DESCRIPTION:

This course introduces the student to the principles and practice of New Testament Greek exegesis, including those tools and methodologies deemed essential to the discipline. Exegetical procedures and guidelines will be tailored to meet the specific demands of the various genres in the New Testament library so as to facilitate the hermeneutical shift in moving from text to present-day theological reflection and application.

Competence in Greek New Testament exegesis is foundational to anyone who wishes to preach and teach faithfully from the texts of the New Testament. Because these documents are historically and culturally conditioned, one must learn to apply all relevant methods of critical research to arrive at a responsible use of the texts. The course thus challenges the student to learn the steps of exegesis as a vitally necessary skill for the interpretive task.

The course offers a kind of "laboratory" for the practice of exegetical method. Short exegetical assignments covering a wide range of methodological procedures will constitute the basic content of the course, which will include discussion and periodic lectures. In addition to more traditional methods of historical-grammatical research, attention will be given to newer critical methodologies arising from a different set of interpretive questions being posed to the text by modern interpreters. The class will meet twice weekly for four-hour sessions.

The following books are required in addition to those linguistic and exegetical books listed as essential on the Biblical Division bibliography "Linguistic and Exegetical Books Required in the Master of Divinity Program" available in the SOT Academic Advising office.

Fee, Gordon D. New Testament Exegesis: A Handbook for Students and Pastors. Rev. ed. Westminster/John Knox, 1993.

Green, Joel B., ed. Hearing the New Testament: Strategies for Interpretation. Eerdmans, 1995.

Hagner, Donald A. New Testament Exegesis and Research: A Guide for Seminarians. Fuller Seminary Press, 1999.

Carson, D. A. Exegetical Fallacies. 2nd ed. Baker Books, 1996.

Danker, F. W. Multipurpose Tools for Bible Study. 4th ed. Fortress Press, 1993.

McKnight, Scot, ed. Introducing New Testament Interpretation. Baker Book House, 1989.

Mounce, William D. The Morphology of Biblical Greek. Zondervan, 1994.

Scholer, David M. A Basic Bibliographic Guide for New Testament Exegesis. 3rd ed. 2002 Draft Edition. (Available at the Fuller Seminary Bookstore.)

Wallace, Daniel B. Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics: An Exegetical Syntax of the New Testament. Zondervan, 1996.

1. Four short exegetical assignments (3-5 pages) illustrating a particular exegetical "problem" and requiring the use of appropriate Greek tools and aids (50% of grade).

2. A 10-12 page research paper implementing all the relevant steps and tools of Greek translation and exegesis (50% of grade).

Meets M. Div. core requirement in Hermeneutics (HERM).