Hebrew Exegesis
- Arts
- 800 level
- 3 credit units
- 223 pages
- 14 units
This course on Hebrew Exegesis is designed to equip students with a systematic approach to understanding, interpreting, and applying biblical messages. It explores various historical methods of scriptural interpretation, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. The course covers Old and New Testament interpretation, including laws, prophetic books, historical narratives, wisdom literature, Psalms, Gospels, parables, Acts, Epistles, and Revelation. Students will develop skills in lexical analysis, contextual analysis, and hermeneutical principles.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 208 hours
- Maths
- None
- Content
- Theoretical
- Practical work
- No
- Assignments
- Tutor Marked Assignments
- Final Examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of CRS818, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
CRS818 · UNIT 1: General Introduction to Hermeneutics
30Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" 31And he said, "Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
What you should be able to do
- Apply hermeneutical principles to interpret biblical texts accurately.
- Analyze the historical and cultural contexts of biblical passages.
- Evaluate different methods of biblical interpretation.
- Interpret various genres of the Old and New Testaments.
- Develop skills in lexical and syntactical analysis.
- Critically assess different theological perspectives.
What it prepares you for
- Theologian
- Religious Studies Teacher
- Pastor
- Religious Leader
- Biblical Scholar
- Religious Organizations
- Educational Institutions
- Theological Seminaries
- Christian Ministry
- Community Outreach
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 1: General Introduction
Unit 4: Lexical Syntactical Analysis
Lexical-syntactical analysis requires a strong understanding of Greek and Hebrew, which can be challenging for students without prior language training.
- Module 3: Interpreting the New Testament
Unit 5: Interpreting Revelations
The symbolic and apocalyptic nature of the Book of Revelation requires careful attention to historical context and literary devices to avoid misinterpretation.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 77 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1General Introduction
Course Guide · 3 hours
Read the course guide to understand the course structure, objectives, and assessment methods.. Familiarize yourself with the recommended textbooks and online resources..
- Week 2Module 1: General Introduction
Unit 1: General Introduction to Hermeneutics · 6 hours
Define hermeneutics and its importance in biblical interpretation.. Discuss the factors necessitating hermeneutics, such as historical, cultural, and linguistic gaps.. Identify the tools of hermeneutics and the qualities of an interpreter..
- Week 3Module 1: General Introduction
Unit 2: History of Biblical Hermeneutics · 6 hours
Describe the history of hermeneutics from ancient Jewish to modern periods.. Identify major hermeneutists and their roles in shaping hermeneutical principles.. Analyze the methods of hermeneutics prevalent in each historical period..
- Week 4Module 1: General Introduction
Unit 3: Historical-Cultural and Contextual Analysis · 6 hours
Explain the role of historical-cultural and contextual analysis in interpretation.. Identify the steps in determining the general historical-cultural context.. Discuss the process of locating the immediate context of a passage..
- Week 5Module 1: General Introduction
Unit 4: Lexical Syntactical Analysis · 6 hours
Define lexical-syntactical analysis and its importance.. Identify the steps involved in lexical-syntactical analysis.. Discuss methods to determine the meaning of words and use tools for analysis..
- Week 6Module 2: Interpreting the Old Testament
Unit 1: Interpreting Old Testament Laws · 6 hours
Discuss the dilemma of interpreting Old Testament laws.. Identify types and categories of Old Testament laws.. Interpret Old Testament laws using appropriate steps and apply them practically..
- Week 7Module 2: Interpreting the Old Testament
Unit 2: Interpreting Prophetic Books · 6 hours
Explain the prophetic ministry and books.. Classify the prophetic era and discuss the nature of prophecy.. Interpret prophetic books using appropriate steps and apply them practically..
- Week 8Module 2: Interpreting the Old Testament
Unit 3: Interpreting Historical Narratives · 6 hours
Explain the nature and levels of historical narratives.. Identify characteristics and elements of historical narratives.. Interpret historical narratives using appropriate steps and apply them practically..
- Week 9Module 2: Interpreting the Old Testament
Unit 4: Interpreting Wisdom Literature · 6 hours
Identify levels and genres of wisdom literature.. Categorize wisdom literature and discuss literary forms.. Interpret wisdom literature using appropriate steps and apply them practically..
Unit 4: Interpreting Wisdom Literature · 2 hours
Discuss the traditional understanding of wisdom books..
- Week 10Module 2: Interpreting the Old Testament
Unit 5: Interpreting the Psalms · 6 hours
Explain the growth of the Book of Psalms and identify its types.. Discuss technical terms in the Psalter.. Interpret the Psalms using appropriate steps and apply them practically..
- Week 11Module 3: Interpreting the New Testament
Unit 1: Interpreting the Gospels · 6 hours
Discuss the nature of the Gospels and the role of biblical criticism.. Evaluate the historical analysis of the Gospels.. Interpret the Gospels using appropriate steps and apply them practically..
- Week 12Module 3: Interpreting the New Testament
Unit 2: Interpreting the Parables · 6 hours
Define parables and list their types.. Write briefly on the history of interpretation of parables.. Interpret parables using appropriate steps and apply them practically..
- Week 13Module 3: Interpreting the New Testament
Unit 3: Interpreting the Acts of the Apostles · 6 hours
Discuss the historical quality and purpose of the Book of Acts.. Assess the hermeneutical problem of the Book of Acts.. Interpret the Book of Acts using appropriate steps and apply them practically..
Preparing for the exam
- Review all Tutor-Marked Assignments (TMAs) and their feedback to identify areas of weakness.
- Create concept maps linking key hermeneutical principles from Module 1 to specific interpretation methods in Modules 2 and 3.
- Practice applying lexical-syntactical analysis to sample passages from different biblical genres (Old Testament Law, Psalms, Gospels, Epistles).
- Focus on understanding the historical and cultural contexts of each biblical book, especially the Gospels and Revelation.
- Develop a clear understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches to biblical interpretation (allegorical, historical-critical, reader-response).
- Prepare detailed outlines for each unit, summarizing key concepts, arguments, and examples.
- Form a study group to discuss challenging concepts and practice interpreting difficult passages together.
- Allocate specific time slots for focused study of each module, ensuring comprehensive coverage of all units.
- Prioritize understanding the unique characteristics of each biblical genre (law, prophecy, wisdom literature, Gospels, epistles, apocalyptic literature).
- Create flashcards for key terms and concepts, such as hermeneutics, exegesis, historical context, and literary devices.
Questions students ask about this course
What is CRS818 about?
This course on Hebrew Exegesis is designed to equip students with a systematic approach to understanding, interpreting, and applying biblical messages. It explores various historical methods of scriptural interpretation, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. The course covers Old and New Testament interpretation, including laws, prophetic books, historical narratives, wisdom literature, Psalms, Gospels, parables, Acts, Epistles, and Revelation. Students will develop skills in lexical analysis, contextual analysis, and hermeneutical principles.
How many units does CRS818 have?
CRS818, Hebrew Exegesis, has 14 units across 3 modules, over 223 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is CRS818?
CRS818 carries 3 credit units, at 800 level in Arts.
Is CRS818 hard?
CRS818 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical work.
How long does CRS818 take to study?
About 208 hours of study, spread across its 14 units.
How is CRS818 assessed?
CRS818 is assessed by Assignments, Tutor Marked Assignments and Final Examination.
What can I do with CRS818?
Theologian, Religious Studies Teacher, Pastor, Religious Leader and Biblical Scholar.