Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest & Lutheran Seminary Program of the Southwest
B2210, Fall 2002
Course Syllabus
Title: Biblical Interpretation for Preaching
Instructors: Michael Floyd, and Ray Pickett
Schedule: Tuesday & Thursday 10:00-11:15 AM
Goals of this course
(1) To practice interpreting lectionary pericopes
from the gospels and the Old Testament
in relation to the document from which they come.
(2) To discover inductively how the basic tools
and methods of biblical exegesis can be
useful in moving from the world in front of the text, through the world of the
text,
into the world behind the text, and back
(3) To practice keeping a cross-cultural perspective
on the process of interpretation for
preaching
Format
The course will focus on the Gospel of Mark and on the exegesis of selected pericopes from this gospel and from narrative books of the Old Testament. This will model how to interpret such a selection of texts, as they are presented by the lectionary, for the purpose of preaching.
The course will be structured on the division of Mark into four sections. As we take up each section 1) an instructor will give an overview of the section and an introduction to basic methodologies of interpretation; 2) students will do exegesis of particular passages in Mark with the help of a study guide in preparation for class; 3) students will prepare an exegesis of another selected pericope from the same section of Mark; 4) students will also practice these methodologies on OT pericopies and write three exegetical reports on OT passages.
Study guides that may include additional reading and resources will be provided to help students appropriate the respective methods in their exegesis. The exercises on Mark will also require students to do some translation of the Greek text. Students will hand in their exegesis of selected NT and OT pericopes on 11/2, 11/9, 11/14, 11/30, 12/7, and 12/12. These are not formal exegesis papers, but rather reports or work that reflect the work done on the texts.
Expectations of students
1) Regular class attendance and participation
2) Timely preparation of assigned exercises
3) An evaluation of the course (form attached)
Evaluation
A satisfactory final grade requires a satisfactory or passing grade on eight of the twelve assigned exercises. Students may choose to hand in only eight, or to hand in more but only count the eight best exercises in determining the final grade. Of the four exercises on Old Testament texts, each student must do at least three.
Textbooks
Gonzalez, J. L., and C. G. Gonzalez. The Liberating Pulpit. Nashville: Abingdon, 1994. ISBN: 0687338441.
Hayes, J. H., and C. R. Holladay. Biblical Exegesis: A Beginner’s Handbook. Rev. ed. Atlanta: John Knox, 1987. ISBN: 0804200319.
Rhoads, D., J. Dewey and D. Michie. Mark as Story: An Introduction to the Narrative of a Gospel. 2nd ed. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1999. ISBN: 0800631609.