501 Advanced Hermeneutics

BEAR VALLEY BIBLE INSTITUTE

3 semester hours
Denny Petrillo, Ph.D., Instructor

COURSE SYLLABUS

Course Description:

This course is designed to address the complexities of Biblical Interpretation and to

provide a solid hermeneutical methodology. It is presently a “Blitz-week” course, being
offered in September of each year. Check with the office to get the exact dates.

Course Objectives:

1. To give considerable attention to the basic hermeneutic approaches popular today.

2. To familiarize students with the arguments used and the strengths and weaknesses
of those arguments.

3. To introduce students to the significant literature and language of hermeneutics

and to assist them in developing a working resource library.

4. To enhance the research and writing skills necessary to communicate a logical

and scriptural approach to Biblical Interpretation.

Course Requirements:

1. Read all of the required textbooks before the class meets in September. A special
page has been included in this syllabus in which you should record the dates each
required textbook was completely read.

Required Texts

Kaiser, Walter.
Toward An Exegetical Theology.
Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1981.
ISBN: 0-8010-5425-7

Kaiser, Walter and Silva, Moises.

An Introduction to Biblical Hermeneutics.
Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994.
ISBN: 0-310-53090-3
Kearley, F. Furman, Myers, Edward P. and Hadley, Timothy D., editors.
Biblical Interpretation: Principles and Practice. Studies in Honor of Jack Pearl
Lewis.
Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1986.
ISBN:

Silva, Moises.
Has The Church Misread the Bible? Vol. 1.
Grand Rapids: Academie
Books, 1987.
ISBN: 0-310-40921-7

Thomas, J.D.
Harmonizing Hermeneutics.
Nashville: Gospel Advocate, 1991.
ISBN: 0-89225-407-6

Alternative Texts:

If you are unable to secure all of the above required texts, you may replace with
one or more of the following (still ending up with 5 texts)

Dyck, Elmer, editor.

The Act of Biblical Interpretation.
Downers Grove, ILL: InterVarsity
Press, 1996.
ISBN: 0-8308-1623-2

Smith, F. LaGard.
The Cultural Church.
Nashville, TN: 20th Century Christian, 1992.
ISBN: 0-89098-131-0

Klein, William; Blomberg, Craig, Hubbard Jr., Robert.

Introduction to Biblical Interpretation.
Dallas: Word Publishing, 1993.
ISBN: 0-8499-0774-8

Vanhoozer, Kevin J.
Is There Meaning in This Text?
Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1998.
ISBN: 0-310-21156-5

Note: The Bear Valley Bible Institute presently has several of these books in
stock. Also, you should check on-line web sites like Amazon.com.
 Additional Resources:

Harding University Graduate School of Religion

Theological Hermeneutics
Course Syllabus

Memoria University of Newfoundland,

Dept. of Religious Studies
Restoration Movement Texts

Additional Book Sources:

www.bibliofind.com
www.abebooks.com
www.21northmain.com

Additional Book Sources:

www.bibliofind.com
www.abebooks.com
www.21northmain.com

2. Write a review of three (3) of the books. You can choose which ones you wish to
do a review over. The review should follow the guidelines given below. These
reviews will be due the first day of class.

Items to be Considered for Inclusion in a Book Review

(Adapted from Guidelines provided at the Institute for Christian Studies)

There will be a number of courses in the BVBID Master’s program that will
require book reviews. These guidelines should be followed:

I. Details of Publication

Who wrote the book? Does it contain contributions from more than one
author? Has it been edited? Where does/did the author work or teach and
what is known of his or her training? Did the book grow out of some other
project (e.g., a dissertation)?

When and by whom was the book published? Is it a part of a series? Is it a

translation? How many pages does it have? If it is a multi volume work,
how many volumes does it include? Does it have maps, charts,
photographs, drawings, indices, notes, or bibliography?

II. Contents and Argument

What is the author's central thesis?

 What are the author's assumptions? What is his or her methodology? How
has he or she organized the book?

What are the topics and major points of each of the book's chapters?

III. Evaluation

Do you agree with the thesis and the other major points of the book?
Why?

Do the book's conclusions agree with scholarly opinion as a whole on the

topic? If not, does the book represent one particular segment or school of
scholarly opinion? Does the book take advantage of the most recent
developments in scholarship on the topic? Does the book advance
scholarly discussion on the subject?

What are the book's major weaknesses? What are its primary strengths and
contributions? Are the author's presuppositions, methodology, and
approach valid and appropriate? Does the author fail to discuss important
aspects of his topic? Does the book fill a gap in the literature on the topic?
What issues does it raise?

For whom was the book written and what was its purpose? Has it
accomplished this purpose, and does it adequately communicate to its
intended audience?

Aesthetics

A. Is the book well written, easy to read, and interesting?

B. How do you rate the quality of the book's binding and printing?
Are there many typographical errors or other obvious mistakes?

General Evaluation

What is your overall opinion of the book? Is it better or worse than others
on the topic? Can you recommend it to others?

* Several of these items may not be relevant for your book review. Include
only those items that contribute to your work.

3. A term paper will be required of all students, to be submitted after the class meets
in September. The paper should meet the following requirements:
 • Full research form, with outline, textnotes (or endnotes/footnotes if you
choose) and bibliography. This should be done according to the MLA
style.

• Paper should have at least 15 sources, ALL OF WHICH must be used and
referred to in the paper.

• The paper must have at least 15 pages of text (outline and bibliography do
not count in this number).

• The topic for the term paper will be assigned the last day of class. The
research will deal with major questions regarding Biblical Interpretation in
the church today.

• Date Due: December 31. Late papers will not be accepted.

Grading:

Your grade will be determined as follows:

Reading all required books - 25%

Book reviews - 25%
Research Paper - 40%
Class participation - 10%
Reading Assignment Sheet Student Name __________________
Course 501/Advanced Hermeneutics
Dr. Denny Petrillo

Record each day the following books were completely read

Kaiser, Walter. Toward An Exegetical Theology.

Date Read: _______________________

Kaiser, Walter and Silva, Moises. An Introduction to Biblical Hermeneutics.

Date Read: ______________________

Kearley, F. Furman, Myers, Edward P. and Hadley, Timothy D., editors. Biblical
Interpretation:Principles and Practice.
Date Read: ______________________

Silva, Moises. Has The Church Misread the Bible? Vol. 1.

Date Read: ______________________

Thomas, J.D. Harmonizing Hermeneutics.

Date Read: ______________________

Alternative Text #1: Name of Book: __________________________________________

Date Read: ______________________

Alternative Text #2: Name of Book: __________________________________________

Date Read: _____________________

Note: This sheet should be filled out and turned in to the instructor on the first day of
class.