Exegesis Research Paper: Context of the Passage
RTCH-500: Research, Writing, and Ministry Preparation
DATE
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Ephesians 4:7-16
New International Version
7But to each one of usgracehas been givenas Christ apportioned it.8This is
why it[a]says:
“When he ascended on high,
he took many captives
and gave gifts to his people.”[b]
9(What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the
lower, earthly regions[c]?10He who descended is the very one who
ascendedhigher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole
universe.)11So Christ himself gavethe apostles,the prophets,the
evangelists,the pastors and teachers,12to equip his people for works of
service, so that the body of Christmay be built up13until we all reach
unityin the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of Godand become
mature,attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14Then we will no longer be infants,tossed back and forth by the waves,and
blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and
craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.15Instead, speaking the truth
in love,we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who
is the head,that is, Christ.16From him the whole body, joined and held
together by every supporting ligament, growsand builds itself upin love,as
each part does its work.
Read full chapter
Footnotes
a. Ephesians 4:8 OrGod
b. Ephesians 4:8 Psalm 68:18
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c. Ephesians 4:9 Orthe depths of the earth
Exegesis Research Paper Assignment
Using Introduction to Biblical Hermeneutics by Kaiser and Silva and Ecologies
of Faith in a Digital Age by Lowe & Lowe as reference guides, the
student will write an Exegesis Research Paper submitted in three
portions. The student will choose between three biblical passages on
which to write the paper (Psalm 1:1-6; Mark 4:26-29; Eph 4:7-16). You
will submit the paper for evaluation through the following stages:
Context of the Passage (60 pts)
The context section will run between 3-4 pages in length, double-
spaced in 12 point Times New Roman font type. This portion of your
exegesis paper has two sections. The first section in your Introduction
that serves as an overview of what you will write concluding with a
thesis/purpose statement that alerts the reader as to what you plan to
achieve in the writing of the paper.
The second section is the most important and should receive the
bulk of your attention. Here you will explore the historical, cultural, and
literary contexts of the passage selected. The Introduction,
Historical, Cultural, and Literary sections will have a separate centered
heading following Turabian style. (CLO: B)
BEFORE YOU TURN THE ASSIGNMENT IN, MAKE SURE IT MEETS THE
FOLLOWING:
3-4 pages in length
Double spaced
12-point Times New Roman
Two Sections
1st section
Introduction (Overview of what you will write)
Concludes with a thesis/purpose statement
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Is it a complete single sentence that offers the main
subject of the paper and the primary conclusion drawn
from the research?
Is it clear and concise?
Thesis/purpose statement should be underlined,
bolded, or highlighting in yellow like this.
2nd section
Historical (Overview of the time frame in which the
passage was written)
Cultural (cultural matters that were current in the society
when passage was written.)
Literary (pay attention to genre or type of literature,
placement in the larger book, and any unique literary
features that cause the passage to stand out.
Repetition of a particular word
Emphasis on a specific location
Separate Centered Heading for each segment
Turabian style
Verify against Page Formatting on Turabian Format Quick Guide
Did I use “quotation marks around the titles of shorter works
(i.e., articles or poems); use italics for the names of larger works
(i.e., books or plays).”
Reflects graduate level vocabulary
Use 3rd person to write (he, she, it)
Did I use active voice?
In historical writing, use simple past tense. When referencing the
author’s written work, use present tense.
Review for plagiarism
If you borrow someone else’s quote, idea, or what they said,
make sure to cite them. Better safe than sorry.
Did I use resources from Jerry Falwell Library?
What sources did I find at Jerry Falwell Library for this
assignment?
Grading Rubric:
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Introduction and Thesis Statement
oConcise paragraph or two that provides a clear overview of a
topic with a clearly identified thesis statement
Context
oThe paper exhaustively explores the various context elements
(literary, historical, theological, canonical, etc.) so as to place the
text in its proper situation.
Style
oThe paper exceeds current Turabian standards set forth in the
course. The paper assigns headings to each distinct section. The
paper reflects graduate level vocabulary and is free from any
grammar errors.
Developing the Assignment:
Read: Thesis Statements – Defining, Developing, and
Evaluating
Developing my thesis statement:
Step One: Read my assignment repeatedly until I have a
good sense of the goal and purpose.
oWhat kind of thesis do I need? (summary, findings)
Step Two: Research What sorts of issues and questions
am I interested in discussing?
oFormulate a research question
oAs my professor for feedback
oConnect with a research librarian for source
recommendations
oUse Lu’s databases and library resources
oCapture relevant material (and citation information)
as I’m doing research.
Step Three: Review everything I have captured and look
for patterns and essential points that you think are critical
to include. Work to connect the information you have to
your own ideas and ways that make logical senses and that
demonstrate your mastery of the material you discuss.
There are stages in developing a thesis:
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Stage 1: Thesis Idea
oWhat is the writing topic I am exploring?
oAnswer these key questions:
What composition category is this? (research
paper, book review, report, case study,
discussion post, essay, group presentation,
meeting report, journal article, etc.)?
What tone will I be writing in? (formal, informal,
academic, non-academic, etc.)
What kind of audience/reader is involved?
(academic, professional, informal/personal, etc.)
What is the length and depth of the paper? (#
pages, etc.)
What is my intent for the paper? (inform,
evaluate, persuade, motivate, etc.)?
Stage 2: Initial draft of thesis statement
oConsider how much support is available to support
your thesis statement.
Stage 3: Final thesis statement.
oContinue refining the thesis statement as you
complete your research.
oSharpen the focus
Watch: Exegetical Fallacies
Choose a verse to write the paper on:
Psalm 1:1–6
Mark 4:26–29
Ephesians 4:7–16
Review Turabian Format Quick Guide
oDownload and print for reference: Turabian Chart of
Citations
oAnnotated Bibliography sample
oSacred Book References pdf for reference
oPrint Capitalization Glossary for reference
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oDownload and print Choosing Appropriate Resources for
Academic Papers
Read Choosing Appropriate Resources for
Academic Papers
Review Video Tutorials
oInsert heading levels into template and populate
Contents
oRemove Contents page from template video
oUsing MS Word in insert footnote…
oPlagiarism series Video #1 – “direct quotes”
No more than 1 maybe 2 block quotes in 10-12
page notes.
No more than 3-5 shorter quotes for the same
amount of pages
Adjust down based on actual pages you write.
oPlagiarism series Video #2 – “How and when to cite
your sources”
Direct or paraphrased content; must cite your
sources. Excuse cannot be that you forgot or made
a mistake.
oPlagiarism series Video #3: “Three Kinds of Plagiarism”
Intentional – coursehero.com to locate read or get
someone to write your paper for you. Making up
content and citing. Copying thoughts and content
that may not be from students who actually
understood or passed.
Unintentional – fail to give proper attribution to the
original author of the content. Missing citation,
quotations, or both.
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Self-plagiarism is using content from previously
graded work that was not originally developed for
the assignment you are turning in.
No more than 10% of a prior class paper, if
you have to. Make sure you have permission
from both professors.
oPlagiarism series video #4 “proactive and foolproof
steps to avoid plagiarism.
Review Turabian-Based Writing Guide
Review brief video tutorial on who to restrict searches at the
Jerry Falwell Library.
Review how to use the Research Guides at the Jerry Fallwell
Library.
Review how to search for sources in the Jerry Falwell Library
Review General Principles of Biblical Interpretation
Download and print Turabian Sample Paper
Download Turabian Template (with headings)
Set up the template for use in this assignment.
Go ahead and make headings for each page,
without the content yet.
Make sure that it is set up for double space, 12-
point Times New Roman font.
Meaning of the Passage and Bibliography
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In the Meaning portion of the paper, you are analyzing the text
verse by-verse utilizing the commentaries and journal articles
listed in your Bibliography. I should see a significant number of
footnotes in this section as you interact with and engage with
comments and observations of commentators and journal article
authors. Pay attention to the text! Your interpretation of the text
should be based in the text not imposed upon the text from
some external source. Students should use Ecologies of Faith in a
Digital Age to assist them in identifying spiritual formation
insights from their selected passage. This portion of the paper
should run between 4-5 pages double-spaced in 12-point font.
(CLO: B, C)
Significance, Application, and Conclusion
The Significance and Application portion of the paper should run
between 2-3 pages double-spaced in 12 point font type. You re-write
the Context and Meaning portions as needed, taking into consideration
any feedback provided by the professor. In this final portion of the
paper, address the significance and application of the passage to the
Christian life and church ministry. In particular, I am interested in you
showing how your reading and study of the text Ecologies of Faith in a
Digital Age, relates to your interpretation of the meaning and
application of your selected passage. Each paper must have a coherent
conclusion that summarizes the content of your paper. Carefully edit
the full paper for typos, spelling, grammar, and syntax. Proficiency in
the use of Turabian format is expected. (CLO: B, C)
Please note: The sample paper provided is not a perfect paper. However, it
gives you a general idea of the type of work you will need to submit in order
to obtain a satisfactory grade for this assignment. The School of Divinity
Writing Guide encourages students to use third person unless exempted by
the professor.
