Sermon Tone Analysis

*INTRODUCTION TO BIBLICAL HERMENEUTICS (BSHM5310)*

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Dr. Walter E. Brown (WBrown@nobts.edu)

Dr. Craig Price (CPrice@nobts.edu)

January 2006

 

*I.

SEMINARY MISSION STATEMENT:*

 

The mission of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is to equip leaders to fulfill the Great Commission and the Great Commandment through the local church and its ministries.

*II.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:*

 

This course is a study of the principles of biblical interpretation, an introduction to the major resources available for biblical interpretation, and an exegetical study of selected passages from the various types of biblical literature.

The major focus of the course is practical—the course goal is that the students develop sound methods of exegesis and application of biblical texts.

*III.

COURSE OUTCOMES:*

/ /

/Knowledge/

 

Students who complete this course successfully should:

!

Understand the significance of hermeneutics

!

Know the basic methods of biblical interpretation that have been practiced throughout history

!

Know basic principles of grammatical-historical interpretation that lead interpreters to discover the meaning intended by the biblical author

!

Know the major genres of scripture and the hermeneutical principles that should be applied to each genre

!

Know the important tools that may be useful in the study of the biblical text

!

Know principles that guide modern preachers and teachers in applying biblical truths to our contemporary context

/ /

\\ /Attitudes/

Students who complete this course successfully should:

!

Appreciate the complexities of the exegetical task

!

Recognize the importance of sound exegesis

!

Be more confident in interpreting biblical texts

/ /

/Skills/

Students who complete this course successfully should:

!

Research cultural and historical background that may shed light upon the biblical text

!

Prepare word studies that lead the interpreter to understand better the biblical author’s usage of special vocabulary significant to the exegetical task

!

Determine how the literary context affects the meaning of a text

!

Derive timeless truths from the biblical text and show how these should affect the beliefs and behavior of contemporary Christians

* *

\\ *IV.

COURSE REQUIRED TEXTS:*

!

Bible in modern translation: RSV, NRSV, NASV, NIV, GNB, NLT, HCSB, etc.

! Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart, /How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth, /3 ed.

rd Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002 (= FS)

!

William Klein, Craig Blomberg, and Robert Hubbard, Jr., /Introduction to Biblical Interpretation, Revised and Updated.

/Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2004 (= KBH)

!

Walter E. Brown, “Noah: Sot or Saint?

Genesis 9:20–27,” /The Way of Wisdom: Essays in Honor of Bruce K. Waltke/, J. I. Packer and Sven K. Soderlund (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2000), pp.

36–60.

* *

*V.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:*

* *

*Pre-Workshop assignments due at beginning of the first session of Workshop week*

 

1.

*Reading Reports (10%).

*Students will report their reading of the required texts in two ways:

a) students will sign a report form and indicate what percentage of the reading of the texts they have completed, and

b) students will submit four (4) 1 page summaries of the guidelines for interpretation of specific genres presented in selected chapters of the texts (from FS, one summary on an OT genre and one summary on a NT genre; from KBH, one summary on an OT genre and one summary on a NT genre, resulting in summaries of four different genres).

2.

*History of Interpretation Report (10%)*

 

Read the assigned sections in the text, outline the first segment according to the following major headings and provide for each section:

1)                  a minimum of a quarter page summary containing a reflection of the major ideas expressed, as well as

2)                  at least one question raised by the reading:

Jewish Interpretation

The Apostolic Period

The Patristic Period

The Middle Ages

The Reformation

The Post-Reformation Period

The Modern Period

 

Outline the second segment, divided into two major parts, according to the following subheadings under the two major headings and provide for each subsection:

1)                  a minimum of a quarter page summary containing a reflection of the major ideas expressed, as well as

2)                  at least one question raised by the reading:

Literary Criticism

Narrative Criticism

Poststructuralism

Social-Scientific Approaches

Classifications

Advocacy Groups

 

The content of these reports will serve as a partial basis for class discussion on the subject.

* *

*Workshop assignments due during workshop week*

 

3.

*Background Study (15%).

*Compile a background study about the historical and cultural context for an assigned passage.

Students will be given a guide for completing this assignment.

Due /beginning of class/, Thursday, January 19.

Late penalty is five points per day, beginning at the class hour of the due date.

 

4.

*Word Study (15%).

*Complete a word study on a word indicated from an assigned text.

Students will be given a guide for completing this assignment.

Due /beginning of class/, Friday, January 20.

Late penalty is five points per day, beginning at the class hour of the due date.

* *

\\ *Post-Workshop assignments due after Workshop week*

5. *Project (50%).

*The major project in the course is an exegetical paper, which is to be produced in two stages (specific instructions found at the end of the syllabus).

*(1) First Stage (30%)*

The /first stage /is a thorough exegetical study that is to follow the attached guidelines, 6-10 text pages in length.

At the end of this stage, the student should have gathered all the essential knowledge from the text and be ready to begin the task of constructing a sermon or a teaching lesson.

Due in the professor email box, Tuesday, February 7. Late penalty is five points per day.

*(2) Second Stage (20%)*

The /second stage /is a polished, written paper, 3-4 text pages in length, presenting the information gathered in the first stage in ready-to-deliver form.

The purpose of this stage is to synthesize the data you have gathered in the first two stages into a well-written presentation.

The paper may take either of two forms: (1) a sermon manuscript, i.e., written out word-for-word, ready to deliver orally, or (2) a teaching and plan, fully developed.

In either case, this stage should have an interesting introduction, developed body, and a conclusion that ties the paper together.

Thus, this stage contrasts in presentation with the first stage, in that the first stage is merely a step-by-step distillation of your findings, whereas the second stage is a finished and polished work.

Be sure to consider your audience in choosing the format of the paper and in shaping the material for presentation.

More detailed instructions for this stage are also to be found attached.

Due in the professor email box, Tuesday, February 14.

Late penalty is five points per day.

* *

*VI.

COURSE GRADING*