Summer 2016/Pasadena

BI500

Reardon

BI500: INTERPRETIVE PRACTICES (4 Units: 160 hours). Timothy W. Reardon

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 once per week for three hour sessions for a total of 30 hours of classroom instruction for lecture and discussion plus 10 hours of directed learning activities for a total of 40 instructional hours.

REQUIRED READING: 877 total pages required

Either CEB, TNIV, or NRSV

Green, Joel B., ed. Hearing the New Testament: Strategies for Interpretation. 2nd ed. Eerdmans, 2010. ISBN: 978-0802864208, Pub. Price $30.00 [413 pp. assigned].

Tate, W. Randolph. Biblical Interpretation. 3d ed. Baker Academic, 2013. ISBN: 978-0801049859, Pub. Price $30.00 [213 pp. assigned].

Westphal, Merold. Whose Community? Which Interpretation?: Philosophical Hermeneutics for the Church. Baker Academic, 2013. ISBN 978-0801031472, Pub. Price $22.00 [112 pp. assigned].

Articles and chapters on e-reserve by Phyllis A. Bird, Keith R. Crim, Justo L. González, Daniel J. Harrington, Donald H. Juel, Keith Jenkins, and Judith E. Sanders [139 pp. assigned].

RECOMMENDED READING:

Collins, John J. The Bible after Babel: Historical Criticism in a Postmodern Age. Eerdmans, 2005. ISBN: 978-0802828927, Pub. Price $24.50.

Day, Linda, and Carolyn Pressler, eds. Engaging the Bible in a Gendered World: An Introduction to Feminist Biblical Interpretation in Honor of Katherine Doob Sakenfeld. Westminster John Knox, 2006. ISBN: 978-0664229108, Pub. Price $30.00.

Goldingay, John. Models for Interpretation of Scripture. Eerdmans, 1995. ISBN: 978-1894667401, Pub. Price $35.00.

González, Justo L. Santa Biblia: The Bible Through Hispanic Eyes. Abingdon, 1996. ISBN: 978-0687014521, Pub. Price $18.99.

Green, Joel B. Practicing Theological Interpretation Engaging Biblical Texts for Faith and Formation. Baker Academic, 2011. ISBN: 978-0801039638, Pub. Price $30.00.

Thiselton, Anthony C. Hermeneutics: An Introduction. Eerdmans, 2009. ISBN: 978-0802864109, Pub. Price $34.00.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. Participation and Attendance: this includes attending class, coming prepared after having read the assigned material and investigating the assigned texts, and participating in class discussion (10%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3, 4, 5] [30 hours].
2. Reading: 877 pages of required reading [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3, 5]. [58 hours].
3. Prompted Discussion Forums: each week, there will be one online forum (on Moodle) requiring a 250 word short answer response, and two replies to separate students responses totaling 250 words (10%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #3, 4, 5]. [10 hours of DLAs].
4. Three Interpretive Assignments: direct interpretive work with biblical texts using tools developed in class, 1,250–1,500 words (20% each; 60% total) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 4]. [42 hours]
5. Secondary Research Paper: utilizing one of the passages already worked on for an interpretive assignment, this paper (2,500–2,750) will demonstrate facility with a variety of secondary literature, as well as an ability to synthesize and express the state of exegetical discussion, conduct research in socio-historical elements of the passage, identify key interpretive concerns, and demonstrate how the text engages the church in its mission. (20%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2, 4, 5]. [20 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets a core requirement in the 120 MDiv and the 80 MAT, 80 MATM, 80 MAICS Programs (Fall 2015). Meets the HERM requirement in the 144 MDiv Program.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.