BEGE 1720 Spiritual Formation

Bible Interpretation Assignment

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Complete the following steps in bold type in the order they are given by supplying the requested information in regular type.
You may record your work on a digital version of these instructions or on separate paper.
Due date and time: Beginning of the class period on Thursday, February 28, whether or not you are present for that class
period. All deadlines are firm; no extensions will be granted.
Form: Computer generatedno handwritten work. Hard copyno digital submissions.
Style: Any style is acceptable with the following exceptions:
a. Place your full name and the appropriate page number in the top margin of every page
b. Staple together the contents of your entire assignment
c. Use one-inch margins and a 12 point font size

1. SELECT the Biblical book from which you wish to study a passage.
Write down the books title.
2. Survey the HISTORICAL CONTEXT of the book.
a. GENERAL historical context
Sources: [1] Study Bible introductions, [2] Bible survey books, [3] Commentary introductions.
(1) List the names and pages of the books that you read to complete this portion of the assignment.
(2) Write down any information you think will have a bearing on the interpretation of your passage.
b. SPECIFIC historical context
i. Read the book through in one sitting.
Indicate your fulfillment of this step by writing Yes or No.
ii. Read it again taking notes: Recipients, purpose, emphases, etc.;
Attempt a brief, annotated outline
Record your notes and outline.
3. Confirm the LIMITS OF THE PASSAGE.
a. Examples: Paragraph (epistle), episode (narrative), pericope (Gospel), stanza (psalm),
couplet (proverb), or vision (prophecy)
Write down the verses that you think comprise the limits of the passage you want to study.
Check your conclusion against those found in several examples of the following sources:
[1] Bible translations and [2] Outlines of the biblical book printed in commentaries
(1) List the names of the Bible translations and the names and pages of the books you read to
complete this portion of the assignment.
(2) Write down the results of your research.
(3) Write down the verses you have decided to study, that is, your final decision on the limits of
your passage. Briefly defend your decision.
4. Make a PROVISIONAL SUMMARY of your passage in one or two sentences by answering the
following questions:
a. WHAT is being said?
b. WHY is it being said here (i.e., at this point in the argument)?
Write out your provisional summary.
5. List INTERPRETATIVE DIFFICULTIES.
a. These difficulties usually will involve the meaning of words and the meaning of grammar.
(1) Write out difficulties in word meaning and grammar that are obvious to you at this point.
(2) Write out any other difficulties that have surfaced from your work to this point.
b. Read several translations to confirm your decisions and to find new difficulties.
Differences among translations often reflect interpretive difficulties.
(1) List the translations that you consulted to fulfill this part of the assignment.
(2) List the interpretive difficulties that resulted from your research.

BEGE 1720 Spiritual Formation

Bible Interpretation Assignment

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6. Investigate WORD MEANING. For each word written down in step 5, follow steps 6a, 6b, and 6c.
a. Find the transliterated Greek (New Testament) or Hebrew (Old Testament) equivalent to the
English word by using Strongs concordance or an English-Greek reverse interlinear.
NOTE: For help with this step, see the following document that is posted in the course folder:
Word Study Aids for English Speakers. The books mentioned in this document are shelved
in the reference section of the library.
Write down the English transliterations of the Greek or Hebrew words whose meaning you need to
investigate.
Note: An English transliteration is a Greek or Hebrew word written with English (i.e., Latin) letters
rather than with Greek or Hebrew letters. For example, the English transliteration of the Greek word
is logos (always italicize transliterations).

b. Look up the Greek or Hebrew word in a word study dictionary.

NOTE: For help with this step, see the following document that is posted in the course folder:
Word Study Aids for English Speakers. The books mentioned in this document are shelved
in the reference section of the library.
Write down the name of the books and page numbers you consulted in order to fulfill this portion
of the assignment.
c. Choose from the range of possible meanings, the one that best fits the context.
Write down your final choice for the definition of the word in question. Briefly defend your
decision.
7. Investigate GRAMMATICAL MEANING: Make a sentence flow diagram.
NOTE: For help with this step, see the following documents that are posted in the course folder:
(1) Bible Interpretation and Structural Analysis and (2) Comments on Structural Analysis.
Write out a sentence flow diagram according to the instructions on the posted reference sheet.
8. Consider effects of GENRE.
Examples: Narrative, poetry, wisdom, prophecy, Gospel, epistle, apocalypse.
Answer the following two questions on the basis of the conclusions in Ewert:
(1) In what genre is your passage found?
(2) How does your answer to 8(1) affect your interpretation of your passage?
9. Revise the provisional summary and CHECK it against the CONCLUSIONS OF OTHER
PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES.
Write down a revised provisional summary.
a. Personal: Friends, Pastors, area churches, churches outside your tradition
(1) List the people you consulted in order to fulfill this part of the assignment.
(2) Give the results of your research.
b. Publications: Bible encyclopedias, commentaries, and journal articles (ATLA database).
Criteria of good scholarship (e.g., in a commentary):
i. More than one interpretative option given
ii. Fair
1. Gives something positive about each option
2. Footnotes conclusions
(1) List the books and articles, including page numbers, you consulted in order to fulfill this part
of the assignment.
(2) Give the results of your research.
10. Make your FINAL interpretative SUMMARY of the passage
Write down your final interpretative summary of the passage.