PHIL/RLGN
5314-SA 01—BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION
Division of Religion and
Philosophy
FALL
TERM (August 21 to October 30, 2008)
Thursdays, 6:00-10:10 pm,
WBU: 11550 I.H. 35 N., Room 102
John M. Andrewartha, Ph.D., Instructor
Phone: (830) 980-2404 Fax: (860) 980-2405
Email address: jmandrew@gvtc.com
Website:
http://satx.wbu.edu/john.andrewartha
Office Hours: Thursdays,
5:30-6:00; 9:40-10:10 p.m.
in class room and
by email as needed
I. COURSE DESCRIPTION: A study of the principles and methods of
biblical exegesis and interpretation with an emphasis on the problem of
communicating the biblical message in the modern world.
II. TEXTBOOKS:
The
Bible (any major modern annotated version); Klein, Blomberg &
Hubbard. Introduction to Biblical Interpretation; Fee & Stuart,
How
to Read the Bible for All Its Worth, 3rd Edition; Gorman, Elements
of Biblical Exegesis; Thorpe; A Handbook for Basic Biblical Exegesis;
and Barber
& Krauss, An Introduction to Theological Research and
Tate, Biblical
Interpretation: an Integrated Approach, Rev. Ed. Optional, but so helpful as to be almost essential is the Turabian, Manual
for Writers, 7th edition.
III. PREREQUISITES FOR THIS COURSE and Other Upper Level Religion
Courses:
1. RLGN 1301
and RLGN 1302, or consent of
Instructor if student has taken one and is taking the other concurrently
2. RLGN 0001—Theological Research and
Writing Lab. This
Lab is designed to help student write acceptable research papers. The Lab utilizes a Writing Manual produced by
the Division of Religion and Philosophy.
Students in Biblical
Interpretation must register and receive credit for the Lab during the current
term. Students who have already
received credit for the Lab are not required to take the Lab in this course,
but may do so if they desire the assistance the Lab provides.
IV. COURSE OUTLINE: Unit
1 The Task of Interpretation
Unit
2 The Goal of Interpretation
Unit 3 Understanding Literature
Unit 4 Understanding Bible Genres
Unit 5 The Fruits of Interpretation
V. COURSE REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATE CREDIT:
1. Class attendance according to the WBU catalog
(see Appendix attached)
2. Reading of assigned passages in the textbooks
3. Active, informed participation in class
discussion
4. Two major exams as indicted below
5. Two written reports on the two books as
indicated below
6. A research project as indicated below
q
CLASS PARTICIPATION: Students will be graded on their attendance
and alert, informed, active participation in class activities.
q
MAJOR TESTS: Two exams will be given, each being complete
("final") over the covered material.
q
BOOK REPORTS: Each
student will prepare a report on the Gorman
book to include a general evaluation
of the book and specific examples of
uses he/she has made and plans to make of the book’s contents in the
preparation of her/his Research Project.
This report will be typed, single spaced, at least four, but not more
than six pages in length. A second report on the Tate book will summarize the content of the book and
the information it provides that supplements
the other texts, and will be single spaced and of somewhat longer length, as
needed by the content summary. Copies of
the summary will be emailed to all other
students in the course and the Instructor, as well as a hard copy given to the
Instructor.
q
RESEARCH PROJECT:
An exegetical study of a major bible passage,
in formal academic style worthy of
publication, showing proficiency in the use of scholarly research methods
studied in class. Samples of passages
include:
Exodus
3--the call of Moses Acts
1:1-11--ascension narrative
Deuteronomy
6:1-9--God's instructions to
Psalm
23--the shepherd's psalm Rom 1:17-32--doctrine of accountability
Psalm
100--a psalm of worship Rom 3:21-31--righteousness through
faith
Proverbs
1:1-7--a word on wisdom Rom
5:12-21--did Paul teach Original Sin?
Ecclesiastes
12:1-7--a commentary on aging Rom
13:1-7--doctrine of civic responsibility
Isaiah
6:1-8--Isaiah's worship experience 1 Cor 10:1-11--peril of presuming on
God
Jeremiah
1:1-10--the call of Jeremiah 1
Cor 11:3-16; 14:34-36--women in worship
Matt
1:18-25--the birth narrative of Jesus 1 Cor 12:1-14--doctrine of the charismata
Matt.
12:22-37--parable of unpardonable sin Gal
3:1-25--doctrine of law vs. grace
Matt
19:3-12; 1 Cor 7:10-17--divorce Eph
1:3-14--doctrine of the believer's standing
Mark
4:1-20--parable of sower and seed
Luke
16:19-31--rich man and Lazarus narrative 1
Tim 3:1-13--qualifications of bishops and deacons
Luke
21:5-36--Olivet prophecy James
2:14-26--faith vs. works
John
1:1-14--Logos prologue James
3:1-12--use of the tongue
Other
major passages of similar length and importance of the student's choice, with
approval of the Instructor.
GENERAL
INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROJECT: The
project must be at least 20 pages (not including Title page and
Bibliography), and not more than 30 pages, in length, typed and
double-spaced. At least 15 authoritative,
scholarly books and/or articles must be used and cited in the notes and
bibliography. No more than 5 Internet articles may be used. The Turabian (University of Chicago) style is the official format adopted by the
WBU Department of Religion, is used by most religious publications, and is required
for this course. Copies will be
emailed to each student and to the Instructor. The project will be evaluated on depth of
research, coherence of reasoning, and thoroughness of presentation. Grammar, spelling, and style are expected to
be flawless, as is appropriate for graduate level work.
ACADEMIC
DISHONESTY, such as having someone else write your
reports, cheating on tests, or plagiarism, will not be tolerated. Plagiarism
(the use of the words or ideas of
others without giving credit, thus silently pretending they are your own) is
intellectual theft, will result in no credit for the report, and is grounds for
dismissal from the university.
VI. GRADING: Students will be graded on their knowledge of
the textbooks and lecture notes, on their book reports and research projects,
and on their attendance and class participation, as demonstrated by their
performance on exams, reports, projects, and class attendance and participation
in class discussion.
|
EVALUATION: |
Major Tests |
40% |
WBU GRADE SYSTEM |
A = |
90-100% |
|
|
Research Report |
40% |
|
B = |
80-89% |
|
|
Book Reports |
15% |
|
C = |
70-79% |
|
|
Class Participation |
5% |
|
D = |
60-69% |
|
|
|
|
|
F = |
Below 60 |
VII.
CLASS OBJECTIVES / OUTCOME COMPETENCIES: As a result of this study, students will
demonstrate knowledge of:
1.
The
general rules of biblical interpretation leading to a proclamation of the
biblical text that is both responsible and defensible by exam scores not less
than sixty per-cent.
2.
The
history of interpretation and its effect on biblical interpretation by exam
scores not less than sixty per-cent.
3.
Genres
of the biblical text, tools used in interpretation, and scholarly criticism
necessary for responsible exegesis of the biblical text by exam scores not less
than sixty per-cent.
4. The
resources and methodologies of biblical exegesis as demonstrated by a book report
and a research paper scored not less than sixty per-cent using the rubric
attached to this syllabus.
VIII.
SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS: The Instructor will provide photocopied
materials and various visual aids as appropriate to the class activities, as well
as class notes and visuals posted to the WBU Blackboard. Students are expected to check the Blackboard
often.
IX. CLASS
PROCEDURE: The class will be
taught by a combination of lecture and class discussion of the textbooks and
supplemental materials. The class meets
for four hours each Thursday for eleven weeks.
X.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: ( * Indicates course textbooks. See also bibliographies in textbooks):
*
Barber, Cyril J., and Robert M. Krauss, Jr. An Introduction to Theological
Research, Second Edition, Revised and Expanded. New
Beardslee, William A. Literary Criticism of the New Testament.
Carson, D. A. Exegetical Fallacies.
Coggin, R. J., and J. L. Houlden. A Dictionary of Biblical Interpretation.
Dockery, David, Kenneth A. Mathews, and
Robert B. Sloan. Foundations for Biblical
Interpretation.
lishers, 1994.
Fee, Gordon D. Gospel and Spirit: Issues in New Testament Hermeneutics.
*
Fee, Gordon D., and Douglas Stuart. How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth, 3rd
Edition.
2003.
*
Gorman, Michael J. Elements of Biblical Exegesis.
Greenlee, J. Howard. Introduction to New Testament Textual Criticism.
Hayes, John H., and Carl R. Holliday. Biblical Exegesis: A Beginner's Handbook.
Rev. Ed. Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1987.
Hendricksen, Walter A. Understand: A Straightforward Approach to Interpreting the Bible.
Huey, F. B, Jr., and Bruce Corley. A Student's Dictionary for Biblical &
Theological Studies.
Kaiser, Walter C., and Moises Silva. An Introduction to Biblical Hermeneutics:
The Search for Meaning.
lishing
House, 1994.
*
Klein, William W., Craig L. Blomberg, and Robert L. Hubbard. Introduction to Biblical
Interpretation, Revised and Expanded. Nash-
ville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1993.
Krentz, Edgar. The Historical-Critical Method.
Ladd, George Eldon. The New Testament and Criticism.
Longman, Tremper III. Literary Approaches to Biblical Interpretation.
Marshall,
Company, 1977.
Osborne, Grant R. The Hermeneutical Spiral: A Comprehensive Introduction to Biblical Interpretation.
Press, 1991.
Perrin,
Ramm, Bernard. Protestant Biblical Interpretation: A Textbook of Hermeneutics, 3d
Rev. Ed. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1970.
* Tate, W.
*Thorpe,
R. Samuel. A Handbook for Basic Biblical
Exegesis. NY: University Press
of
XI. CLASS ASSIGNMENTS: Students
are expected to have read the text material prior to the dates assigned for
class discussion and to be prepared to enter into meaningful discussion of the
topics covered.
|
Dates: |
Klein-Blomberg-Hubbard |
Fee-Stuart |
|
Wk 1 Aug. 21 |
Introduction, Annotated
Bibliography, Chap. 1:
Need for Interpretation |
Preface; Appendix; Chap. 1: Need |
|
Wk 2 Aug. 28 |
Chaps. |
Chap. 2: Translations |
|
Wk 3 Sept. 4 |
Chap. 6: Goal
of Interpretation |
Chaps. 3, Epistles &
Acts |
|
Wk Sept. 11 |
Chap. 7: Prose |
Chaps. Narrative, Gospels |
|
Wk 5 Sept. 18 |
Chap. 8: Poetry |
Chap. 11: Psalms |
|
Wk 6 Sept. 25 |
Turn
in Detailed Outline of Research Project at beginning of class MID-TERM ESSAY EXAM ON
MATERIALS TO THIS POINT |
|
|
Wk 7 Oct. 2 |
Turn in Drafts of Research Project at beginning of class Chap. 9: OT Genre |
Chaps. Law & Prophets |
|
Wk 8 Oct. 9 |
Turn in Book Report(s) at beginning |