Thinking Through Paul



Course Description

In the Thinking through Paul course, New Testament scholars Bruce W. Longenecker and Todd D. Still provide a thorough, college or seminary level introduction to the life of the apostle Paul and the New Testament books he authored.


The study of Paul and his letters can be exciting, challenging, and life-changing, but only if it is done well and if students achieve more than a basic familiarity with the subject. This is exactly what Pauline experts Bruce W. Longenecker and Todd D. Still accomplish with the Thinking through Paul course.


Longenecker and Still bring decades of study and expertise to Paul's writings, challenging students to delve deeply into Paul's writings and to wrestle with his richly-layered and dynamic theological discourse.


Seeking to situate their study of the apostle in proper perspective, Longenecker and Still first look at Paul's life before and after his encounter with the risen Christ en route to Damascus, then examine each of Paul's letters individually, and finally synthesize the Pauline writings to highlight the main strands of Paul's theologizing - all the while keeping in mind the particular context of first-century Christianity. Both engaging and easy to follow, the Thinking through Paul course is ideal for formal students and independent learners alike.

By taking this course, you'll gain:

  • greater familiarity with Paul's life and the significance of his writings
  • insight into the theological themes of Paul's New Testament books
  • a broader grasp of overarching Pauline emphases
  • confidence in your growing knowledge through unit assessments and personalized review sessions that include award-winning memory building tools

Course Instructors

Bruce W. Longenecker

Ph.D., University of Durham, England


Bruce W. Longenecker is professor of religion and W. W. Melton Chair at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. He has previously taught at the University of St. Andrews, Cambridge University, and the University of Durham. He is the author of several books, including Remember the Poor: Paul, Poverty, and the Greco-Roman World, and The Lost Letters of Peramum: A Story from the New Testament World.


Todd D. Still

Ph.D., University of Glasgow, Scotland


Todd Still serves as dean of the George W. Truett Theological Seminary of Baylor University in Waco, Texas. In addition to having written Colossians for the revised edition of The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Dr. Still is the author of Conflict at Thessalonica as well as Philippians & Philemon. He is also the (co-) editor of several volumes (including Jesus and Paul Reconnected, After the first Urban Christians, and Tertullian and Paul) and has published articles in such scholarly journals as New Testament Studies, Journal of Biblical Literature, and Catholic Biblical Quarterly.

Course Outline

1.  A Survey of Paul's Life and Letters

2.  1 and 2 Thessalonians

3.  Galatians

4.  1 Corinthians

5.  2 Corinthians

6.  Romans

7.  Philippians

8.  MIDTERM EXAM


9.   Philemon and Colossians

10.  Ephesians

11.  The Pastoral Letters

12.  The Apocolyptic Narrative of Theological Discourse

13.  Paul's Theological Narrative and Other Macro-Narratives of HIs         Day

14.  Paul's Theological Narrative and the Micro-Narrative of Jesus             Groups

15.  FINAL EXAM

Course Textbook

This course is based on the book Thinking Through Paul by Bruce W. Longenecker and Todd D. Still. While taking this course, you will have online access to most of this book's contents. However, if you want offline access or want this book in your personal library as a long-term reference, you may purchase it by clicking on the button to the right which will link you to amazon.ca.

Course Details

Thinking Through Paul

by Bruce W. Longenecker and Todd D. Still


13 Units, Self-paced

6.5 Hours of Video

12 Month Access to All Online Content

3 Credits toward a Certificate, Diploma, or Degree

Support by a Clearwater College Professor


Price: $510 CAN