Paul of Tarsus: Slave of Jesus Christ or Apostle of Liberation?

Courtney Friesen
Summer 2021
Wednesdays |  
1 PM - 3 PM (AZ Time)
May 5, 12, 19, and 26, 2021
Course Format: Hybrid
Location: Online
Tuition: $130

The Christian religion is inextricably bound up with contemporary culture not only in America but also around the globe. Yet, even after centuries of scholarly inquiry, numerous questions regarding its historical origins remain contested and unanswered. The Christian movement developed into a religion about Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God. From a historical perspective, however, Jesus himself did not invent this religion. Rather, the most influential figure in establishing the Christian church as an institution is the Apostle Paul. This course will undertake an historical reconstruction of Paul’s mission and his distinctive achievements, the manner in which he founded new religious communities and articulated a distinctive intellectual and spiritual vision.

Registration will open online on Monday, April 12, 2021 at 8 AM (AZ Time)

  • Classes will be delivered online via the Zoom video conferencing platform. Course will be password protected and only available to enrolled students.
  • All class sessions will be recorded and made available to enrolled students for a limited time to assist those who may not be able to attend the live class times.
  • Enrolled students may withdraw from a course and receive a tuition refund if the request is received before the second class session. See our FAQ page here for more answers to general program questions.

Required Reading
  • The Harper Collins Study Bible Student Edition. Revised and Updated. HarperCollins, 2006. Or, another Bible translation.
  • Bart Ehrman, The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings. Oxford. 7th ed. 2000. Or, 6th ed. 2016.

Meet Your Instructor

Associate Professor

COURTNEY FRIESEN is Associate Professor in the Department of Religious Studies and Classics, where he teaches Greek, the New Testament, and early Christianity. Prior to the University of Arizona, Dr. Friesen taught at Oxford. He researches intersections of Greek literature with Judaism and Christian. His book Reading Dionysus received the Lautenschläger Award from the University of Heidelberg; and a subsequent essay, “Gluttony and Drunkenness as Jewish and Christian Virtues,” earned the Achtemeier Award from Society of Biblical Literature. He is editing a volume on Philo of Alexandria and writing a book on religion and theater. 

Location

THIS COURSE WILL BE OFFERED ONLINE ONLY

Classes will be live streamed during the time and dates specified in the course details section above. Instructions about how to access the course online will be sent to all enrolled students before the course begins.

Open Courses You May Also Be Interested In