Course Description - The study of the methods of Biblical interpretation.

1. General Introduction
2. The Allegorical Method
3. The Literal Method
4. The History of Interpretation
5. The Interpretation of Words
6. The Interpretation of Context
7. The Historic Interpretation
8. The Grammatical Interpretation
9. The Interpretation of Figurative Language
10. General Observations Concerning Prophecy
11. Methods of Prophetic Revelation
12. Rules for the Interpretation of Prophecy

Learning Objectives

To understand the various methods to Biblical interpretation and their logical consequences.

Primary Resources

1. King James Bible
2. Interlinear Greek New Testament
3. Interlinear Hebrew Old Testament
4. Strong's Concordance

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Online Resources

Free Bible Study Resources

There are many places online that you can read and study God's Word.  Here are just a few of our favorites.^*

Study the Bible Online (Website based)

These websites have multiple searchable Bible translations, commentaries, dictionaries, reading plans, and more.  You can search by keyword, reference, or topic.

	BibleGateway.com	Dozens of English Bible Translations and commentaries. Many other languages also supported
	BibleHub.com	Many English Bible Translations, and see them all at once, verse-by-verse
	BibleStudyTools.com	Multiple English Translations, Encyclopedias, Commentaries, Dictionaries, and more
	StudyLight.org	Many Bible Translations and Study Materials available

Bible Study Desktop Applications

These free apps for your desktop or laptop offer free search, Bible reading, and study materials in multiple English translations, as well as other languages.  No internet connection required after the initial download.

	e-Sword.net	Windows
	Eloquent	Mac OS X
	The Sword Project	Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and Mobile

Bible Study Mobile Apps

These free apps for your phone, tablet, or mobile device offer free search and bible reading in multiple English translations, as well as other languages.  Many of the Bibles are available to download for offline reading.

YouVersion Bible App	iOS, Android, Windows, Kindle Fire, Other Mobile OSes
OliveTree Bible Apps	iOS, Android, Windows, Mac OS X

Download Audio Bibles

Download the Bible in spoken word form to listen to on your computer, media player, phone, or other device.  This is a great way to enrich your commutes, exercise routine, or other downtime.

Bible.is

Multiple Translations available in audio MP3s. Download for offline listening. Options include: Dramatized or not, with or without background music options for some translations.

Other Online Resources

Prophecy Today - prophecytoday.com

The Sanhedrin - thesanhedrin.org

The Temple Institute in Jerusalem, Israel - templeinstitute.org

The Internet Archive - Text Archive Search - archive.org. Millions of books that are now in the public domain, including many Study Bibles, Commentaries, Devotionals, etc. that are available for online reading or download.

Dallas Theological Seminary Library Rare Books - rarebooks.dts.edu

Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) - ccel.org. a digital library of hundreds of classic Christian books.

Project Gutenberg: Free ebooks - gutenberg.org

Strong's Concordance with Hebrew and Greek Lexicon - eliyah.com

Biblical History Maps - ancienthistory.about.com

Bible Timeline - timeline.biblehistory.com

Bible Atlas - openbible.info

Lee University - List of English Bible translations on online sources for them - leeuniversity.edu

Internet Bible Catalog - bibles.wikidot.com

Thru the Bible Radio with J. Vernon McGee (full 5-year program available to download as mp3s)

Arutz Sheva - israelnationalnews.com News out of Israel

The Jerusalem Post - jpost.com News out of Israel

LibreOffice - Free, Legal, Safe, Cross-platform office suite - libreoffice.org

^* External pages are not maintained or controlled by the School of Prophets or Shofar Communications, Inc..
Inclusion on this page doesn't necessarily mean that everything on these sites is endorsed or supported by Shofar Communications, Inc..
But, of course, we do fully endorse the Bible itself.
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Reference List

Ramm, Bernard. Protestant Biblical Interpretation. 3rd. revised edition, 1970. Baker Books: Grand Rapids, MI. This book is to be read before starting the 12 Lessons. You will asked to reread portions of this book as you go through the various assignments. Pentecost, Dwight. Things to Come. 1958. Zondervan Publishing House. Grand Rapids, MI.

Grade: 100%

Weekly Paper - 7% each = 50%
Final Project = 25%
Final Examination = 25%

Deliverables

The Weekly Paper is due at the end of each week.
The Final Project is due at the beginning of the fifteenth week
The Final Examination is due at the end of the fifteenth week.

WEEK ONE: General Introduction

Reading: Pentecost: Things to Come pages 1-4. Ramm pages 1-22.

Supplemental Reading: Ramm, Bernard. Protestant Biblical Interpretation. 3rd. revised edition, 1970. Baker Books: Grand Rapids, MI.

Study Questions

1. What does the study of hermeneutics give us?
2. How does your choice of interpretative approach play out in a doctrine such as amillennial verses premillennial?

Deliverable

Two page paper: The author points out in his introduction the importance of having a systematic approach to the interpretation of Scripture. There are two basic approaches. One is a literal method of interpretation and the other involves an allegorical approach. Discuss the logical conclusions of these two approaches.

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WEEK TWO: The Allegorical Method

Reading: Pentecost pages 4-9. Ramm pages 23-45.

Study Questions

1. Define the allegorical method interpretation.
2. Discuss the history of the allegorical method. How does it unfold throughout history?

Deliverable

Two page paper on: Looking at the history of how the allegorical method has been applied to the interpretation of Scripture, what are the dangers of this allegorical approach?

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WEEK THREE: The Literal Method

Reading: Pentecost pages 9-15. Ramm pages 45-60.

Study Questions

1. Define the literal method of interpretation.
2. Discuss the history of the literal method. How does it unfold throughout history?
3. Literal method and figurative speech. For a person who approaches Biblical interpretation literally, how is figurative speech interpreted?

Deliverable

Two page paper: What are some of the objections to the literal approach and how might you respond to these objections?

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WEEK FOUR: The History of Interpretation

Reading: Pentecost pages 16-33.

Deliverable

Ten page paper: Trace the historical evolution of interpretation beginning with Ezra and the book of Nehemiah through the post reformation era. Discuss the consequences of each method of interpretation during this time.

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WEEK FIVE:The Interpretation of Words

Reading: Pentecost pages 34-36. Ramm 128-136.

Deliverable

Ten page paper on: Discuss the 10 principles to be employed in the introduction of words as outlined by Thomas Hartwell Horne in his excellent book, "Introduction to the Critical Study and Knowledge of the Holy Scriptures" as found in Pentecost, pages 34-35. If words do have meanings, then why is using these principles essential to coming to the true meaning of Scripture.

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WEEK SIX: The Interpretation of Context

Reading: Pentecost page 36. Ramm pages 249 (iii) to 253.

Deliverable

Ten pages: Discuss the following issues:

1. Discuss the various principles covered by Pentecost, page 36.
2. How might these principles be applied to Matthew 24.

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WEEK SEVEN: The Historic Interpretation

Reading: Pentecost pages 36-37. Ramm pages 154 (b) -162.

Supplemental Reading: Matthew 24

Deliverable

Ten Page Paper: 

1. What are the basic assumptions for historical interpretation as listed in Pentecost quoting Lewis Berkhof, principles of interpretation, p113 ff?
2. In view of these presuppositions, what are the demands of historical interpretation on the interpreter as laid out by Berkhof?
3. Choose a passage of Scripture and explain this passage based on the principles of historical interpretations.

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WEEK EIGHT: The Grammatical Interpretation

Reading: Pentecost pages 38-39. Ramm pages 136(b) - 142.

Deliverable

Ten Page Paper:

There are 5 main principles associated with grammatical interpretation as found in Ramm. Select 10 words (be sure to include both verbs and nouns). Using www.OnlineBible.org searching each word, report all of the information available to you. After completing the ten words, discuss how this might help you in future Biblical study.

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WEEK NINE: The Interpretation of Figurative Language

Reading: The Interpretation of Figurative Language

Deliverable

Ten Page paper: 

David Cooper states: "When the plain sense of Scripture, makes common sense, seek no other sense." Pentecost gives several rules given by Horne concerning the interpretation of figurative speech.

Discuss the use of figurative language in the Bible. Then, how do we determine if a passage is literal or figurative? Then, discuss the interpretation of figurative language.

Compare the statement of David Cooper with Horne's set of rules.

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WEEK TEN: General Observations Concerning Prophecy

Reading: Pentecost pages 45-49. Ramm pages 163-184.

Deliverable

Ten page paper:  Discuss the principles: the characteristics of prophecy, the time element in prophecy, the law of double reference, and conditional prophecies. Select two prophecies and discuss them in light of these principles.

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WEEK ELEVEN: Methods of Prophetic Revelation (ways of communicating prophecy - types, symbols, parables, and dreams)

Reading: Pentecost pages 50-59. Ramm pages 241-275.

Deliverable

Ten page paper: Select one illustration each (type, symbol, etc) and discuss how this passage is used and what you believe the meaning to be.

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WEEK TWELVE: Rules for the Interpretation of Prophecy

Reading: Pentecost pages 59-64. Ramm pages 157-162.

Deliverable

Ten page paper: There are nine rules. Explain why each of the nine rules is essential to the correct interpretation of the prophetic passages of God's Word. Choose a passage where all nine rules apply. Tell what each contributes to that passage.

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FINAL PROJECT (25 percent)

Hermeneutics is simply a systematic approach to Biblical interpretation. Pentecost states on page 3 "The primary need for a system of hermeneutics is to ascertain the meaning of the word of God." Hermeneutics enables us to rightly divide the Word of God and gives us a certainty of what has been said. If you simply pick and choose your approach to Biblical interpretation you will often come away with uncertainly of meaning and certainly no assurance of faith.

How did they get here?  Using the material in this course explain how a person could end up with an amillennial view of prophecy. (hint: allegory). Where would you end up if you interpret the same Scriptures literally?

FINAL EXAMINATION (25 percent) (Student may be exempt by maintaining an "A" average on deliverables and final project.)

The final examination will be open book and the questions used will be taken directly from the weekly Study Questions and the Paper topics. Due at the end of the fifteenth week.

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