content 1, 2, 3. | |
| Book review | 1500 words | 20 | Tuesday, April 20 | Depends on the book chosen. |
| Greek translation | 4 passages, 2000 words | 30 | Tuesday, May 11 | Aims a, b; content 3. |
| Major exegesis | 3500 words | 40 | Tuesday, June 1 | Aims a, b, c, d; content 2, 3. |
Information concerning each assessment component is provided below. (Items are arranged alphabetically by title.)
The book review assignment consists of selecting a book from those listed below, reading it, and writing a critical review.
1 Peter
Balch, David L. Let Wives Be Submissive: The Domestic Code In 1 Peter. SBL Monograph Series, 26. Chico: Scholars Press, 1981.
Dalton, William Joseph. Christ’s Proclamation to the Spirits: A Study of 1 Peter 3:18—4:6. Rome: Pontifical Biblical Institute, 1989.
Dubis, Mark. Messianic Woes in First Peter: Suffering and Eschatology in 1 Peter 4:12-19. Studies in Biblical Literature, 33. New York: Peter Lang, 2002.
Elliott, John H. A Home for the Homeless: A Sociological Exegesis of 1 Peter, Its Situation and Strategy. London: SCM Press, 1981.
1-3 John
Malatesta, Edward. Interiority and Covenant. Analecta Biblica, 69. Rome: Biblical Institute Press, 1978.
A seminar will be held in week 6 (immediately before the two week break) to present a preliminary report, by which time students are expected to have read their chosen book. Another seminar will be held in week 7 (immediately following the two week break) to present and discuss the reviews.
The book review should be “camera ready;” that is, formatted correctly as if ready to be printed in a journal. (See examples in Novum Testamentum.) The review must include:
bibliographical details
a survey of the book, including its salient points and main themes
your critical opinion of the book
any shortcomings (e.g. typographical errors, misspelled names, errors of fact).
It is difficult to give a critical opinion unless you are well-read in the relevant field. Nevertheless, you can say whether a line of reasoning seems coherent and whether the author has managed to demonstrate his or her case. It is entirely reasonable for the purposes of this assignment to look for other reviews of the same book and to relate opinions given there, giving due acknowledgements.
A preliminary report on the selected book is required to be distributed to all students at the commencement of the first session (week 6). You are required to give a short presentation of the preliminary report (week 6, about ten minutes) and book review (week 7, about ten minutes) then to facilitate question times (about ten minutes per session).
| Component | Extent | Value (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Book review | 1500 words | 70 |
| Preliminary report | One or two pages (preferably double-sided) | 10 |
| Presentation | About 20 minutes, total | 10 |
| Facilitation | About 20 minutes, total | 10 |
![[Note]](file:/opt/Oxygen%20XML%20Editor%2011/frameworks/docbook/xsl/images/note.png) | Note |
|---|---|
The book review is due on Tuesday, April 20. It may not focus on the same passages or dominant themes as any other written component of your assessment in this unit. |
All students must read the relevant section of one of the required commentaries before attending the corresponding session. (The relevant section is specified in the “Pre-reading” column of the Schedule, above.) In addition, prepare something to contribute to each seminar. This might be a statement or question on one of the salient points. E.g. “After considering the issues, I have come to the conclusion that ‘blah’ is the best position to take on this matter.” My hope is that the forum provided by the seminar and exegesis sessions will develop your skills in doing theology within a group context. If no student is allocated the seminar topic or exegesis passage for a particular week, the session will instead consist of a class discussion led by the lecturer or a student conscripted for the purpose.
Students required to present an exegetical sketch will be allocated a passage of text from the schedule (e.g. 1 Peter 1.1-12). The appointed student is required to write an exegetical sketch of the passage, concentrating on the “exegetical skeleton rather than the expository flesh,” to quote Steve McAlpine. That is, focus on analysing and investigating the text, drawing out its meaning and seeking its true sense rather than the particular wording you would use to deliver these insights to an audience. You may restrict your treatment to less than the whole passage, but not to less than ten verses. The exegetical sketch must include:
A short description of your audience and the setting. (This should not take up more than the first 5% of the sketch).
Exegetical notes on the relationship of the passage to the broader context; the main thrust and purpose of the passage; issues relating to textual variants, the historical setting, and the cultural background of the people to whom the Epistle was addressed; theological issues; a strategy for handling any contentious or hurtful issues that may be raised; applications of the text which are appropriate for your audience.
| Component | Extent | Value (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Exegetical sketch | 1500 words | 100 |
| Note |
|---|---|
The exegetical sketch is due on Tuesday, April 20. It may not focus on the same passages or dominant themes as any other written component of your assessment in this unit. |
The Greek translation assignment requires translation of three (NT436) or four (NT636) passages of text which the student may choose from the schedule. The selection must include at least one passage from each of 1 Peter and 1 John. Consecutive passages may not be chosen.
The translation must include:
An interlinear, literal translation.
A dynamic equivalent translation.
Notes on alternative readings (i.e. textual variants), alternative interpretations of words and passages (lexical and grammatical), Old Testament sources, and any other significant translation issues. If a quotation follows the LXX rather than the MT, say so.
A bibliography.
| Component | Value (%) |
|---|---|
| Interlinear translation | 30 |
| Dynamic equivalent | 30 |
| Notes | 30 |
| Bibliography | 10 |
| Note |
|---|---|
The translation assignment is due on Tuesday, May 11. The required extent is 1500 words for NT436 or 2000 words for NT636. This assignment may not focus on the same passages or dominant themes as any other written component of your assessment in this unit. |
All students will be allocated a passage of text for the major exegesis assignment from the schedule (e.g. 1 Peter 1.1-12). Each student is required to prepare an exegesis of the allocated passage and lead the corresponding session by doing a presentation and facilitating a discussion of issues raised.
The major exegesis paper must include:
the main thrust and purpose of the passage.
the relationship of the passage to the broader context
structural analysis, interpretation issues (lexical and grammatical), and textual variants
the historical setting, cultural background, and thought world of the people to whom the passage was addressed
theological issues
approaches to dealing with any sensitive issues that may be raised by the text
the relevance of the text to the present.
The paper should cover all of these components adequately, and should not focus unduly on some aspects at the cost of others. For example, you should not devote more than a fifth of the paper to the “relevance” item.
An outline based on the major exegesis which includes a bibliography and discussion questions is required to be distributed to all students at the commencement of the corresponding session.
| Component | Extent | Value (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Major exegesis paper | 3000 words (NT426, NT436) or 3500 words (NT626, NT636) | 70 |
| Outline | One or two pages (preferably double-sided) | 10 |
| Presentation | About 25 minutes | 10 |
| Facilitation | About 25 minutes | 10 |
| Note |
|---|---|
The major exegesis assignment is due on Tuesday, June 1. It may not focus on the same passages or dominant themes as any other written component of your assessment in this unit. The lecturer is required to send a sample of the major exegesis papers to an external moderator to assess the level of marking. |
I encourage you to be creative in your presentation and facilitation. (See the Creative Approaches section, below.)
The seminar topics are listed below:
Apostles: What is an apostle? What are the qualifications of an apostle? What does an apostle do? Give biographies of the apostles Peter and John.
Authors: Who wrote the letters of Peter and John? Are these letters individual or group efforts?
Recipients: To whom were the letters of Peter and John sent? Give profiles of the respective audiences.
Dates: When were the letters of Peter and John written?
Transmission: How were the letters of Peter and John transmitted to their recipients. How were they transmitted to us? Are their texts reliable?
Canon: What makes a writing canonical? Do the letters of Peter and John satisfy these requirements? Were they ever excluded from New Testament collections?
Form: What kinds of writings are the letters of Peter and John. Do they fit any known genres?
Sources: What verbal and written sources (e.g. sayings, scriptures, tracts) were used for the letters of Peter and John? Are the letters of Peter and John literary units or compilations of multiple source documents?
Rhetoric: What in the (Graeco-Roman) world is rhetoric? Who learnt it? Why did they learn it? Present some common rhetorical devices. Were the letters of Peter and John influenced by people with rhetorical training? Who might they have been?
Women: What status do women have in the letters of Peter and John? Has the content of these letters helped or hindered the cause of women?
Persecution and Opposition: Survey the major persecutions directed against Christians in the first century after the resurrection of Jesus. Does the persecution mentioned in 1 Peter match any of these episodes? Who are the antagonists in John's letters? Develop profiles of the opponents mentioned or implied in 1-3 John. What is their end?
Theology: What are the major theological themes of the letters of Peter and John? Which represent unique contributions within the New Testament? If we had only these letters, what would we lack in our knowledge of God?
| Note |
|---|---|
Mentions of the “letters of Peter and John” refer only to the letters covered in this unit (i.e. 1 Peter, 1-3 John). |
Students required to present a seminar will be allocated a topic from this list. The appointed student is required to write a seminar paper and lead the corresponding session by doing a presentation and facilitating a discussion of issues raised.
The seminar paper must:
address all parts of the seminar topic
make appropriate use of the biblical text and reference works such as commentaries, monographs, and journal articles
contain a select bibliography of references you have consulted and found useful.
An outline of the presentation which includes a bibliography and discussion questions is required to be distributed to all students at the commencement of the session.
| Component | Extent | Value (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Seminar paper | 1500 (NT426, NT436) or 2000 (NT 626) words | 70 |
| Outline | One or two pages (preferably double-sided) | 10 |
| Presentation | About 25 minutes | 10 |
| Facilitation | About 25 minutes | 10 |
| Note |
|---|---|
The seminar paper is due on the presentation date. It may not focus on the same passages or dominant themes as any other written component of your assessment in this unit. |
I encourage you to be creative in your presentation and facilitation. (See the Creative Approaches section, below.)
Students are encouraged to be creative when planning sessions where they are making a presentation and facilitating discussion. Anything more likely to engage the class than a “talking head” approach is worth trying. For example, think of a dramatic way to introduce the topic, divide the class into two and let them debate some contentious issue, present a story as a TV news item, or even do a musical! Thankfully, these are just suggestions; what you do will depend on your own inclination and the topic or passage of text. Feel free to conspire with others in the class if you need accomplices.
All students should have a copy of the Vose Guide to the Presentation of Essays, which incorporates ACT requirements. Copies of the ACT Undergraduate and Graduate Handbooks are available in the library. Policies relating to grievances and intervention strategies are available at the Vose website.
I would like to acknowledge Dr Evelyn Ashley's generous help in providing me with her course notes for this unit.
[1] Australian College of Theology Undergraduate Handbook 2010 (Sydney: Australian College of Theology, 2010), 193, 200; Australian College of Theology Graduate and Postgraduate Handbook 2010 (Sydney: Australian College of Theology, 2010), 84-85, 92-93.
[2] Undergraduate Handbook 2010, 193, 200; Graduate Handbook 2010, 84, 92-93.
[3] Evelyn Ashley and John W. Olley (eds), Guide to the Presentation of Essays (Perth: Vose Seminary, 2009) http://www.vose.wa.edu.au/view/resources/guide-presentation-essays/.