REL 406 - Pauline Literature I
1 & 2 Corinthians and 1 & 2 Thessalonians
Study Topics and Assignments
Week 2 - The Roman Empire and the Greek cities
Scripture Readings
Our readings this week are intended to give us a feeling for the Roman and Greek cultures of the time, and to give the time-frame of the events of the New Testament.
From them you may get a picture of what it was probably like to be a member of a peace-keeping force in outlying regions of the Roman Empire, such as Judea and Asia Minor, where the people and customs were strange to the provincial governors and to the officers of the Roman army.
Also, a picture of what it might have been like to be a member of a Greek community; and of the spiritual hunger of Gentiles seeking God.
Such people comprised Paul's mission field, and the intended readership for most of his letters.
- Luke 2:1-3
- Luke 3:1-2
- Acts 18:1-2
- Matthew 8:5-13
- Mark 15:15-26 & 39
- Acts 10:1-48
- Acts 13:6-12
- Acts 16:21-40
- Acts 18:12-17
- Acts 21:31-39
- Acts 22:24-29
- Acts 23:10
- Acts 23:16-35
- Acts 24:22-25:27
- Acts 27:1-15 & 29-44
- Acts 28:7-16
- Philippians 4:22
- Acts 13:42-48
- Acts 14:8-18
- Acts 17:16-34
- Acts 18:7-11
- Acts 19:23-41
- 1 Corinthians 1:22-24
Textbook Resources
- pages 6, 17, 52, 207, 487 - photos of Rome
- page 9 - map of Rome
- page 14 - Homosexuality
- page 15 - Paul and Rhetoric
- page 47 - statue of Octavian / Augustus
- page 65 - statue of Nero
- pages 101-108 - Corinth
- page 103 - Strabo in Corinth
- pages 104 107, 109, 121, 122, 162, 210, 225, 244 - photos of Corinth
- page 178 - Paul quotes an Athenian Playwright
- pages 209 & 233 - the Erastus Inscription
- page 216 - Jesus Christ as Lord
- page 221 - the After-Life
- page 222 - photo of the Gallio Inscription
- page 224 - "reflections"
- pages 229 & 166 - the Asclepion of Corinth
- page 234 - Social Stratification in Ancient Mediterranean Society
- page 235 - Aequitas : Equality
- pages 303, 313, 321, 325, 328, 330, 444, 447 - photos of Ephesus
- pages 346, 410 - the Egnatian Way
- pages 347, 353 - photos of Philippi
- page 354 - the Afterlife in Ancient Philippi
- page 365 - Sophistry, Philosophy, and Chicanery in the Greco-Roman World
- pages 372-373 - "The Spiritual Climate of the Area" - although this section deals particularly with Colossae in Asia Minor, the same spiritual influences were at work throughout the Gentile world at that time.
- page 374 - Plutarch's Dread of the Gods
- pages 405-407 - The City of Thessalonica
- page 422 - Tomb Inscriptions and the Afterlife
- pages 426, 432 - photos of Thessalonica
- page 481 - Sale of Religious Offices - one could buy the position of Prophet !
- pages 506 - 507 - the Deified Augustus
Go here for InterNet Resources
- Other useful articles can be found by using Search Engines such as GoodSearch
- Remember - always cite your sources
This Week's Assignment
Two Essays
- Life as a Roman citizen or a Roman soldier
- Life as a citizen of a Greek or Macedonian city
Each Essay should be 2 - 5 pages in length, and should deal with such things as family life, religion, philosophical views, schooling, politics and social structure.
Remember to cite your sources
Use MSWord or a text editor such as Notepad to prepare and save your work, then submit it via the Blackboard-Turnitin page for the course.
Copyright © 1999 Shirley J. Rollinson, all Rights Reserved
