AmaZing Grace Biblical Seminary Erumelikkara, Kumarapuram (PO), Aluva (via), Ernakulam (District), Kerala, India- Pin-683 565. Ph. 8547473926, 8281663926. NT 129: PRISON EPISTLES COURSE DESCRIPTION The common thread of Paul's imprisonment ties Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon together as the "Prison Epistles." This course will examine these four epistles and closely explore their historical circumstances, literary composition, rhetorical style and theological framework. Special attention will be paid to the unique contribution that each epistle makes to Christian theology and mission. COURSE OBJECTIVES By the end of the course, you should be able to: Differentiate the historical circumstances surrounding the composition of Paul's Prison Epistles with particular attention to their authorship and recipients and comparatively analyze the place of the epistles in the larger cultural world. Analyze the literary context of these letters in terms of epistolary structure and rhetorical features in order to construct text meaning. Identify the theological emphases of these biblical texts in relation to Pauline topics such as Christology, salvation, missiology, eschatology and ecclesiology and assess them in light of current studies. Determine the contemporary relevance of these biblical texts for the support of individual faith development and congregation's corporate witness. COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION Class Participation 5% Reading Report 20% Main Term Paper/Assignment 15% Final Examination 60% COURSE OUTLINE UNIT I: Introduction to the Prison Epistles Ephesians: Authorship, Occasion, Place and Date of Writing Philippians: Authorship, Occasion, Place and Date of Writing Colossians: Authorship, Occasion, Place and Date of Writing Philemon: Authorship, Occasion, Place and Date of Writing UNIT II: Content of Prison Epistles Background of Writing of these Epistles Church at Philippi a) Nature of the Philippian Situation b) Founding of the Philippian Church c) Nature of the Philippian Church d) Themes of Philippians e) Theology of Philippians Church at Colossae a) Nature of the Ephesian Situation b) Founding of the Ephesian Church c) Nature of the Ephesian Church d) Themes of Ephesians e) Theology of Ephesians Church at Ephesus a) Nature of the Ephesian Situation b) Founding of the Ephesian Church c) Nature of the Ephesian Church d) Themes of Ephesians e) Theology of Ephesians Epistle to Philemon: Importance of Christian Love and Freedom BIBLIOGRAPHY Baugh, S. M. Ephesians (EEC). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016. Bird, Michael F. Colossians and Philemon (NCCS). Eugene, OR: Cascade, 2009. Fowl, Stephen E. Ephesians: A Commentary (NTL). Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2012. Freed, Edwin D. The Apostle Paul and His Letters. London: Routledge, 2005. Hansen, G. Walter. The Letter to the Philippians (PNTC). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2009. Hoehner, Harold W., Philip Wesley Comfort, and Peter H. Davids. Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1&2 Thessalonians, Philemon. Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, 16. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2008. Lenski, R.C.H. The Interpretation of St.Paul's Epistles to the Ephesians and Philippians. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 2008. Still, Todd D. Philippians and Philemon (SHBC). Macon: Smyth & Helwys, 2011. Witherington, Ben. The Letters to Philemon, the Colossians and the Ephesians: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary on the Captivity Letters. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2007.