RLGN 325 Bible Study Assignment 1
Liberty RLGN 325 Bible Study Assignment 1
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?
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?
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:
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.
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.
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:
Cause and Effect:
Figures of Speech:
Significant Conjunctions:
Significant Verbs:
Significant Pronouns:
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):
Lists:
Cause and Effect:
Figures of Speech:
Significant Conjunctions:
Significant Verbs:
Significant Pronouns:
Questions and Answers:
Dialogue:
Means:
Purpose/Result Statements:
General to Specific and Specific to General:
Conditional Clauses:
Actions/Roles of God:
Actions/Roles of People:
Emotional Tests
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.
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 Zondervan Illustrated Bible Commentary and make a list of all the ways the information helps you understand the conversation between Jesus and the woman.
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:
5. Write a complete paragraph describing how Acts 1:7–8 relates to the passages listed in #1 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:
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.