1.  Christianity began and spread in the Roman Empire during the first century CE.  Based upon Acts, the Gospels, and the other sources you have read, what about Jesus' ministry and the early church were most familiar to Greco-Roman pagans in the first two centuries CE?  Also consider:  What aspects were most shocking or surprising?  How do you think the similarities and differences affected the successful spread of Christianity?

OR

2.  Modern Christians often point to the New Testament as evidence in arguments for or against women's leadership in churches today.  What was the role of women in earliest Christianity?  Consider:  What was the role of women in the community around Jesus?  How did Jesus treat women?  Do different early Christian texts (both canonical and extra-canonical) portray women differently?  Does one portray women more favorably than the rest?  What does this say about the role of women in the first Christian communities after the death of Jesus?
 

Your paper should be based on your own reading and interpretations of the assignments in class up through October 2.  YOU SHOULD NOT DO EXTRA RESEARCH.  Your essay should have one, over-arching thesis which you are arguing.  Present an argument, and present the evidence in support of your argument.  A really good paper also will address counter arguments and convince the reader why your interpretation is better than other interpretations of the New Testament.  You should base all of your arguments on the texts and provide examples from primary sources.

Since you will only use sources from class, you do not need to attach a bibliography.  Rather, use parenthetical citations.  For secondary sources, give the author and the page number, such as (Ehrman, 227).  For primary sources, give an abbreviated version of the title and then chapter and verse numbers, such as (GTh, 1:1) or (Mk, 10:12).  If you cite information from a class lecture or discussion, simply write in parentheses "Class," and then the date, such as (Class, 9/13/01).

Because this is a short paper, you should chose your examples carefully, and you might want to quote passages from primary sources in-full only occasionally.  Or you might quote just a part of a passage.  It is acceptable to summarize or paraphrase your examples and then provide a parenthetical reference to your text.  For example, you might talk about the women who visit Jesus' tomb in your own words and then write (Luke 24:  1-12, Mark 16:1-8) as your reference.

As with all papers, you should cite your references carefully.  If you quote directly from any text, put the passage in quotation marks and provide a parenthetical reference with page numbers.  You should also provide references for ideas you get from your sources which you do NOT quote directly.  If you get an idea from someone else, you must give them credit, even if you put it into your own words.
 

You will be graded on the effectiveness of your argument and use of evidence as well as grammar and spelling.
 

Here are some nuts-and-bolts to keep in mind:
    * Type/print your paper
    * Your paper should be double-spaced, on one side of each piece of paper
    * Margins should be no more than 1 inch on each side, and fonts should be no larger than 12-point
    * Proofread, proofread, proofread
    * Be sure your name, the name of the class, and the title of your paper is on the first page
    * Staple your paper
    * Cite your sources correctly!!!
    * Follow instructions!!!
 

Your paper is due at the beginning of class on October 4.

If you complete a draft of your paper by October 2, you may bring it to class, and I will email you comments on the morning of Wednesday October 3.