Taylor Seminary BI 412 Biblical Hermeneutics Fall Semester 2013 To develop Christ-minded leaders who make a difference in the world INSTRUCTOR: Jerry E. Shepherd, Ph.D. Office Phone: (780) 431-5250 Home Phone: (780) 434-1164 Email: jerry.shepherd@taylor-edu.ca SCHEDULE: Tuesdays, 8:30 AM 12:15 PM CREDITS: 3 [90 hours of work outside of class time] DESCRIPTION: An introductory study of the science and art of biblical interpretation and exposition. Principles for interpreting the various types of literature within the Bible will be discussed. Three credits. Special Note: This course will also serve as an introduction to the use of the Guide for Research and Writing (SBL style) and to the proper methods of biblical research and documentation which you will be using throughout your seminary career. OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of this course, the student should: 1. Develop the skills necessary to interpret the Bible in its various contexts: linguistic, cultural, literary, historical, canonical, and Christological. 2. Develop the ability to interact with both popular and critical commentaries on the biblical text. 3. Develop a competency in the use of the various tools available to the student of the Scriptures: concordances, lexicons, word-study aids, dictionaries, atlases, encyclopedias. 4. Develop an appreciation for the history of biblical scholarship and interpretation. 5. Develop an attitude of humility before God and his word. 6. Develop skill in biblical research methods and documentation. 7. Know God more fully. BI 412 Hermeneutics/Syllabus Page 1 of 6
TEXTBOOKS The Bible. Klein, William W., Craig L. Blomberg, and Robert L. Hubbard, Jr., with Kermit A. Ecklebarger. Introduction to Biblical Interpretation. 2d ed. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2004. The student must also have a copy of the Guide for Research and Writing (SBL style). This is available online on the seminary web site, as well on the Moodle site for the course. OTHER ASSIGNED AND RECOMMENDED READING: Group One: Reaction Paper One: Poythress, Vern S. Divine Meaning of Scripture. Westminster Theological Journal 48 (1986): 241-79. Steinmetz, David C. The Superiority of Pre-critical Exegesis. Theology Today 37 (1980): 27-38. Also republished in Ex Auditu 1 (1985): 74-82. Waltke, Bruce K. Is it Right to Read the New Testament into the Old? In Current Religious Thought. Christianity Today, 2 September 1983, 77. Reaction Paper Two: Gaffin, Richard B., Jr. Contemporary Hermeneutics and the Study of the New Testament. Pages 3-18 in Studying the New Testament Today. Edited by John H. Skilton. The New Testament Student 1. Nutley, N.J.: Presbyterian & Reformed, 1974. Poythress, Vern S. God s Lordship in Interpretation. Westminster Theological Journal 50 (1988): 27-64. Reaction Paper Three: Poythress, Vern S. Christ the Only Savior of Interpretation. Westminster Theological Journal 50 (1988): 305-21. Waltke, Bruce K. Hermeneutics and the Spiritual Life. Crux 23, no. 1 (1987): 5-10. Fuller, Daniel P. The Holy Spirit s Role in Biblical Interpretation. Pages 189-98 in Scripture, Tradition and Interpretation: Essays Presented to Everett F. Harrison by His Students and Colleagues in Honor of His Seventy-Fifth Birthday. Editd by W. Ward Gasque and William Sanford LaSor. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1978. BI 412 Hermeneutics/Syllabus Page 2 of 6
Group Two: (optional) Bray, Gerald L. Biblical Interpretation: Past and Present. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1996. Carson, Donald A. Exegetical Fallacies. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1984. Dockery, David S. Biblical Interpretation Then and Now: Contemporary Hermeneutics in the Light of the Early Church. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1992. Gorman, Michael S. Elements of Biblical Exegesis: A Basic Guide for Students and Minsters. Rev. and exp. ed. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2008. Grant, Robert M., with David Tracy. A Short History of the Interpretation of the Bible. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1984. Gruenler, Royce Gordon. Meaning and Understanding: The Philosophical Framework for Biblical Interpretation. Foundations of Contemporary Interpretation 2. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, Academie, 1991. Kaiser, Walter C., Jr., and Moisés Silva. An Introduction to Biblical Hermeneutics: The Search for Meaning. Rev. and exp. ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2007. Köstenberger, Andreas J., and Richard D. Patterson. Invitation to Biblical Interpretation: Exploring the Hermeneutical Triad of History, Literature, and Theology. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2011. Kugel, James L., and Rowan W. Greer. Early Biblical Interpretation. Library of Early Christianity 3. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1986. Longman, Tremper III. Literary Approaches to Biblical Interpretation. Foundations of Contemporary Interpretation 3. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, Academie, 1987. Long, V. Phillips. The Art of Biblical History. Foundations of Contemporary Interpretation 5. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, Academie, 1994. Maier, Gerhard. Biblical Hermeneutics. Trans. Robert W. Yarborough. Wheaton: Crossway, 1994. McCartney, Dan G., and Charles Clayton. Let the Reader Understand: A Guide to Interpreting and Applying the Bible. Wheaton: Victor, Bridgepoint, 1994. Muller, Richard A. The Study of Theology: From Biblical Interpretation to Contemporary Formulation. Foundations of Contemporary Interpretation 7. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, Academie, 1987. Osborne, Grant. The Hermeneutical Spiral: A Comprehensive to Biblical Interpretation. 2d ed. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2006. BI 412 Hermeneutics/Syllabus Page 3 of 6
REQUIREMENTS: Porter, Stanly E., and Beth M. Stovell, eds. Biblical Hermeneutics: Five Views. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2012. Poythress, Vern A. Science and Hermeneutics: Implications of Scientific Method for Biblical Interpretation. Foundations of Contemporary Interpretation 6. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, Academie, 1988. Silva, Moisés. God, Language and Scripture: Reading the Bible in the Light of General Linguistics. Foundations of Contemporary Interpretation 4. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, Academie, 1990. Silva, Moisés. Has the Church Misread the Bible: The History of Interpretation in the Light of Current Issues. Foundations of Contemporary Interpretation 1. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, Academie, 1987. Thiselton, Anthony. Hermeneutics: An Introduction. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2009. 1. Class attendance and contribution. Though there is no actual percentage attached to this requirement, unexcused absences will adversely affect your grade. 2. The reading of the assigned textbook, articles, and pages from Group One. Again, no percentage is attached, but failure to do the assigned reading could lower your grade. You will be asked on the final exam to indicate your completion of this assignment. (45 hours) 3. Three typed 3-4 page critical reaction papers on assigned supplemental readings from group one. (30%; 15 hours) Due dates: 1 st, September 17 2 nd, October 15 3 rd, November 12 4. Four typed 2-4 page exegetical papers using principles learned in texts and class lectures. (40%; 20 hours) Due dates: 1 st, October 1 2 nd, October 29 3 rd, November 19 4 th, December 3 5. Final exam on all readings and lectures during exam week. (30%; 10 hours) EVALUATION: Reaction Papers 30% Exegesis Papers 40% Final Exam 30% BI 412 Hermeneutics/Syllabus Page 4 of 6
PENALTIES: All assignments are due at the beginning of class on the assigned dates. Unless there is a valid excuse late assignments will be charged a penalty of 5% per regular school day. Also, because both the reaction papers and the exegetical papers will be discussed at the beginning of class on their assigned due dates, if you have not completed an assignment, you will be asked to absent yourself from that particular discussion. FINAL REMARKS: 1. There is a Moodle web site related to this course. Go to http://online.tayloru.ca. If you have not visited this site before, follow the initial login instructions provided (after you have logged in the first time, you can change your password). I will add all students who have registered for the course to the participant list. When you click on the course, you should go directly to the course site. A number of resources will be posted there, including articles for your reaction papers and exegetical assignments, a study guide for the textbook, and copies of some of the course handouts. 2. The work on the reaction papers must be your own. This means that: (1) you must not simply quote whole sentences or paragraphs from the readings, but carefully and concisely summarize the material; (2) you must react to, or interact with, the author s content and/or argument in not just your own words, but also your own thinking; and (3) if you choose to utilize words or ideas from other pertinent material that you have read, you must carefully document such assistance. Plagiarized papers will receive a grade of zero. 3. For the exegetical papers you will be researching a variety of sources: commentaries, dictionaries, encyclopedias, etc. But the paper should not be simply a parroting of your sources, but careful interaction with them. Be sure to document all assistance you receive from your sources. Plagiarized papers will receive a grade of zero. 4. It is my desire to be as helpful to you as possible. Please feel free to call me at anytime (within reason) with questions or problems that you may be having. I will pray for you and request that you do the same for me. Let us be sure to encourage one another as together we grow in the knowledge of our great God and prepare for service in his Church. BI 412 Hermeneutics/Syllabus Page 5 of 6
COURSE OUTLINE: 1 Prolegomena 1.1 Definition of hermeneutics 1.2 Need for hermeneutics 1.3 The hermeneutical spirals 1.4 Special problems to be encountered 2 History of Interpretation (Post-biblical) 2.1 Early Church 2.2 Middle Ages 2.3 Reformation 2.4 18th and 19th century developments 2.5 20th century developments 2.5.1 Within the larger circles of biblical scholarship 2.5.2 Within Evangelicalism 3 History of Interpretation (Biblical period) 3.1 The Old Testament use of the Old Testament 3.2 The New Testament use of the Old Testament 3.2.1 Backgrounds 3.2.2 Jesus and his Apostles 4 A Christological-Canonical Approach to Hermeneutics 4.1 Christ is Canon over the canon 4.2 Christ is Canon over the interpreter 5 The Interpretive Process 5.1 Pre-hermeneutical 5.2 Hermeneutical proper 5.3 Post-hermeneutical BI 412 Hermeneutics/Syllabus Page 6 of 6