EXEGETICAL METHODS (BS 1502)

Portland/Bangor Spring 2006
Wednesday 6:00 -9:00 PM
Video Conferenced
Homepage: www.bts.edu/trobisch 
 (one week from Bangor, one week from Portland)

Syllabus

This course will introduce students to the widely accepted methods of interpretation which form the basis of modern New and Old Testament scholarship: text-, source-, form-, and redaction-criticism, structural analysis, semantics, canonical approach, etc. The objective of this course is to help students develop skills that will enable them to take a scholarly approach to the Christian Bible in its original languages.

Knowledge of Greek and Hebrew is very helpful but not a prerequisite. Students will have a chance to practice and refine their knowledge of the Biblical languages.

You can take this course for either New Testament or Old Testament credit.

The course is open for beginners and advanced students. Students will have a chance to acquire the necessary background information through reading assignments as they prepare for each session. Beginners and advanced students will sometimes have different exercises to perform in class.

Attention will be given to the various styles of exegesis for various purposes, including scholarly papers, Bible studies, public presentations, and preaching, but no sermons will be developed and the course will not fulfill a distribution requirement in Preaching and Worship.

Class Work

Every student is expected to write one book review (1-2 pages) and several short papers (1-2 pages) during the semester applying methods discussed in preparation for the class discussion. These written assignments will be collected in a portfolio. At the end students will present their revised portfolio to be graded. It will demonstrate that the methods were understood and that you know how to apply them. 

I will begin each class by presenting several questions about the preceding session. We will discuss the answers together. The answers will be posted on the class website. These questions and answers will help prepare for two written tests.

Reading assignments will be given to ensure the necessary background information for every session. However, most of the "hard" work will be done in class: in discussion groups, workshops, and experimental exercises.

You will need at least three hours of preparation for each session. After several sessions you will be given an opportunity for feedback and a feedback form for anonymous feedback is posted on the class website. We will discuss what you like about this course and how it may be improved. Your suggestions are important to me.

Attendance

If you are not able to attend a session, I expect you to tell me or leave a message at my voice mail beforehand. If this is not possible, please inform me about the circumstances the next time we meet.

Text Books

Grade Distribution: A = 100-90%; B = 89-80%; C = 79-70%; D = 69-60%.

Tentative Class Outline

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