PROPOSAL FOR RESEARCH PAPER: Due Monday October 27
Your proposal will include three parts:
1) a Step # 1 Report (as usual): Following the model of the weekly exercises (using Step # 1, Form) , choose as a topic for your paper a) a passage (or series of passages) from the Letter to the Romans and b) a theme, and c) tentatively articulate what is, according to your own interpretation, the teaching of this passage of Romans on the chosen theme for believers in a particular life-context (of your choice), and your analysis of the needs it addresses, as well as of the role of Scripture involved, as well as your personal assessment of the imporatance of this teaching.
2) In addition: A paragraph briefly explaining a) which of the three types of perspectives on Paul (the forensic/theological, pastoral/covenantal, apocalyptic/messianic) is closer to your interpretation. And b) which is the most different.
3) In addition: Provide the beginning of a bibliography for your paper (using the clues given in the bibliography in this syllabus; see below for additional books you might want to use)
GUIDELINES FOR RESEARCH PAPER: Due Monday, December 15th (Before 3pm)
This is to be a “paper”; it must develop an argument defending a “thesis.” It must therefore have an introduction, a body (argument), and a conclusion.
Yet it needs also to include the three steps:
Step # 1 Formulating the Teaching of the Text for Christian believers Today in a Particular Context and its Preliminary Analysis. Contextual Frame of the Interpretation (see Step #1 Form) = proposal
Step # 2 Comparing the Themes and Textual Evidence emphasized in one other interpretation (Ph.D. candidates: two other interpretations) with those emphasized by your own interpretation:
a) Elucidation of their hermeneutical frames: What are the themes which focus these interpretations? How do Christian believers make sense of these texts in terms of these themes? How do scholars interpret the same themes? How did you? (In class: we will have emphasized at least three types of theological perspectives.)
b) Elucidation of their analytical frames: What is the specific (textual, historical, literary, sociological, etc.) evidence upon which these interpretations are based? How do Christian believers and scholars ground their interpretations in the text? How did you?
(In class: we will have emphasized at least three types of textual evidence. Here in you paper you are expected to use two commentaries: one supporting your interpretation; the other supporting the other interpretation (Ph.D. candidates use three commentaries.)