REL 2703–BIBLICAL HERMENEUTICS

Oklahoma Baptist University

Dr. Bobby Kelly: Owens Hall 113; 878-2213

Spring 2008 

 

SCOPE AND PURPOSE

The course biblical hermeneutics is an introduction to the nature of the Bible and its authority, an overview of Jewish and Christian interpretation over the past 2000 years, the principles of a grammatical-historical-theological-practical approach, as well as case studies of specific biblical passages which illustrate the principles. In short, a look at the various ways the Bible has been interpreted and the development of a valid approach to biblical interpretation.

 

This course is based on the premise that "all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness, in order that the person of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Tim 3:16-17).  While affirming the inspiration, authority, and absolute trustworthiness of all Scripture, we also recognize the need to ask the hard historical, literary, and cultural questions necessary for a rigorous and serious study of the Bible. I urge you to develop the moral virtues appropriate to such an enterprise: (1) openness to what is new even when it is threatening; (2) respect for what is different even when it is strange; (3) dedication to the truth even when it is difficult to obtain; (4) willingness to follow the evidence wherever it might lead us, i.e., think critically.

 

OUTCOMES

1. Sharpen your understanding of the nature of the Bible.

2. Acquire a basic understanding of the nature of hermeneutics and its necessity in order to read the Bible well.

3. Cultivate an awareness of the role of presuppositions at work in interpretation. All interpretation is contextual. Words don’t have meaning, they have potential for meaning.

4. Gain a broad understanding of the history of interpretation up to the present.

5. Gain familiarity with various critical methods used in interpreting Scripture.

6. Respect the various genres that make up the Bible and the differences inherent in them.

7. Develop a workable method for interpreting Scripture.

8. Sharpen your ability to apply the Bible to contemporary life.

 

TEXTBOOKS

Fee, Gordon and Douglas Stuart. How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth. 3d ed. Grand Rapids:

Zondervan, 2003.

Trible, Phyllis. Texts of Terror. Overtures to Biblical Theology. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1984.

Wright, N.T. The Last Word. San Francisco: HarperCollins, 2005.

ACTIONS AND EVALUATION

Exams (300 points): Two exams will be given each worth 100 points (Feb 29, April 11) and the final (May 13). The exams may contain some objective questions (T/F, matching, multiple choice, short answer) but will lean heavily toward long and/or short essay.

 

Review of N.T. Wright, The Last Word. The review should include a basic biographical sketch of the author (check the internet!), a summary of the book's content (1.5 pages), and an evaluation and critique of the book (2-3 pages). Thus, the review should be approximately five pages double-spaced. Due Feb. 8, 50 points

 

Review of Phyllis Trible, Texts of Terror.  The review should include a basic biographical sketch of the author, a summary of the book’s contents (1.5 pages), and an evaluation and critique of the book (2-3 pages).  Thus, the review should be approximately five pages double-spaced. Due March 28, 50 points

 

Exegetical Paper (200 points): The exegesis of the text should be typed, double spaced, in Turabian style, with footnotes and a bibliography reflecting thorough research. The paper will be broken into four units:

 

(a) Historical Context: This section will analyze matters of author, date, place of writing, recipients, purpose and any other socio-cultural factors that might impact your text. This section of the paper should be 8-10 pages. A brief outline of the entire book may be included as an appendix to this section of the paper. This will aid in placing your text in the context of the book as a whole. Due April 9, 75 points.

 

(b) Establish the Text & Develop an Outline. Due April 18, 25 pts

 

(c) Literary and Linguistic Analysis: This section will organize your commentary on the passage around the natural divisions or structure of the passage. Identify the major options of interpretation and the position you endorse. This section should be 10-15 pages. Due April 30, 75 points.

 

(d) Application: This is your opportunity to bridge the hermeneutical gap by applying your passage personally or to a specific congregation. Either explain your own situation and how the passage applies or provide a brief description of a church you have been or are now involved in (rural or city, educational level, socio-economic level, spiritual maturity, etc.) and indicate how you would apply the passage to that situation. This section should be 5 pages. Due May 5, 25 points.

*Someone will surely say, “it’s hard to think like that.” It is so much easier to forget about contexts, or how the biblical writers were writing for their people in their time, forget about all that and just read all the words and do precisely what you think they say. That’s easy. What you are suggesting is too hard. Well, it’s supposed to be hard, knucklehead! Jesus said whoever would be my disciple must take up my hard cross and follow me, follow daily a living word, not a dead one.

 

Quizzes: Each quiz will be worth ten points. 100 points.

 

POLICIES

Grading

Grades are determined on a 90-100 basis. 700 points are possible for the semester.

 

Absences and Tardiness

If you are willing to accept the possibilities this class offers, then I will expect you to attend every class meeting. We are a community of learners and the expectation is that you will be a responsible participant. People were turned away that wanted to take this class, not because it was required for their degree, but because they grasped something of the complexity of Christian faith and the biblical interpretation that goes along with it and wanted to struggle with how to do it better.

 

Late Work

Late work will be penalized 10% a day, including weekend days. It will behoove you to submit work in a timely fashion. Papers are due at the beginning of class unless otherwise noted in the daily schedule.

 

COURSE ASSIGNMENTS

DATE	TOPIC	ASSIGNMENT
M 1/28	Course Introduction
W 1/30   F 2/1	NATURE OF HERMENEUTICS: Definition of Terms Importance	F&S 11-18;   F&S 18-31
M 2/4	Nature of the Bible: Inspiration, and Authority
W 2/6	Comparison of Scripture Confessions	http://sbc.net/bfm/bfm2000.asp http://www.bible-researcher.com/chicago1.html http://www.adoremus.org/DeiVerbum.html
F 2/8	Discussion of N.T. Wright, The Last Word	Submit The Last Word Review
M 2/11	Language and Translation	F&S 33-53
W 2/13	Language and Translation	http://www.tniv.info/light/genderaccurate.php
F 2/15	HISTORY OF INTERPRETATION	http://fontes.lstc.edu/~rklein/Documents/gonzalez.htm Justo González, “How the Bible Has Been Interpreted in Christian Tradition. Read “Early Church” up to “Middle Ages.”
M 2/18	History of Interpretation	http://fontes.lstc.edu/~rklein/Documents/gonzalez.htm Read “Middle Ages” to the end.
W 2/20	O.T. Critical Methods
F 2/22	O.T. Critical Methods
M 2/25	N.T. Critical Methods
W 2/27	N.T. Critical Methods
F 2/29	EXAM ONE
M 3/3	INTERPRETATION: Developing an Exegetical Method I. Investigate Historical Context
W 3/5	II. Establish the Text  & Construct an Outline
F 3/7	Discussion of your analysis of reading through your biblical book	Submit preliminary results from reading through the biblical book for your exegesis (Quiz grade)
M 3/10	III. Investigate Genre Epistles: Thinking Contextually	F&S 55-70
W 3/12	Epistles: Contextualizing	F&S 71-87
F 3/14	Epistles: One last look	http://www.soulforce.org/article/homosexuality-bible-gay-christian Focus especially on “Premise Five”
March 17-21	SPRING BREAK
M 3/24	Hebrew Narrative	F&S 89-106
W 3/26 F 3/28	Hebrew Narrative Discussion of Phyllis Trible, Texts of Terror	Read Genesis 18-19 Submit Texts of Terror Review
M 3/31	Acts	F&S 107-125
W 4/2	Gospels	F&S 127-148
F 4/4	Gospels
M 4/7	Parables	F&S 149-162; "Letting Parables Live," by Walter Wink, http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=1762
W 4/9		Submit EXEGESIS PART I
F 4/11	EXAM TWO
M 4/14	Law	F&S 163-180
W 4/16	Prophets	F&S 181-204
F 4/18	Prophets	Submit EXEGESIS Part II
M 4/21	IV. Application
W 4/23	Poetry/Hymns	F&S 205-223
F 4/25	Poetry/Hymns
M 4/28	Wisdom	F&S 225-248
W 4/30	Wisdom	Submit EXEGESIS PART III
F 5/2	Apocalyptic	F&S 249-264
M 5/5 W 5/7 F  5/9	The Revelation Wrap Up Session	Submit EXEGESIS PART IV

 

FINAL EXAM: Tuesday, May 13, 10:15-12:15

EXEGESIS BIBLIOGRAPHY

Introductions: OT

Archer, Jr., Gleason. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction. Revised edition. Moody, 2007.

Arnold, Bill T. and Bryan E. Beyer. Encountering the Old Testament: A Christian Survey. Baker,

     1999.

Baker, David W. and Bill T. Arnold eds., The Face of Old Testament Studies: A Survey of

Contemporary Approaches. Baker, 1999.

Boadt, Lawrence. Reading the Old Testament: An Introduction. Paulist Press, 1984.

Brueggemann, Walter. An Introduction to the Old Testament: The Canon and Christian

Imagination. Westminster John Knox, 2003.

Broyles, Craig C. ed. Interpreting the Old Testament. A Guide for Exegesis. Baker, 2001.

Childs, B.S. Introduction to the Old Testament as Scripture. Fortress, 1979.

Craigie, Peter. The Old Testament: Its Background, Growth, and Content. Abingdon, 1987.

Crenshaw, James. Old Testament: Story and Faith : A Literary and Theological Introduction.

Hendrickson, 1992.

Dillard, Raymond B., and Tremper Longman III.  An Introduction to the Old Testament.  Grand

Rapids: Baker, 1994.

Eissfeldt, O. The Old Testament: An Introduction. Translated by P.R. Ackroyd. Harper and Row,

1965.

Harris, Stephen. The Old Testament: An Introduction to the Hebrew Bible. McGraw-Hill, 2007.

Harrison, R. K. Introduction to the Old Testament. Hendrickson, 2004.

Hayes, John. An Introduction to Old Testament Study. Abingdon, 1979.

Hill, Andrew E.  and John H. Walton. A Survey of the Old Testament. 2d. ed. Grand Rapids:

Zondervan, 2000.

La Sor, William Sanford, David Allan Hubbard, and Frederic William Bush. Old Testament

Survey: The Message, Form, and Background of the Old Testament. Eerdmans, 1982.

Matthews, Victor H., and James Moyer. The Old Testament: Text and Context.  Peabody, MA:

Hendrickson, 1997.

Rendtorff, Rolf. The Old Testament: An Introduction. Augsburg/Fortress, 1991.

Rogerson, John, John Barton, David J.A. Clines, Paul Joyce. Beginning Old Testament Study.

Chalice Press, 1998

Schultz, Samuel. The Old Testament Speaks, 4^th ed.  San Francisco: HarperCollins, 1990.

Schultz. Samuel, and Gary Smith. Exploring the Old Testament (Biblical Essentials). Crossway,

2001.

Soggin, J. Alberto. Introduction to the Old Testament. OTL. Westminster, 1989.

Tullock, John. The Old Testament Story, 4^th ed.  Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1997.

Young, Edward. An Introduction to the Old Testament. Eerdmans, 1963.

 

Introductions: NT

Achtemeier, P. J., J. B. Green, and M. M. Thompson. Introducing the New Testament: Its

     Literature and Theology. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001.

Berding, Kenneth and Matthew Williams, eds. What the New Testament Authors Really Cared

     About. Kregel, 2008.

Brown, Raymond.  An Introduction to the New Testament.  New York: Doubleday, 1997.

Carson, D. A., Douglas Moo, and Leon Morris.  An Introduction to the New Testament.  Grand

Rapids: Zondervan, 1992.

Cousar, Charles. An Introduction to the New Testament: Witnesses to God's New Work.

Westminster John Knox, 2006.

deSilva, D. A. An Introduction to the New Testament: Context, Methods and Ministry Formation.

Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2004.

Ehrman, Bart. The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings.

New York: Oxford, 2000.

Elwell, Walter A., and Robert W. Yarbrough.  Encountering the New Testament. Baker, 1998.

Gundry, Robert. A Survey of the New Testament.  4th. ed.  Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003.

Guthrie, Donald. New Testament Introduction. Rev. ed.  Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1990.

Harrison, Everett.  Introduction to the New Testament.  Rev. ed.  Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1971.

Johnson, Luke T.  The Writings of the New Testament: An Interpretation.  Philadelphia: Fortress,

1986.

Kee, Howard C, Franklin Young, and Karlfried Froehlich. Understanding the New Testament

Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1965.

Kümmel, Werner Georg. Introduction to the New Testament. Rev. ed. Translated by Howard

Kee. Nashville: Abingdon, 1975.

Lea, Thomas.  The New Testament: Its Background and Message.  Nashville: Broadman and

Holman, 1996.

Metzger, Bruce.  The New Testament: Its Background, Growth, and Content.  2d ed.  Nashville:

Abingdon 1983.

Schnelle, Udo. The History and Theology of the New Testament Writings. Minneapolis:

Augsburg/Fortress, 1998.

Wenham, D. and S. Walton. Exploring the New Testament, vol. 1: A Guide to the Gospels &

Acts. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2001; Marshall, I. H., Travis, S. and Paul, I., vol.  2: A Guide to the Epistles and Revelation (2002).

 

Bible Dictionaries and Encyclopedias

Anchor Bible Dictionary, ed.  David Noel Freedman.

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible, ed. Walter Elwell.

Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, ed. Joel Green and others.

Dictionary of New Testament Background, ed. Craig A. Evans and Stanley E. Porter.

Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, ed. Gerald Hawthorne and others.

Dictionary of the Later New Testament & Its Developments, ed. Ralph Martin and Peter Davids.

Dictionary of the Old Testament: Historical Books, ed. Bill Arnold and H.G.M. Williamson.

Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch, ed. T. Desmond Alexander and David Baker.

Eerdmans Bible Dictionary, ed. David Noel Freedman and others.

HarperCollins Bible Dictionary, ed. Paul Achtemeier, Roger S. Boraas, and Michael Fishbane.

Harper's Bible Dictionary, ed. Paul Achtemeier.

Holman Bible Dictionary, ed. Trent Butler.

Illustrated Bible Dictionary, ed. J. D. Douglas.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, ed. Geoffrey Bromiley.

Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible, ed. George Arthur Buttrick (See Supplementary volume).

Mercer Dictionary of the Bible, ed. Watson Mills.

New Bible Dictionary, ed. I. Howard Marshall and others.

New International Dictionary of the Bible, ed.  J. D. Douglas and Merrill Tenney.

Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia, ed. Merrill Tenney.

Exegetical Commentaries

Augsburg Commentary on the New Testament (ex: Gerhard Krodel, Acts)

Bible Speaks Today Series.

Baker Exegetical Commentary.

Bible Speaks Today.

Black's New Testament Commentaries, ed. Henry Chadwick.

Broadman Bible Commentary, ed. Clifton J. Allen.

Everyone series by N.T. Wright (ex: Matthew for Everyone)

Expositor's Bible Commentary, ed. Frank Gaebelein.

Harper's New Testament Commentary. 

Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching, ed. J.L. Mays.

IVP New Testament Commentary.

New American Commentary Series.

New International Commentary Series.

NIV Application Commentary.

Pillar New Testament Commentaries.

Tyndale Commentary Series.

Technical Commentaries

The Anchor Bible, ed. William Foxwell Albright and David Noel Freedman.

Hermeneia Commentary Series.

International Critical Commentary, (This series is in the process of revision; look for newer volumes).

The Old Testament Library (ex: Isaiah by Brevard Childs)

The New Testament Library (ex: 1&2 Timothy and Titus by Raymond Collins)

Interpreter's Bible.

New International Greek Testament Commentary, ed. I. Howard Marshall.

Sacra Pagina, ed. Daniel Harrington.

Word Biblical Commentary, ed. David Barker and Glen Hubbard.

 

Old and New Testament Background

Ahlström, Gösta W. The History of Ancient Palestine from the Palaeolithic Period to

Alexander's Conquest. Edited by D. Edelman. JSOT Supplement Series 146. Sheffield

Academic Press, 1993.

Barnett, Paul.  Jesus and the Rise of Early Christianity: A History of New Testament

Times.  Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity, 1999.

Bright, John A.  A History of Israel.  3d ed. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1981.

Bruce, F. F.  New Testament History.  Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1972.

Dever, William G. What Did the Biblical Writers Know and When Did They Know It?

What Archaeology Can Tell Us about the Reality of Ancient Israel. Eerdmans, 2001.

DeVries, LaMoine F.  Cities of the Biblical World.  Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson, 1997.

Ferguson, Everett.  Backgrounds of Early Christianity.  2d ed. Eerdmans, 1993.

Hayes, J.H. and J. Maxwell Miller. A History of Ancient Israel and Judah.

     Westminster/John  Knox, 1986.

Hoerth, Alfred.  Peoples of the Old Testament World.  Grand Rapids: Baker, 1994.

Jeffers, James S.  The Greco-Roman World of the New Testament Era. IVP, 1999.

Jeremias, Joachim.  Jerusalem in the Time of Jesus.  Philadelphia: Fortress, 1969.

Keener, C. S. The IVP Biblical Background Commentary: New Testament. Downers

     Grove: InterVarsity, 1993.

Kaiser, Walter.  A History of Israel: From the Bronze Age Through the Jewish Wars.  Nashville:  Broadman & Holman, 1998.

Lohse, Eduard.  The New Testament Environment.  Trans. John Steely.  Nashville:

     Abingdon, 1976.

Malina, Bruce.  Handbook of Biblical Social Values.  Peabody, MA.: Hendrickson, 1998.

________.  The New Testament World.  Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 1993.

Matthews, Victor H.  Manners and Customs in the Bible.  Rev. ed. Peabody, MA.:

Hendrickson, 1991.

________, and Don C. Benjamin.  Social World of Ancient Israel 1250-587 B.C.E.  Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson, 1993.

________. A Brief History of Ancient Israel. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2002.

Merrill, Eugene H.  Kingdom of Priests: A History of Old Testament Israel.  Grand

Rapids: Baker, 1987.

Provan, Iain, V. Philips Long, and Tremper Longman III. A Biblical History of Israel.

 Westminster John Knox, 2003.

Shanks, Hershel, ed. Ancient Israel. From Abraham to the Roman Destruction of the

Temple. Revised edition. Biblical Archaeology Society, 1999.

Skarsaune, O. In the Shadow of the Temple: Jewish Influences on Early Christianity.

Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2002.

Soggin, J. Alberto. A History of Ancient Israel: From Beginnings to the Bar Kochba

Revolt, A.D. 135. Westminster, 1985.

Surburg, Raymond. Introduction to the Intertestamental Period. St. Louis: Concordia.

Van Der Woude, A. S. The World of the Old Testament.

Witherington, B. III. New Testament History: A Narrative Account. Baker, 2001

Wright, N. T. The New Testament and the People of God. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1992.

 

Bible Atlases

Aharoni, Yohanan, Michael Avi‑Yonah, Anson F. Rainey, and Zeev Safrai, eds. The Carta Bible Atlas. Macmillan, 2002.

Beitzel, Barry J.  The Moody Atlas of the Bible Lands.  Chicago: Moody, 1985.

Bimson, J. and J. Kane. New Bible Atlas. Tyndale, 1985.

Brisco, Thomas C.  Holman Bible Atlas.  Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1998.

Cleave, Richard. The Holy Land: A Unique Perspective. Photography and Satellite

Cartography. Lion, 1993.

May, Herbert G., ed. Oxford Bible Atlas.  3d ed. New York: Oxford, 1984.

Pritchard, J.B., ed. Harper's Atlas of the Bible. Harper and Row, 1987.

Rasmussen, Carl G.  Zondervan NIV Atlas of the Bible.  Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1989.