WESTERN SEMINARY
DBS 516: LEARNING TO INTERPRET SCRIPTURE
Summer Semester, 2004
Robert A. Vogel, Instructor
Email: rvogel@sbts.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./Counseling studies. 2 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 exposure to the theoretical foundation of biblical interpretation, and to develop 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. familiarity with a variety of interpretive methods, as seen in the history of biblical interpretation from antiquity to the present;
2. awareness 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
Henricks, Howard G. and William D. Henricks. Living by the Book.
1991. Required.
Klein,
William W., Craig L. Blomberg, and Robert L. Hubbard, Jr. Introduction to Biblical
Interpretation.
Ryken,
Leland. How to Read
the Bible as Literature.
House, 1984. Suggested.
Course Requirements
1. Attendance
Attendance is expected at all class sessions. While you will not be held directly accountable (i.e., tested) for the theoretic aspects of biblical hermeneutics, exposure to and interaction with these ideas as presented in class is required as a basis for the inductive Bible study procedures for which you will be held accountable. At the end of the course, you will write a brief summative impressions paper in which you will describe how the concepts of biblical hermeneutics relate to your process of inductive Bible study. These impressions should indicate specific substantive grasp of concepts of hermeneutics presented in class.
Absence in excess of twelve hours of class will result in failure of the course. With demonstrated cause, exceptions may be granted at the instructor's discretion. You will report your attendance at the end of the course.
Time requirement: 56 hours
2.
Hendricks and Hendricks will be read as assigned in the course schedule, found elsewhere in this syllabus. Klein et al and Ryken are suggested reading. Due to the intensive nature of this course, you are adivsed to do as much of the reading as possible before the class sessions begin on July 5. Other assignments will be given that must be done during the three weeks of the course; these may leave little time for the reading.
You will report the percentage of the required reading you completed by the date assigned at the end of the course. You should read carefully (for mastery) unless the instructor indicates otherwise.
Time Requirement: 10 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: 30 hours
4. Summative Paper
At the end of the course, you will prepare a 5-7 page paper that reviews and assesses your personal growth in understanding with respect to the subject matter presented in class sessions. Whereas the interpretive assignments (#3 above) provide a basis for assessing your abilities in inductive Bible study methods, this paper should reflect your grasp of hermeneutic concepts presented in class. You should address such questions as: What new theoretical concepts did I learn? How did the theory I learned inform the way I approach and understand Scripture? What ideas stood out as of primary importance? What “aha” experiences did I have during the course?
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 70%
Attendance and impressions paper 20%
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.
Note that readings in Klein, et al, and Ryken are suggested, but not
required.
|
Date |
|
Topic |
|
Assignment Due |
|
7/5 |
|
Course Introduction Introductory Issues Doing a Background Study Doing a Synthetic Overview |
|
Read Klein, chs. 1, 4, 5, and pp. 172-83. |
|
7/6 |
|
Introductory Issues Doing Observations Asking Interpretive Questions A Survey of Historical Schools |
|
Read Klein, ch. 2; read Henricks, chs. 1-26 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7/7 |
|
A Survey of Historical Schools (con't.) Basic Foundations of Protestant Hermeneutics |
|
Submit background study and synthetic overview on Colossians; Read Henricks, chs. 27-32, 34 |
|
7/8 |
|
Theological Assumptions of Protestant Hermeneutics Grammatical Interpretation: Doing a Word Study |
|
Read Klein, ch. 6; read Henricks, ch. 35 |
|
|
|
|
||
|
7/9 |
|
Grammatical Interpretation: Doing a Mechanical Layout Literary Interpretation: Understanding Narrative |
|
Submit observations and interpretive questions on Colossians 2:6-15; Read Ryken, chs. 1-3; skim Klein, pp. 261-74 |
|
7/12 |
|
Literary Interpretation: Understanding Poetry, Law, and Proverbial Literature |
|
Read Ryken, chs. 4-6; skim Klein, ch. 7; read Klein, pp. 274-84, 313-22; Submit word study from Colossians 2:6-15 |
|
7/13 |
|
Literary Interpretation: Understanding Gospels and Parables |
|
Read Klein, pp. 323-44; Ryken, chs. 7-8; Submit mechanical layout of Colossians 2:6-15 |
|
7/14 |
|
(Class
begins at Literary Interpretation: Understanding Epistles and Prophecy |
|
Read Klein, pp. 292-313, 352-74; Ryken, ch. 11 |
|
7/15 |
|
Historical/Cultural Interpretation Theological Interpretation |
|
Read Hendricks, ch. 33. |
|
7/16 |
|
Theological Interpretation (con't.) Developing Principles |
|
Read Klein, chs. 10-11; Hendricks, chs. 39-45 |
|
7/19 |
|
Developing Principles (con't.) Making Application |
|
Submit historical/cultural analysis of Colossians 2:6-15 |
|
7/20 |
|
Special Hermeneutics: Figures of Speech Special Hermeneutics: Types |
|
Read Hendricks, ch. 36 |
|
7/21 |
|
Doing a Topical Study Special Hermeneutics: The Use of the Old Testament in the New |
|
Submit theological analysis of Colossians 2:6-15 |
|
7/22 |
|
Open |
|
Submit application of Colossians 2:6-15; |
|
7/23 |
|
No class |
|
Summative paper due |
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.