DESCRIPTION:

The purpose of this course is to provide the student with an adequate, practical methodology for establishing the meaning of Biblical texts in the original languages (in this case, Greek). In the process the student will learn how to use exegetical tools and how to make exegetical decisions that will greatly help him/her in the interpretation of the Bible.

The ability to establish the meaning of the text through the discipline of exegesis is a critical background task necessary for the Hispanic pastor in his/her preparation for teaching or preaching from the Bible.

This will be a very practical kind of course in which student participation will be maximized. There will be some lectures, both introductory and as needed. But the majority of the time will be dedicated to the study of assigned texts in the first three chapters of the Gospel of John. All students will make at least two presentations in class on the basis of their serious exegetical study of assigned portions.

Green, J. B. Hearing the New Testament. Eerdmans, 1995.

Hagner, D. P. Writing and Research Papers in New Testament Studies: A Guide for Seminarians. Pasadena, Fuller Theological Seminary, 1993.

Hayes, John H. and Carl R. Holladay. Biblical Exegesis: A Beginners Handbook. John Knox, 1982.

Zerwick, M. and M. Grosvenor. A Grammatical Analysis of the Greek New Testament. 4th ed. Rome: Biblical Institute Press, 1993.

USE OF THE FOLLOWING REQUIRED WHERE APPLICABLE:

Blass, F.; A. Debrunner; and R. W. Funk. A Greek Grammar of the New Testament. University of Chicago Press, 1961.

Dana, H. E. and J. R. Mantey. A Manual Grammar of the Greek New Testament. Macmillan, 1957.

Moule, C. F. D. An Idiom-Book of New Testament Greek. Cambridge University Press, 1960.

Berkhof, L. Principles of Biblical Interpretation. Baker, 1950. (Library copy available in Spanish.)

Hirsch, E. D., Jr. Validity in Interpretation. Yale University Press, 1967.

All students will do the exegesis of the first three chapters of the Gospel according to John, the required reading, at least two class presentations of portions assigned in John 1-3, and an exegetical paper on a chosen passage outside of John 1-3. A list of reading will be handed in at the end of the course. Small homework assignments and quizzes will also be required.

LG512 and Spanish.

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

Yes.