Syllabus I. Course Description In this course, the student will learn to utilize appropriate interpretive techniques in order to rightly handle the word of God in personal study, communicate the meaning of the text from its context, and discern and defend right teaching in the Church. This course is the prerequisite to all other CDI courses. II. Course Objectives A. Cognitive (Intellectual) 1. The student will demonstrate an ability to apply appropriate interpretive techniques to specific portions of the Scriptures. 2. The student will discriminate between correct and incorrect interpretive methods and conclusions based on an understanding of appropriate interpretive techniques. 3. The student will demonstrate their understanding of appropriate interpretive techniques in a culminating project. B. Affective (Responding) 1. The student will justify the reasons for the use of appropriate interpretive techniques in the application of the meaning of the Scriptures. 2. The student will relate the implications of the reasons for the use of appropriate interpretive techniques in their own ministry context. 3. The student will rightly utilize appropriate interpretive techniques in their own life and ministry. 1
III. Course Textbooks A. Required 1. Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2000. This is a huge text, but do not worry, you will only read a small portion of it for this class. In addition to that, this text will be used periodically during the rest of your studies at CDI. 2. Hendricks, Howard G. and William D. Hendricks. Living by the Book: The Art and Science of Reading the Bible. Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2007. This will be your primary textbook for the course. 3. The New American Standard Bible (NASB) This is so we can all use the same translation of God s Word B. Suggested 1. Clark, David C. and John S. Feinberg. To Know and Love God: Method for Theology (Foundations of Evangelical Theology). Wheaton: Crossway, 2003. 2. Muller, Roland. Honor and Shame: Unlocking the Door. XLibris, 2001. 3. Olson, Roger E. Mosaic of Christian Belief. 2nd ed. Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2016. 4. Ryken, Leland. How to Read the Bible as Literature. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1985. 5. Osborne, Grant. The Hermeneutical Spiral: A Comprehensive Introduction to Biblical Interpretation. Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2007. 6. Traina, Robert A. Methodical Bible Study. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002. 2
IV. Course Requirements A. Reading Assignments Students are required to complete all readings before the class day on which they are due. Be aware that certain readings are due before the first day of classes. You will turn in a reading log (last page of this syllabus) on 12/2/2017. B. Course Project Students will complete an end of course project which is due in sections as per the assignment schedule on page 5. You will need to submit this project to me via e-mail (jeremy@cypressdiscipleship.org). The BH101 project will be to make observations of, do interpretative work in, and make applications from the book of Philemon according to the methods taught in the course. A template will be provided to do your project on, and an example from Titus will be provided for each section. The following are the required components for this project: 1. Each project must be 12 point Times New Roman or Calibri font and double spaced. 2. Each project must include the full NASB citation of the verse that is under examination before writing out observations or interpretive work. 3. Each project must include cited cross-references from the rest of Scripture as needed. 4. Each project must include cited sources when you have discovered something that you didn t already know. 5. For the Observation Section: Each project must include a numbered list or bullet points of observations and questions under the cited verse. 6. For the Interpretation Section: Each project must include a numbered list or bullet points of the interpretive analysis under the cited verse. 7. For the Application Section: Each project must include a series of three specific applications from the text. One application will apply to the whole Church, one will apply to your local church or ministry, and one will apply to you. 3
C. Final Exam The course exam for BH101 will be a take home, open book, open resource, open notes exam with multiple choice and short answer questions. The exam will be due by December 9, 2017 at 11:59pm. You will need to submit this exam to me via e-mail (jeremy@cypressdiscipleship.org). D. Class Participation All students are expected to participate in class discussions and engage intentionally with the material present in class. Questions are welcomed! V. Course Policy A. Grading Scale A: 90-100% B: 80-89% C: 75-79% D: 70-74% F: 69% or less B. Grading Breakdown Reading: 30% Course Project: 30% Final Exam: 30% Participation: 10% C. Late Work Per CDI policy, reading that is not completed on time but is in fact completed before the end of the semester will receive half the credit of its normal value. Readings not completed by the time they are due will receive partial credit so long as the reading is completed. All semester projects will receive a 5% reduction in grade per day past the due date per the CDI handbook. Special circumstances are always taken into consideration. D. Attendance Policy All CDI courses are held on Saturdays and consist of five 75 minute sessions. A student is permitted to miss a total of three 75 minute sessions without penalty. All absences beyond this point will result in a reduction of the student's grade by 5% per session missed. Special circumstances are always taken into consideration. 4
F. Electronics Usage Per CDI policy, all students are welcome to take notes on their personal computers. However, students should refrain from using cell phones, laptop computers, or other devices in a manner that distracts others in the class. Playing games, browsing the Internet, using email, instant messaging, or text messaging, etc., are considered unacceptable when class is in session. VI. Course Lectures and Assignment Schedule Date Lecture Reading Assignment Due 8/26 Revelation, Inspiration, Illumination, Canon, Transmission, Textual Criticism, Translations, Authority, Inerrancy Reading #1 Grudem Chapters 2-8; Hendricks Chapters 1-4; Reading #1 9/30 Context, Formal Introductions, Observation Reading #2 Hendricks Chapters 5-26 Reading #2 10/28 Interpretation, Cross References, other Reference Material Reading #3 Hendricks Chapters 27-38 Reading #3 Observation Section 12/2 Application Reading #4 Hendricks Chapters 39-48 Reading #4 Interpretation Section 12/9 No Class Application Section 12/16 No Class Final Exam 5
STUDENT READING REPORT Please print, fill out, and submit to me at the last class 12/2/2017. Student Name: Date Reading Selection Completed On Time Completed By Course End Not Completed 8/26/2017 9/30/2017 10/28/2017 12/2/2017 Hendricks Chapters 1-4; Grudem 2-8 Hendricks Chapters 5-26 Hendricks Chapters 27-38 Hendricks Chapters 39-48 Total Grade For teacher use only 6