OT303 Subject Outline

Note on Pre-requisites:

All students doing B.Min., B.Th. and M.Div must have completed the following pre-requisites for this subject:

NT Survey A & B
either the first semester of NT Greek or Greek Survey

The data and methods taught in this class are required by BCV to be used by students in all subsequent NT and OT classes. Successful completion of this class is a prerequisite for further progress in NT and OT in degrees offered by BCV.

Aims / Objectives

The aim of this subject is to introduce candidates to the methods, tools, and hermeneutical principles necessary for:

exegesis of the biblical text
the evaluation of the exegesis of others
the preparation of sermons and bible studies

Lesson Plan

Introduction to subject
The Hermeneutical / Exegetical task
- Textual Criticism
- Textual Criticism in Action
- Historical-Cultural Context
- Literary Context
Literary Structure
- Genre (Literary Form) - Old Testament
- Genre (Literary Form) - New Testament
- 8 Purpose
Secondary Literature
- Word Studies
- Grammatical Data & Structure
- Biblical Context
- Theology and Meaning
- Application

Assessment - Overview

There are three separate assessment tasks for this subject:

1. Weekly assignments on each topic covered: Total Mark 25%
2. Minor Exegetical Essay on a set NT passage: Total Mark 25%
3. Major Essay on the passage chosen for the minor essay: Total Mark 50%

Texts and Bibliography

Set Texts:

There are two set texts for this subject. They provide the information almost in its entirety for Lessons 2,3,6 and 7. Other lessons will draw on various material, with essential resources provided for you via hyperlink. The texts you must purchase are:

Fee, G. D. and Stuart, D.,How to Read the Bible for all its Worth (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1982).

Greenlee, J. H., Introduction to New Testament Textual Criticism (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1964).

These books can be ordered from the BCV Bookshop.