BSG 5501-CL / Engaging Texts and Contexts ASHLAND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY August 28 December 11, 2017 Mondays, 6:00 9:00 p.m., Cleveland David Sloan, PhD david@davidbsloan.com (614-678-2032) I. Course Description This course introduces students to a three-fold framework for biblical interpretation involving the investigation of the world in front of the text (between the text s composition and us as readers), the world within the text (the close reading of the text itself), and the world behind the text (the environment and situation that contributes to the occasion and shaping of the text, and therefore its contextual interpretation). The applicability of this model also to the literature and contexts of other curricular areas will also be demonstrated. This course serves as a prerequisite for all NTS and OTS courses with the exception of language courses, such as Hebrew and Greek. It I highly recommended that students take this course prior to other all courses in Biblical Studies, New Testament or Old Testament, including languages. II. Student Learning Outcomes As a result of this course, students will be able to: 1a. Articulate their own personal social context and what that brings to the text in terms of social location, theological commitments, and community of reading, and how these factors shape their interpretations of a text. 1b. Engage with the text s language, genre, literary forms, and narrative and/or argumentative development. 1c. Apply evidence about the historical and socio-cultural context pertinent to understanding the text. 1d. Explain how the text came to be from original composition to translation and the import of this narrative for interpretation. 2.-6. Not assessed in this course. III. Course Requirements A. Required Textbooks Duvall, J. Scott, and J. Daniel Hays. Grasping God s Word: A Hands-On Approach to Reading, Interpreting, and Applying the Bible. Third edition. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012. ISBN: 978-0-310-49257-3. Also available in Logos Bible software if you prefer an fully tagged and searchable electronic copy: https://www.logos.com/product/48723/grasping-gods-word-a-hands-on-approach-toreading-interpreting-and-applying-the-bible-3rd-ed. Wright, N. T. Scripture and the Authority of God: How to Read the Bible Today. New York: HarperCollins, 2013. ISBN 978-0-06-221264-1. Note: The Logos Bible Software version is of the 2005 British edition, which does not include the last two chapters. This book must be purchased as a hard copy. B. Recommended Bible Software Logos 7 Basic. Available for free at https://www.logos.com/product/136022/basic. BSG 5501-CL Syllabus Fall 2017 Page 1 of 5
C. Attendance According to the Student Handbook, attendance at all class sessions is expected, unless the professor has been notified in advance and has approved the absence. Students should be on time and should stay through the duration of all classes. Any student missing more than six class hours (2 weeks) will be required to audit or withdraw from the class. A student who is absent is responsible to learn from a classmate what was covered in the missed lecture, including handouts and assignment explanations. D. Assignments/Assessment of Student Learning 1. Engagement in Discussions (20%) Assigned readings are to be completed before the class they are listed for. Students must demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the assigned reading as they actively engage in class discussions. Students who appear unacquainted with the reading will receive a low engagement grade. 2. Weekly Assignments (30%) Assignments will be given each week. Not all assignments will be collected, but those that are collected will count toward the student s grade in the class. 3. Term Project (50%) Students will work on one major project throughout the semester, which will include the following steps: i. Notify the professor by the end of class on September 18 what passage of Scripture you plan to analyze in your project. ii. Submit a Historical-Cultural Analysis of the passage on Blackboard by 11:59 pm on Friday, October 6 (10%). iii. Submit a Literary Analysis of the passage on Blackboard by 5 pm on Monday, October 23 (10%). iv. Lead the class in an Exegetical Discussion of your passage on the appropriate week in the Course Schedule (15%). v. Submit an 8-to-12-page Exegetical Paper by 11:59 pm on Wednesday, December 13 (15%). E. Calculation of Grade and Connection of Learning Outcomes Assignments Learning Outcomes Percent of Final Grade Engagement in Discussions 1a, b, c, d 20 Weekly Assignments 1a, b, c, d 30 Historical-Cultural Analysis 1c 10 Literary Analysis 1b 10 Exegetical Discussion 1b, c, d 15 Exegesis Paper 1b, c, d 15 BSG 5501-CL Syllabus Fall 2017 Page 2 of 5
IV. Course Schedule This schedule may be modified as the course progresses. # Date Lecture Title Readings to be completed before class 1 Aug 28 From Inspiration to Interpretation GGW*, pp. 21-49 Sept 4 NO CLASS: Labor Day 2 Sept 11 The World Within the Text: Sentences and Paragraphs GGW, pp. 51-90 3 Sept 18 The World Within the Text: Discourses GGW, pp. 91-112 SAG*, pp. 1-32 4 Sept 25 The World Behind the Text: The Historical-Cultural Context GGW, pp. 113-136 SAG, pp. 33-59 5 Oct 2 The World in Front of the Text: What Do We Bring to the Text GGW, pp. 137-147 SAG, pp. 61-114 Historical-Cultural Analysis due Friday 10/6 6 Oct 9 Reading the Text GGW, pp. 149-187 SAG, pp. 115-142 7 Oct 16 A Theology of Scripture GGW, pp. 189-233 8 Oct 23 From Interpretation to Application Literary Analysis due by 5 pm SAG, pp. 143-196 GGW, pp. 235-247 Read ahead the appropriate chapter for your paper 9 Oct 30 New Testament Letters GGW, pp. 249-268 10 Nov 6 Gospels GGW, pp. 269-290 11 Nov 13 Acts and Revelation GGW, pp. 291-330 12 Nov 20** Old Testament Narrative** GGW, pp. 331-354 13 Nov 27 Old Testament Law GGW, pp. 355-372 14 Dec 4 Hebrew Poetry and Wisdom GGW, pp. 373-396 GGW, pp. 421-442 15 Dec 11 Old Testament Prophecy Exegetical Paper due Wednesday 12/13 GGW, pp. 397-419 * GGW = Duvall and Hays, Grasping God s Word SAG = Wright, Scripture and the Authority of God ** Note: Instructor Sloan will be at a biblical studies conference on November 20 and will pre-record the lecture. Students will be expected to listen to the full lecture online and to participate in an online discussion of the material sometime between Tuesday, November 14, and Wednesday, November 22. Students interactions in this discussion will count toward their Engagement in Discussions grade. BSG 5501-CL Syllabus Fall 2017 Page 3 of 5
V. Recommendations for Lifelong Learning 1. Make it your practice to employ techniques learned in this course when preparing sermons or lectures. 2. Enroll in an advanced hermeneutics course. 3. Enroll in an advanced Bible book course. 4. Design a lay-level course on Bible study techniques, and teach it to a group in your congregation or community. VI. Seminary Guidelines A. ATS Academic Integrity Policy Ashland Theological Seminary expects each student to uphold the Seminary s core value of academic excellence by contributing to an environment that is both challenging and supportive. In such an environment a student will neither seek nor offer improper assistance. All students have an obligation to be forthright in their academic endeavors and to respect ethical standards. The work that one submits for academic evaluation must be one s own, unless an instructor expressly permits certain types of collaboration. Academic integrity requires that each student will use one s own capabilities to achieve one s fullest potential and will neither offer nor accept aid that is not in keeping with regularly accepted standards of academic integrity. Failure to conform to this conduct shall constitute academic dishonesty. The full Academic Integrity Policy statement may be found in the Student Handbook. B. Seminary Writing Consultation Service The Seminary Writing Consultation Service can help you brainstorm, draft, and revise your writing assignments in your graduate Seminary classes. Masters-qualified Consultants can advise you online or in person. E-mail your request for assistance to swc_group@ashland.edu. Include the following information: Your name, the course # & professor s name, a brief description of the assignment, and your timeline. For more information, visit: http://seminary.ashland.edu/services/student-services/seminary-writing-consultation-services C. Students with Disabilities It is Ashland University s goal that learning experiences be as accessible as possible. If you anticipate or experience physical or academic barriers based on a disability, please contact Disability Services at 419-289-5904, or send an email to dservices@ashland.edu. The Disability Services office and the course instructor will work together in order to establish accommodations and to meet your learning needs. BSG 5501-CL Syllabus Fall 2017 Page 4 of 5
D. ATS Grading Scale Grade Percent Description A 97-100 Superior achievement of course objectives, diligence and originality, high degree of freedom from error, outstanding evidence of ability to utilize course knowledge, initiative expressed in preparing and completing assignments, positive contributions verbalized in class. A- 92-96 B+ 89-91 B 86-88 Good work submitted, commendable achievement of course objectives, some aspects of the course met with excellence, substantial evidence of ability to utilize course material, positive contributions verbalized in class, consistency and thoroughness of work completed. B- 83-85 C+ 80-82 C 77-79 Acceptable work completed, satisfactory achievement of course objectives, demonstrating at least some ability to utilize course knowledge, satisfactory class contribution. C- 74-76 D+ 71-73 D 68-70 Passing but minimal work, marginal achievement of course objectives, poor performance in comprehension of work submitted, inadequate class contributions. D- 65-67 F Below 65 Unacceptable work resulting in failure to receive class credit, inadequacy of work submitted or of performance and attendance in class. VII. Selected Bibliography or References For an extensive bibliography of helpful resources, see pp. 459-491 in Grasping God s Word. See also the bibliography on pp. 197-200 in Scripture and the Authority of God. BSG 5501-CL Syllabus Fall 2017 Page 5 of 5