NT 6000: BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION AND HERMENEUTICS

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1 Course Syllabus Edward W. Klink III (Mickey) 3 Semester Hours Trinity Evangelical Divinity School Jan 26/27; Feb 23/24; Mar 16/17; Apr 27/ (church office) Fri: 6:00-9:00pm; Sat: 9:00am-5:00pm pastormickey@hefc.net NT 6000: BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION AND HERMENEUTICS COURSE DESCRIPTION This course is an introduction to the practices, principles, and postures for the interpretation of the Bible. The course will focus on the theoretical and theological methods and issues foundational to biblical interpretation, and the practical skills and procedures essential to the nature of Scripture, in order to live under and minister faithfully the Word of God. COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES At the completion of this course, the student should be able to 1) Exhibit the skill-based practices for reading the Bible as a historical and literary text, 2) Explain the theological principles for understanding the Bible as Christian Scripture, and 3) Employ the Christian postures for handling the Bible as the living Word of God. COURSE TEXTS The following three texts, which include about 870 pages of reading, are required for the course. They will be read in full and required by the start of the assigned weekend (see schedule). (1) J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays. Grasping God s Word: A Hands-On Approach to Reading, Interpreting, and Applying the Bible. 3 rd edition. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, o This book provides a good introduction to the rudimentary elements of biblical interpretation, specifically the literary and historical contexts, words and paragraphs, literary genres, and meaning and application. It addresses well the basic practices of interpreting Scripture [422 pages of reading]. (2) Graeme Goldsworthy. Gospel-Centered Hermeneutics: Foundations and Principles of Evangelical Biblical Interpretation. Downers Grove: IL: InterVarsity Press, o This book provides a good explanation of the complex elements of biblical interpretation, specifically the connection between interpretation and the gospel, doctrine, biblical theology, and life and mission of the church. It addresses well the principles of interpreting Scripture [304 pages of reading]. (3) Augustine. Teaching Christianity. Trans. Edmund Hill. Ed. John E. Rotelle. The Works of Saint Augustine: A Translation for the 21 st Century. Hyde Park, NY: New City Press, o This book has been (and should continue to be) a standard interpretation textbook of the church. It provides a good exploration of the personal piety required for and produced from biblical interpretation, specifically all interpretations should produce a love of God and neighbor. It addresses well the postures of interpreting Scripture [144 pages of reading]. Trinity Evangelical Divinity School: NT 6000 (Sp18-Indy) Edward W. Klink III 1

2 COURSE FORMAT Class Structure The class sessions will be primarily lecture, with discussion incorporated throughout. Students are encouraged to participate. On Fridays (6-9pm) class will have a break about halfway through the evening. On Saturdays (9am-5pm) class will break for lunch from 12-1pm, along with short breaks in the morning and afternoon sessions. Coursepack Students will be assisted in the lectures and their note-taking by a coursepack that provides an outline for the class lectures and their content. The coursepack will be available to the students electronically before the start of class. Students are encouraged to print them out for hand-written notes. Computers are not allowed in class. Studies show they do not help learning, and experience shows they distract from it. 5. COURSE EXPECTATIONS Academic Integrity The Trinity community is committed to integrity in all areas of life, including academic integrity, which we believe is essential in the search for and promotion of truth. The pursuit of truth is integrally connected with values of the Trinity community, which include respect for individual intellectual contributions, the development of God-given talents, and the building of relationships in community in a spirit of trust. Therefore, academic integrity is upheld in the Trinity community and any form of cheating and plagiarism is not permitted. Additional information and details are available in the Academic Handbook. Class Attendance Students are required to attend each and every session throughout the entire course period. Due to the nature of Extension classes, attendance at all sessions is especially important with weekend courses. Missing even an hour of a weekend class means a significant portion of the required contact with the instructor and learning community has been lost. For this reason, students missing any portion (hours) of an Extension course can result in a grade reduction; missing more than one weekend class session will result in a grade reduction and possibly failing the course. In the case of extreme emergency or unforeseen circumstances (family emergencies, death, etc.) the student should contact the instructor and secure the necessary permission to miss time in a class and make up the missed class time and assignments. Vacations, ministry responsibilities and travel plans are not considered emergencies and such requests will be denied. As the schedule for the Extension courses is set ahead of time, students Trinity Evangelical Divinity School: NT 6000 (Sp18-Indy) Edward W. Klink III 2

3 should plan ahead to be sure they will be able to make it to all class sessions before they register. If the emergency necessitates a longer absence the student should contact the Dean of Students to request an extension of time, or in rare instances a withdrawal from the class without penalty. Class Assignments and Examinations All students, whether or not English is their primary language, are expected to complete all assignments and examinations quizzes, midterms, finals, comprehensive exams, and otherwise within the time allotted for that particular exam. Those students covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) should consult with the Associate Dean of Students if they need adjustments in the location, length, or manner of their exams based on their disability. The method and manner of the exam is at the discretion of the instructor. All final examinations must be taken when scheduled. COURSE LEARNING ASSIGNMENTS Reading The three textbooks are to be read in full before the class period for which they are listed. Late readings, those completed after 6pm of the Friday of the assigned class, will not be accepted. The percentage of reading completed up to that time will be recorded on the three reading quizzes at the start of the corresponding classes. Reading Quizzes A quiz made up of short essay questions regarding the subject matter of the assigned books will be given at the start of the last three Friday evening sessions. Students will be expected to understand and express the major premises and theses of the textbooks. The reading quizzes will also ask the student what percentage of the book was completed. Interpretation Paper 1 (Ecclesiastes 2:1-11) The instructional goal of this paper is to learn correctly to interpret and apply the genre of wisdom literature. Each student will write a 1,000-1,200 word essay that (1) explains how the genre of wisdom literature affects the interpretation of this text, (2) provides an interpretive summary of the message of this text, and (3) draws out a few applications from this text for the Christian and/or the church. Interpretation Paper 2 (John 21:15-19) The instructional goal of this paper is to learn how to explain and make interpretive judgments regarding the significant use of a word or words in a text. Each student will write a 1,000-1,200 word essay that (1) explains the different uses of the words for love in this text, (2) provides an interpretive summary of this significant use of words in this text, and (3) draws out a few applications from this text for the Christian and/or the church. Interpretation Paper 3 (1 Corinthians 1:10-17) The instructional goal of this paper is to learn how to recognize, explain, and apply the theological subject matter of a text. Each student will write a 1,000-1,200 word essay that (1) provides an interpretive summary of the message of this text, (2) explains the theological themes or doctrines Trinity Evangelical Divinity School: NT 6000 (Sp18-Indy) Edward W. Klink III 3

4 addressed by the text or to which the text points, and (3) draws out a few applications from this text for the Christian and/or the church. Personal Project Each student will write a word essay answering the following question: How does the church affect biblical interpretation and hermeneutics? The class reading and lectures will provide some groundwork, but the essay should reflect the student s own person, experiences, and principles. Final Exam The only exam for the course will be the final exam. The exam will consist of essay questions based upon lectures and the assigned readings for the course. No notes or Bibles are allowed to be used during the exam. A full list of exam questions will be provided to the student prior to the exam, but the assigned questions will be selected by the instructor. The exam will be submitted to the instructor via (pastormickey@hefc.net) and is due by Friday, May 18, COURSE ASSESSMENT Assignment Percentages: Reading 15% Reading Quizzes (3) 10% Interpretation Papers (3) 45% Personal Project 10% Final Exam 20% Grading Scale: A B C D F below 60 A B C D B C D Grading Policy The following descriptions provide some guidance to the use of grades at Trinity. These descriptions are not precise and should not to be confused with the precision of grade point averages (GPAs), which reflect levels of program progress. GPAs for candidacy and graduation are stipulated by program and are noted under each program in the Catalog. A designates outstanding work superior achievement of course objectives. B designates good work commendable achievement of course objectives. C designates acceptable work satisfactory achievement of course objectives. D designates minimal work marginal achievement of course objectives. F designates failure unacceptable work (and when course dropped after 50% of meetings). Trinity Evangelical Divinity School: NT 6000 (Sp18-Indy) Edward W. Klink III 4

5 COURSE SCHEDULE The course contents are divided by the four weekend sessions. Each session has a basic theme and corresponding topics for lecture and discussion. Please note: For the last three sessions, one of the textbooks is to be read in full before class begins. Jan Prolegomena: Defining the Task o Introduction o Interpretation: Why, What, and Who? o People of the Book: Reading and Readers o The Church s Book? Some Background o Categories and Concepts o Contexts: Historical, Literary, and Theological o Tools of the Trade Due: Your presence and participation! Feb Practices: Learning the Skills o Some Basics, Part 1: Genre o Some Basics, Part 2: Greek/Hebrew, Word Studies, Commentaries, and More o Communication Theory o The Meaning of the Text o Meant/Means: Promise and Peril o Application and Contextualization o Interpretation by the Spirit and in the Church Due: (1) Duvall and Hays, Grasping God s Word (2) Reading Quiz 1 (3) Interpretation Paper 1 Mar Principles: Understanding the Subject Matter o The Bible: Doctrine and Canon o The Locus of Meaning: Referential (Event) or Textual o Historical-Critical/Literary and Theological Interpretation o The Senses of Scripture: Intensive, Typology, Allegory o Exegesis, Biblical Theology, and Systematic Theology o The Biblical Story: One Covenant of Grace o Continuity, Discontinuity, and the Gospel Due: (1) Goldsworthy, Gospel-Centered Hermeneutics (2) Reading Quiz 2 (3) Interpretation Paper 2 Trinity Evangelical Divinity School: NT 6000 (Sp18-Indy) Edward W. Klink III 5

6 Apr Postures: Committing to the Goal o The Rule of Faith o Interpretive Difficulties: Historical o Interpretive Difficulties: Literary o Interpretive Difficulties: Theological o Love God and Neighbor: Science, Art, and Heart o Preaching: Teach, Delight, and Sway o The Word of God and the Church Due: (1) Augustine, Teaching Christianity (2) Reading Quiz 3 (3) Interpretation Paper 3 May 18 Final Assignments Due via by 11:59pm (EST Indianapolis time)! Due: (1) Final Exam (2) Personal Project SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY Adler and van Doren, How to Read a Book (Simon and Schuster, 1972). Barr, The Semantics of Biblical Language (Oxford, 1961). Barton, The Cambridge Companion to Biblical Interpretation (Cambridge, 1998). Billings, The Word of God for the People of God: An Entry to Theo Interp. of Scr. (Eerdmans, 2010). Bray, Biblical Interpretation: Past and Present (Intervarsity, 2000). Briggs, Reading the Bible Wisely (SPCK, 2003). Brown, Introducing Biblical Hermeneutics: Scripture as Communication (Baker, 2007). Caird, The Language and Imagery of the Bible (Duckworth, 1980). Carson, Exegetical Fallacies (2d ed., Paternoster, 1996). Fee and Stuart. How to Read the Bible for All it is Worth (2d ed., Zondervan, 1993). Fowl, Engaging Scripture (Blackwell, 1998). Fowl, Theological Interpretation of Scripture (Cascade, 2009). Frei, The Elcipse of Biblical Narrative: A Study in 18 th and 19 th Century Hermeneutics (Yale, 1974). Green and Turner, Between Two Horizons (Eerdmans, 2000). Greidanus, The Modern Preacher and the Ancient Text (Eerdmans, 1988). Hayes and Holladay, Biblical Exegesis (rev. ed., John Knox, 1987). Hirsch, Validity in Interpretation (Yale, 1967). Kaiser and Silva. An Introduction to Biblical Hermeneutics (Zondervan, 1994). Klein, Blomberg, and Hubbard, Introduction to Biblical Interpretation (Word, 1993). Klink, Introduction, John (ZECNT, Zondervan, 2016). Klink and Lockett, Understanding Biblical Theology (Zondervan, 2012). Leithart, Deep Exegesis: The Mystery of Reading Scripture (Baylor, 2009). Levering, Participatory Biblical Exegesis (Notre Dame, 2008). Marshall, Beyond the Bible: Moving from Scripture to Theology (Baker, 2004). O Keefe and Reno, Sanctified Vision: An Intro. to Early Chr. Interp. of the Bible (Johns Hopkins, 2005). Trinity Evangelical Divinity School: NT 6000 (Sp18-Indy) Edward W. Klink III 6

7 Osborne, The Hermeneutical Spiral (Intervarsity, 1991). Rae, History and Hermeneutics (T. & T. Clark, 2005). Ramm. Protestant Biblical Interpretation (Baker, 1970). Stendahl, Biblical Theology, Contemp., The Interp. Dict. of the Bible (Abingdon, 1962, 1:418-32). Stuhlmacher, Historical Criticism and Theological Interpretation of Scripture (Fortress, 1977). Tate, Biblical Interpretation. An Integrated Approach (rev. ed., Hendrickson, 1997). Thiselton, New Horizons in Hermeneutics (Zondervan, 1992). Treier, Introducing Theological Interpretation of Scripture (Baker, 2008). Vanhoozer, Is there a Meaning in this Text? (Zondervan, 1998). Vanhoozer, First Theology: God, Scripture & Hermeneutics (Intervarsity, 2002). Vanhoozer et. al., Dictionary for Theological Interpretation of the Bible (Baker, 2005). Ward, Words of Life: Scripture as the Living and Active Word of God (Intervarsity, 2009) Watson, Text, Church, and World: Biblical Interpretation in Theological Perspective (Eerdmans, 1994). Webb, Slaves, Women & Homosexuals: Exploring the Herm. of Cultural Analysis (Intervarsity, 2001). Webster, Word and Church (T. & T. Clark, 2001). Wright, Scripture and the Authority of God (SPCK, 2005). Yarchin, History of Biblical Interpretation: A Reader (Baker, 2011). Trinity Evangelical Divinity School: NT 6000 (Sp18-Indy) Edward W. Klink III 7