DESCRIPTION:

This course serves to acquaint students with the basic principles and practice of historical exegesis in the Greek New Testament. Attention will be given to bibliographical resources and tools available for exegetical help; how exegetical decisions are made; the ways we move to appropriation of text; and to the assumptions underlying study of the Scripture.

The purpose of this course is to equip students with a knowledge of the tools, aids, and methods of exegeting the Greek New Testament. This task is foundational to responsible preaching and teaching, and to appropriating the message of the Scriptures for today.

Because this course seeks to provide instruction and practice in doing exegesis, extensive student preparation and participation is expected. The course meets twice a week for lectures and regular discussion.

The following tools are recommended for consultation; some will be required for assignments throughout the quarter:

Bauer's Lexicon and a critical edition of the Greek New Testament, either GNT⁴ (1993) or N-A²⁷ (1993).

Danker, Frederick. Multipurpose Tools for Bible Study. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1992.

Metzger, B. M. A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament. 2nd ed. Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft/United Bible Societies, 1994.

Scholer, D. M. A Basic Bibliographic Guide for New Testament Exegesis. Third edition in progress, 1997. Available at the Fuller Seminary Bookstore.

Chapters from the following book provide background information for various lectures and assignments:

Green, J. B. Hearing the New Testament: Strategies for Interpretation. Grand Rapids:
William B. Eerdmans, 1995.

1. Assigned reading.

2. Exercises to prepare for class discussion.

3. Several written assignments focusing on the various components of exegesis.

4. A final exegesis paper.

LG512.

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

None.