BIBS325 Special Topic: Approaches to Hermeneutics

Overview

An advanced overview of the historical development of biblical hermeneutics, from early Christian and Jewish interpretation to contemporary critical approaches. This paper incorporates key hermeneutical approaches, concepts, issues, and terms.

This paper addresses the question of how the Bible is to be interpreted today, which is the area covered by hermeneutics.

About this paper

Prerequisite

One 200-level BIBS or BIBX paper

Restriction

BIBX 325

Schedule C

Arts and Music, Theology

Eligibility

Any student can study Theology, whether they are of the Christian faith, another faith or of no religious faith at all. Theology is an examination of the scriptures, history, content and relevance of the Christian faith, but it presupposes or requires no Christian commitment from students. All it requires is an inquiring mind and an interest in those skills that can be gained through the study of any subject in the Humanities.

Contact

don.moffat@otago.ac.nz

More information link

View more information on the Theology Programme’s website

Teaching staff

Lecturer: Dr Don Moffat

Paper Structure

Topics:

1. What do we mean when we talk about "Biblical Hermeneutics"?
2. An outline of the historical development of hermeneutics, from early Christian and Jewish interpretation to contemporary global questions
3. Key approaches: historical, source/form/redaction, rhetorical, narrative, canonical, feminist, liberation, post-colonial, ecological
4. Key concepts and issues, including: genre, translation, canon, reception, sexuality, gender, power
5. Key terms and ideas: exegesis, typology, allegory and the four "senses" of Scripture, inspiration, deduction/induction/abduction, semiotic

Assessment

• Critical examination of a Biblical passage (1,200 words) 20%
• Essay (2,500 words) 40%
• Essay (2,500 words) 40%

Teaching Arrangements

Campus: There will be one 2-hour lecture each week.

Distance: In addition to the videoconferenced lectures, there will be one teaching day and one 1-hour videoconference specifically for distance students.
Distance students are invited to join weekly videoconferences. However, recordings will be available on Blackboard for students who cannot attend live.

Textbooks

No textbook is required.

Course outline

View the course outline for BIBS 325

Graduate Attributes Emphasised

Scholarship, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Ethics.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.

Learning Outcomes

On successfully completing this paper students will be able to:

• Discuss the historical development of biblical interpretation
• Analyse, evaluate, compare and contrast views arising from the application of hermeneutical methods to contemporary and historical issues
• Assess the implications of hermeneutical debates for the 21srt century
• Demonstrate interpretive skills by the exegesis of selected texts
• Critique arguments by in-depth research on particular topics
• Critically evaluate on interpretive method or issue in biblical studies.

Timetable

Overview

An advanced overview of the historical development of biblical hermeneutics, from early Christian and Jewish interpretation to contemporary critical approaches. This paper incorporates key hermeneutical approaches, concepts, issues, and terms.

This paper addresses the question of how the Bible is to be interpreted today, which is the area covered by hermeneutics.

About this paper

Prerequisite

One 200-level BIBS or BIBX paper

Restriction

BIBX 325

Schedule C

Arts and Music, Theology

Eligibility

Any student can study Theology, whether they are of the Christian faith, another faith or of no religious faith at all. Theology is an examination of the scriptures, history, content and relevance of the Christian faith, but it presupposes or requires no Christian commitment from students. All it requires is an inquiring mind and an interest in those skills that can be gained through the study of any subject in the Humanities.

Contact

don.moffat@otago.ac.nz

More information link

View more information on the Theology Programme’s website

Teaching staff

Lecturer: Dr Don Moffat

Paper Structure

Topics:

1. What do we mean when we talk about "Biblical Hermeneutics"?
2. An outline of the historical development of hermeneutics, from early Christian and Jewish interpretation to contemporary global questions
3. Key approaches: historical, source/form/redaction, rhetorical, narrative, canonical, feminist, liberation, post-colonial, ecological
4. Key concepts and issues, including: genre, translation, canon, reception, sexuality, gender, power
5. Key terms and ideas: exegesis, typology, allegory and the four "senses" of Scripture, inspiration, deduction/induction/abduction, semiotic

Teaching Arrangements

Campus: There will be one 2-hour lecture each week.

Distance: In addition to the videoconferenced lectures, there will be one teaching day and one 1-hour videoconference specifically for distance students.

Distance students are invited to join weekly videoconferences. However, recordings will be available on Blackboard for students who cannot attend live.

Textbooks

No textbook is required.

Course outline

View the course outline for BIBS 325

Graduate Attributes Emphasised

Scholarship, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Ethics.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.

Learning Outcomes

On successfully completing this paper students will be able to:

• Discuss the historical development of biblical interpretation
• Analyse, evaluate, compare and contrast views arising from the application of hermeneutical methods to contemporary and historical issues
• Assess the implications of hermeneutical debates for the 21srt century
• Demonstrate interpretive skills by the exegesis of selected texts
• Critique arguments by in-depth research on particular topics
• Critically evaluate on interpretive method or issue in biblical studies.

Assessment details

• Critical examination of a Biblical passage (1,200 words) 20%
• Essay (2,500 words) 40%
• Essay (2,500 words) 40%

Timetable