Principles of Hermeneutics
This unit offers an introduction to the Scriptures that will help you read, interpret and apply the Bible with due regard for context, genre and biblical theology.
Workload: one semester, 4 credit points
Status: elective
Prerequisites: none
When: Semester 2, 2012 by distance only
Lecturer: Andrew Reid
Aims:
- To introduce the general principles of the interpretation of biblical documents.
- To assist students to gain a basic appreciation of the various genres of literature in scripture and a how such genres should be interpreted.
- To impart an awareness of foundational considerations for the exposition of biblical texts.
- To develop skills of biblical interpretation that will form a basis for personal study of the scriptures, expository preaching, and group Bible study.
Outcomes:
Upon completion of this unit students will be able to:
- exegete a passage of Scripture in a manner which is sensitive to its original context;
- explain to someone else the way in which they would go about interpreting a passage in such a way to show its significance for a Christian audience;
- prepare to deliver a Bible study or preach a sermon that reflects sound exegetical principles and an awareness of biblical theology.
Set Texts
There are two standard works that we will be using.
Klein, William W., Craig L. Blomberg and Robert L. Hubbard. Introduction to Biblical Interpretation. Revised & expanded edition. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2004.
Osborne, Grant R. The Hermeneutical Spiral: A Comprehensive Introduction to Biblical Interpretation. Revised & expanded edition. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006.
The book by Osborne is more technical and slightly more comprehensive than that by Klein, Blomberg and Hubbard, and some students have found Osborne’s work a bit overwhelming as an introductory work.
If this is your first experience of studying hermeneutics, it may be helpful for you to work through a more basic book first. Contact the distance coordinator for such recommendations.
