WESTERN
SEMINARY
5511
(503)
517-1800
BLS562J
– Apostle Peter -- The Man & The Writings
Peter H.
Davids, Instructor
Summer,
2004
SYLLABUS
REQUIRED TEXTS
Pheme Perkins, Peter: Apostle for the
David A. deSilva, Honor, Patronage, Kinship, Purity
(InterVarsity, 2000)
Peter H. Davids, The First Epistle of Peter
(Eerdmans, 1990)
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Peter bar Jona became a central leader in the eaerly Jesus
movement. This course will examine what we know of his life history and the
writings attributed to him.
COURSE GOALS
Upon completion of this course you will . . .
BE:
1. more
secure in trusting God in hard times.
2. more
firmly committed to God’s call to ethical obedience
KNOW:
1. how Mediterranean cultural values are
expressed in the New Testament.
2. how
God developed Peter from a firsherman to a church leader.
3. how legends about Peter developed in
the post-New Testament era
4. what God expects of us in our
relationship to culture
BE ABLE TO:
1. explain the theology of 1 and 2 Peter.
2. interact
with your culture with more godly wisdom.
FEEL FREE TO CONTACT
ME
Home: +1 (832) 212-5708
FAX: +1 (281) 240-9180
Email: peter@davidsnet.ws
Address:
RESPONSIBILITIES
A. Attendance
Seminar sessions: June 14 – 18,
The class will be conducted
lecture/discussion style. The goal of
the discussions will be to refine your personal ability to read and apply
scripture.
B. Quality
of Work
This is a graduate level
seminar. You will be expected to perform
at that level in all you do. This means
that you will discipline yourself to do quality work and to do it on time. You will be expected to have interacted
carefully with all assigned readings for the topics. From this basis you will participate in the
class discussions to form a learning community.
All written material will reflect quality in logic, good methodology,
clarity, succinctness, spelling, punctuation and grammar. REMEMBER:
Life is short: no fluff! It is
assumed that you are able to assess the quality of your work before you hand it
in or before you present in class. I
encourage you to consult with me to make sure you understand the assignment
and/or to go over drafts of your material.
Much of the value of the course flows out of the contributions you and
I make to each other from our experiences in ministry and from the effort we
put into the work of the course itself.
Plan to give your best.
C. Pre-Class
Preparation (23 hours)
1. Please
read 1 and 2 Peter twice, each time in a different translation. Write down the
exegetical issues that occur to you. Also search out the references to Peter or
Cephas in other New Testament books, writing down your observations. You will turn in your notes from the study on
the first day of class. They will be
handed back at the beginning of the second day.
They will be graded on the basis of completion and quality of
interaction with the passages. (8 hours)
2. Please
read David A. deSilva, Honor, Patronage, Kinship and Purity, 23-240, and
Pheme Perkins, Peter, 18-180 (excluding endnotes). Following Western's policy, they are to be
read at the mastery level, averaging about 25 pages per hour. It assumes careful interaction with the
ideas, note taking and will lead to accountability in class discussion at a
mastery level. The instructor is well-aware that Perkins is not evangelical,
but her work is well worth interacting with. (15 hours)
E. Post
Class Project (30 hours)
1. You
may choose to prepare an exegetical paper examining a significant passage in
the Petrine literature and its ministerial implications. Your paper will show
critical interaction with the various interpretive and theological issues,
acquaintance with the literature, including journals and monographs, as well as
an awareness of the ministerial and personal implications of the conclusions
your come to. This paper will be about
15 pages long. Mail it directly to me by
2. As
an alternative to #1 you may prepare an integrative project on one or more
passages about Peter/ the Petrine literature, which project will include (1) a
printed introduction, (2) a set of notes indicating that you have done
significant exegetical research, (3) a printed 2 to 3 page set of exegetical
conclusions, (4) a printed bibliography, and (5) a creative application
(ranging from a sermon to a song to a counseling plan to art) that really does
apply the passage. Mail your project to
me by
FINAL GRADE
The final grade will be determined on the basis of your
completion of the assigned reading, the quality of your class interaction, the
written notes on reading and the final paper. All assignments must be completed
with a passing grade to receive a passing grade for the course. Unless you qualify for an incomplete under
the provisions listed in the catalog, all assignments must be mailed by
READING REPORT
BLS562J – Apostle Peter -- The Man & The Writings
Peter H.
Davids, Instructor
Summer,
2004
I have completed the assigned portions of Pheme Perkins, Peter: Apostle for the Whole
Church (Fortress, 2000), and David A. deSilva, Honor, Patronage,
Kinship, Purity (InterVarsity, 2000) prior to the first class session at a
mastery level. I have also read Peter H. Davids, The First Epistle of Peter
(Eerdmans, 1990).
__________ Yes
__________ I did not read the following portion before
class, but have completed it before
__________ I did not read the following portion at all:
_______________________________________
Name