Exegesis paper

Exegesis (paper) of passage of the New Testament (22.5% of grade/225 pts)                                            (employing methods of interpretation and perspectives: literary and historical context, literary form, structure)

Exegesis means to expound upon a text, to unpack a text of its many meanings.  We will use elements of various types of criticism to develop and further your ability to interpret the Bible.  Please respond to the following items as you exegete the assigned passages from the Bible.  Length: 1000-3000 words.

Document your exegesis carefully.  Include the sections of the assignment outline as subheadings for your paper. Be sure to use some material from the course bibliography for your exegesis especially the Biblical Reference Books.

 PICK A PASSAGE FROM THE BIBLE !!!!!!

A. Literary Criticism

1. Context. What follows and precedes your passage?  Is your passage affected by this context?

2. Form criticism.  What is the literary form of your passage?  Are there other places in the Bible (or related text) where this form is used and which help to interpret this passage?  

3. Structure.  Do you detect any particular structural pattern?(e.g. parallelism within your assigned book of the Bible).  Describe the parts of your passage.

4. Redaction criticism.  Has your passage come through an editorial process?  What changes have been made?  Explain why certain changes have been made?

5. Key words.  What are the theologically important words in the passage?  Do these words evoke any other parts of the Bible?  Are these words used in a new way by the author of this passage?  What do these words mean?

B. Theological analysis.

1. What does this passage say about relationship with God?

2. What questions might this passage have addressed in the community for which it was originally written?

(Some of the ideas above are adopted from “A Guide to Biblical Exegesis” by G. Landes and W. Wink, unpublished)