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BIBLE S A 1 TTUDY SSIGNMENT EMPLATE
Name:
Liberty University Email Address:
Assignment 1-2:
Answer the following questions:
1. Do you agree that the Bible is a divine-human book? Why or why not?
2. What is textual criticism?
How is it possible to have a high view of the authority of Scripture and a positive view of
textual criticism at the same time?
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Yes, I agree that the Bible is a divine-human book. According to 2 Timothy 3:16-17, the
Scripture states, “All Scripture is God-breathed [inspired]…” I believe this to be true because
the people, places, wars, and various other activities have been validated through various
means of unrelated text and historical artifacts.
According to the text, textual criticism (or analysis) is a technical discipoline that compares the
various copies of a biblical text in an effort to determine what was most likely the original text.
The work of textual critics is foundational to the work of the Bible translations, since the first
concern of any translator should be whether they are translating the most plausible rendition
of a biblical text.
It is possible to have a high view of Scirptures authority as well as a positive vew of textual
criticism because of the accuracy within God’s Word. Scripture, accoding to 2 Timothy 3:16-17,
states God “Breathed” into man what to write, man wrote what God said. Therefore we can
rest assured through textual criticism, the accuracy of Scripture is complete.
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3. What is translation?
Why is translation not a simple exercise?
Describe the two main approaches to translation discussed in this chapter.
Which approach do you feel most comfortable with? Why?
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The ability to transfer a forgeign language into a language which is common for the reader to
understand. Translation is to transfer contextual meaning from the source language in the the
contextual menaing of the common language.
This is not a simple exercise because the translators have to be certain of the semantics (how
words are used in expression and usage which determine definition). When the correct
semantics are understood then the translators have to have the most common word from one
language to match in the other.
There are two main approaches to translation: the formal approach (sometimes called “literal”
or “word-for-word”) and the functional approach (often called “idiomatic” or “thought-for-
thought). In reality, no translation is entirely one way or the other, all translations will have a
least some formal and some functional tendencies.
I believe I appreciate the formal approach because it allows me to search out the Scripture.
The KJV is more formal wile the ESV is more functional. As I compare the vocabulary between
the two, I prefer versus to render Jesus as the Son rather than a son. This type of vocabulary is
important to recognize the difference between fallibility and infallibility.
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Assignment 2-1: Describe the five steps of the Interpretive Journey.
Answer each step with as much information as possible. In other words, do not just give a one
line statement, but attempt to write a summary type paragraph for each step so that you can
demonstrate a good understanding of the interpretive journey process. You may use the words in
the textbook.
Step #1:
Step #2:
Step #3:
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Grasping the text in their town which implies understand how the original
audience would receive the text in their own language. To understand the text in
the original perspective means that we need to scrutinize the grammar and
understand the significance of word usage.
Measuring the width of the river to cross. We need to recognize the difference
between the biblical audience and the reader (regardless of culture). Knowing
these differences between cultures will help establish the cultural values, beliefs
and customs, as well as how they are incorporated into Scripture.
Crossing the principlizing bridge – We need to understand the theological principle within
the text itself. What is it that God is saying within the passage and how does it relate to the
reader (regardless of cultural differences). When recognizing what God is saying, the need
to understand broader meaning along with more specific, in context meaning, can be
applied.
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Step #4:
Step #5:
Assignment 2-2: What are the guidelines for developing theological principles?
You may use an outline form in answering this question.
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Consult the biblical map – How does our theological principles fit with the rest of the bible.
The big picture implies how each book within the bible relates to one another (big picture).
Within this insight, how does what is being read relate to the surrounding context? This
enables the reader to understand how the Bible serves as a type of map.
Grasping the text in our own town – This suggest that we should ask God for the
ability to live within His designed purpose for each of our lives. We should alwayas
be asking the question, “How does this page apply to me today and how can it
anser the questions that we face each day?”.
1. The principle should be reflected within the text
2. The principle should be timeless and not necessarily situational
3. The princicple should not be cultural bound
4. The principle should relate to the rest of the Scriptural teaching
5. The principle should be relevant to both the Scriptural audience as well as the current day reader.
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Assignment 2-3: What are the differences that determine the width of the river to cross?
Write a summary type paragraph in answering this question.
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We should be able to recognize significant differences between our situation today and the situation of the
biblical audience. When attempting to identify these differennes, we need to keep in mind any uniqueness
within the passage itself. In the Old Testament, we find Scriptures that are unique to the Law of Moses while
in the New Testament, we find Scripture unique to Messiah fulfilling the law of sacrifices. With these
differences we can come to understand the death of Jesus doesn’t nullify the Law of Moses but fulfills it. For
this reason we can give proper measurement to how wide the river is that we need to cross.
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Assignment 3-5: Matthew 28:18–20
Read Matthew 28:18–20, and make as many observations as you can on this passage. Dig deep!
Think hard. Spend time on this. Mark dozens and dozens of observations. Read and reread! Look
again! Observe! Observe! Observe!
Note: The passage may not include incidents of every type of observation item.
Make sure you are clear in identifying the features. For instance, where it requires you to list the
contrasts, make sure you identifying which words or phrases are contrasted. Just writing down a
sentence from the passage will not help me understand what you thought the author contrasted.
So you may use words like this: X is contrasted with Y, X and Y standing for words or phrases.
The same format must be used in listing comparisons, cause/effect, or any other features where
two parts are required.
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been
given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey
everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of
the age.”
Repetition of Words:
Contrasts (different things):
Comparisons (similar things):
Lists:
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Jesus and the Son
Heaven and Earth. Make and teach. Teach and commanded. Go and make. Jesus came and therefore go.
Baptize and teach them to obey. Always and to the very end of the age. Jesus and the Son
Jesus, authority, heaven, earth, disciples, nations, baptizing, the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, teaching,
obey, commanded, I am, always, the end of the age.
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Cause and Effect:
Figures of Speech:
Significant Conjunctions:
Significant Verbs:
Significant Pronouns:
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Go and make disciples. Command and obey. Teach and baptize
I am with you always
Therefore, everything, surely, and always
Make, came, said, given, go baptize, teaching, obey and command
Me, them, I, and you
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Assignment 4-4: Psalm 1:1–3
Read Psalm 1:1–3. Make as many observations as you can. Dig deep! Think hard. Spend time on
this. Mark dozens and dozens of observations. Read and reread! Look again! Observe! Observe!
Observe!
Note: The passage may not include incidents of every type of observation item.
Make sure you are clear in identifying the features. For instance, where it requires you to list the
contrasts, make sure you identifying which words or phrases are contrasted. Just writing down a
sentence from the passage will not help me understand what you thought the author contrasted.
So you may use words like this: X is contrasted with Y, X and Y standing for words or phrases.
The same format must be used in listing comparisons, cause/effect, or any other features where
two parts are required.
1 Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.
Repetition of Words:
Contrasts (different things):
Comparisons (similar things):
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law
Walk and stand. Stand and sit. Delight and meditate. Fruit nd leaf. With and prosper
Wicked and sinners. Walk and step. Fruit and leaf. Yield and prosper.
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Lists:
Cause and Effect:
Figures of Speech:
Significant Conjunctions:
Significant Verbs:
Significant Pronouns:
Questions and Answers:
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Wicked, sinners, mockers,law Lord person, tree, stream, water, fruit and leaf.
Meditate and delight in law of the Lord yields fruit in season and prospers. Does not walk in step with the
wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers is blessed.
Walk in step with the wicked, stand in the way that sinners take, sit in the company of mockers, like a tree
planted by streams of water, and whose leaf does not wither.
whatever
Yields, walk, stand, sit, planted, wither, blessed, delight, meditate and prosper.
Whose, who and they.
Who is blessed? All of those who follow the examples in this scripture of how they live their life.
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Dialogue:
Means:
Purpose/Result Statements:
General to Specific and Specific to General:
Conditional Clauses:
Actions/Roles of God:
Actions/Roles of People:
Emotional Terms:
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Through obedience to the law.
To guard your actions and keep the law so that you are blessed.
The law of the Lord and his law.
If you are obedient to the law then you will be blessed.
Blessing His people that are firmly planted in His law.
Do not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers.
Delight is in the law of the Lord, Meditate on his law day and night.
delight
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Tone of the Passage:
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Cautionary, but encouraging.
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Assignment 5-2: Mark 5:21–43
Read Mark 5:21–43. It is two stories—the first about Jairus and his daughter, the second about a
bleeding woman. Note that the second story interrupts the first; that is, the bleeding woman story
is presented right in the middle of the Jairus episode. This is suggestive to us. Look at the two
stories and list as many direct comparisons and contrasts between the two as you can find. Read
carefully! Look hard! There are many to find.
I have given you 30 rows. Do your best to find at least 25 items (for you to get all the points for
this assignment, you will need to find at least 25 items); however, if you find more than 30 items,
you can add more lines to the table below by just hitting the tab key in the final column on the
last row.
21 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd
gathered around him while he was by the lake. 22 Then one of the synagogue rulers,
named Jairus, came there. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet 23 and pleaded earnestly with
him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will
be healed and live.” 24 So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed
around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve
years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all
she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she
came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I
just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt
in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the
crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 “You see the people crowding against
you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32 But Jesus
kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had
happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole
truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed
from your suffering.” 35 While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house
of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the
teacher any more?” 36 Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, “Don’t be
afraid; just believe.” 37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John
the brother of James. 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue ruler, Jesus saw a
commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them,
“Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 But they
laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the
disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the
hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”).
42 Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this
they were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about
this, and told them to give her something to eat.
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Jairus Bleeding Woman
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1a man a woman
2goes to Jesus for help publicly goes to Jesus for help privately
3Wanted healing for his daughter Wanted healing for herself
4synagogue ruler Common woman
5Daughter died wounded
6Jesus held the daughter’s hand Healed by touching Jesus clothes
7Healed by her fathers faith Healed by her faith
8Jesus went to her Went to Jesus
9Afraid of his daughters death Afraid of what Jesus would do because she
touched his clothes
10 Acute illness Suffered for many years
11 Jesus spoke to her Jesus spoke to her
12 Spent no money to be healed She had spent all her money to be healed
13 No confession Confessed that she had touched him
14 Told to get up Told to go in peace
15 Jesus healed a child Jesus healed a woman
16 Healed at home Healed by a lake
17 Healed with family and disciples present Healed in the midst of a large crowd
18 Healed while sleeping Healed while awake
19 Jesus told them to tell no one of what he
did
Everyone knew of her healing
20 Jesus knew that his power was meant to
heal her
The power went out of Jesus without him
knowing why
21 Fell at Jesus feet begging Fell at Jesus feet trembling
22 People were wailing and crying There was no wailing or crying
23 Jesus didn’t ask who touched Him Jesus asked who touched me
24 People were astonished No one was astonished
25 Had not had care from doctors for
condition
Had a great deal of care under many doctors
26
27
28
29
30
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Assignment 6-4: Cultural Context
Read the conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman recorded in John 4:1–39. Then
read the article on “Samaria” in the and make a list of all Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary
the ways the information helps you understand the conversation between Jesus and the woman.
This conversation allowed me to visualize the surroundings, building structure, mountains, and
scenary. This further allowed me to understand how it must have appeared and what the culture
at the time might have been like. Having this understanding gave me the ability to constrast the
culture of the lower parts of Israel. It pointed out the signifigance of a Jew conversing with a
Samaritan.
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Assignment 8-1: The Surrounding Textual Context
Write a paragraph describing the passages surrounding context of the following passages: Acts
1:7–8 and 1 Corinthians 11:27–32.
In order to complete this assignment, you will need to go back and reflect on the steps listed on
textbook pages 156–161 and then do the following: (even though you are not being asked in this
assignment to examine the entire book of Acts and 1 Corinthians, these principles will still help
guide you in completing assignment 8-1).
Determine the major textual unit that is before, and the major textual unit that is after in
regards to both Acts 1:7–8 and 1 Corinthians 11:27–32.
Write a summary statement for each of the four textual units.
Write two paragraphs. The first paragraph should explain how Acts 1:7–8 relates to the
two textual units surrounding it. The second paragraph should explain how 1 Corinthians
11:27–32 relates to the two textual units surrounding it.
By completing items 1–10 below, you will accomplish what is listed above.
1. What is the textual unit (i.e., Scripture passage, just the reference) previous to :Acts 1:7–8
2. Write a summary statement of the passage you listed in #1:
3. What is the textual unit (i.e., Scripture passage, just the reference) after :Acts 1:7–8
4. Write a summary statement of the passage you listed in #3:
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The Ascension and the promise of
the Holy Spirit
Jesus told them that they don’t need to worry about God’s timing just to know
that they would receive the Holy Spirit and be His witnesses throughout the ends
of the world.
Matthias Chosen to replace Judas
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5. Write a complete paragraph describing how relates to the passages listed in #1Acts 1:7–8
and #3 above (remember to incorporate all relevant material from your summary
statements [i.e., #2 and #4] respectively). The important thing here is to note the
connection with the paragraph preceding and following Acts 1:7–8.
6. What is the textual unit (i.e., Scripture passage, just the reference) previous to 1
Corinthians 11:27–32:
7. Write a summary statement of the passage you listed in #6:
8. What is the textual unit (i.e., Scripture passage, just the reference) after to 1 Corinthians
11:27–32:
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They prayed when they returned to Jerusalem with 120 ppeople all in one accord.
Peter says that the Scripture had to be fulfilled regarding Judas betraying Jesus. He
tells them about Judas acquiring a field and bursting open in the middle of the field.
They put forward two, Justus and Matthias and Matthias was chosen to take the place
of Judas.
This passage talks about the last instructions Jesus would give his disciples before his ascension.
He told them to stay in Jerusalem and promised them that they would be baptized with the Holy
Spirit. The disciples asked Him if He would restore the kingdom of Israel. Jesus tells them that it
is not for them to worry about that they will receive the power of the Holy Spirit and that they are
to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth. Jesus ascends. The disciples pray in one accord and
replace Judas with Matthias.
The Lord’s Supper
Jesus corrects the disciples. He says to them that their behavior is substandard, that they are
divided in their worship. He said they eat and drink excessively. He explains to them what is
to go on at the Lord’s supper and why it is important. He tells them that they should always
remember the bread represents His body and the wine represents His blood. That it
represents a new covenant and when they take it they should remember Him.
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9. Write a summary statement of the passage you listed in #8:
10. Write a complete paragraph describing how 1 Corinthians 11:27–32 relates to the
passages listed in #6 and #8 above (remember to incorporate all relevant material from
your summary statements [i.e., #7 and #9] respectively). The important thing here is to
note the connection with the paragraph preceding and following 1Corinthians 11:27–32.
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Spiritual Gifts
Jesus tells the disciples God wants us to use be wise and continually pray for more
wisdom. He tells them that God has given us His Spirit to help us discern what is
right.
Jesus is aware that His disciples are not living out their calling. He instructs them in how they are
to relate to Him as well as one another when they renew their covenant with him. He tells them
how to complete this and tells them that when they do they should remember him.
