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Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

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Module Title
Module Code	(ITS: TP130)
Faculty		School
NFQ level		Credit Rating

Description

The letters of Paul are the oldest Christian writings, composed by a peripatetic Jew in the east Mediterranean in the middle of the first century CE before the word “Christian” even existed. As such, they are indispensable for understanding the emergence of early Christianity, Christian theology and habits of biblical interpretation, and ancient networks of commerce and ideas that contributed to intellectual and religious life in the Roman east. This course introduces the letters of Paul and the Pauline tradition (Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon) in their literary and historical context, as well as their on-going importance for the modern world. Students will develop skills that will enable them to engage with these texts from a variety of perspectives and methodologies used in academic study of the Bible. Students are expected to attend and contribute to lectures, and to engage with the primary texts in a reflective and analytical manner as they progress through the module.

Learning Outcomes

1. demonstrate an understanding of the New Testament and its formation in its historical context
2. reflect critically on historical issues related to the background and formation of the Paul’s letters and Pauline tradition
3. identify and analyse critical issues and distinctive theological developments found in the letters
4. demonstrate practical knowledge of methods and approaches used in the academic study of the New Testament
5. demonstrate ability to comprehend and explain the content of Paul’s letters and their influence in early Christianity

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	No Description
Independent Study	64.5	No Description
Directed learning	50	No Description
Assignment Completion	49	No Description
Total Workload: 187.5

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Essay	Essay	70%	n/a
Essay	Article Review	30%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Paul's Life

Pauline Corpus

Ancient Epistolography

Pauline Theology

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Bagnall and Cribiore: 2008, Women’s Letters from Ancient Egypt, 300 BC–800 AD,
Blummel: 2012, Lettered Christians: Christians, Letters, and Late Antique Oxyrhyncus,
Doering: 2012, Ancient Jewish Letters and the Beginning of Christian Epistolography,
Doty: 1983, Letters in Primitive Christianity,
Dunn: 1988, The Theology of Paul the Apostle,
Gorman: 2004, The Apostle of the Crucified Lord: A Theological Introduction to Paul and his Letters,
Hawthorne et al.: 1993, Dictionary of Paul and His Letters,
Horrell: 2015, An Introduction to the Study of Paul,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None