STS Department of Biblical Studies

Educational Level: Graduate, Masters
Credit Hours: 3 Credits
Instructor: Dr. Fergus King

Course Description:

Did the New Testament give rise to mission or did mission give rise to the New Testament? Many Christians are inclined to think it is the former but the New Testament itself is a product of mission itself. With this in mind, we begin this course by clarifying some key terms (e.g. missional, hermeneut-ic) before turning to the New Testament documents. Through our study of these and the assessments given the student learns how to approach the New Testament from a missional perspective that appreciates it rootedness and relevance in the first-century cultures, its complex story-like unity with the Old Testament, and its multifaceted witness to the climactic nature of Jesus and his work.

How This Course Benefits Students:

This course will enable the student to appreciate and approach the New Testament from a missional perspective and to learn to be sensitive to interpreting it in a rich and theological manner. The student will also discover the coherency of the missional message of the New Testament documents which brings salvation from sin, justice for the poor and oppressed, and ultimately and corporately redemption for the world, including the entire cosmos.

Why This Course Is Important:

Every Christian, regardless of their sphere of service, needs to properly understand that the New Testament is not merely a blueprint for a biblical basis of mission. It is much more than this for these ancient documents evolved from a context of mission, hence a missional hermeneutic provides fresh and innovative ways for us to think about what God in Christ is doing in his world. This does not deny our involvement in the mission of God but it does save us from an anthropocentric approach (i.e., I am going on a short-term mission overseas). What we should be thinking, regardless of the nature of our ministry is, God has already been on a mission for millennia and I am merely joining him as he brings it to completion. Taking this course not only helps us understand the nature of the New Testament documents themselves but to also get our missional priorities right

Educational Level: Graduate, Master
Credit Hours: 3 Credits
Instructor: Dr. Fergus King

Course Description:

Paul is an ancient personality who must first be rooted in the social and historical context of the first century world in order to understand how he went about his work. Some of the more important theological expressions of Paul (e.g., justification) are examined from a missional perspective, followed by concentrating on Pauls missional strategy where we investigate Pauls preference to work alongside a variety of co-workersmale and femalein different locations and at various times as he fulfilled his mandate of apostle to the Gentiles. While we consider these different issues, we also have an eye on major contemporary questions in Pauline studies, including whether Paul expected his communities to be centripetally or centrifugally focused in their missional orientation.

How This Course Benefits Students:

The bachelor level course is intended to help the student understand the theology as well as the realities, strategies and methods Paul employed in his mission. The Masters course assumes some of this knowledge but seeks to extend the students understanding by grappling with the collaborative nature of Pauls missionary work and also engaging key contemporary issues debated by interpreters and miss-iologists alike, including for example, whether the Apostle Paul expected his early Christian comm- unities to evangelize.

Why This Course Is Important:

When most Christians think of Paul, they usually regard him as a letter-writer, pastor or a theologianrarely is Paul considered from the perspective of missionary. In recent years, however, New Testament interpreters have begun to address this neglected dimension to Pauls ministry making this a vital contemporary topic to explore. But Paul was not a missionary in our twenty-first century understanding; rather, he was an apostolic missionary whose theology was nothing less than an out-working of the mission of God whom he loved and served.

Educational Level: Upper undergraduate, Bachelor
Credit Hours: 3 Credits
Instructor: Dr. Fergus King

Course Description:

An examiniation of Pauls theology and role as apostolic missionary through a consideration of his message, the task, the methods and tactics he employed, and his missional goals. Particular attention will be paid to the missional intent of Pauls theology with an emphasis on its Christ-centered and Spirit-powered nature, as well as a consideration of important practical matters, including how he financed his missional enterprise, his response to suffering, and his urban focus.

How This Course Benefits Students:

The bachelor level course is intended to help the student understand the theology as well as the realities, strategies and methods Paul employed in his mission. The Masters course assumes some of this know-ledge but seeks to extend the students understanding by grappling with the collaborative nature of Pauls missionary work and also engaging key contemporary issues debated by interpreters and miss-iologists alike, including for example, whether the Apostle Paul expected his early Christian comm- unities to evangelize.

Why This Course Is Important:

When most Christians think of Paul, they usually regard him as a letter-writer, pastor or a theologianrarely is Paul considered from the perspective of missionary. In recent years, however, New Testament interpreters have begun to address this neglected dimension to Pauls ministry making this a vital contemporary topic to explore. But Paul was not a missionary in our twenty-first century understanding; rather, he was an apostolic missionary whose theology was nothing less than an out-working of the mission of God whom he loved and served.