BEX 500-99 Introduction to Biblical Interpretation
Cincinnati Christian University
Spring 2013
Sara Fudge, PhD
Office 513.244.8445
sara.fudge@ccuniversity.edu
IT helpdesk@ccuniversity.edu
Course Description
This class is a survey of issues and methods of biblical exegesis with a view to the needs of practical
ministry. This course prepares students to relate Scripture appropriately in sermons, lessons, small group
studies and counseling.
Rationale
The Bible is the foundational document of the Christian faith. Skills in biblical interpretation,
understanding basic theories and practices are essential for practical ministry. This is a foundational
course that prepares the student for advanced studies in Bible and ministry.
Course Outcomes
1. Describe the various fields of biblical study related to hermeneutics.
2. Understand where the Bible came from and the function of the various English versions we have
today.
3. Identify and explain different literary forms and genres found in the Bible.
4. Identify and explain the different figures of speech and literary devices used throughout Scripture.
5. Be able to analyze passages of Scripture using the various fields of biblical study covered in class.
6. Be able to apply these hermeneutic tools to the study of specific biblical passages with sound critical
thinking in teaching or counseling.
Required Texts
Fee, Gordon D. and Douglas Stuart. How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth. 3rd ed. , Grand Rapids:
Zondervan, 2003.
*Fee, Gordon. New Testament Exegesis: A Handbook for Students and Pastors. 4rd ed., Louisville:
Westminster John Knox, 2009.
Sheeley, Steven M. & Robert N. Nash, Jr. The Bible in English Translation: An Essential Guide. Nashville:
Abingdon Press, 1997.
*Stuart, Douglas. Old Testament Exegesis: A Primer for Students and Pastors. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: The
Westminster Press, 2002.
Virkler, Henry and Karelynne Gerber Ayayo A. Hermeneutics: Principles and Processes of Biblical
Interpretation. 2nd ed., Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007.
(*You are required to read one or the other of these two books.)
“Objectives” boxes listed each week on the Moodle site and in the agenda below
Each week you will find a list of objectives for the class. This list lets you know what is most significant in
our studies that week. You do not need to formally respond to this list each week, but your midterm exam
will be taken from these ideas. Your weekly assignments are listed below the objectives ("Assignments
due") and need to be turned in each week. You may do this by uploading your work into Moodle at the
assignment icon displayed with the assignments.
Major Learning Experiences and Course Requirements
1.
Read Virkler. Write a two-page outline of each chapter (main point and sub points). These will be
due the Friday of the week assigned (see agenda). Times New Roman, single-spaced. These
outlines serve as reference/study guides for you. They take the place of classroom lectures, so
define the terms and ideas so you understand what they are at a glance.
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Read Fee & Stuart. This text will be followed closely in class. Note on your final exam the percent
of this book you read.
Complete the assigned exercises listed in the agenda (the same should be listed on the weekly
Moodle site). Write a 350-450 word solution to the scenario found in the exercise using the
principles covered in your readings. Focus on the hermeneutic skill covered that week. These will
also guide our forum discussions. Just a note to those with counseling experience: please focus on
the biblical hermeneutical principle rather than your “counseling” principles since this is a bible
class. The exercises should be single-spaced, Times New Roman font. Turn these exercises in each
week on Friday along with the outline of Virkler. These can be uploaded as one document. I have
included an example of one of these exercises to help you see what is expected from this
assignment, see below just before the agenda.
Forum Discussions: There are three forums for class discussion. The first is used as an
opportunity for you to introduce yourself to the class. The next two will be discussions drawn
from the exercises in Virkler. Each student is asked to post a 200-250 word response to the
assigned exercise. In addition to your initial post to the discussion forums, you are asked to
contribute two follow up responses to other student’s postings. All postings need to be:
a. Respectful and gracious to other students.
b. Written in standard English form.
c. Show an interaction with the materials we are studying and use of hermeneutical tools.
Create a handout entitled “Which Bible to Read When” which you could give to people in your
church/group/etc. In this handout, describe the strengths and weaknesses of the major English
translations (NASB, NIV, NLT, KJV, The Message). Include an occasion when to use each version
(ex., group study, in-depth study, new Christian, personal, etc.). Use Sheeley & Nash’s text as your
resource for this project.
Midterm Exam: This exam will cover the chapters in Fee & Stuart and Virkler covered in class to
this point. Questions will come from the objective boxes found in the agenda below. The student
can access the exam on Moodle. See agenda for due date.
Read Old Testament Exegesis by Douglas Stuart or New Testament Exegesis by Gordon Fee. Use
this book in writing your final exam (exegetical paper, see next point #8). You will also need to
report that you read the complete book.
Final exegetical paper. Choose one of the exercises from Virkler you’ve already done. Develop that
exercise to include all the skills (as many as are applicable) you’ve learned in class. One example
may be exercise #13 on page 94. In this exercise we only covered the Historical-cultural analysis.
For the final exam, you would use this exercise and develop its interpretation to include a fuller
discussion of what you already wrote as well as a development of all the hermeneutic skills (that
are applicable) covered in class. You will want to choose an exercise that addresses a passage of
Scripture that will allow you to use several of the hermeneutic principles. Outline your paper to
follow the “Six Steps of Hermeneutics.” This is a 2100-2400 word exegetical paper. You will need
to include a bibliography and footnotes using resources such as our textbooks, commentaries,
lexicons, dictionaries and any other resources you deem useful to your research. Please submit
your paper single spaced (for some dumb reason I prefer to read single spaced papers). The exam
is due Monday, May 6th.
Course Procedures
A week in this course ends on Friday. All work specified to be completed each week must be completed on
the course website no later than 11:50 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Friday, unless
otherwise specified. Assignments turned in after 11:50 p.m. on Friday are late. It is at the discretion of
the instructor to accept late work. Generally, late work is not accepted.
Please contact me before the assignment is due if you have an extenuating circumstance that prevents you
from completing an assignment on time.
The primary form of communication is through Moodle. It is your responsibility to check this website
regularly to keep up with course assignments, announcements, etc. If you have specific questions please
contact me through email (see top of syllabus). If you are having difficulty contacting me through email,
do not hesitate to call the number that is at the top of the syllabus.
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I usually check email Monday – Friday before 4:00. I will normally respond to your email inquiries within
48 hours and during those times. When you email me, please use standard conventions of spelling,
grammar, capitalization, and punctuation as you would in a business and/or academic setting. No slang or
abbreviations, please.
Due to the on-line nature of this course, it is imperative that you have access to Moodle each week.
Therefore, you should have a primary computer set up for Moodle use on a regular basis as well as a backup plan in case the primary computer becomes unavailable.
Students who require academic accommodations due to any documented physical, psychological, or
learning disability should request assistance from their local Academic Support Director within the first
two weeks of the course. Students receiving news that they are entitled to accommodations bear the
responsibility to notify the instructor and provide the appropriate documentation as soon as possible so
that reasonable accommodations may be made.
As Christians, students are expected to be honest in all they do. Dishonesty, including plagiarism or
cheating on exams or assignments, will result in a zero for that particular assignment and other possible
actions. Note: The quizzes, exams, and other assignments for this course are open-note and
open-book, not open-friend, unless specifically stated otherwise. Do not share quiz or exam
answers. Written assignments should be each student’s individual work.
Technical Support
Should you experience any technical problems, please consult IT at helpdesk@ccuniversity.edu during
regular school hours. Your professor is totally unqualified, disinterested and unequipped to help you
here!
Course Evaluation
Reading of Virkler, outlines, exercises
Reading of Fee & Stuart
“Which Bible to Read When” outline
Midterm Exam
Final Exam
35%
10%
10%
20%
25%
Example: Virkler Exercise #12
A Christian man lost his job due to company downsizing. He and his wife interpreted Romans 8:28 (“All
things work together for the good.” NRSV) to mean that he lost his job so that God might give him a
better-paying one. Consequently he turned down several lower-or equal-paying job opportunities and
remained on unemployment for over two years before returning to work. Do you agree with his way of
interpreting this verse? Why, or why not?
Hermeneutical principle violated: contextual analysis to find out the author’s (Paul’s) definition of “good.”
The man in this scenario interpreted “good” to mean something along the lines of pleasure, physical
benefit, or monetary advancement. We know from experience that this is not always the way things
happen for Christians.
In a larger context, Paul’s letter to the Romans was to a largely Gentile community. This letter includes
the most extensive outline of Paul’s theology and the need for unity in the church at Rome (“Letter to the
Romans,” Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, p. 1411).
This verse falls within a passage that is about being filled with the Spirit, walking in the Spirit (not in the
flesh), and the groanings of creation waiting “for our adoption as sons.” The immediate context of this
passage is the Spirit who intercedes for the saints that they may be: conformed to the image of His
Son…justified,…glorified. It is about hope. These are the “all things” that God promises to His saints.
Nothing can keep us from God’s love. Verse 8:28 set in this context is not about monetary gain or
advancement but about conforming to the image of Jesus.
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Reading this verse in a couple of translations may be helpful, but they show only slight difference. I would
not place too heavy of a difference between them. The NAS and KJV seems to imply that God
causes/makes everything happen as they do. The NIV seems to imply that God works in the things that
happen.
NAS Romans
8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love
God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
NIV Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have
been called according to his purpose.
This verse teaches that not all things work together for good by themselves (for we know of situations that
cause people to become bitter, etc.), but that God is lovingly involved in all the situations of our lives,
helping us to reap good even from the tragedies and unfair situations that come our way.
The man in our scenario made two mistakes: 1) he took the verse out of context to mean what he saw as
good rather than what Paul was defining as good, 2) he believed that God would change his circumstances
to reflect this “good” fortune for him rather than using the circumstance he was in to make him more like
Jesus.
Notice the use of the steps covered in Fee/Stuart and Virkler.
 The use of more than one translation
 Placing the verse within the context of the passage
 Placing the verse within the context of the book
 Noting who the verse addresses
 Noting specific words that can be misunderstood in its context
 Use of a Bible Dictionary to help understand the backgrounds of the book
As you move through Fee/Stuart and Virkler you will include other hermeneutical principles and tools
that may apply to your passage and exercise scenario.
Disclaimer
This syllabus is intended to suggest the general nature and direction of this course. Details may be
changed and adjustments may be made at the discretion of the instructor.
Bibliography: Recommended Texts
Fee, Gordon D. and Douglas Stuart. How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth. 3rd ed. , Grand Rapids:
Zondervan, 2003.
Fee, Gordon. New Testament Exegesis: A Handbook for Students and Pastors. 4rd ed., Louisville:
Westminster John Knox, 2009.
Goldingay, John. Models for Interpretation of Scripture. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995.
Green, Joel and Michael Pasquarello III. Eds. Narrative Reading , Narrative Preaching. Grand Rapids:
Baker, 2003.
Kostenberger, Andreas J., Richard D. Patterson. Invitation to Biblical Interpretation: Exploring the
Hermeneutical Triad of History, Literature, and Theology. Kregel, 2011.
Osborn, Grant R. The Hermeneutical Spiral. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1991.
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Sheeley, Steven M. & Robert N. Nash, Jr. The Bible in English Translation : An Essential Guide.
Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1997.
Stuart, Douglas. Old Testament Exegesis: A Primer for Students and Pastors. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: The
Westminster Press, 2002.
Virkler, Henry and Karelynne Gerber Ayayo A. Hermeneutics: Principles and Processes of Biblical
Interpretation. 2nd ed., Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007.
Wagner, Paul D. The Journey from Tests to Translations: The Origin and Development of the Bible.
Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 1999.
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Agenda
Note: This syllabus and the Moodle site should reflect the same assignments, but if there is
a discrepancy, follow Moodle. The Moodle site may be updated throughout the semester as
needed to better meet the student’s needs.
Week One: January 18-25
As stated in the syllabus, the “Objective” boxes are a guide to what is most significant for that week’s
study. You do not need to answer anything in these boxes, but the midterm exam will be drawn from
them. Your weekly assignments are listed under “Assignments due”.
Objectives: Be able to..
 Define the terms: hermeneutics, exegesis and eisegesis
 Identify the exegetical principles found in the following periods: Rabbinical, New
Testament, Patristic, Medieval, Reformation, Post-Reformation, Modern, MidTwentieth Century to today.
 List the principles of interpretation
This week will introduce you to “hermeneutics.” You should get an overview of our study
and a little of its history. You should be able to list the principles of hermeneutics that will
guide our study the rest of the semester.
Assignments Due Jan.-25
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Read and outline Virkler chapters 1, 2
Read Fee & Stuart chapter 1 (you do not need to outline Fee & Stuart).
Forum #1: Introduce yourself to fellow classmates
As you read, consider the exercises in Virkler and how you would respond.
Week Two: January 26-February 1
Objectives: Be able to..
 understand the development of the English Bible and the uses of the different
translations
 understand how the Canon was developed
 understand the use of language in translation
This week sets the foundation for understanding where we got our Bible and how God
used language to communicate Himself to us. We will consider some elements of speech
to be aware of when we speak and when we listen.
Assignments Due Feb. 1
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Read Fee & Stuart chp 2.
Create a "handout" entitled "Which Bible Translation to Read When" using Sheeley and Nash.
See syllabus. Some students go all out on this and create a tool that’s very useful in teaching.
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Week Three: February 2-8
Objectives: Be able to..
 Describe a 6-step model used to interpret any biblical text. Virkler, 80
 List the steps for Historical analysis
This week we begin to look at the specific steps used in good exegesis. We will
begin with Historical analysis.
Assignments Due Feb. 8

Read and outline Virkler 3; Read Fee & Stuart 3.
Week 4 : February 9-15
Objectives:
 Continue to look at Historical analysis
 Apply our hermeneutical skills to 1 Corinthians
Assignments Due Feb. 15

Fee & Stuart 4.
Week Five: February 16-22
Objectives: Be able to..
 Define and describe the 7 steps for Lexical-syntactical analysis, Virkler p. 99
 describe the use of several lexical tools
 List 5 methods for determining the author's use of a given word that has several
meanings
This week we add Lexical-syntactical analysis to our understanding of
hermeneutics. We will look at the meaning of words and how their position in a
sentence may affect their translation. For this step of hermeneutics you will need to
understand how to use lexicons, commentaries, concordances and other bible helps.
Assignments Due Feb. 22
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Read and outline Virkler chp 4.
Forum discussion #2. Discuss the scenario found in exercise #33.
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Week 6: February 23 - March 1
Objectives:
 Understand the 5 steps for Theological Analysis, Virkler p. 142
 Have an understanding of how the Mosaic law is seen through the New Testament
We now include Theological Analysis to our list of hermeneutical skills. This challenges us
to see Scripture as a whole and the themes that tie it all together. Another area to consider
is how we are to view the Mosaic Law. How relevant is it for today and how can we know
how to use it?
Assignments Due March 1
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Read and outline Virkler chp 5; Read Fee & Stuart 9.
Complete exercise #37.
Spring Break March 4-8: Enjoy!
Week 7: March 9-15
Objectives: Be able to..
 Describe the characteristics of Hebrew Narrative
 apply the steps of exegesis to a narrative passage
We will be looking at different genres of Scripture. This week we'll consider the
narrative passage and how its unique character should be translated.
Assignments Due March 15

Read Fee & Stuart 5.
Week 8: March 16-22
Objectives: Be able to..
 apply the steps of exegesis to the book of Acts
This week we look at a New Testament narrative and apply our hermeneutical principles
to it.
Assignments Due March 22
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Read Fee & Stuart chp 6
Complete exercises # 19 & 96
Week 9: March 23-29
Exam, posted in Moodle Week 9: Due March 29
Next week we will begin looking at other literary forms.
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Week 10: March 30 – April 5
Objectives: Be able to..
 Define various literary forms noted in our study
 Describe the interpretive principles necessary to determine the author's intended
meaning when using any of these literary devices
 apply these principles to exegesis of poetry and wisdom literature
This week we look at the literary forms that are used in writing poetry and wisdom
literature. The interpreter of Scripture needs to understand the use of special literary
forms and how the author intended them to be translated in Scripture.
Assignments due April 5

Read & outline Virkler chp 6; Read Fee & Stuart 11.
Week 11: April 6-12
Objectives:
This week we continue our look at special literary forms. We will focus our study on
wisdom literature.
Assignments due April 12
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
Read Fee & Stuart 12
Using your hermeneutical skills, explain whether Psalm 22 can be interpreted as a Messianic
passage, 600-800 words.
Week 12: April 13-19
Objectives: Be able to..
 Understand the use of parables, metaphors, similes and allegories in the Gospels
This week we move to the gospels. Jesus taught using parables and other story devices.
These devices need to be considered when interpreting Scripture.
Assignments due April 19

Read Fee & Stuart chp 7 & 8.
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Week 13: April 20-26
Objectives: Be able to..
 Understand the genre of the prophets and apocalyptic literature.
 apply exegetical analysis to these genres.
These last two weeks we will look at our final genre of literature in Scripture, prophetic
and apocalyptic. These can be a bit more challenging since they deal with symbols and
images.
Assignments due April 26
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Read and outline Virkler chp 7; Fee & Stuart chp 10.
Forum discussion #3. Discuss the scenario found in exercise #68.
Week 14: April 27 – May 3
Our last week we will look at Apocalyptic literature and how this particular genre should be translated
 Continue from last week.
Assignments due May 3

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Read and outline Virkler chp 8; Read Fee & Stuart 13.
Complete exercise #66.
Final Exam Due May 13
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