Hermeneutics Course  --  Written and published by Ronald W. Leigh
Copyright (c) 2001, Ronald W. Leigh

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SYLLABUS
June 21, 2001

Instructor: Ronald W. Leigh, Ph.D.

A few additional links are found in Chapter 16 of Direct Bible Discovery.

Huntington College catalog description: "A study of the science of biblical interpretation employing inductive Bible study techniques.  Emphasis is placed upon the adaptation of methods to various types of literary genre, the analysis of structural arrangement, word studies, and principles of practical application.  Students will do exegetical notebooks on selected passages."

General objective:  To understand the principles of biblical hermeneutics and apply them in the study of biblical books and topics.

Specific objectives:

1.  To learn the terminology common to the fields of hermeneutics and biblical research

2.  To understand the strengths and weaknesses of past approaches to biblical interpretation

3.  To understand the primacy of the direct approach in studying the Bible rather than being dependent on books and other sources about the Bible

4.  To appreciate the advantages of the inductive approach to the Bible and the disadvantages of the deductive approach

5.  To appreciate, as a cardinal rule, that context is indispensable in determining the meaning of a passage

6.  To value and adopt a literary hermeneutic, which interprets passages literally with proper place given to the figurative

7.  To understand the importance of historical and cultural settings of a biblical book

8.  To understand the unique aspects of various literary genres and their influence on interpretation

9.  To be able to make proper application of biblical principles to current issues

10.  To engage in the self directed study of a biblical book and topic applying appropriate principles and procedures

Required

1.  A good literary translation such as the New International Version (NIV)
2.  Carson, D. A.  Execetical Fallacies, 2nd ed.  Baker, 1996
3.  Leigh, Ronald W.  Direct Bible Discovery, 2nd ed.,  www.netcom.com/~rogh (click Direct Bible Discovery)
(4.?)  Fee, Gordon D. and Douglas Stuart.  How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth, 2nd ed.  Zondervan, 1993

Recommended

1. A complete Bible concordancesuch as The Zondervan NIV Exhaustive Concordance(Goodrick &Kohlenberger). If you have a computer, the following software packageis recommended in place of a printed concordance: The NIV Study Bible Complete Library. (Zondervan)
2. An interlinearNew Testament such as The New Greek-English Interlinear New Testament (with the NRSV)by Brown and Comfort (Tyndale House)

  I.  Hermeneutical concepts and principles - approx. 7 weeks

 II.  Study of a Bible Book - approx. 4 weeks

III.  Study of a Bible Topic - approx. 3 weeks

F.  Syllabus:  Requirements & grading

G.  Syllabus:  Assignments

H.  Syllabus:  Extra credit

• Recommended books related to this course, besides the textbook and supplementary source (see Annotated Bibliography below for details):

        Mickelsen, A. Berkeley, Interpreting the Bible
        Ramm, Bernard, Protestant Biblical Interpretation: A Textbook of Hermeneutics
        Tenney, Merrill C. Galatians: The Charter of Christian Liberty
        Traina, Robert A. Methodical Bible Study

• The academic place of hermeneutics
• Reflective notetaking
  
• Hermeneutics summary
  
• Glossary
• Annotated bibliography
• Links
• Don't forget the Library (220 - 229, in both the reference section and the general stacks), the LOGOS software at the Library, and the internet.

• Direct Bible Discovery
• Your Bible
• Immediate Context: Key to Interpretation
• Doctrinal Statement
• Gospel Tract