Reading and Interpreting the Bible in Contemporary Times (BS1019P)

Undergraduate, 18.0 points

Content

How has the Bible been read and interpreted? How important is method in our study and interpretation of the Bible? What are the methods or hermeneutical principles one can employ? How can we effectively interpret the Bible so that it might speak to our contemporary times? This course will survey the many approaches, methods and hermeneutical principles employed by readers and practitioners of the Bible; explore the questions raised by them and assess both their strengths and weaknesses. The course will instruct how these methods may be applied to the books of Exodus and Matthew as test cases to encourage the students to appreciate not only the variety of methods but also the multiplicity of meaning inherent within the Biblical text.

Unit code: BS1019P

Unit status: Archived (New unit)

Points: 18.0

Unit level: Undergraduate Level 1

Unit discipline: Biblical Studies

Delivery Mode: Online

Proposing College: Pilgrim Theological College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Describe the history of biblical interpretation
2.

Discuss the approaches, hermeneutical principles, methods and practices of biblical interpretation

3.

Analyse and describe the assumptions of the many schools/approaches and perspectives of biblical method and criticism
4.

Apply these methods in their reading and interpretation of Biblical texts

5.

Use their knowledge to evaluate claims made in the world today about Biblical truth.
6.

Understand and appreciate the context of the text as well as one’s own cultural contexts in the process of biblical interpretation.

Pedagogy

Engagement with online learning materials, Tasks and Tutorial Discussion

Indicative Bibliography

  • Broyles, Craig C. (Ed). *Interpreting the Old Testament: A Guide for Exegesis. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2001.
  • Crain, Jeanie C. Reading the Bible as Literature: An Introduction. Cambridge, U.K.: Polity Press, 2010.
  • Deppe, Dean B. All Roads Lead to the Text: Eight Methods of Inquiry into the Bible. Grand Rapids, Michigan/Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2011.
  • Dozeman, Thomas B (ed.). Methods for Exodus, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010 (recommended for purchase)
  • McKenzie, Stephen L. and John Kaltner (Eds). New Meanings for Ancient Texts: Recent approaches to Biblical Criticisms and their Applications. Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 2013. (recommended for purchase)
  • Powell, Mark Allan (ed.). Methods for Matthew. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2009. (recommended for purchase)
  • Schüssler- Fiorenza, Elisabeth, (ed.). Searching the Scriptures: A Feminist Introduction, New York: Crossroad Publishing Company, 2000.
  • Soulen, Richard N and R. Kendall Soulen. Handbook of Biblical Criticism, Fourth Edition Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 2011. (recommended for purchase)
  • Sugirtharajah, R. S. Voices from the Margin: Interpreting the Bible in the Third World. Revised and Expanded Third Edition, Maryknoll, New York: Orbis, 2006.
  • Tate, Randolph W. Handbook for Biblical Interpretation: An Essential Guide to Methods, Terms and Concepts. Second Edition. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2012.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Exegesis

An Exegesis of a biblical text employing a method and approach of choice - 2000 Words

 0 50.0
Essay

A Descriptive essay – outlining a method; its objectives; assessing its strengths and weaknesses and its suitability to the student’s context - 3000 Words

 0 50.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by John Capper on 1 Nov, 2014

Unit record last updated: 2019-10-22 13:52:48 +1100