Vanderbilt University Department of  Religious Studies, College of Arts and Science

Appendix # 3

By TUESDAY February 19

You should have proposed your top three choices of a Biblical text [ranked in order of preference]........among the biblical books which are NOT discussed during the first half of the semester. (You will know by February 21 which of your three choices has been assigned to you.). 3-4 pages Take-Home Mid-Term paper prososal = 10% of Final Grade

A) Which one of the four contextual ways of interpretation will you use?

1) in a cultural/way of life context (Inculturation)?

2) in a social, economic, or political context where people are oppressed or deprived (Liberation)?

3) in a literary/communication [media] cultural context with its texts and other cultural artifacts, and media (Inter(con)textual)?

4) in a religious context with its religious experiences and rituals (Sacramental/liturgical)?

Why not the others? You need to show an in-depth understanding of the difference between these contextual ways. Review your notes on the lectures and class discussion.

B) Which one of the 5 strategies for becoming self-conscious about the contextual character of your biblical interpretation will you emphasize?

1) Paying attention to the ways in which they “affect certain groups of people” (e.g., an aspect of feminist interpretations)?

2) Studying the history of reception of biblical texts ?

3) “Reading with ordinary readers”?

4) “Breaking biblical texts” (using traditional ways of reading, particular to each culture)?

5) “Producing alternate contextual interpretations” (challenging existing interpretation)?

Why not the others? You need to show an in-depth understanding of these strategies, by explaining how you will actually implement one of these in your paper, and what are the resources you need to do so. Review your notes on the lectures.

C) Which one of the traditional interpretations of Scripture your interpretation is the closest to yours?

Why not the others? You need to show an in-depth understanding of these traditional interpretations of Scripture

D) Preliminary Analysis of your Text:   an Overall Presentation of the Biblical Book, so as to identify and locate in it the specific passages and textual features that will be discussed in detail. (Use scholarly sources)

Prepare a “contextual interpretation” (a contextual commentary) of a book of the Bible of your choice (the body of your paper). Compare it with the interpretation found in the GBC, emphasize the differences so as to further show what is most distinctive in your interpretation and how thoroughly it is inculturated and contextualized.

Prepare your 15-18 double-spaced page paper in 3 parts, after CHOOSING A BIBLICAL BOOK (in consultation with the instructor: you must have chosen a biblical book by TUESDAY,  FEBRUARY 19.)

-PART: I- YOUR LIFE CONTEXT AND THE TEXT (30%)

a) Introduction: Identifying the Life-Context in which the Biblical Book Is Interpreted. Your concrete presentation of the context from which you write.  This sketch underscores those features of your situation which are related to the "contextual questions" that will be raised (see below, b).  These features will be geographical, and also religious, cultural, political, economic, and/or social.   This is either a "I" discourse, but more likely a "we, in this context" discourse.

How does your life-context compare with (differ from) the life context of the GBC commentary on the same book?

b) Analyzing the Life Context, its Problems and the Theological Issues it Raises Regarding the Relationship between the People of God and World.     The Contextual and Theological Questions that focus

1) your reading of the biblical book and

2) the GBC reading of the book.

This involves identifying in each case how “the people of God” is defined and how “the world” is defined, then to proceed to a two-way preliminary analysis of this present-day context in terms of the text and of the text in terms of the present-day context.   This involves in each case:

1) pointing out those specific problems and issues regarding the relationship between the people of God and the world in that context which is highlighted by the text; and

2) identifying the specific passages of the text which are most significant in view of the context and the issues it raises.

1) Considering this life-context from the perspective of the given biblical book as corrective lenses, one can ask:   What are the problems or needs concerning the relationship between the people of God and the world that the People of God should address in this situation for the sake of the world?   For the sake of the people of God and its members?  For instance:   Are these needs related to the religious make up of the society, and concerns the relationship of the people of God to other religions or to a non-religious, secular majority?  Are these cultural needs concerning the world view and the life-style of people in that context?  Educational needs? Social needs concerning justice in this society and its structures of power and authority?  Economic needs (regarding poverty, economic oppression, lack of healthcare)?  Political needs calling for the confrontation of a corrupt political power?

2) Conversely, considering the given biblical book from the perspective of this life-context you also need to ask:  What does this biblical book say regarding the relationship of the People of God to the world in this specific context in which the commentator is?  Does it concern a mission of the People of God toward the world  (toward individuals and communities beyond its borders)?    If so, what kind of mission?  Or, alternately, does it concern the active place and role of the People of God in society and culture (from  which it may not really be regarded as separated)?  Does the biblical book address the relationship of the people of God with political, economic, and social institutions and authorities? What does it say or imply about interactions with other religions?  What are the other concrete or theological issues concerning the People of God in its relationship to the world? 

Most biblical books will contain material addressing many of these issues. You must therefore choose one (or a very few) of these issues, because it is particularly important in your present context. Is this an issue: Concerning the relationship between Christian and cultural identity (best addressed with an inculturation approach)? Concerning social and justice problems (best addressed with a liberation approach)? Concerning the relationship between Christians and other religions or groups (best addressed with an inter(con)textual approach)? Concerning the sanctification/sacralization of the world (best addressed through a sacramental/liturgical approach).

-PART II---YOUR CONTEXTUAL COMMENTARY

5%  a) Analysis of  the Text I:   an Overall Presentation of the Biblical Book, so as to  locate in it the passages and textual features that will be discussed in detail. (Use scholarly sources) [[prepared as part of your proposal; might be revised]

40%  b) Analysis of  the Text II:   Commentary upon the  passages that addresses the contextual issues).  (Use scholarly sources!) It includes:

1) an analysis of each passage (highlighting its most significant features, with the help of one or another critical approach:  historical (showing the contextual character of the biblical book),  narrative, structural, literary (in the text) or “in front of the text” (how the text affects its readers);  and

2) comments on the way it addresses or fails to address the issues concerning the relationship  between people of God and the world which were outlined above.

-PART  III-  20%  YOUR COMMENTARY AND GBC

Differences with the GBC Interpretation: What textual features did it emphasize that you did not emphasize or even consider?  What textual features did you emphasize that it did not emphasize or even consider?

-PART IV---5% OVERALL CONCLUSIONS: 

The Teaching of the Text for Believers Today in the Given Life-Context.  Implications for the People of God in the given context.  The answers to the questions of part “-I- b.”   Is this teaching helpful in the present situation?  Does it ignore major problems the people of God has to face in this given context?  Does is it exacerbate a problematic relationship between people of God and world?

SHORT BIBLIOGRAPHY for the biblical book and the contextual issues discussed.

PAPER DUE---Monday, April 28 at 9:00am