Romans  - Brief Essay - 20 points

Requirements:

1. Your essay should be word-processed, double-spaced, one-inch to one and one-half inch margins. It should be spell-checked. Pages Numbered. Font no smaller than 12 point.

2. You should have a cover page with title, date, topic/prompt, and your name. (You can simply cut and paste the topic/prompt from the list below onto your cover page.)

3. Number each paragraph. Bold your thesis. After the end of the essay, attach an OUTLINE of the essay with the thesis clearly stated and at minimum a line for each paragraph.

4. The essay should be approximately three pages long (not including the title page or Works Consulted page).

5. You must include a Works Consulted/Cited Page.  You need not consult any other sources than what we have read for class. Those sources and any other sources you consult must be included in your Works Consulted/Cited and cited in-text or in footnotes/endnotes. CAREFUL AND CORRECT CITATION IS REQUIRED. WHEN IN DOUBT, CITE. Remember that simply paraphrasing or changing every third word is not OK. Quote and cite or radically summarize and cite. Use quotation marks when quoting or indent if quote is five lines or longer. Guessing at where your information comes from is not OK. Use page numbers in your in-text citations, footnotes or endnotes. Book or journal titles are italicized or underlined.  You may consult Citation for Biblical Studies for information related to citing biblical studies sources.

6.  Click here for the Grading Rubric for the essay.  This is a checklist I will use in grading the essay.  Defining key terms, using examples to illustrate, referring to relevant biblical passages, pointing out alternative points of view and responding to objections often improve essays.    Remember that evaluation includes both strengths and weaknesses.

Topics/Prompts:

Choose one of the following prompts:

1.  Paul uses an Adam/Christ typology in Romans 5: 12-21.  Explain what a typology is and discuss the comparisons and contrasts made between Adam and Christ.   How does the Adam/Christ typology contribute to Paul's argument in Romans 5? (See especially Barr's discussion on pp. 164-65 and 179-80)

2.  Discuss at least one passage where Paul makes use of one or more aspects of the diatribe form  in Romans 9-11.  These aspects include " (1) the use of an imaginary partner, (2) the raising of objections, and (3) the inferring of false conclusions (Barr, pp. 152-53)."  How effective is Paul's use of the diatribe form in your chosen passage?

3.  Briefly describe the  "Salvation of the Individual’ and the "Salvation of the World" interpretations of Romans. (See Barr, pp. 161, 166-68 for an outline of the two views.) Which interpretation–"Salvation of the Individual" or "Salvation of the World" do you find more persuasive? Why? Be sure to refer to specific passages from Romans to support your position.  Note:  Different interpretive choices shape each view.  If you are interested, you can also find a related discussion in C. Roetzel’s chapter entitled "Currents and Crosscurrents, " pp. 174-81 which is on e-reserve)

4. Explain the structural similarity Barr finds between Paul and the Qumran community. (See Barr 168-73)  How does this relate to the "new perspective on Paul" which Barr describes on page 173?  To what extent do you find the parallel and the "new perspective"  persuasive?

5.  Wild Card.  Choose a topic of your choice, but get the instructor's approval via email before writing.