Biblical Interpretation And Christian Sources In Context Training

Objectives:
• Define biblical interpretation and its importance in Christian faith.
• Identify the historical and cultural contexts of the Bible.
• Explain the role of the Holy Spirit in interpretation.
• Distinguish between exegesis and eisegesis.

Topics:
• What is biblical interpretation?
• The need for context: historical, cultural, literary.
• Overview of Christian sources: Scripture, tradition, reason, experience.
• Introduction to hermeneutical principles.
• The Wesleyan Quadrilateral as a framework.

Objectives:
• Describe the historical timeline of the Old Testament.
• Analyze key cultural practices of ancient Israel.
• Identify how cultural context affects interpretation.
• Apply historical context to selected Old Testament passages.

Topics:
• Overview of Old Testament history: Patriarchs, Exodus, Monarchy, Exile.
• Ancient Near Eastern culture and its influence.
• Covenants and their significance.
• Case study: Interpreting the Law in context.

Objectives:
• Outline the historical background of the New Testament.
• Understand first-century Jewish and Greco-Roman cultures.
• Recognize the impact of the Roman Empire on early Christianity.
• Apply historical context to New Testament passages.

Topics:
• Second Temple Judaism: sects, beliefs, practices.
• Greco-Roman world: philosophy, religion, social structures.
• The life and times of Jesus.
• Case study: Interpreting Paul's letters in their cultural setting.

Objectives:
• Identify major literary genres in the Bible.
• Explain the importance of literary context for interpretation.
• Analyze how genre affects meaning.
• Practice interpreting different genres.

Topics:
• Narrative, poetry, prophecy, apocalyptic, epistle, gospel.
• Features of Hebrew poetry: parallelism, imagery.
• Understanding apocalyptic symbolism.
• Genre-specific interpretive rules.

Objectives:
• Understand the original languages of the Bible (Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek).
• Compare major English translations and their philosophies.
• Identify common translation challenges.
• Use lexicons and concordances effectively.

Topics:
• Overview of biblical languages.
• Translation theories: formal equivalence vs. dynamic equivalence.
• Comparing translations: KJV, NIV, ESV, NLT.
• Word studies: tools and pitfalls.

Objectives:
• Define exegesis and its steps.
• Use exegetical tools: commentaries, Bible dictionaries, software.
• Perform a basic exegesis of a short passage.
• Evaluate the reliability of sources.

Topics:
• The exegetical process: observation, interpretation, application.
• Tools: Bible software, concordances, lexicons.
• Commentaries: how to use them critically.
• Step-by-step exegesis of Philippians 2:5-11.

Objectives:
• Describe historical-critical methods (source, form, redaction criticism).
• Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of these methods.
• Apply source criticism to the Pentateuch.
• Discuss the role of the author's intent.

Topics:
• Source criticism: JEDP hypothesis.
• Form criticism: oral traditions and genres.
• Redaction criticism: the editor's role.
• Canonical criticism: the final form of the text.

Objectives:
• Explain narrative criticism and its focus on plot, character, setting.
• Apply rhetorical criticism to Paul's letters.
• Understand reader-response criticism.
• Assess the value of literary approaches.

Topics:
• Narrative criticism: story analysis.
• Rhetorical criticism: persuasion techniques.
• Reader-response criticism: the role of the reader.
• Case study: The Parable of the Prodigal Son.

Objectives:
• Define theological interpretation and its goals.
• Understand the unity and diversity of the canon.
• Interpret Scripture in light of the whole canon.
• Apply Christocentric interpretation.

Topics:
• Theological interpretation: reading Scripture as God's word.
• Canonical context: Old and New Testament connections.
• Typology and prophecy fulfillment.
• Christocentric hermeneutics: Luke 24:27.

Objectives:
• Explain the place of church tradition in interpretation.
• Summarize major creeds and confessions.
• Evaluate how tradition informs interpretation.
• Discuss the relationship between Scripture and tradition.

Topics:
• The early church fathers and their interpretive methods.
• The Apostles' Creed, Nicene Creed, Athanasian Creed.
• Reformation principles: sola scriptura.
• Tradition as a source of interpretation.

Objectives:
• Understand the role of reason in interpreting Scripture.
• Recognize how personal and communal experience shapes interpretation.
• Apply contextualization principles for different cultures.
• Discuss the Wesleyan Quadrilateral in practice.

Topics:
• Reason: logic, philosophy, and science in interpretation.
• Experience: personal testimony, charismatic gifts.
• Contextualization: African, Asian, Western perspectives.
• Case study: Interpreting 1 Timothy 2:11-15 in different contexts.

Objectives:
• Develop exegetical sermons and lessons.
• Move from text to application responsibly.
• Use interpretive principles in lesson preparation.
• Avoid common pitfalls in preaching.

Topics:
• From exegesis to sermon: the bridge.
• Application: principles vs. specifics.
• Teaching methods for different audiences.
• Common errors: proof-texting, allegorizing.

Objectives:
• Identify difficult passages (violence, sexuality, suffering).
• Apply interpretive principles to controversial texts.
• Discuss hermeneutical humility.
• Develop a framework for resolving interpretive conflicts.

Topics:
• Violence in the Old Testament: herem.
• Passages on gender roles and sexuality.
• The problem of suffering and lament.
• Hermeneutical dialogue and disagreement.

Objectives:
• Explain the role of the Holy Spirit in illumination.
• Distinguish between subjective and objective interpretation.
• Practice devotional reading and lectio divina.
• Integrate spiritual disciplines with study.

Topics:
• The Spirit's role: inspiration and illumination.
• Balancing the Spirit and the Word.
• Lectio divina: reading, meditation, prayer, contemplation.
• Spiritual interpretation: allegory and the fourfold sense.

Objectives:
• Synthesize all interpretive methods into a coherent approach.
• Apply interpretation to contemporary issues.
• Demonstrate competency through a final project.
• Reflect on personal growth and future learning.

Topics:
• Integrating methods: a holistic hermeneutic.
• Applying Scripture to modern ethical issues.
• Final project: exegesis paper or lesson plan.
• Course review and evaluation.