Fall 2014/Pasadena

BI500

Thompson

BI500: INTERPRETIVE PRACTICES (4 Units: 160 hours). Marianne M. Thompson.

DESCRIPTION: This course introduces interpretive approaches and practices for students of the Bible. Students will consider the aims and assumptions of biblical interpretation, become familiar with major resources for study of the Bible, interpret a variety of biblical texts in both testaments, and reflect upon the manner in which the varied contexts (e.g., social, cultural, theological) of the biblical world and contemporary readers inform interpretation.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students successfully completing this course will have demonstrated (1) the capacity to engage in close study of a variety of passages in the Bible prior to engaging in conversation with various scholarly resources; (2) judicious use of critical tools and resources for the study of biblical texts; (3) critical reflection on the theory of interpretation; (4) practice with interpreting a variety of biblical texts from both testaments, with consideration of the varied contexts of both the biblical materials and contemporary readers; and (5) skill in developing interpretations that engage contemporary concerns, and that encourage and challenge the church to remain faithful to its mission.

COURSE FORMAT: This class meets twice weekly for two hour sessions for a total of 40 instructional hours in the classroom for lecture and discussion.

REQUIRED READING: [Total reading 763 pp.]

Green, Joel B., ed. Hearing the New Testament: Strategies for Interpretation. 2d ed. Eerdmans, 2010. ISBN: 978-0802864208, Pub. Price $28.00 [432 pp.].

Dietrich, Walter, and Ulrich Luz, eds. The Bible in a World Context: An Experiment in Contextual Hermeneutics. Eerdmans, 2002. ISBN: 978-0802849885, Pub. Price $13.50 [83 pp.].

Articles on e-reserves by Goldingay, Harding, Powell, Nysse, Juel, Thompson, and Wright [250 pp.].

Either CEB, TNIV, or NRSV.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. Required reading [53 hours].
2. Completion of three 1,300 word Interpretive Assignments; at least one from each testament (60% of final grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1, 2, 4, 5] [45 hours].
3. Four one-page interactions with required reading (20% of final grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 3, 5] [10 hours].
4. A book review of 1,200-1,500 words of The Bible in a World Context (20% of final grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 3, 5] [12 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets a core requirement in the 120 MDiv Program. Meets the HERM requirement in the 144 MDiv Program.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.