Details for Biblical Interpretation and Application

Many people think that the way they understand the Bible is the way anyone would: its meaning is always unambiguous to us all, isn’t it? But in reality, we cannot avoid interpreting the bible as we read it, for the way you read the bible may not be the way I read it or even how your ancestors did. So how can we effectively read and interpret the Bible? This is the key question of this unit. To explore this question we will consider a whole range of interpretive issues, including the different genres of biblical literature and the process(es) by which come to apply the biblical message to our current context. This unit will therefore provide you with the necessary foundation from which you will be able to interpret and apply the message of the Bible more thoughtfully.

The unit Biblical Interpretation and Application is part of the subject area Biblical Studies and is offered as a part of the following Awards: Bachelor of Applied Theology (Korean) (Alphacrucis College (NSW Dept. of Education)), Bachelor of Contemporary Ministry (Alphacrucis College (NSW Dept. of Education)).

Unit Content

Curriculum Objective

This unit introduces students to basic principles of genre sensitive biblical interpretation, including the ability to use grammatical and lexical tools, based on an elementary understanding of biblical languages.  The unit also seeks to make contemporary application of the biblical text.

Subject Content

1. Introductory hermeneutical theory
2. Introducing biblical Hebrew and Greek
3. Parts of speech and language structure
4. Simple sentence diagramming
5. Using reference works
6. Word studies
7. Sample exegesis from an OT and an NT book
8. Contemporary application

This course may be offered in the following formats

Lectures, small-group work, computer-assisted analysis of Biblical texts

Please consult your course prospectus or enquire about how and when this course will be offered next at Alphacrucis College.

Assessment Methods

Major Essay (50%, 2500 words); Exegetical Essay (25%, 1250 words); Exam (25%, 1 hour)

Prescribed Text

Klein, W.W., Blomberg, C.L., & Hubbard Jr, R.L., Introduction to Biblical Interpretation (Revised Edition). Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2004.

Representative References

• Aland, K. and Aland, B. The Text of The New Testament: Revised and Enlarged. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1989.
• Brown, C. (ed.). The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology. 4 vols. Carlisle: Paternoster, 1986.
• Davidson, B. The Analytical Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1986.
• Fee, G. and Stuart, D. How to Read the Bible for all its Worth. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2003.
• Friberg, B. and Friberg, T. The Analytical Greek New Testament.Grand Rapids: Baker, 1981.
• Klein, W.W., Blomberg, G.L., Hubbard, R.L. Introduction To Biblical Interpretation: Revised and Expanded.  Nelson, 2004.
•  McKay, K.L. A New Syntax of the Verb in New Testament Greek: An Aspectual Approach. New York: Peter Lang, 1994.
• Mounce, W.D. Basics of Biblical Greek: Grammar. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1993.
• Owen, J.J. Analytical Key to the Old Testament.4 vols. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1989-1992.
• Seow, C.L. A Grammar for Biblical Hebrew: Revised Edition. Nashville: Abingdon, 1995.
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