1 817 S. McPherson Church Rd Fayetteville, NC 28303 How to Study the Bible PS121 INSTRUCTORS Bill Korver, M.A., M.Div., D. Min. president@ccbs.edu Rodney Phillips, B.A., Th.M., Ed.D (ongoing) rphillips @ccbs.edu TEXTBOOKS Living by the Book, Hendricks and Hendricks Digging Deeper: Getting far more out of God s Word than You Ever Have Before, Korver COURSE DESCRIPTION This course explores and practices the basic principles of general hermeneutics (principles of interpretation). Each student will learn and perform the guiding principles that lead to correctly understanding the Bible.
2 COURSE OBJECTIVES Upon successful completion of this course the student will have accomplished the following on all assessments and exercises. A. Cognitive 1. To identify the process of the inductive method approach 2. To summarize why the inductive method is important 3. To describe the inductive method approach 4. To define key terms to the inductive method approach 5. To identify common mistakes to reading the Bible 6. To discover the various levels of context in the inductive method approach B. Affective 1. To value the inductive method approach 2. To appreciate the importance of the principle of grammar 3. To respect biblical authority in honoring consistent assessment of context C. Psychomotor 1. To demonstrate the word study process 2. To interpret figure of speech meanings 3. To identify the principle of related Scripture 4. To produce a subject-complement statement 5. To construct the application as specific, measurable, appropriate, relational, and transferring life s habits 6. To demonstrate an inductive paragraph study COURSE REQUIREMENTS 1. Comply with the attendance requirements in the CCBS catalog. 2 Read the textbooks as assigned each week. 3. Complete weekly inductive method exercises. 4. Complete all assessments as determined by the instructor. 5. Remain actively involved in weekly class sessions. COURSE GRADING 1. Weekly inductive method exercises 50% Late assignments lose one letter grade per day. 2. Assessments 10% 3. Class Participation 10% 4. Final Project 30%
3 COURSE SCHEDULE Week Korver Textbook Hendricks Textbook 1 Introduction / Syllabus Chapter 1 Chapters 1-3 Do I Read Well 2 Chapter 2 Chapters 7, 30, 31, Principle of Plain Meaning 33, 34 3 Chapter 3 Principle of Context Chapters 8, 11, 12 4 Chapter 4 Principle of Context Cont. Chapters 15, 35 5 Chapter 5 Principle of Grammar Chapters 36, 37 6 Chapter 6 Principle of Word Meaning Chapters 19, 20, 32, 35 7 Chapter 7 Principle of Related Scripture Chapters 21 23 8 Chapter 8 Observing the Text Chapters 27, 28 9 Chapter 9 Interpreting the Text Chapters 36-38 10 Chapter 10 Chapters 39-42 Applying the Text 11. Final Project Due
4 A BASIC LIBRARY FOR BIBLE STUDENTS The following list of books is to be considered an aid rather than a substitute for Bible study. The tools herein reveal the subjective choices of the professor and the list is only a starting point. An asterisk (*) is placed in front of those recommended to purchase first. 1. Bibles New King James New American Standard New International Study Bible 2. Concordance * Strong s Exhaustive Concordance 3. Word Studies Harris, Archer, & Waltke, Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament * Vine s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words Wilson, Old Testament Word Studies 4. Hermeneutics and Bible Study Methods * Fee and Stuart, How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth Hendricks and Hendricks, Living by the Book * Sire, How to Read Slowly Warren, Twelve Dynamic Bible Study Methods Virkler, Hermeneutics 5. Bible Dictionaries and Encyclopedias Bromiley, ed., International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 4 volumes * Unger, New Bible Dictionary Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia, 5 volumes * The New Moody Atlas of the Bible 6. Commentaries * Walvoord and Zuck, eds., Bible Knowledge Commentary, 2 volumes Swindoll s Living Insights Commentaries Wiersbe, Be Series Gaebelein, Expositors Bible Commentary, 12 volumes 7. Bible Introduction Wilkerson, Talk Through the Bible * Wilmington, Bible Handbook 8. Cultural / Historical Studies Edersheim, The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah * Gower, The New Manners & Customs of Bible Times
5 9. Gospels and Christ Bruce, The Training of the Twelve * Pentecost, The Words and Works of Jesus Christ Pentecost, A Harmony of the Words and Works of Jesus Christ 10. Theology and Apologetics * Pentecost, Thy Kingdom Come * Enns, Moody Handbook of Theology Erickson, Christian Theology Geisler, Decide for Yourself Geisler and Nix, A General Introduction to the Bible Ryrie, Basic Theology 11. Computer Software Logos Bible Software blueletterbible.com A Suggested Order of Priority in Purchasing Bible Study Tools 1. New King James or NAS Bible 2. Strong s Concordance 3. Vine s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words 4. Unger s Bible Dictionary 5. The New Moody Atlas of the Bible 6. Bible Knowledge Commentary, 2 volumes 7. The Words and Works of Jesus Christ 8. Thy Kingdom Come 9. Ryrie, Basic Theology 10. NIV Study Bible