Courses

It is always the case that some books of the Bible are emphasized more than others. In this course, we will examine two New Testament epistles that are often neglected in both academic and ecclesial contexts. Together, we will try to determine why these letters are often neglected, and we will strive to understand their distinctive contribution to the New Testament and to Christian theology. We will explore how the letters’ emphasis on suffering and hope is relevant in different parts of the world today, including post-Christendom Canada.

Knowing

• Memorize the basic structure and content of the Petrine Epistles;
• Learn about the historical and cultural setting in which the Petrine Epistles were written;
• Understand how 1 and 2 Peter seek to strengthen Christian faith;

Being

• Appreciate the importance of participating in respectful discussions about biblical texts;
• Become self-aware as a modern reader of the Bible, recognizing both the antiquity of the texts and the various ways in which contemporary life influences our understanding of it;
• Learn about and respond to Jesus’ example as a human sufferer;

Doing

• Have the ability to quickly locate reliable scholarly resources that discuss a particular NT passage;
• Have the ability to ask key questions in order to explore the meaning of a text;
• Have the ability to reflect canonically, theologically, and contextually so as to explore how people can/should understand the New Testament today;
• Engage in doctoral-level research that invokes James in a responsible manner.