Paul and the New Testament Epistles is an exciting follow-up course to Jesus and the Gospels in Bahá’í and Historical Perspective. It similarly examines the New Testament Epistles and Book of Acts from historical and theological points of view. The course subject matter includes the life and times of the Apostle Paul – arguably one of the most important and controversial figures in Christianity – as well as epistolatory teachings on salvation, the Resurrection, the raising of the dead, unity in Christ, the law/Torah, the station of women, martyrdom, “the [evil] powers,” Satan, false prophets, sin, and other hot topics. The course will conclude with comparative readings of Bahá’í commentary on those same topics with a view to discovering the golden threads of unity that run through the Bahá’í and New Testament scripture.
For historical perspectives, the participants will read chapters 20 through 29 of The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings (Bart Ehrman, Oxford University Press, 2015. Note that this is the sixth edition of Ehrman's text and that other editions, which cover essentially the same material, may be available more cheaply). For theological perspectives, the participants will read commentary on traditional and modern Pauline theology, as well as excerpts from Light of the Kingdom: Biblical Topics in the Bahà’í Writings (JoAnn Borovicka, Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 2016). Readings are supplemented with video outlines and commentary.
This course offers remarkable flexibility, allowing participants to complete all assignments at their own pace online. For those who enjoy live dialogue, facilitators will host optional weekly Zoom meetings on Sundays from 4 to 5:30 PM Eastern Time. It is important to note that these meetings are not mandatory and that recordings of the sessions will be available on the course website for all students, ensuring that everyone can engage at their own convenience.
Price: $150 (too much? Tuition discounts available; write info@corinnetruecenter.org)
Faculty: Robert H. Stockman, Caleb Gilleland, and JoAnn Borovicka
Online Course Format
