NTS 510

GREEK EXEGESIS:  ACQUIRING INTERPRETIVE SKILLS

 

                                                                      Fall, 2003

 

                                                       James De Young, Instructor

 

Western Seminary

Portland, OR

 

 

                                                        COURSE DESCRIPTION

 

In this course you will bring together the skills of grammar, reading, and syntax as you develop a thorough, fifteen-step method for interpreting New Testament literature. You will gain an appreciation for various New Testament genres and textual criticism. You will produce exegetical and expositional products useful for constructing theology, teaching, preaching, and enhancing spiritual growth. Prerequisite: NTS 508, NTS 509, or the consent of the instructor.  3 hours.

 

                                                                COURSE GOAL

 

You will understand the process of exegesis in the Greek language, apply it to teaching and/or preaching, and come to appreciate the value of working in the original language for ministry and personal growth.

 

                                                         COURSE OBJECTIVES

 

I.          You will gain knowledge of the exegetical process.

 

A.        You will become familiar with the Greek text of Colossians and 2 John.

 

B.         You will study the definition of exegesis and its attendant disciplines.

 

C.        You will practice an approach to exegesis.

 

 

II.         You will learn the spiritual-life skills of a method for the exegesis of the biblical text.

 

A.                 You will explore the role of the Holy Spirit in the process of exegesis by reading, prayer, and writing a journal.

 

B.                 You will explore the role of community in the process of exegesis by participating in discussion, prayer, and study.

 

C.        You will explore the role of obedience in the process of exegesis by making personal  application of the truth to your own life and choosing a spiritual discipline (see R. Foster for a list)  to emphasize and report on as a personal application project.

 

III.       You will learn the study skills of a 15-step method for the exegesis of the Greek New Testament by learning and applying principles and exegetical skills to Colossians and 2 John.

 

A.        You will be able to analyze the text by:

1.         Making spiritual preparation;    

2.         Translating and discovering (observing) the text;

3.         Researching the historical background of the book;

4.         Tracing the argument of a book (making an outline);     

5.                  Analyzing a paragraph;

6.                  Solving textual problems;

                  7.         Diagraming and doing a mechanical layout of your paragraph;

                        8.         Doing syntactical analysis;

9.                  Doing semantic and rhetorical analysis;

10.              Making an exegetical outline;

11.              Doing lexical/conceptual analysis;

 

B.           You will be able to synthesize your exegetical findings from the text by:

12.              Placing your text in larger contexts of the New Testament, Old Textament, and Christian theology;

13.              Solving exegetical and theological problems in your paragraph;

14.              Finalizing your outline and translation;

15.              Contemporizing the text by

a.                   Identifying and actualizing the essential reality of the text;

b.                  Correlating the text to a biblical worldview;

c.                   Teaching the text by constructing

(1)               Lesson plans

(2)               A Homiletical outline

(3)               A Biblical theology

(4)               A Commentary

 

C.        You will be able to employ those tools, books, and computer programs necessary for a credible interpretation of the text as evidenced by your use of them in the exegetical tasks throughout the course.

 

IV.       You will apply your exegetical findings to your life and the lives of others and communicate effectively your findings and applications to them.

 

 

A.        You will integrate exegesis, hermeneutics, homiletics and communication skills as evidenced in the exegetical and theological soundness and capable presentation of the sermon and the lesson plans you write.

 

B.         You will make the transition in exposition from the meaning of the text to its contemporary significance in a culturally sensitive manner as evidenced in the applications you make and how you communicate them in your sermon and lesson plans based upon the principles you distilled from the text by your exegetical approach.

 

C.        You will evidence your understanding of types of outcomes and models of teaching for effective communication in the objectives you set in your lesson plans and the teaching/learning means you use to reach those objectives.

 

COURSE PROCEDURE

 

1.         Daily assignments in Grassmick's manual and/or collateral reading.

 

2.         Class discussion and group work.

 

3.         Frequent projects to be handed in as specified in the syllabus.

 

4.         Reading of the text of Colossians and 2 John.  Beginning with the eighth (2-28) week, every period will begin with the reading of at least ten additional verses of Colossians, starting with 1:1.

 

5.         Quizzes (usually oral) on the parsing of the Greek text (when such text has been assigned) and on the material discussed in class are possible.

 

6.         No major exams.

 

 

                                                     COURSE REQUIREMENTS

 

1.         Reading Willard or Bockmuehl and writing a one-page interaction  (4 hrs; 100 pts, 2.7%).

 

2.         Reading various texts and articles as indicated on the reading list  (28 hrs; 500 pts, 13.7%).

 

3.         Translating Colossians and 2 John using any tools  (15 hrs; 200 pts, 5.5%).

 

4.         Completing exegetical tasks in your paragraph and in the book of Colossians  (25 hrs; 1500 pts, 41%).

 

 

5.         Creating a four-lesson adult teaching unit from your paragraph in Colossians  (4 hrs; 400 pts, 11%).

 

6.         Writing a homiletical outline and giving in class a 15-20 minute sermon based on your exegesis  (1 hr; 100 pts, 2.7%).

 

7.         Writing on one aspect of biblical theology as discovered in Colossians (2 hours; 150 pts, 4%).

           

8.         Writing a mini-commentary on your paragraph (5 hrs; 400 pts, 11%).

 

9.         Fulfilling a personal application from your paragraph by concentrating on one Christian discipline.and evaluating in a one page summary the role of obedience in that area and its contribution to the exegetical process (1 hr; 100 pts, 2.7%).

 

10.              Keeping an exegesis notebook (3-ring binder) of all assignments and a brief journal (13 entries) of the roles of the Holy Spirit, the disciplines, worldview, and community in the process of exegesis  (5 hrs; 150 pts, 4%).

 

11.              Taking a couple of small quizzes  (50 pts, 1.4%).

 

                                                                             

COURSE TEXTS

 

Required

 

Carson, D.A.  New Testament Commentary Survey (fifth ed.)

De Young, J.  Exegesis of the Greek New Testament:  15 Steps (Assignment Forms)

De Young, James.  Printed notes.

De Young, J. and Sarah Hurty, Beyond the Obvious.

Grassmick, John D. Principles and Practice of Greek Exegesis, see bibliography, pp. 193-194.

Greenlee, J. Harold.  Introduction to New Testament Textual Criticism.

Metzger, Bruce M.  A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament.

Osborne, G.  The Hermeneutical Spiral.

Traina, Robert A.  Methodical Bible Study.

 

Collateral

 

Black, D.A.  Linguistics for Students of New Testament Greek.

Bockmuehl, Klaus.  Listening to the God Who Speaks

Cotterell, Peter & Max Turner,  Linguistics and Biblical Interpretation

Willard, Dallas.  In Search of Guidance

_______.  The Divine Conspiracy

 

 

Recommended

 

Aland, Kurt and Barbara Aland, The Text of the New Testament.

Barr, James.  The Semantics of Biblical Language.

Black, D.A. Linguistics and NT Interpretation.

Carson, D. A.  Exegetical Fallacies.

_____.  New Testament Commentary Survey

_____.  The King James Version Debate.

Carson, D. A. and John D Woodbridge,  Scripture and Truth.

_____.  Hermeneutics, Authority, and Canon.

Danker, Frederick, W.  Multipurpose Tools for Bible Study.

Epp, Eldon J. and Gordon D. Fee. Studies in the Theory and Method of New Testament Textual

Criticism.

Foster, Richard.  Celebration of Discipline.

Hirsch, E. D., Jr.  Validity in Interpretation.

Kaiser, Otto and Werner George Kummel,  Exegetical Method, Trans. by E.V.N. Goetchius.

Kaiser, Walter.  Toward an Exegetical Theology.

Metzger, Bruce.  The Text of the New Testament.

.

 

 

                                                                             

COURSE POLICIES

 

1.         All material to be handed in is identified as Assignment Due.

 

2.         All assignments are due on the day they are listed.  Late assignments unexcused will be penalized.  Late assignments which are excused may be handed in as late as one week after return to class without penalty.  After that time  they may be penalized unless the student has discussed them with the instructor.

 

3.         Biblical theologies and lesson plans may be made available for duplication.

 

4.         Attendance is required as stated in the catalogue:  no more than 6 class sessions may be missed (unless extenuating circumstances exist).

 

5.         Expected ratio of number of hours of homework to number of hours in class is two to one for an average (B) grade.

 

 

6.         Grading scale:               A+       99-100%

A         95-98%

A-        93-94%

B+       91-92%

B          88-90%

B-        86-87%

C+       84-85-%

C         81-83%

C-        79-80%

D+       77-78%

D         74-76%          

D-        70-73%

 

 

                                            COURSE CONTENT AND SCHEDULE

 

 

        Sept    3   Introduction to the course and to the philosophy of exegesis.  Grassmick, 5-17.   

                        STEP 1:  Spiritual preparation.  Exegesis as encounter with God.  Read Bockmuehl or Willard, 100 pages.  Translate Colossians 1:1-8.

 

5        Discussion of the Philosophy of Exegesis.  Read  De Young and Hurty, Beyond       the Obvious, 123-183; Traina, 6-13.  [Cf. Kaiser, TET, 17-40]. Translate  Colossians 1:9-29.

 

10      Assignment due:  Reading of and one-page interaction with Bockmuehl or

Willard.  Discussion:  Relationship of the contemplative life and obedience.  Read preparation  for exegesis,  Grassmick, 18-35.  [Cf. Kaiser, TET, ch. 2 (41-66)].

 

12   STEP 2:  Observation of a book.  Becoming familiar with text and content.   Read Grassmick, 36-45;  Traina, 27-79 (esp. 41-42, 49-52, 63-68, 72-79).  [Cf. Kaiser, TET, ch. 3 (69-85)].  Translate 2 John.

 

Discovery of 2 John in class (may use the English text if necessary).  [Cf. Kaiser, TET, ch. 4 (87-104)].    Use format for discovery of Colossians:

 

a.         Determine literary genre (zhan'r).  Traina, 68-71; TET, 91ff.

b.         Determine basic subject matter (terms).  Traina, 34-36.

c.         Determine atmosphere.  Traina, 71.

d.         Mark out and title each paragraph (all major divisions and subdivisions).  Note characteristics, manual p. 41; TET, 96ff.

e.         Determine major divisions, and subdivisions if any (structure) (cf. Traina, 36-41-42, 49-52).  Note clues, Grassmick, 42-43; TET, 71ff., 84ff.

f.          Determine provisional controlling purpose (theme) and mentally justify it (44-45); cf. TET, 79; 100ff. --meditate on the preceding observations      (Traina, 49-55).

 

              17    Assignment due: Discovery of Colossians. 

STEP 3:  Researching the historical background.  Grassmick, 46-59.    In class research of second model, 56-59, on 2 John, with instructor's guidelines.  [Cf. Osborne, 127-147].  Translate Colossians 2:1-12.

 

   19   Assignment due: Historical background of Colossians. 

STEP 4:  Tracing the argument of a book.  Grassmick, 60-63.  In class, discover syntactical and literary relationships by applying Traina, 27-79 to Colossians and/or 2 John.   Assignment: 

a.         Broad outline (see requirements, p. 60) of Colossians.

b.         Visual chart (cf. 63; also Traina, 233-243) of Colossians.

Translate Colossians 2:13-23.

 

24    Assignment due: Outline and chart of Colossians.

STEP 5:  Discovery of a paragraph.  Grassmick, 64-65; Osborne, 252-260. In class, discuss format for discovery of a paragraph.

a.         Translation

b.         Context (see 3 things, 64:  the preceding, the following and the literary relationships -- Traina, 49-52, 101-102).

c.         Literary genre

d.         Basic subject matter

e.         Atmosphere

f.          Title of paragraph

g.         Subdivisions of paragraph

h.         Provisional controlling purpose

i.          List of any and all problems (apply Traina, 93-102;  optional).

Translate Colossians 3:1-11

 

26  Assignment due: Discovery of (assigned) paragraphs of Colossians. 

                        STEP 6:  Textual analysis.  Read textual criticism, 66-80.  Read introduction to

                        the Aland Greek text and learn abbreviations for quiz.  (26th edition:  39-72; esp.

                        45-50, 63, 70-71;  27th edition: 44-83, esp. 48, 52-57, 64-72, 82).

 

     Read prefaces and introductions to UBS Greek text and Metzger, Textual    

     Commentary.  Affix dates in manual.

 

     Oct   1    Read Greenlee, 11-31, 59-141.  Discussion of problem in Mark 1:1.  Methods of

                        textual criticism.  Begin solution of problem in Colossians 1:7, Grassmick, 79. Quiz on sigla and reading Nestle-Aland 26th or 27th eds. textual apparatus.

 

      3    Solution of problem in Col. 1:7.  Assignment:  Solve textual problem in paragraph

               using format.

 

              8    Assignment due: Assigned textual problem in paragraph.

           STEP 7:  Grammatical analysis.  Read structural analysis, Grassmick, 81-103 

           (esp. note 85-86, 89-90), 134-138.   Osborne, 19-40.  [Cf.  TET,  99ff.] In class,     

           practice diagraming on 2 John.

 

 10     Assignment due:  Form and function.  Diagramming continued. Translate  

Colossians 3:12-25.

 

      15    Assignment due:  Diagram of paragraph in Colossians.

STEP 8:  Semantic and rhetorical analysis.  Read Black, Linguistics for Students, 120-142.   Read Osborne, 29-31.  In class, practice block diagramming on 2 John.

 

            17  Assignment due:  Semantic and rhetorical analysis..

STEP 9:   Syntactical analysis. Osborne, 93-126.  Take notes on paragraph; see p. 139.  Follow format; use at least six sources.

      

22   Assignment due:  Syntactical note taking.

STEP 10:  Exegetical outline.  Grassmick, 140-141.  Translate Colossians 4:1-9.

 

24    Assignment due:  Exegetical outline.  

                        STEP 11:  Lexical/conceptual analysis.      

Read lexical analysis, 143-167; Osborne, 64-92. Cf.  TET, ch. 6 (131-146).  Review Traina on terms, 31-36.  Use at least six sources for assignment. Translate Colossians 4:10-18.

 

29  Lexical analysis continued. Translate 10 vv. (and so advance 10 vv. for rest of

  course).

 

 

31  Lexical analysis continued.  Read Cotterell & Turner, chs. 6 & 7.

 

Nov      5  Continue lexical assignment. 

 

 7   Assignment due:  Lexical note taking, with problems identified..

            STEP 12:  Contextualizing (NT, OT, theology).  Read  De Young and Hurty, BTO, 17-48.

 

12   Assignment due:  Contextualizing.      

STEP 13:  Synthesis:  Problem solving.  Read synthesis and solution of problems: historical/conceptual; grammatical; theological; exegetical; 168-177.  Assignment:  Identify and solve all problems.  Use format.

           

14  Assignment due: Problem solving. 

STEP 14:  Synthesis:  Finalizing the controlling purpose, outline, translation.  Grassmick, 178-182.

 

             19   Assignment due:  Synthesis of final forms.

STEP 15:  Contextualizing the text.  Grassmick, 182-185; Traina, 203-219-231; Osborne, 318-338.            

A.     Identifying and actualizing the essential reality of the text

B.     Correlating the text to a biblical worldview

 

21    Assignment due:  Contextualizing the text, a. and b.

STEP 15:   Contextualizing the text (cont.)

C.     Teaching the text

(1)    Lesson plans.  Introduction to lesson plan making.

Produce four lesson plans from  paragraph.

 

            26  Assignment due: Four lesson plans. Bring lesson #1 on transparency for

            class sharing. 

            STEP 15:  Contextualizing the text (cont.)

                        C.   Teaching the text (cont.)

(2)   Homiletical outline and preaching.   Osborne, 339-365, 366-415.

   Dec   3   Assignment due:  Homiletical outline.  Preaching and teaching.

                        STEP 15:  Contextualizing  the text (cont.)

                                    D.  Teaching the text (cont.)

(3)   Biblical theology.   Discussion:  Relationship of  hermeneutics and theology.  Read Osborne, 263-317;  De Young and Hurty, BTO, 81-98.

 

              5  Assignment due:  Biblical theology.

STEP 15:  Contextualizing the text (cont.)  Read De Young and Hurty, BTO, 99-

            122.

C.  Teaching the text (cont.)

(4)   Commentary. 

 

 

 

            10   Discussion of the role of worldview in interpretation.  BTO, 221-59.

 

            12    Assignment due: one-page summary of personal application project.

           

       Assignment due: Commentary.  Turn in journal and reading report.  Final

            comments and discussion.

 

 

                        READING REPORT

 

Date Due          Assignment                                           On Time           Late

 

Sept   5   Grassmick, 5-17 (f)                                                               ___      

               De Young/Hurty, 123-83 (f)              ___                  ___

               Traina, 6-13 (f)                                                                      ___      

 

         10  Grassmick, 18-35 (f)                         ___                  ___            

   Bockmuehl/Willard (f)                                    ___                  ___

 

         12  Grassmick, 36-45 (f)                                                 ___      

                                               

         17  Grassmick, 46-59 (f)                                                 ___

 

         19  Grassmick, 60-63 (f)                                                 ___      

                Traina, 27-79 (f)                                           ___                  ___

 

         24  Grassmick, 64-65 (f)                                                 ___      

   Osborne, 252-60 (m)                                    ___                  ___

                                                                                               

         26  Grassmick, 66-80 (f)                                                 ___

   Aland, 39-72 (m)                                                                  ___      

   UBS Gk. Text, preface & intro. (m)                           ___      

   Metzger, preface & intro. (m)                                                ___      

 

Oct  1  Greenlee, 11-31, 59-141 (f)                                                    ___      

 

        8  Grassmick, 81-103, 134-38 (f)             ___                  ___      

 Osborne, 19-40 (f)                                                                  ___      

 

10     Grassmick, 139-40 (f)                                                            ___      

 

15   Black, 120-42 (f)                                           ___                  ___

      Osborne, 29-31 (f)                                          ___                  ___

 

17     Osborne, 93-126 (m)                                                             ___

 

22   Grassmick, 140-41 (f)                                    ___                  ___

 

       24   Grassmick, 143-67 (f)                                                            ___      

  Osborne, 64-92 (f)                                                                            

 

Nov  5   Cotterell & Turner, 188-256 (f)                      ____                ___                 

 

         12  De Young and Hurty, 17-48 (f)                      ___                  ___ 

 

         14   Grassmick, 168-77 (f)                                  ___                  ___                        

 

         19  Grassmick, 178-82 (f)                                   ___                  ___

  

         21   Osborne, 318-38 (f)                                                             ___      

 

             Traina, 203-31 (f)                                            ___                  ___

 

            Grassmick, 182-85 (f)                                      ___                  ___

 

      26   Osborne, 339-65, 366-415 (f)                                    ___                  ___

 

 

Dec  3  Osborne, 263-317 (f)                                       ___                  ___ 

                              

            De Young/Hurty, 81-98 (f)                               ___                  ___

 

       5