Hermeneutics+–+BIB+3303

 **HERMENEUTICS BIB-3303 ** 8:00-9:15 TTH   FA 13 Spring, 2010 Instructor: Carl Johnson Office: 461-8741 Ext. 138  (Office Hours are Monday afternoon or by Appointment)  Arlington Baptist College endeavors to prepare men and women for Christian life and ministries, both lay and professional, through studies in Bible, general education, church vocations, and practical service, interpreting faith and learning in the context of a Christian worldview. 
 * ARLINGTON **** BAPTIST COLLEGE **
 * COLLEGE MISSION STATEMENT **

** COURSE DESCRIPTION **
 An introduction to the general and special principles of Biblical interpretation. The importance, history, and methods of interpretation will be investigated. This is a junior level course.

 Virkler, Henry A., __Hermeneutics: Principles and Processes of Biblical Interpretation__. 2nd edition Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1981. 
 * TEXTS **

__ The Holy Bible __ (KJV only) 


For this course we will: 1. Provide a syllabus listing the requirements for successfully completing this course. 2. Stress respect for the Word of God and a desire to promote its diligent study. 3. Expose you, the student, to a variety of hermeneutic principles and approaches necessary for sound Biblical exegesis. 4. Explain the historical development and abuses of hermeneutics. 5. Provide assignments that will help you to develop skills in the use of valid principles of Biblical hermeneutics in interpreting Scripture. 6. Develop in you a personal confidence that it is possible to arrive at an interpretation consistent with the intention of the Divine author. 7. Encourage you to practically utilize the principles presented in this class to analyze Scripture passages to determine God’s intent for writing them. 8. Develop your ability to discuss with others the interpretation of Scripture, and to defend or refute the manner in which an interpretation is made. 9. Train you to practice exegesis rather than eisegesis. 10. Provide prompt and regular feedback with regard to submitted assignments. 11. Provide opportunities for testing over the required materials. 

<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt;">To successfully compete this course, you will:
1. Learn the historical development of hermeneutics, the key participants in its development, issues crucial to developing a sound hermeneutic, and some of its unique vocabulary. 2. Apply the principles presented in class and class readings to accurately interpret the Scriptures, and/or answer possible real life situations, students will answer a short number of assigned questions from most of the chapters prior to the chapter discussions and submit them on the assigned date in typed form **//at the beginning//** of the class. 3. Be prompt in the submittion of assignments and employ the proper format as explained in class. 4. Complete a supervised Midterm and Final exams over the hermeneutical and exegetical concepts presented in class. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt;">

** INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES **
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 6pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt;">At the end of this course, you should be able to: 1. outline various hermeneutic approaches and principles. 2. define terms commonly used when discussing hermeneutics. 3. identify people who have had a key role in the development of Biblical hermeneutics. 4. identify issues that are crucial to the development of sound hermeneutics. 5. determine the interpretation of various passages of Scripture using the hermeneutic principles presented in class. 6. defend their interpretation as being consistent with the intention of its Divine author. 7. recognize fallacies in Scripture interpretations. 8. explain why exegesis is hermeneutically valid while eisegesis is not. 9. answer questions provided by your instructor regarding each chapter.

** COURSE ASSIGNMENTS **
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 6pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt; text-decoration: none;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt;">1. **ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS:** Students are to answer the assignment questions as provided in class prior to the chapter discussions. These questions, organized by chapter, will be handed out during the first week of classes and provide a starting pont for class discussion of the materials. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 4pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt;">2. **SELECTED EXERCISES:** Students are to complete selected exercises contained in your text for chapters 3-8. Responces are to be typed and answers are to reflect an application of the principles presented in the chapters covered to date. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 4pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt;">3. **EXEGETICAL PAPER:** Students are to complete an 8-10 page, typed, double-spaced paper which demonstrated their ability to apply the principles learned in this course to a selected passage of Scripture. The passage will be taken through the four major categories of investigation (historical, grammatical, theological, practical) and conform to the specific instructions provided in class. All used references must be cited. **A problem passage should be selected and approved no later than March 30.** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 4pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt;">4. **EXAMS:** Midterm and final exams are to be taken at the times indicated in your course schedule. Questions will be taken from the questions and exercises included in the //Course Questions// for the first half and second half of the semester respectfully. Students may also be asked to respond to one or more of the Brain Teaser Questions assigned or discussed in class. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt; text-decoration: none;">

** GRADING **
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 6pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt; text-decoration: none;"> The grading scale will be that of the current College Catalog.(See Gen. Information, Grading/Testing) The following percentages will be used in computing final grades. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 4pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt;"> Assigned Questions and class discussion 20% Selected Exercises 20% Midterm Exam 20% Final Exam 20% __Final Prject__ __20%__ TOTAL 100%

** ATTENDANCE & PUNCTUALITY **
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 4pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt;">Since 20% of the course grade is related to the timely submission of assigned questions and participation in class discussion, **//prompt attendance is essential//** to peak performance. **Late assignments will be graded down** one letter grade for each day they are late. If a student misses **//more than eight classes//**, he **//will receive a failing grade//** in keeping with catelog policy. **//Tardies count as ½ absences//**. (Note: **Assignments are one day late if not submitted at the beginning of class**.) <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 6pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt;">

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">

** CLASS SCHEDULE **
(Questions over the assigned readings will be discussed, key concepts and vocabulary will be identified, and problems will be discussed in a seminar like format. Students should come prepared to participate and contribute to the discussin of the designated materials. Come prepared to defend your positions!) <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 4pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt;">

** JAN 12 Course Syllabus & Introduction **
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 4pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt;"> ** 21 Virkler – 26-30 ** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 4pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; msoansilanguage: DE; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 4pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; msoansilanguage: DE; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 4pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; msoansilanguage: DE; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt; msotabcount: 1;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 4pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; msoansilanguage: DE; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 4pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 4pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 4pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 4pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt;"> ** 16 Virkler – 121-125 ** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 4pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; msoansilanguage: DE; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 4pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 4pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 4pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 4pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 4pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 6pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt;">
 * 14 Virkler – 15-20 **
 * 19 Virkler – 20-25 **
 * 26 Virkler – 30-35 **
 * 28 Virkler – 35-38 **
 * FEB 2 Virkler – 38-41 **
 * 4 Virkler – 43-48 **
 * 9 Virkler – 48-52 / Discuss Exercises 2 and 4 **
 * 11 Virkler – 52-65 **
 * 16 Virkler – 65-77 **
 * 18 Virkler – 79-90 / Discuss Exercises 6, 12, 13, and 15 **
 * 23 Hosting of TAPPS – No Class **
 * 25 Virkler – 97-110 / Complete BT discussion **
 * MAR 2 Virkler – 110-120 / Be prepared to discuss Execises 22, 25, 29, 30, 34. **
 * 4 Midterm Exam (Virkler - Chapters 1-4) **
 * 8 – 12 Spring Break **
 * 18 Virkler – 126-132 **
 * 23 Virkler – 132-142 **
 * 25 Virkler – 142-146 Discuss Exercises 37-47. (Pick 4) **
 * 30 Virkler – 147-154 **
 * APR 1 Virkler – 154-164 / //Figures of Speech// handout. **
 * 6 Virkler – Discuss Exercises 51, 54, 58, + your choice **
 * 8 Virkler – 167-175 **
 * 13 Virkler – 176-183 **
 * 15 Virkler – 183-191 – Discuss Exercises 60-74 (Pick 4) **
 * 20 Virkler – 193-201 **
 * 22 Virkler – 201-216 – Discuss Exercises 75-99 (Pick 4) **
 * 27 Virkler – 217-228 **
 * 29 Final Review **