Syllabus
Course Goals
- To learn the essentials of biblical hermeneutics and application of these principles to
the primary genres of biblical literature.
- To understand the thematic unity of scripture and its importance to biblical
interpretation.
- To develop skills in exegetical teaching and discussion formation.
Course Requirements
- Students will complete weekly exegetical exercises applying the hermeneutical principles
covered each session to representative texts (see outline below).
Course Outline
Week One: Understanding Theological Narrative -
lecture notes | student outline
Course introduction
Unique nature of biblical narrative
Structure of Old Testament narrative
Recognizing "markers" and "links"
Assignment: Read Exodus—19 and 1 Samuel, identifying all theological markers
and links (showing what they are links to)
Week Two: Analysis of Narrative Text -
lecture notes | student
outline
Review assignment
Recognizing narrative structure
Interpreting narrative
Teaching narrative passages
Assignment: Outline, interpret and complete teaching outline for Exodus 7--11
Week Three: Interpreting Psalms -
lecture notes | student outline
Review assignment
What are the Psalms?
Nature of Hebrew poetry
Interpreting Psalms
Teaching from Psalms
Assignment: Outline, interpret and complete teaching outline for Psalm 19
Week Four: Understanding Prophetic Literature -
lecture notes | student outline
Review assignment
The prophetic ministry in historical context
Structure of prophetic writings
Prophetic hermeneutic: historical motif
Assignment: Provide a structural outline of Hosea. Explain Hosea’s use of
Israel’s experience in Egypt and the deliverance from Egypt (Exodus 1—19) as a
prophetic motif.
Week Five: Analysis of Prophetic Text -
lecture notes | student outline
Review assignment
Prophetic hermeneutic: dreams, visions, and the end of the world
Teaching the prophets
Assignment: Explain the visions of Zechariah 4 and 5. How do they relate to
Zechariah’s day? Do they point to the distant future? Why or why not?
Week Six: Elements of Gospel Interpretation -
lecture notes | student
outline
Review assignment
What is a "Gospel"?
Gospel as theological narrative
"Fulfillment" in the Gospels
- Assignment
: Outline Matthew. Explain the prophetic motif of Matthew 1—4
Week Seven: Analysis of Gospel Text -
lecture notes | student outline
Review assignment
Jesus the teacher
Interpreting Jesus’ teaching
Teaching the Gospels
Assignment: Interpret each of the parables of Matthew 13:24—52, explaining how
each extends our understanding of the mysterious nature of the kingdom.
Week Eight: Understanding Epistles -
lecture notes | student outline
Review assignment
The nature and structure of epistles
Recognizing and charting paragraph structure
Assignment: Write out a paragraph chart for each of the paragraphs in 2 Timothy
Week Nine: Analysis of Epistles Text -
lecture notes | student outline
Review assignment
Theological and historical issues in epistle interpretation
Teaching epistles
Assignment: Complete inductive study of 2 Timothy 4:1—8, writing a detailed
teaching outline.
Week Ten: Hermeneutics and the Ministry of the Word -
lecture notes | student
outline
Review assignment
Developing a program of personal study and cell groups
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Copyright © 2000 Jim Leffel
