Paul’s journey

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:

1. 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?
2. 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).
3. Make note of any literary devices and their function in the passage.
4. For key sentences of the passage, analyze the grammar and function (consult exegetical commentaries or a Greek Grammar).
5. Analyze key words/phrases of the passage:

1. 1. 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.
   2. Consider how this word used in other books of the New Testament or Old Testament (LXX).
   3. relevant, consider how this word is used in Greco-Roman culture.
   4. Based on the above analysis, decide on authorial intent and meaning for the significant word(s) and phrase(s).
   5. Investigate how the theological concepts of the chosen passage relate to biblical and theological teaching in the letter.
   6. Consider how the theological concepts of the chosen passage might relate to biblical and theological teaching elsewhere in Paul’s letters.

1. Investigate how the theological concepts of the chosen passage relate to biblical and theological teaching in Paul.
2. Draw out two or more theological truths from the passage—be specific and clear.
3. 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)

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.

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

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.