AN EXEGETICAL GUIDE FOR THE EXEGESIS OF A PAULINE PASSAGE Due February 26
I. Quote the Text from a Standard English Version Example: Romans 12:1-2
II. The Literary Genre and Historical Setting of Romans Due February 12
Literary Genre: Describe the first century letter and how Romans makes use of this literary genre—similarities, unique features.
Historical Setting: Describe the historical situation that gave rise to the letter to the Romans. Who wrote it, to whom, where, and why? What is its theme, that is, how does the letter go about to fulfill its intended function in its historical setting?
III. The Literary Setting of Romans 12:1-2 Due February 12
Place: Locate the 12:1-2 in the content and structure of Romans. It helps making this statement to use an expository type outline that ascends in detail to help in the making of this statement.
Role: State clearly the role of 12:1-2 in the presentation of the subject matter of Romans, that is, how 12:1-2 functions in relation to what Romans is attempting to accomplish.
IV. The Structure and Form of Romans 12;1-2 Due February 14
Analysis: Construct a structural analysis of Romans 12:1-2. This is not a topical or subject outline, but an outline defining each essential element of the text according to its function. For example the miracle story (form) in Mark 1:29-31 can be analyzed as (1:29) Setting, (1:30) Problem, and (1:31) Solution. Note that this analysis is not necessarily unique to this miracle report.
Classification: Attempt to identify or describe the form of Romans 12:1-2. Is it a question, proverb, parable, etc.? Where does such a form appear (Sitz im Leben) in the everyday life of people in that day, how is it used in that setting, or its intention as a form, e.g., a recipe in a kitchen? You will probably have to rely some on your own imagination for some of the latter!
In the light of these two considerations now define in a statement as precisely as you can the function/intention of your text within the structure and intention of Romans.
V. Detailed Interpretation of Romans 12:1-2 Due February 19
Using your analysis of the structure of Romans 12:1-1 done in IV as your outline (headings and subheadings) now proceed to interpret in context and in sequence the content and function of each of the basic elements of your chosen text.
Items which often yield interpretive results include (1) key words and significant concepts, (2) syntax, i.e., the significance of relationships between words, phrases, sentences, and even larger units, that is, the precise flow of the thought or argument within Romans 12:1-2, and (3) the literary devices, and rhetorical forms employed.
A summary comment is needed to conclude each essential element of the passage that indicates its particular meaning and role in the whole of Romans 12:1-2. But general summary statements are left for the next stage of the interpretive process.
This section is the body of your paper where your most important research is done. Do not slight it! Remember that the most important guide to the understanding and application of a biblical text, the first and last principle of hermeneutics, is the first-hand observation of the text and the intelligent use of its context.
VI. The Theology and Intention of Romans 12:10-2 Due with completed paper, February 26
Now all the data collected in the previous stages of your study can be utilized for the summary interpretation of Romans 12:1-2 in the context of Romans--and the biblical canon.
State the author’s intention in his text in the historical and literary context of the document, “what” is the author attempting to communicate by means of this particular text, and “how” he goes about to do it. The author’s “how” is the theology of the text, the theological life-stream that gives the text its authenticity as witness.
This is in essence “what the text meant,” the task of descriptive biblical theology.
VI. The Contemporary Witness of Romans 12:1-2. Due with completed paper, February 26
This is “what the text means,” the task of normative biblical theology.
Articulate the witness of the biblical text to your personal spiritual life and then spin out as best you can what you sense to be the message of the text to contemporary Christianity and to the world in which we live. The latter can be a paragraph, or in the form of an expository outline for preaching or teaching with points developed in sub-points.
Bibliography List all sources used according to Turabian.
This should contain only the sources actually used in the study. To multiply sources can be confusing and frustrating. Choose a few sources carefully, ask the right questions of the text, and utilize your sources when the personal observation of the text cannot provide a sufficient answer. But do not hesitate to think for yourself. Exegesis is an art as well as a skill.
Your sources should include:
Other standard English translations of your text. Two introductory treatments—these can be found in a New Testament Introductions, Bible Dictionary articles, or Commentaries. Two or three commentaries on your biblical book, two of them as recent and comprehensive as possible. An older, classic commentary, is always interesting and even helpful. Biblical theologies and exegetical-theological monographs relevant to the passage are sometimes helpful.
Concerns of Style
Follow Turabian for all matters of style—footnotes, bibliography, quotations, punctuation, spelling, abbreviations, numbers, capitalization, italics, quotation marks. etc.
Double Space. Do not justify your text. No table of contents is needed.
Document all material and ideas that you receive from your sources. Footnote according to Turabian.
Proofread your paper for misspelled words, grammatical errors, etc.
Evaluation Criteria
Correct mechanics are assumed!
Spelling Grammar Form Neatness
Exegetical Procedure
Proper methodology Choice of adequate resources Proper use of sources Adequate documentation Quality of presentation including writing style and reasoning process
Interpretive insight
Quality of content Depth of understanding Evidence of first-hand struggle with the text Creativity in current theological relevance Consistency of contemporary application
Promptness in meeting deadlines
STRUCTURE ANALYSIS: EXAMPLE Galatians 5:13-14
“13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. 14 For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 15If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.”
“13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ 15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.”
“In verse thirteen of chapter five of Galatians, Paul makes an exhortation to all of the members of the churches in Galatia. He calls the people to serve each other through love with their freedom, and he urges them not to let their sinful natures get the best of them as a result of that freedom. In verse fourteen, Paul offers a reference to the Old Testament when he writes, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ This supports his exhortation from the previous verse. In verse fifteen Paul warns the Galatians that if they comntinue as they have been, then in the consequences of that they will most certainly end destroying themselves altogether.”
13 abc (gar)
13a For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; 13b only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, 13c but through love become slaves to onc another.
14 ab (gar)
14a For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment. 14b ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
15 ab (ei de)
15a If, howevcr, you bite and devour one another, 15b take care that you are not consumed by one another.
That is for example NRSV or NIV, the more literal the better if you cannot work from the Greek original. But paraphrases such as The Message or The Living Bible should never be used as the basic text although they may be helpful in the process of interpretation. An ascending outline ascends from general to the more detailed: Say your text is in III. B. 3. the outline should look as follows: I. II. III. A. B. 1. 2. 3. C. V.
This does not mean that a more topical word cannot be used in a supplementary way, such as “Setting in a Synagogue” for Mark 1:29. What do you hear from the text about your understanding of God, your relationship to God, and your manner of life in the world—what are you now to do in response to this text? Each point and should arise solidly from the text and relate to it at least by implication to contemporary Christian concerns. The correct form for the listing of a book is Wright, N. T. What Saint Paul Really Said: Was Paul of Tarsus the Real Founder of Christianity? Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1997. See Turabian for the more complicated entries. E.g., KJV, ASV, RSV, NEB, NASB, NIV, NJB, NRSV. Here is where you might use for illustrative purposes the more periphrastic translations. On reserve in the library. There is also a copy in the professor’s office that can be consulted. The correct form for a book in a footnote is N. T. Wright, What Saint Paul Really Said: Was Paul of Tarsus the Real Founder of Christianity? (Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1997), 100. Note that there is no punctuation after the title before the publication detail unless it is part of the title as here. See Turabian for the more complicated entries.
The New International Version is not a good translation for this exercise, it leaves out the three key Greek prepositions to start with. For Exegesis NRSV or NASB are better if you cannot work directly from the Greek. New Revised Standard Version (New York: Oxford University Press, 1991). New American Standard Bible (Anaheim, California: Foundation Publications, Inc., 1960-1995). Words so designated are proper “structure” or “function” words. Jonathan Batchelder, “Galatians 5:13-15” (February 14, 2002). Greek prepositions important for interpretation, not translated by some translations, e.g., NIV,
6.1.3.3 DATE \@ "M/d/yy" 7/3/10 TIME \@ "h:mm AM/PM" 5:42 PM FGC