WESTERN SEMINARY

Portland, Oregon 97215

DBS 506: LEARNING TO INTERPRET SCRIPTURE

Spring Semester, 2003

Robert A. Vogel, Instructor

Telephone: 517-1861

Email: ravogel@westernseminary.edu

SYLLABUS

Course Description

In this course you will study the foundational principles and interpretive procedures of the grammatico-historical method of biblical interpretation. You will also apply these principles and procedures in actual Bible study, using the English Bible. Required during the first year of M.A. or M.Div. studies. 4 hours.

Course Goals

Understanding of the Word of God is fundamental to the life and ministry of the individual Christian and to the Church. To achieve this understanding, you must know how to interpret and apply biblical texts accurately. To do this you must:

1. know and be able to apply the fundamental principles of biblical hermeneutics; and

2. know and be able to apply basic methods of inductive/exegetical Bible study.

The purpose of this course is to provide the theoretical foundation and basic skills for accurate interpretation and application of the Bible.

Course Objectives

By the conclusion of this course, you should be able to demonstrate:

1. a factual knowledge of a variety of interpretive methods, as seen in the history of biblical interpretation from antiquity to the present;

2. a grasp of the nomenclature, principles, and presuppositions of the grammatico-historical method of interpretation;

3. an awareness of the impact of literary type on the interpretation of various kinds of biblical literature;

4. a methodical approach to inductive Bible study;

5. an awareness of and ability to use study tools for students of the English Bible, as applied to specific interpretive tasks;

6. the ability to apply the procedures of interpretation and application presented in class to the biblical text.

Course Texts

Klein, William W., Craig L. Blomberg, and Robert L. Hubbard, Jr. Introduction to Biblical

Interpretation. Dallas: Word Publishing, 1993. Required.

Ryken, Leland. How to Read the Bible as Literature. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1984. Required.

Traina, Robert A. Methodical Bible Study. New York: Gains and Harris, 1952. Required.

Course Requirements

1. Attendance

Attendance is expected at all class sessions. Absence in excess of six sessions will result in failure of the course. With demonstrated cause, exceptions may be granted at the instructor's discretion. You will report your attendance on the final exam.

2. Reading

Klein et al., Ryken, and Traina will be read as assigned in the course schedule, found elsewhere in this syllabus. You will report the percentage of the reading you completed by the date assigned on the final exam. These works should be read carefully (for mastery) unless the instructor indicates otherwise.

Time Requirement: 35 hours

3. Interpretive Assignments

Various interpretive procedures will be applied through Bible study assignments. Written work on these occasions will be submitted as stipulated when details of the assignment are given in class. Unless otherwise indicated, all written work submitted is to be typed. And all written work must include a cover title page, with your name and box number on them.

Time Requirement: 65 hours

4. Examinations

Two examinations (a mid-term and a final) will be given. These will be based upon assigned reading and class presentations. A week prior to each exam a study guide will be distributed to guide your preparation.

Time Requirement: 20 hours

Course Grading

1. Policy

Work is due at the beginning of the class period on the due date, unless stated otherwise in the course requirements. Late work is penalized at the rate of one-third of a letter per day.

2. Proportions

Reading 10%

Interpretive Assignments 60%

Examinations 30%

Course Schedule (Tentative)

This course consists of two major components: the theoretical framework of hermeneutics and the applied aspects of inductive Bible study. The most natural logic for organizing the course is to establish the hermeneutical framework, and then to proceed to Bible study methods. To follow this order, however, would result in a disproportionately heavy distribution of written work in the latter stages of the course. Therefore, the theoretical and methodological elements are interwoven. At some points this may create a sense of disorder; at those points, efforts will be made to ensure clarity in the course plan.

Date

Topic

Assignment Due

1/7	Course Introduction

1/9

Introductory Issues Doing a Background Study

Read Klein, chs. 1, 4, 5, and pp. 172-83.

1/14

Introductory Issues Doing a Synthetic Overview

Submit background study on Colossians

1/16

A Survey of Historical Schools Doing Observations

Read Klein, ch. 2; Traina, ch. 1

1/21

A Survey of Historical Schools (con't.)

Submit observations on Colossians 2:6-15

1/23

Basic Foundations of Protestant Hermeneutics Asking Interpretive Questions

Read Traina, ch. 2 (skip section IV)

1/28

Theological Assumptions of Protestant Hermeneutics

Submit interpretive questions on Colossians 2:6-15

1/30	Grammatical Interpretation: Doing a Word Study	Read Klein, ch. 6
2/4	Grammatical Interpretation: Doing a Mechanical Layout	Submit word study from Colossians 2:6-15

2/6

Literary Interpretation: Understanding Narrative

Read Ryken, chs. 1-3; skim Klein, pp. 261-74

2/11

Literary Interpretation: Understanding Poetry

Read Ryken, chs. 4-5; skim Klein, ch. 7 Submit mechanical layout of Colossians 2:6-15

2/13

Literary Interpretation: Understanding Law and Proverbial Literature

Read Ryken, ch. 6 and Klein, pp. 274-84, 313-22

2/18

Literary Interpretation: Understanding Gospels and Parables

Read Klein, pp. 323-44; Ryken, chs. 7-8

2/20

Open

2/25	MIDTERM EXAMINATION

2/27

Literary Interpretation: Understanding Epistles and Prophecy

Read Klein, pp. 292-313, 352-74; Ryken, ch. 11

3/4	Historical/Cultural Interpretation

3/6	Theological Interpretation

3/11

Theological Interpretation (con't.)

Historical/cultural analysis of Colossians 2:6-15 (submit)

3/13

Developing Principles

Read Klein, chs. 10-11; Traina, ch. 3

3/18

Developing Principles (con't.)

Submit theological analysis of Colossians 2:6-15

3/20	Making Application

3/25	SPRING BREAK

3/27	SPRING BREAK

4/1	Special Hermeneutics: Figures of Speech

4/3

Developing a Synthetic Chart

Read Traina, Appendix A; Submit application of Colossians 2:6-15

4/8	Special Hermeneutics: Types

4/10

Doing a Topical Study

Submit Synthetic Chart of Colossians

4/15	Special Hermeneutics: The Use of the Old Testament in the New

4/17

Open

Submit topical study

4/22	FINAL EXAMINATION

Course Bibliography

Bray, Gerald. Biblical Interpretation Past and Present. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1996.

Carson, D. A. Exegetical Fallacies. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1984.

Cotterell, Peter and Max Turner. Linguistics and Biblical Interpretation. Downers Drover: InterVarsity Press, 1989.

Doriani, Daniel. Getting the Message. Phillipsburg: P & R Publishing, 1996.

Dyck, Elmer, ed. The Act of Bible Reading. Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 1996.

Fee, Gordon D. and Douglas Stuart. How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Corporation, 1982.

Grassmick, John D. Principles and Practice of Greek Exegesis. Dallas: Dallas Theological Seminary,

1974.

Henrichsen, Walter and Gayle Jackson. Studying, Interpreting, and Applying the Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1990.

Hirsch, E. D., Jr. Validity in Interpretation. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1967.

Johnson, Elliott E. Expository Hermeneutics: An Introduction. Zondervan Publishing House, 1990.

Kaiser, Walter C. and Moises Silva. An Introduction to Biblical Hermeneutics. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1994.

Klein, William W., Craig L. Blomberg, and Robert L. Hubbard, Jr. Introduction to Biblical

Interpretation. Dallas: Word Publishing, 1993.

Kuhatschek, Jack. Taking the Guesswork Out of Applying the Bible. Downers Grove:

InterVarsity Press, 1990.

Larkin, William J. Culture and Biblical Hermeneutics. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1988.

McCartney, Dan G. and Charles Clayton. Let the Reader Understand: A Guide to Interpreting and Applying the Bible. Wheaton: Victor Books, 1994.

McKim, Donald K., ed. A Guide to Contemporary Hermeneutics. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1986.

McQuilkin, Robertson. Understanding and Applying the Bible. Revised ed. Chicago: Moody Press, 1992.

Mickelsen, A. Berkeley. Interpreting the Bible. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing

Company, 1963.

Osborne, Grant R. The Hermeneutical Spiral. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1991.

Osborne, Grant R. and Stephen B. Woodward. Handbook for Bible Study. Grand Rapids: Baker

Book House, 1979.

Radmacher, Earl D. and Robert D. Preus, eds. Hermeneutics, Inerrancy, and the Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1984.

Ramm, Bernard. Protestant Biblical Interpretation. 3d revised ed. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1970.

Ryken, Leland. How to Read the Bible as Literature. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House,

1984.

________. Words of Delight: A Literary Introduction to the Bible. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1992.

Terry, Milton S. Biblical Hermeneutics. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, n.d.

Traina, Robert A. Methodical Bible Study. New York: Gains and Harris, 1952.

Vanhoozer, Kevin J. Is There a Meaning in This Text? Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1998.

Virkler, Henry A. Hermeneutics: Principles and Processes of Biblical Interpretation. Grand Rapids:

Baker Book House, 1981.

Wald, Oletta. The Joy of Discovery in Bible Study. Revised ed. Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing

House, 1975.

Zuck, Roy B. Basic Bible Interpretation. Wheaton: Victor Books, 1991.