PHIL/RLGN 5314--BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION
WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY, SAN ANTONIO
SPRING TERM (Feb 25 to May 18, 2002)
Tuesdays, 6:00-10:10 pm, 11550 I.H. 35 N., Room 107

John M. Andrewartha, Ph.D., Instructor

Office: FSH:  Bldg. 2248, Rm. 112; phone 270-9988
(Monday thru Friday: 9:00-12:00 & 1:00-4:00)
Email address: jandrew@wbu.edu      Website: http://satx.wbu.edu/john.andrewartha
Classroom cell-phone for EMERGENCY DURING CLASS ONLY: 316-5462

I.  COURSE DESCRIPTION:  A study of the principles and methods of biblical exegesis and interpretation with an
     emphasis on the problem of communicating the biblical message in the modern world.

II.   TEXTBOOKS:  The Bible (any major modern annotated version); Barber and Krauss, An Introduction to Theological Research; Fee
       and Stuart, How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth; Tate, Biblical Interpretation: an Integrated Approach, rev. ed.; Thorpe, A
      Handbook  for Basic Biblical Exegesis. 

III. COURSE OUTLINE:

IV.  COURSE REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATE CREDIT:  

    1.  Class attendance according to the WBU catalog (see Appendix attached)
     2.  Reading of assigned passages in the textbooks
     3.  Active, informed participation in class discussion
     4.  Two major exams as indicted below
     5.  A summary and presentation of an interpretational book as indicated below
     6.  A research project as indicated below

        ·        CLASS PARTICIPATION:  Students will be graded on their attendance and alert, informed, active
                    participation in class activities.
        ·        MAJOR EXAMS:  Two exams will be given, each being complete ("final") over the covered material.
        ·        BOOK REPORT:  Each student will select from a list provided by the instructor an introductory book related
                    to Biblical Interpretation.  The student will prepare a summary of the book, survey other materials related to
                    the topic, and present the information gained in a written report.  The student will then teach the seminar
                    what he or she has learned.
        ·        RESEARCH PROJECT: An exegetical study of a major bible passage, showing proficiency in the use of
                    scholarly research methods studied in class.  Samples of passages include:  

 Other major passages of similar length and importance of the student's choice, with approval of the Instructor.  

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROJECT:  The project must be at least 15 pages, and not more than 35 pages, in length, typed and double-spaced.  At least 12 scholarly books and/or articles must be used and cited in the notes and bibliography.  The Turabian (University of Chicago) style is the official format adopted by the WBU Department of Religion, and is used by most religious publications.  The project will be evaluated on depth of research, coherence of reasoning, and thoroughness of presentation.  Grammar, spelling, and style are expected to be flawless. 

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY, such as having someone else write your reports, cheating on tests, or plagiarism, will not be tolerated.  Plagiarism (the use of the words or ideas of others without giving credit, thus silently pretending they are your own) is intellectual theft, will result in no credit for the report, and is grounds for dismissal from the university.

V.  GRADING:  Students will be graded on their knowledge of the textbooks and lecture notes, on their book reports and research projects, and on their attendance and class participation, as demonstrated by their performance on exams, reports, projects, and class attendance and discussion.

VI.  CLASS OBJECTIVES:  As a result of this study, the student will be able to:

            1.  Show a beginning knowledge of the history of biblical interpretation
            2.   Demonstrate awareness of the main principles, tools, and resources of biblical interpretation
            3.   Show a developing skill in recognizing different types of biblical literature and in using appropriate hermeneutics for each type.
            4.  Demonstrate facility in using the resources and methodologies of biblical exegesis.  

VII.  SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS:  The Instructor will provide photocopied materials and various visual aids as appropriate to the
         class activities.

VIII.  CLASS PROCEDURE:  The class will be taught by a combination of lecture and class discussion of the textbooks and supplemental
          materials, with student presentations of their research reports.  The class meets for four hours each Monday for eleven weeks.

  IX.  SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY:  (* Indicates course textbooks.  See also bibliographies in textbooks.)

 * Barber, Cyril J., and Robert M. Krauss, Jr. An Introduction to Theological Research, Second Edition, Revised and Expanded. New
          York: University Press of America, 2000.

     Beardslee, William A. Literary Criticism of the New Testament. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1970.

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

     Coggin, R. J., and J. L. Houlden. A Dictionary of Biblical Interpretation. Philadelphia: Trinity Press International, 1990.

     Dockery, David, Kenneth A. Mathews, and Robert B. Sloan. Foundations for Biblical Interpretation. Nashville: Broadman & Holman
          Publishers, 1994.

     Fee, Gordon D. Gospel and Spirit: Issues in New Testament Hermeneutics. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1991.

  * Fee, Gordon D., and Douglas Stuart. How to Read the Bible for All its Worth. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1981.

     Gorman, Michael J.  Elements of Biblical Exegesis. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 2001.

     Greenlee, J. Howard. Introduction to New Testament Textual Criticism. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1964.

     Hayes, John H., and Carl R. Holliday. Biblical Exegesis: A Beginner's Handbook. Rev. Ed. Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1987.

     Hendricksen, Walter A. Understand: A Straightforward Approach to Interpreting the Bible. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 1976.

     Huey, F. B, Jr., and Bruce Corley. A Student's Dictionary for Biblical & Theological Studies. Grand Rapids: Academie Books, 1983.

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

     Klein, William W., Craig L. Blomberg, and Robert L. Hubbard. Introduction to Biblical Interpretation. Dallas: Word Publishing, 1993.

     Krentz, Edgar. The Historical-Critical Method. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1975.

     Ladd, George Eldon. The New Testament and Criticism. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1967.

     Longman, Tremper III. Literary Approaches to Biblical Interpretation. Grand Rapids: Academie Books, 1987.

     Marshall, I. Howard, ed.. New Testament Interpretation: Essays on Principles and Methods. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans
         Publishing Company, 1977.

     Osborne, Grant R. The Hermeneutical Spiral: A Comprehensive Introduction to Biblical Interpretation. Downers Grove, IL:
         InterVarsity Press, 1991.

    Perrin, Norman. What Is Redaction Criticism? Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1969.

     Ramm, Bernard. Protestant Biblical Interpretation: A Textbook of Hermeneutics, 3d Rev. Ed. Grand Rapids: Baker Book
         House, 1970.

 * Tate,.W. Randolph.   Biblical Interpretation: an Integrated Approach, Rev. Ed.  Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1996.

 * Thorpe, R. Samuel. A Handbook for Basic Biblical Exegesis.  New York, University Press, 1999.

X.  CLASS ASSIGNMENTS:   Students are expected to have read the text material prior to the dates assigned for class discussion and to be prepared to enter into meaningful discussion of the topics covered.

APPENDIX

  Class Attendance—External Campuses:

  ADDENDUM AND COMMENTS  

1. Please do not assume that you can miss almost 25% of the class meetings with no penalty at all.  Very few students can be absent that much and still pass the course.  Almost inevitably, students who miss class perform less well than they expect, and their grades are lower. 

2. NOTE THAT THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AN “EXCUSED” ABSENCE from class.  The reason for your absence does not matter.  Even if it is unavoidable and beyond your control, if you are not in class, you are absent.  If you are obviously ill, especially if your illness may be contagious, please stay home until you have recovered.  Anyone who is ill 25% of the time probably needs to drop the course and rest to get well.

3. The philosophy behind this policy is twofold: we believe that attendance in class indicates that you are serious about getting a quality education, and that such attendance greatly increases your chances to succeed.  On the other hand, tuition covers only about one-third of the cost of delivering a course to you.  Since we have to find the other two-thirds from the gifts and offerings of the Baptist people of Texas and friends of the university, we have twice the investment in you that you have in us.  We want to see you succeed!

4. So there will be no doubt, 3 weeks of a course lasting 11 weeks is more than 25%.  Notice that the attendance policy does not make exceptions.  Attendance in a class means being present from the time the instructor calls it to order until the instructor dismisses it.  Being tardy means arriving after the class has been called to order.  Leaving before class is dismissed counts as a “tardy” also.  Leaving at break time means being absent for half the class.  Two such half-absences equal one week of absence.

   

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