New Testament Responses to Imperial Violence

This course surveys various points at which a number of New Testament authors encountered the Roman Empire – directly or indirectly.  It aims to acquaint students with the political world of the New Testament and to aid students in the development of a biblical hermeneutic conscious of its implications.  The class will involve a combination of lecture, full class discussion, and small group discussion.  Students will be assessed by a book review assignment, two summary papers, a final research paper, and classroom participation.