Fall 2020/Online

BI500

Fekkes

BI500: INTERPRETIVE PRACTICES (4 Units: 160 hours). Jan Fekkes III, Ph.D.

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.

RELATIONSHIP TO PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES: This course will provide students with further practice in interpreting a variety of texts from the Bible, from a variety of perspectives, which is consistent with the SOT PLO “Students will have demonstrated competence in the practice of biblical interpretation for faithful use of Scripture in their own lives and ministries”(MDiv, MAT, MATM).

COURSE FORMAT: This course will be conducted online on a ten-week schedule aligned with Fuller’s academic calendar for a total of 40 instructional hours. Students are required to interact with the material, with each other, and with the instructor regularly through online discussions, reading, and other assignments that promote active learning. It is especially important that students complete the assigned readings (lectures, books/book sections, articles, etc.), exercises, and essays by the stated due dates, in order to be fully prepared to participate in the weekly discussions and assignments.

REQUIRED READING: c. 1100 pages required.

About 10 selected biblical texts [c. 15-20 pp.]

Bauckham, Richard. The Bible in the Contemporary World. Eerdmans, 2015. ISBN: 978-0802872234, Pub. Price $16.40. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [171 pp. assigned].

González, Justo L. Santa Biblia: The Bible through Hispanic Eyes. Abingdon, 1996. ISBN: 978-0687014521, Pub. Price $16.27. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [124 pp. assigned].

Gorman, Michael J. Elements of Biblical Exegesis: A Basic Guide for Students and Ministers. Revised and expanded edition. Baker Academic, 2008. ISBN: 978-0801046407, Pub. Price $15.89. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [179 pp. assigned].

Gorman, Michael J., ed. Scripture and its Interpretation: A Global, Ecumenical Introduction to the Bible. Baker Academic, 2017. ISBN: 978-0801098390, Pub. Price $35.87. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [250 pp. assigned]. Sixteen essays written by an ecumenically diverse list of women and men.

PDF lectures and PPT voice-over micro-lectures posted in Canvas [c. 100-150 pp. assigned].

Various articles in Dictionaries of the Bible and Theological Dictionaries and Journals [c. 100 pp. assigned]

Students are required to work with at least the CEB, TNIV, or NRSV (because of their gender-neutral language) for each biblical text used in the course agenda; any additional versions are also welcome, including Hebrew/Aramaic and Greek.

RECOMMENDED READING: See the list provided in the course syllabus.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

C. 100-150 pp. of weekly PDF lectures and short voice-over PPT “micro-lectures.” [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 3] [10 hours].
C. 1000 pp. of required reading from Scripture, textbooks, and articles. Compliance with this assignment, along with Assignment 1, is measured in three 500-word reading responses (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 3] [70 hours].
Three group engagements—each in a Canvas “discussion”—on an assigned Scripture text. This assignment includes a guided analysis of the chosen text, a 200-word initial post, together with at least three 200-word replies. (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3, 4] [20 hours; all of which serve as a DLA].
Three 750-word maximum solo “exercises” on specific, selected biblical texts (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3, 4] [20 hours].
Three threaded online “cross-pollinated” group forum discussions of course material and activities; discussion contributions for each forum include a 200-word initial post, together with at least three 200-word replies (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 3, 4, 5] [12 hours].
Interpretive Assignment: A 2500-word close-reading analysis of a selected text, incorporating consideration of scholarly discussion as well as of the effect of reading from location (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2, 3, 4, 5] [28 hours].
Engagement with the Instructor Grade: (5%). In trying to compensate for the lack of face-to-face classroom engagement, responding to instructor questions and substantive posts will serve as a partial metric of your engagement with the course.

PREREQUISITES: OT500 or NT500.

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.