E A S T T E X A S B A P T I S T U N I V E R S I T Y
RELIGION (RLGN) 3354
BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION I: HERMENEUTICS
(Fall 20 1 6 ; 1 2 : 3 0 TR )
Professor: Rick Johnson, Ph.D.
Office: SCRB 206
Phone: (903) 923-2183
Office Hours: MW 11:00-12:00; 2:00-3:00; TR 9:30-11:30; 2:00-3:00; F 11:00-12:00
E-mail:
COURSE DESCRIPTION An examination of the science of hermeneutics and its application to biblical interpretation. A survey will be made of the history of biblical interpretation and of the development of hermeneutics in the modern world. Attention will be given to the question of the location of meaning, the significance of genre, and the principles of general hermeneutics. Students will also demonstrate knowledge of the resources and methods of biblical research. Prerequisites: RLGN 1320 or RLGN 1330.
TEXTBOOKS
The New Interpreter’s Study Bible. ISBN—0-687-27832-5 (Hardcover)
Duvall, J. Scott, and J. Daniel Hays. Grasping God’s Word: A Hands-On Approach to Reading, Interpreting, and Applying the Bible. 3d ed. Forewords by Mark L. Stauss and Kevin J. Vanhoozer. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012. (DH)
ISBN—978-0-310-49257-3
Turabian, Kate L. A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations: Chicago Style for Students and Researchers. 8th ed. Revised by Wayne C. Booth et al. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press, 2013.
ISBN—13:978-0226816388 or 10:0226816389 (paper)
ISBN—13:978-0226816371 or 10:0226816370 (cloth)
ISBN—978-0-226-81639-5 (e-book)
Yarchin, William. History of Bi blical Interpretation: A Reader. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2004. (Y)
ISBN—978-08010-39805 or 9781565637207 or 1-56563-720-8.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
During this semester the successful student will demonstrate the following competencies.
A. The student will show knowledge of the main tools and resources for biblical interpretation through tests and research papers.
B. The student will demonstrate knowledge of the history of biblical interpretation, including major scholars and theories, through tests and research papers.
C. The student will demonstrate skills in using the various methodologies of biblical interpretation through tests and research papers.
D. The student will demonstrate the ability to evaluate writings on biblical interpretation and theology through tests and research papers.
ASSIGNMENTS
Reading and discussion: The reading to be covered in each of the tests is listed in the Tentative Course Outline. The professor will announce in class when various sections of reading will be covered. Students are expected to be aware of the course outline and to be prepared to discuss the assigned sections of the textbooks and passages from the Bible cited in them when the class time arrives. If the professor observes that students are not prepared, he may decide to give daily quizzes, which will count ten percent of the course grade.
Research paper: Students will write research papers comparing the methods of biblical interpretation of two major sources, one from ancient times (up to A.D. 500) and one from a later writer (after A.D. 500). The style must follow the most recent edition of A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, by Kate L. Turabian. Students should provide a description of the historical setting of the source or writer, the principles of interpretation and use of the Bible exhibited, and the significance of the approach for Bible students today. Give examples of how each person interpreted passages from the Bible, and explain why that interpreter followed that method. Then tell how that approach has influenced later interpreters. The paper should be between 2400 and 3000 words (8-10 pages) in length, not counting bibliography.
DUE DATE: Nove m b er 17 .
Students are asked to complete the on-line evaluation of the course. For completing the survey before the final, three points will be added to the final test grade.
EXAMINATIONS
Students will take unannounced quizzes on the assigned reading in the textbooks. You may use notes that you have taken on the reading, but you must not use the textbook itself during the quiz. The quizzes will be between ten and fifteen in number. The two lowest scores will be dropped, and the rest will be averaged to produce one major grade which will count twenty percent of the course. No make-up quizzes will be given. If you miss a quiz, it will count as one of your dropped grades.
There will be three major exams over the lectures and the readings. The questions will be both objective and discussion. The final will be comprehensive. Questions will come from the textbooks, class lectures and discussions, and student presentations. Students who are absent on the scheduled test day due to a school related activity must schedule to take the test early. It is the professor’s discretion to determine whether the make-up test will be the same as the original test or a different one. It is the student's responsibility to arrange with the professor a date for the makeup exam. No make-up exams can be taken after the last regularly scheduled class before the final examination. Examinations missed and not rescheduled will be graded a "0."
1. Make-up examinations will be given ONLY on the 1 st and 3 rd Mondays of each month. (Dates for Fall: Sept. 1 2 and 26 ; Oct. 3 and 1 7 ; Nov. 7 and 2 1)
2. Make-up examinations will be given in SCRB 207 at 3:00 p.m.
3. Students must get approval from the professor(s) to take the make-up examination.
4. Professors will give Mrs. Cox the examination with the student’s name written on it along with the date the student is to take the exam.
5. The scheduling of the make-up examinations are the responsibility of the professor, not Mrs. Cox, for she cannot make the determination as to whether or not the student’s reason for missing the exam is approved by the professor.
A = 90-100 D = 60-69
B = 80-89 F = below 60
C = 70-79
Course grade Reading quizzes – 20%
Tests – 20% each
Paper – 20%
3 points possible added to final test for on-line evaluation
Students are to be aware of the school's policy of Academic Integrity. Academic integrity is one of the most important values maintained by East Texas Baptist University. Violations of academic policies are considered serious breaches of both personal integrity and ETBU's student code of conduct. The Policy and Procedures Manual of the University states, “Students enrolled at East Texas Baptist University are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the highest standards of academic honesty and integrity, avoiding all forms of cheating, illicit possession of examinations or examination materials, unwarranted access to instructor’s solutions’ manuals, plagiarism, forgery, collusion and submissions of the same assignment to multiple courses.” Plagiarism is defined as the act of appropriating or giving out as one's own the literary or artistic work of another. If material is quoted without being put in quotation marks or without a footnote or endnote, it is plagiarism. If ideas are used without citing the source, it is plagiarism. Cheating is defined as falsifying work, copying the work of another person, allowing another to copy your work, and/or the use of unauthorized helps. Any student who is found guilty of breaking the University’s policy of academic integrity (i.e., cheating, plagiarism, etc.) forfeits any chance of receiving credit and has earned an F for the course.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Students enrolled at East Texas Baptist University are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the highest standards of academic honesty and integrity avoiding all forms of cheating, illicit possession of examinations or examination materials, unwarranted access to instructor’s solutions’ manuals, plagiarism, forgery, collusion, and submissions of the same assignment to multiple courses. Students are not allowed to recycle student work without permission of the faculty member teaching the course. Students must ask permission before submitting the work since it will likely be detected by plagiarism detection programs. If the student does not inform the instructor or ask permission before the assignment is due and submitted, the instructor may treat this as an academic integrity offense.
Penalties that may be applied by the faculty member to individual cases of academic dishonesty by a student include one or more of the following:
? Failure of the class in question
? Failure of particular assignments
? Requirement to redo the work in question
? Requirement to submit additional work
All incidents related to violations of academic integrity are required to be reported to the Vice President for Academic Affairs, and multiple violations of academic integrity will result in further disciplinary measures which could lead to dismissal from the University.
COURSE ATTENDANCE AND ABSENCES:
East Texas Baptist University is committed to the policy that regular and punctual attendance is essential to successful scholastic achievement. Attendance at all meetings of the course for which a student is registered is expected. To be eligible to earn credit in a course, the student must attend at least 75 percent of all class meetings. For additional information, please refer to page 30 of the 2016-2017 Undergraduate Catalog.
Students who exceed the absence limit in a course before the official withdrawal date will have the opportunity to withdraw from the class. Students in this situation who do not choose to withdraw on or before the official withdrawal date or who exceed the absence limit in a course after the official withdrawal date will receive a grade of XF.
The following are activities that may not be pursued in class: sleeping, especially of the snoring variety, reading material not associated with this class (that includes textbooks for other classes, email, and text messages), playing games, private conversations with other class members, or private conversations with people outside class through the wonderful new world of electronics. If it is necessary to engage in any of these tasks, please excuse yourself from the classroom.
Three late appearances count as one absence. Early departure from class counts the same as a late appearance. If a student is more than fifteen minutes late for a class period of fifty minutes or more than twenty-two minutes late for a class period of one hour and twenty minutes, it will be counted as one absence.
Students sleeping in class or reading material not associated with the class during the class time will be counted as absent.
Please turn off all electronic equipment that makes a sound during class (e.g., cell phones, PDA alarms, and beepers).
Students who must leave early are asked to give notification to the professor in advance.
Constant tardiness as well as constant early departures will incur a semester grade percentage reduction of five (5)-ten (10) percent, at the discretion of the professor.
COURSE WITHDRAWAL
A student may withdraw from a course or courses or from the University beginning with the first day through 75 percent of the semester without academic penalty. The final day to withdraw from this course is Friday, November 11.
To withdraw from a course or courses or from the University the student must secure a withdrawal form from the Registrar’s Office, his/her advisor, or from the ETBU website, and follow the directions on the form, securing all required signatures. Students must process their own withdrawals. For additional information, please refer to page 29 of the 2016-2017 Undergraduate Catalog.
FOOD AND DRINK POLICY
The University endeavors to provide the best facilities possible for classes. Food and drink are prohibited in classrooms, labs, computer labs, and the library. Since food and drink are not essential to the educational process, students are asked to refrain from bringing food and drink into the classrooms. Water in approved containers is acceptable. Approved water containers include squeeze bottles with tops and hard plastic cups with a screw on lid. Paper cups with tops or drink cans are not approved.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
A student with a disability may request appropriate accommodations for this course by contacting the Office of Academic Success, Marshall Hall, Room 301, and providing the required documentation. If accommodations are approved by the Disability Accommodations Committee, the Office of Academic Success will notify the student and the student’s professor of the approved accommodations. The student must then discuss these accommodations with his or her professor. Students may not ask for accommodations the day of an exam or due date. Arrangements must be made prior to these important dates. For additional information, please refer to page 15-16 of the 2016-2017 Undergraduate Catalog.
WEAPONS IN CLASS
The on-campus possession of firearms, explosives, or fireworks is prohibited with the exception of the transportation and storage of firearms and ammunition by concealed handgun license holders in private vehicles (as described in SB1907) Pursuant to Section 30.06, Penal Code (trespass by license holder with a concealed handgun), a person licensed under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code (handgun licensing law, may not enter this property (ETBU) with a concealed handgun. The ETBU President may grant authorization to a qualified and certified full-time faculty or staff member, who is a license holder with a concealed handgun to conceal carry on the University campus, at a University-sponsored event or within or on a University vehicle.
TENTATIVE COURSE OUTLINE
Introduction
Introduction, Overview, Definitions, Presuppositions. DH 9-21, 39-49.
The Mystery of the Scriptures
The Hermeneutical Chasm
Dangers in Interpretation
Reading the Bible in the Past: The Biblical Period. Y vii-xxx, 1-28.
Ancient Jewish Exegesis. Y 109-32.
New Testament Interpretation of the Old Testament
The Church Fathers. Y 29-85.
Medieval Interpreters. Y 86-108, 133-67.
The Reformation. Y 184-94.
The Modern Period. Y 195-207.
Textual criticism.
E xamination #1 (September 2 2 )
Language: words and sentences. DH 51-68, 163-87.
Language: context. DH 69-112, 149-62.
Language: figures of speech.
Translation. DH 23-38.
Historical background. DH 113-47.
Source criticism
Tools: lexicons, grammars. DH 459-91.
theological dictionaries: Hebrew
theological dictionaries: Greek
concordances
Bible software
commentaries: exegetical: NT
exegetical: OT
expository
critical
theological
devotional
one-volume
multi-volume
Bible dictionaries and encyclopedias:
Bible histories: OT
NT
Atlases
Archaeology
Introductions and surveys: Old Testament
Introductions and surveys: New Testament