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HERMENEUTICSHERMENEUTICSTH221 – SYLLABUSTH221 – SYLLABUS

Distance LearnerDistance Learner

During the next few weeks, we will be looking for answers to questions like:

Are we wrong in training and maintaining a standing army because of Jesus’ remark (Matthew 26:52) "Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.”?

Do I take their eye, tooth, and life, or give them my cheek, cloak and hiking boots (Deuteronomy 19:21 & Matthew 5:39- 41)?

If I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13), how come I can’t fix this _______ (Choose one: computer, car, bank statement, relationship, omelet)?

Why is feeding and refreshing my enemy like heaping burning coals on his head (Proverbs 25:21-22)? (That can’t be good, can it?)

Was Jeremiah prophesying about Christmas trees (10:3-4)?

Is it immoral for a minister to receive money for preaching, based on 1 Timothy 3:3?

Was Jesus in danger of hell-fire when he called the Pharisees fools? Compare Matthew 5:22 and Matthew

23:17-19.

an we honestly say we can correctly answer these questions, or does it all really boil down to one person’s opinion or another’s?C

Professor Christopher Ullman, Professor – Christian Life College -- Email: cullman@christianlifecollege.edu -- Phone: 847-259-1840 ext. 109

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HERMENEUTICSHERMENEUTICSTH221 – SYLLABUSTH221 – SYLLABUS

Distance LearnerDistance Learner

Hermeneutics is the study of the science and art of Bible interpretation. It is designed to establish the principles, methods, and rules by which the true and exact meaning of the Bible is determined. Special attention will be given to the literary styles in Holy Scripture.

Knowledge and skills we should acquire or reinforce through the completion of this course:

1. Recognize literary structural elements in the text.2. Apply principles of detailed observation to a verse, a paragraph, and to longer units of

text.3. Determine word meanings within texts, and demonstrate the proper use of concordances.4. Discuss the issue of whether or not the Bible has different levels of meaning.5. Explain the role of the Holy Spirit in Biblical interpretation.6. Describe the history of our English Bible and explain the differences in modern

translations.7. Discuss the issue of "reader response" versus "authorial intent" approaches to biblical

interpretation.8. Discuss the role of context and historical\cultural background in determining meaning.9. Research and write an exegetical paper.10. Interpret and apply texts from the various genre categories found in the Bible.

Textbooks

The Holy Bible Grasping God’s Word, 2 nd edition by J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays Online Coursepack

Professor Christopher Ullman, Professor – Christian Life College -- Email: cullman@christianlifecollege.edu -- Phone: 847-259-1840 ext. 109

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HERMENEUTICSHERMENEUTICSTH221 – SYLLABUSTH221 – SYLLABUS

Distance LearnerDistance Learner

Course requirements:

Spend 30 minutes alone 4 times with one passage from the Holy Bible, and live to tell the world about it (more on this later)

Carefully read Grasping God’s Word and Hermeneutics Coursepack

Complete the homework assessments

Dialogue with Professor Ullman six times, via Skype

Endure my midterm examination

Survive a dreaded final

Methods of learning

The best way to understand what someone is saying is to listen to him, really listen. Hard. We have a God who has been speaking to us, over the centuries, through shepherds, and farmers, and tentmakers, and fishermen, and politicians, and hermits, and even an IRS employee. He is able to make his meaning known. We need to be talking about our mental and emotional listening skills a lot. (Serious Bible scholars call this exegesis and interpretation.)

I will talk some, and you will listen, and you will talk some and I will listen.

We will be doing a lot of reflecting and pondering, scratching our heads, sipping our Starbuck’s, and whispering to the ceiling.

Professor Christopher Ullman, Professor – Christian Life College -- Email: cullman@christianlifecollege.edu -- Phone: 847-259-1840 ext. 109

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HERMENEUTICSHERMENEUTICSTH221 – SYLLABUSTH221 – SYLLABUS

Distance LearnerDistance LearnerAssessments

Dialogues: (NOTE: All six must be completed to pass this course)

60 points

Meditations 60 points

Homework 300 points

Projects 200 points

Midterm exam 75points

Final exam 75 points

Total for the course: 770 points

h, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. O

ow sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! H

(Psalm 119:97 & 103)

Professor Christopher Ullman, Professor – Christian Life College -- Email: cullman@christianlifecollege.edu -- Phone: 847-259-1840 ext. 109

Grading

A 90-100%B 80-89%C 70-79%D 60-69%F 0-59%

HERMENEUTICS_DLHERMENEUTICS_DL

Assignments and AssessmentsMODULE READINGS and PRESENTATIONS

GGW = Grasping God’s Word, 2nd ed. Coursepack and Online Presentations are posted

at http://christianlifecollege.edu/#/news/hermeneutics

ASSESSMENT POINTS POSSIBLE

POINTS EARNED

1. Getting Started GGW Chapter 1: The Interpretive Journey Chapter 2: How to Read the Book – Sentences Chapter 3: How to Read the Book – Paragraphs Chapter 4: How to Read the Book – DiscoursesOnline Presentation Chapters 1-4

GGW 1-1, 1-2 & 1-3 GGW 2-1, and your

choice of one of the following: 2-2, 2-3, 2-4, 2-5

GGW 3-1, and your choice of one of the following: 3-2, 3-3, 3-4, 3-5

GGW 4-2 & 4-3

1510

10

102. Truth, Scripture & Meditating for fun and profit

Coursepack A Postmodernist’s Creed Biblical Inerrancy Statements Lectio Divina (Holy Reading) Hermeneutics and the Meditative Use of Scripture

by Glen Scorgie

Meditation #1 Scorgie Study Guide

1510

3. Bibliology Coursepack The Bible: Why This Book? Why So Many Translations? GGW Appendix 1: Inspiration and Canon Chapter 9: Bible TranslationsOnline Presentation Translations

Assessment: Inerrancy, Bibliology, Translations

GGW 9-1

20

10

4. Contexts GGW Meditation #2 15

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HERMENEUTICS_DLHERMENEUTICS_DLMODULE READINGS and PRESENTATIONS

GGW = Grasping God’s Word, 2nd ed. Coursepack and Online Presentations are posted

at http://christianlifecollege.edu/#/news/hermeneutics

ASSESSMENT POINTS POSSIBLE

POINTS EARNED

Chapter 5: What Do We Bring to the Text? Chapter 6: The Historical-Cultural Context Chapter 7: The Literary Context Chapter 8: Word StudiesOnline Presentation Chapters 5-7: Contexts

GGW 6-5, and your choice of one of the following: 6-1, 6-2 or 6-4

GGW 7-1 GGW 8-1 & 8-3, and

your choice of 8-4 or 8-5

20

520

5. Meaning, Illumination & Application

GGW Chapter 10: Who Controls the Meaning? Chapter 11: Levels of Meaning Chapter 12: The Role of the Holy Spirit Chapter 13: ApplicationCoursepack “The Holy Spirit and Hermeneutics” Online Presentation Chapters 10-13: Meaning, Illumination & Application

GGW 10-1, 10-2 and 10-3

GGW 11-1 and 11-2 GGW 12-1 GGW 13-1, 13-2 and

13-3

10

101020

Midterm Examination 756. New Testament GGW

Chapter 14: New Testament – Letters Chapter 15: New Testament – Gospels Chapter 16: New Testament – Acts

GGW 15-1 Project 1 Parable Assignment GGW 16-1

51001510

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HERMENEUTICS_DLHERMENEUTICS_DLMODULE READINGS and PRESENTATIONS

GGW = Grasping God’s Word, 2nd ed. Coursepack and Online Presentations are posted

at http://christianlifecollege.edu/#/news/hermeneutics

ASSESSMENT POINTS POSSIBLE

POINTS EARNED

Chapter 17: New Testament -- RevelationOnline Presentation Chapters 14-17: The New Testament

GGW 17-3 Meditation 3

1515

7. Old Tetament GGW Chapter 18: Old Testament – Narrative Chapter 19: Old Testament -- Law Chapter 20: Old Testament -- Poetry Chapter 21: Old Testament -- Prophets Chapter 22: Old Testament – WisdomOnline Presentations Biblical Narratives Chapters 18-222: The Old Testament

GGW 18-1 or 18-2 GGW 19-1, 10-2, 19-3,

19-4 or 19-5 GGW 20-1 & 20-2 GGW 21-1, 21-2 or 21-

3 GGW 22-1 & 22-2 Meditation 4

1515

15151515

Project Two Final Exam Dialogues (10 points

each)

1007560

TOTAL POINTS 770

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