Winter 2019/Menlo Park

BI500

Hansen

BI500: INTERPRETIVE PRACTICES (4 Units: 160 hours). Bruce Hansen.

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. Class time will be divided between lectures on content and method, and hands-on work with texts. Significant student participation is expected. Students will be responsible for having read assigned weekly readings and for preparing assigned Bible passages to discuss online and in class.

Attendance Policy: Attendance at and readiness to participate in all sessions of the course is assumed. Persons who attend and participate in all sessions of the course will have two (2) points added to their final grade. Persons who miss more than one-fourth of classes meeting hours will fail the course. Neither partial attendance nor excused absences will be considered.

REQUIRED READING: 900 pages required

Assigned Bible books and passages. Either CEB, TNIV, or NRSV. [100 pp.]

Gorman, Michael J. Elements of Biblical Exegesis: A Basic Guide for Students and Ministers. Rev Exp edition. Baker Academic, 2010. ISBN: 978-0801046407, Publisher's Price $24.99. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library. [270 pp.]

Gorman, Michael J., ed. Scripture and Its Interpretation: A Global, Ecumenical Introduction to the Bible. Baker Academic, 2017. ISBN: 978-0801098390, Publisher's Price $34.99. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [400 pp.]

Selections on e-reserves [122 pp.]:

Alter, Robert. The Art of Biblical Narrative. 2nd ed. Chapter 3 "Biblical Type-Scenes and the Uses of Convention," 55-78. New York: Basic Books, 2011.

Bauckham, Richard. "Reading Scripture as a Coherent Story." In The Art of Reading Scripture, edited by Ellen F. Davis and Richard B. Hays, 38-53. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2003.

Davis, Ellen F., "Vulnerability, the Condition of Covenant." In The Art of Reading Scripture, edited by Ellen F. Davis and Richard B. Hays, 277-293. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2003.

Dube, Musa W. "Fifty Years of Bleeding: A Storytelling Feminist Reading of Mark 5:24-43." In Other Ways of Reading: African Women and the Bible, edited by Musa W. Dube, 50-60. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2001.

Marshall, I. Howard, "Mark 1:1-13 Introducing the Gospel of Mark." In Interpreting the New Testament Text: Introduction to the Art and Science of Exegesis, edited by Darrell L. Bock and Buist M. Fanning, 313-22. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2006.

Moberly, R.W.L., "Living Dangerously: Genesis 22 and the Quest for Good Biblical Interpretation." In The Art of Reading Scripture, edited by Ellen F. Davis and Richard B. Hays, 181-197. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2003.

Santos, Narry F., "Mark 1:1-15 The Paradox of Authority and Servanthood." In Interpreting the New Testament Text: Introduction to the Art and Science of Exegesis, edited by Darrell L. Bock and Buist M. Fanning, 323-39. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2006.

Schottroff, Luise, "Feminist Praxis of Interpreting the New Testament." In Feminist Interpretation: The Bible in Women's Perspective, edited by Luise Schottroff, Silvia Schroer, and Marie-Theres Wacker, translated by Martin and Barbara Rumscheidt, 233-254. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1998.

RECOMMENDED READING: See course syllabus.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

Online forum discussions and quizzes based on assigned weekly readings will require one post and one reply to classmates’ posts per class meeting. (25%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-5]. [10 hours].
900 pages of required reading [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3]. [60 hours].
Completion of three 1000-word, interpretive assignments on assigned Bible passages. (35%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 4, 5]. [36 hours].
Interpretive Assignment. The student will develop one of the three shorter interpretive assignments into final 2000-word research paper, demonstrating engagement with scholarly discussion and use of exegetical tools (40%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2, 4, 5]. [24 hours].

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.