What overall theological emphases of the letter might contribute to a better understanding of the meaning of the chosen passage?

Interpretation Paper — BIBL 318
(Wallace)
Length: 12-15 pages (double-spaced,
New Times Roman 12 pt. font)
Due date: see syllabus for due date.
Purpose: The purpose of this paper
is to effectively interpret a biblical passage in one of Paul’s letters and
recognize relevant theological truths from the passage.
Directions: After praying and asking
God for wisdom, choose a passage in one of Paul’s letters that interests you of
approximately 5-12 verses. Up to this point in the course, you have already
completed the basic exegetical steps for interpreting a passage. You have read
most of the Paul’s letters, answered relevant questions concerning Paul’s
theology and context, and gained insight into the historical, cultural, and
theological background of Paul through your reading and quizzes.
Now you are ready to take additional
general interpretive steps for the paper. First, read your chosen passage several
times, jotting down observations and questions (about the author, audience,
purpose, tone, key words, difficulties, etc.). Second, divide the passage into
“units of thought” (similar to contemporary paragraphs), be aware of Paul’s
thought rhymes and contrasts, and decide which of these “units of thought”
(sections) of your chosen passage will be the primary focus of the paper (these
divisions may also help in coming up with sub-headings for your paper for the
interpretive section). Third, when reading, use different translations and
available scholarly Bible study tools in determining the significant words and
phrases of the passage.
Once you have determined the
specific passage and its divisions and have interacted with the text in asking
relevant questions, follow the steps below to gather detailed notes for writing
the body of your paper:
Consider how the chosen passage fits within the overall
flow of the book, particularly the preceding and following passages (when
writing your paper, keep this information to about two paragraphs).

How does this passage relate to the author’s overall
purpose?
What overall theological emphases of the letter might
contribute to a better understanding of the meaning of the chosen
passage?

Research the cultural-historical background of the
passage (consult Commentaries and relevant Bible Dictionaries or helpful
background books such as the IVP Biblical Background Commentary by Craig
Keener).
Make note of any literary devices and their function in
the passage.
For key sentences of the passage, analyze the grammar
and function (consult exegetical commentaries or a Greek Grammar).
Analyze key words/phrases of the passage:

Determine the range of meaning that the author may
have intended by (1) consulting other translations and relevant lexicons
(BDAG preferred) and (2) see how the author used these key words
elsewhere in the letter.
Consider how this word used in other books of the New
Testament or Old Testament (LXX).
relevant, consider how this word is used in Greco-Roman
culture.
Based on the above analysis, decide on authorial
intent and meaning for the significant word(s) and phrase(s).
Investigate how the theological concepts of the chosen
passage relate to biblical and theological teaching in the letter.
Consider how the theological concepts of the chosen
passage might relate to biblical and theological teaching elsewhere in
Paul’s letters.

Investigate how the theological concepts of the chosen
passage relate to biblical and theological teaching in Paul.
Draw out two or more theological truths from the
passage—be specific and clear.
Apply these truths to a relevant and practical issue in
ministry
When you have completed gathering
relevant notes in the above steps, you are now ready to organize and write your
paper. (It is likely that students will gather more information than five
pages. A good paper will do this and allow for editing, reducing, and revising
so the information is written cohesively with clarity.)
Introduction (in one paragraph gain attention in a relevant
manner, and at the end of the paragraph write a one-sentence thematic
thesis sentence).
Body of the Paper
Interpretation (7 or more pages)
Explain how this passage fits within the overall flow
of the letter, particularly in relation to the theological flow of the
letter (Step A—keep this part to less than a page)
Explain the meaning of the passage, specifically what
the author intended his reader(s) to understand “then” in the first
century context (organize the information from steps B thru E based on the
internal divisions of the passage—6 or more pages).
Theological Truths (4 pages)
Incorporate information from steps F and G—dedicate at
3 pages on how the theological concepts of the chosen passage relate to
biblical and theological teaching within the letter
In one page, explain how the theological concepts of
the chosen passage relate to biblical and theological teaching elsewhere
in Paul’s letters.
Application (1-2 pages)
Apply one or more of the theological truths to a
practical ministry situation today.
Or apply one or more of the theological truths to the
believer’s life and Christian practice
Conclusion (in one or two paragraphs, restate the main
ideas of paper without adding new information)
Bibliography (at least 12 scholarly sources—including
two exegetical commentaries and three or more scholarly journal articles).
Grading Criteria
Content (65%) – degree to which the
paper adequately interprets a passage in one of Paul’s letters (engaging in
scholarly research and evidencing the above exegetical steps), contributes to a
better understanding of Paul’s theological emphasis of the passage in his
letter, and applies key theological truths to a contemporary situation.
Grammar and style (25%) – degree to
which the paper is free of errors, well organized, written with cohesive
paragraphs, appropriate for the university level.
Formatting (10%) – degree to which
the paper utilizes scholarly sources and follows the conventions for citing
sources (Turabian style unless student receives approval to use APA).
Week 2:
Paul’s Conversion, Ministry, and Theology (Creation) (Aug 30 – Sept 4)
Submit your proposed paper passage (5-12
verses) from one of Paul’s letters. See the Final Paper Instructions for
detailed information on the expectations and requirements for this paper.
This
assignment is due by Friday at 11:59 pm.
2 Timothy 4 English Standard Version
Preach the Word
4 I charge you in the presence of
God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and
by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in
season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete
patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound[a] teaching, but having
itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own
passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth
and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do
the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and
the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good
fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid
up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous
judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to
all who have loved his appearing.

Week 3: Paul’s Letter and Paul’s Gospel
(Sept 6 – Sept 11)

The thesis sentence and bibliography
are due this week (3). The initial thesis should be one sentence and serve as a
“mini-outline” of the paper giving the reader clear direction as to what the
paper will cover (if listing items/phrases, keep these items grammatically
parallel).
For the bibliography, include
12 scholarly sources that relate directly to the passage. Two of these need to
be exegetical commentaries focused on interpreting the selected Pauline letter,
and three of these sources need to be from scholarly peer-reviewed journal
articles. Use proper Turabian format.
This
assignment is due by Friday at 11:59 pm.
(Sept 20 – Sept 25)
Rough Draft—submit a rough draft of approximately 6 pages of the
body of the paper which evidences relevant scholarly research (include the thesis
sentence and bibliography).

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