BIBLICAL HERMENEUTICS

Biblical Hermeneutics is a one-semester 3-credit unit course. The course is available toward the award of first degree in Christian Theology. The course material can also be useful for students pursuing other degrees in Christian Theology. Besides, those who wish to broaden their knowledge on religious ideas, especially the principles and methodology of interpreting the sacred Scriptures can find

14 Units

3 Months

32 students enrolled

Overview
Course Description

This course is made up of 15 units. It will begin with a general introduction to hermeneutics and the dwell on a brief history of hermeneutics from the ancient Jews to the contemporary age citing scholars from each period where applicable.

The Course Guide tells you briefly what the course is about, what you are expected to know in each unit, what course materials you will be using and how you can work your way through the materials. It also emphasizes the need for Tutor – Marked Assignments (TMAs). Detailed information on TMAs is found in a separate file, which will be sent to you later. There are periodic tutorial classes that are linked to this course.

What you will learn

What You Will Learn in this Course

 

The overall aim of THIS COURSE is to help you develop a systematic principle through which you can understand, interpret and apply the message of the Bible to the contemporary world. Developing the ability to correctly interpret the Bible will help you to achieve much insight in Bible study, and where applicable, in sermon preparation and the development of study guide for use in the Church and other Christian gatherings.

 

Course Aims

The aim of this course is to help you develop a good, consistent and exegetical method through which you can interpret the Scriptures to decipher the message of God to the contemporary generation. This will be achieved by:

 

Introducing you to various methods that have been used across history in interpreting Scriptures, exploring their strengths and weaknesses and thereby guiding you to recognize a biblically sound methodology.

 

Course Objectives

 

To achieve the aims set out above, there are set overall objectives. Besides, each unit has its specific objectives. The unit objectives would

 

be included in the beginning of each unit. You should read them before you start working through the unit. It is advisable that you refer to them during your study of the unit to check on your progress. At the end of every unit, you should also revise the unit objectives. In this way you can be sure that you have done all you are expected to do in the unit.

 

Listed below are the broader objectives of this course. It is expected that by meeting these objectives, the overall aims of the course must have been achieved. At the end of this course, you should be able to:

 

 

Write a brief history of the interpretation of Scriptures

Identify scholars that have made big impact on biblical hermeneutics List all the methods that have been used in hermeneutics to date Discuss the advantages and the disadvantages of these hermeneutical methodologies

Draw a broad guideline on the principles of interpretation Interpret any passage of the Bible despite the variety of genres

Requirements

Course Materials

Major components of the course are:

  1. Course Guide
  2. Study Units
  3. Textbooks
  4. Assignments file
  5. Presentation schedule

 

You must obtain these materials. You may contact your tutor if you have problems in obtaining the text materials.

Course Outline

  • Unit 1: General Introduction to Hermeneutics

  • Unit 2: History of Biblical Hermeneutics

  • Unit 3: Historical-Cultural and Contextual Analysis

  • Unit 4: Lexical Syntactical Analysis

  • Interpreting the Law

  • Interpreting Prophetic Books

  • Interpreting Historical Narratives

  • Interpreting Wisdom Literature

  • Interpreting the Psalms

  • Unit 1: Interpreting the Gospels

  • Unit 2: Interpreting the Parables

  • Unit 3: Interpreting the Acts of the Apostle

  • Unit 4: Interpreting the Epistles

  • Unit 5: Interpreting Revelations

Student Portal

Includes

  • downloadable resources
  • Full lifetime access
  • Assignments
  • Certificate of Completion

Includes

  • Enrolled: 32 students
  • Duration: 3 Months
  • Chapters: 15
  • Level: Degree