Course Descriptions

HIST 6/471 The Life and Times of Paul - Credit Hours: 3

Semester normally offered: Fall

Course Description

A narrative study of the life of Paul in Acts in light of historical, cultural and geographical backgrounds with application to Christian faith and practice.

Course Equivalencies

• Early Christianity
• Second Temple History
• Bible
• History

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, the student should be able to:

• obtain a general overview of the life of Paul recounted in the Book of Acts;
• recount the routes Paul likely travelled, the cities he visited, and the events that took place in each city;
• gain a basic understanding of the people groups and cities Paul encountered and the historical, cultural, and geographical setting in which he lived;
• recognize Paul’s missiological methodology and the factors that led to Christianity becoming a global movement; and
• acquire a template from Paul’s life that will inform and calibrate Christian faith, service, and witness.

Field Study

There is a two-part field study related to this course:

Greece Field Study: From December 2-9, students will embark on a seven-day historical and archaeological field study to cities in Greece visited by Paul during his second and third missionary journeys. This Greece field study is mandatory for all online and in-residence students taking the course for credit, as well as in-residence audit students. It is optional for online-audit students.
Cost: $2990 (cost does not include flights). Registration deadline for the Greece Field Study is 1 September 2023.

Israel Field Study: One day in the field visiting sites related to the arrest of Paul in Jerusalem and his confinement and trials at Caesarea Maritima. This field study is optional for online students and mandatory of in-residence students.