READING THE BIBLE GOD MATTERS XS IB CLE 2013-2014

WORKSHEET 5

Reading the Bible as Literature

ON THE PRINCIPLES OF LITERARY INTERPRETATION

GENERAL DIRECTIONS: Use the three principles of literary interpretation to come up with a full reading of a Biblical passage.

SPECIFIC DIRECTIONS: 1. As a group, agree on which text i.e. passage each of the members is going to read. 2. Individually, research about your passage. Make sure that your sources are valid and legitimate. 3. After gathering enough data, discuss among yourselves the passage you have chosen. Agree on the genre of the text. Cite evidences to support your claim (genre). Then articulate the Author Meaning and Text Meaning of the passage. When you do these, make sure that you employ the big ideas of the three principles on literary interpretation. 4. When your group is done, work individually for the Personal Meaning of the text. Elaborate on it i.e. articulate your context so that any reader would clearly understand your reading. 5. Complete the table on the next page. 6. When you are done, upload your worksheet to Scribd, and embed it to your PLW.

BIBLICAL PASSAGES (CHOOSE ONE):

The Potters Vessel

JEREMIAH 18, 1-12

Promises of Redemption & Restoration

ISAIAH 43, 1-11

The Visit of the Magi

MATTHEW 2, 1-12

The Healing of a Deaf Man

MARK 7, 31-37

The Parable of the Lost Son

LUKE 15, 11-32

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NAME:

Dimitri Arin
LC NO.: DATE:

1
PASSAGE

8/6/13

The Parable of the Lost Son

LUKE 15, 11-32 LITERARY GENRE

Narrative
AUTHOR MEANING Through a homily, the pope depicts the story of the prodigal son as the stages that man faces in reference to God. The pope says that the story is about how we carry our childish personality from our youth, up to our adult lives. This means that we tend to be rather dependent on god, despite still committing sin, which destroys our relationship with him. On the other hand, it shows the Gods characteristic as being eternally loving and forgiving. Consequently, in a sense, this loving attitude of God, makes people complacent with their actions.

TEXT MEANING The text meaning of the prodigal son, is about the fatherly love of god, as represented through the father. The son, on the other hand, could be a representation of us, men, who sin and eventually end up returning to the forgiving arms of the father.

PERSONAL MEANING My personal interpretation of the parable of the prodigal son is that it is about the story of having a place to go. I personally interpreted it as Gods having a spot for us, to be with him, so long as we acknowledge and repent for our sins. I also interpreted it as a story of how the world can be a harsh and merciless place without the presence of God.

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