The following videos introduce the pastoral issues that Paul addressed in his first letter to the Thessalonians and his first letter to the Corinthians. For Thessalonians, we focus on early Christian belief in the resurrection and how it differs (perhaps) from our own. For Corinthians, we explore the rhetorical techniques and arguments Paul uses in support of his teachings about celibacy and women's leadership, using these as a window into what might be going on in this Christian community. An additional video introduces feminist criticism
The four numbered videos are the most important material, corresponding to the slides. While you don't have to watch them, they may help you prepare for class or fill in gaps after. Below the numbered videos, you will find some additional videos and links, including one that introduces the manuscript evidence for today's two letters.
Use the links to the right to access pdf files of the slides shown in the videos. Two formats are available: 1 slide per page and three slides per page. Both versions have slides for all four numbered videos.
The videos below are thumbnails; to enlarge the view, click the play button and select at the bottom of the frame either "YouTube" (to watch the video on YouTube, which in some cases will be clearer) or the full-screen icon ().
1
Early Christian Beliefs about the Resurrection
This video explores Jewish and early Christian beliefs about the resurrection of the dead, focusing on a pastoral concern in Paul's first letter that the dead will not be able to participate in the resurrection (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Paul corrects this belief with the first account raising of the dead as well as the rapture of the living at the end of times.
14.59
2
Pastoral Issues in Corinth: Reading through the Letter
This video explores two pastoral issues visible in the early chapters of 1 Corinthians: the division of the community into factions, and the trouble people are having with Paul's teaching to be celibate (even within marriage!). In these passages, we see a deeper problem at work, which is a division of the community into "spirit people" (pneumatikoi) who exhibit spiritual gifts, and "fleshly people" (sarkikoi), the Christians who don't. Paul's rhetorical ploy to unite the community plays with the very terms they've adopted to define their divisions.
21.37
3
Feminist Criticism
This video introduces the three "waves" of the feminist movement and explores how the commitment to gender justice produced a particular critical approach to scripture. It explains Paul Ricoeur's notion of a "hermeneutics of suspicion" and shows how such a reading practice is applied by feminists to the New Testament and its interpretation. It introduces some basic questions that feminists typically pose to biblical texts.
26.44
4
Arguing Women's Leadership: 1 Corinthians 11
This video analyzes the main point and the proofs in Paul's argument about women veiling when praying and prophesying (1 Corinthians 11). It notes the variety of proofs Paul tries to bring to bear, and reads these as evidence of the resistance he anticipates. It seems that the Corinthians took to heart that baptism made one part of the body of Christ—a body no longer marked by ethnic, slave/master, or gender distinctions. Even as he reinscribes a patriarchal order, Paul nevertheless signals an unusual reciprocal respect for women.
12.04
Optional Videos & Links
Ancient Corinth - This website hosts the excavations of ancient Corinth that have been conducted by the American School of Classical Studies at Athens since 1896.
Manuscript Evidence for 1 Thessalonians & 1 Corinthians - This video surveys the earliest manuscript evidence we have for 1 Thessalonians and 1 Corinthians.
The following videos introduce the pastoral issues that Paul addressed in his first letter to the Thessalonians and his first letter to the Corinthians. For Thessalonians, we focus on early Christian belief in the resurrection and how it differs (perhaps) from our own. For Corinthians, we explore the rhetorical techniques and arguments Paul uses in support of his teachings about celibacy and women's leadership, using these as a window into what might be going on in this Christian community. An additional video introduces feminist criticism
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