Vanderbilt University
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Interpreting the Gospels: MATTHEW
Guidelines for Preparing Your
PROPOSAL FOR YOUR RESEARCH PAPER
Choice of your text, due by Monday Sept 26 at 10 am (by e-mail): Choosing a text for your final paper: Give three (3) ranked choices of a text in the second part of Matthew (13 - 28; as sub-divided in the rest of the syllabus) upon which you will want to develop a topic for your final paper (the more specific proposal will be due next week).
Matt 13; Matt 14:1-16:20; Matt 16:21-18:35; Matt 19-22; Matt 23-25; Matt 26-27; Matt 28
Briefly (2-3 lines) explain for each of your 3 ranked choices what would be the focus of your paper (which theme, issue, part of the passage is most interesting for you and why).
[By Sep 26 at 3 pm (the same day), the instructors will assign you one of your texts; we will strive to assign to you your first choice; but each of the passages is important and needs to be discussed.]
Due MONDAY OCT 3: (3-4 double-spaced pages; due as hard copy in class and by e-mail, same day).
YOUR PAPER will be focused on a THEME (or topic, issue) OF YOUR CHOICE, 1) a theme/topic found in (or addressed by) TWO passages of Matthew - one in Matthew 13-28 and one passage in Matthew 1-12 ; and 2) a theme/topic particularly important, helpful, significant for Christian believers who read Matthew as Scripture as a word to live by in a particular context (OF YOUR CHOICE)
[You are free to use one of the topics/themes you previously worked on in your reports regarding a passage in Matthew 1-12.]
YOUR PROPOSAL will be a TENTATIVE outline of your paper (you will be free to change it; and may be prompted to adjust it by the instructors): it will take the shape of an extended report using the Contextual Bible Interpretation Form (that you used in weekly exercises), but now as an argument justifying your choice of a topic. Indeed this time YOU choose the context (as usual), but also YOU choose the specific passages (two passages) and YOU choose the theme (topic). So you need an argument explaining these choices.
IN YOUR PROPOSAL AN INTRODUCTION should briefly identify:
1) the TWO passages from Matthew you chose to deal with:
a) the specific passage in Matthew 13-28 (at least 10 verse long; or a series of shorter passages, according to your topic) in the section of Matthew 13-28 you have been assigned; why is it significant for you (even if it was not your first choice! Sorry!);
b) the specific passage in Matthew 1-12 (at least 10 verse long; or a series of shorter passages, according to your topic) that you chose; why is it most significant for you. How does it complement or help clarify your chosen passage in Matthew 13-28 ? How will it help support your argument?
2) Your choice of a theme; briefly suggest why is it fitting (or is found in) these two passages of Matthew, and why you think it will be important, relevant, and helpful for the particular Christian believers whom you envision in a given concrete context today.
Then your proposal will unfold as an argument addressing the issues raised in the Contextual Bible Interpretation Form (though not necessarily in the same order):
THE CONTEXTUAL BIBLE INTERPRETATION.
IN YOUR PROPOSAL, following the order of the questions of the "Contextual Bible Interpretation Form," tentatively articulate what you anticipate will be the main points you plan to argue in your paper (of course, as you develop your paper and become more specific you will be free to change your mind, emphasize other points, and argue against the points you mention in the proposal … but your proposal must be as convincing as possible!):
Part A & Part B are about your own interpretation the passage in Matthew 1 - 12 and the passage in Matthew 13-28 . YOUR PROPOSAL should outline what you think will be, according to your personal interpretation, the main point of the *teaching* of these two passages of Matthew on the chosen *theme* for Christian believers as you *envision* them in a particular, concrete, and realistic *life-context* today (of your choice), your view/interpretation of the theme (definition), and your analysis of the *needs* it addresses, the *root-problem* you presuppose, and the *role of Scripture* involved.
PART C will include a three way comparison: comparing your interpretation with two scholarly interpretation: a companion interpretation (close to yours) and a diverging interpretation (chosen in the bibliography on the syllabus).You need not to use more than TWO scholarly interpretations of your two texts (chosen in the bibliography on the syllabus). BUT you will need to analyze them critically in great detail.
FOR YOUR PROPOSAL simply tell us who will be these scholars and explain in a general way why you chose these scholars and what will be, you anticipate, the main differences between their interpretations and yours.
Part C 1: IN YOUR PAPER you will present in great detail the DIFFERENCES between YOUR interpretation and the interpretation of your passages in Matthew by the two scholars (chosen in the bibliography on the syllabus) - including the differences in contextual choices [problem, root-problem], analytical choices [what is most significant in the texts], and theological/hermeneutical choices [roles of scripture presupposed and implemented; choices of most important theological themes; and the way these are conceived (See Cambridge Dictionary of Christianity for different plausible understandings of the themes… helping you see the differences between different interpreters choices)].
...More GUIDELINES FOR YOUR RESEARCH PAPER
Your paper should compare YOUR OWN interpretation with at least TWO types of scholarly interpretations (each may be developed and supported by more than one scholar!), showing why these interpretations are LEGITIMATE and PLAUSIBLE even though they are DIFFERENT and arguing which one of these interpretations is the BEST for addressing the needs of the believers in your chosen context.
This is to be a "paper"; it must develop an argument defending a "thesis." It must therefore have an introduction, a body (argument), and a conclusion, supported by sources. It must be very well written, including being very well organized, in well constructed paragraphs with appropriate sub-headings, and with good transitions; making an excellent use of sources (all assertions clearly supported by reference to biblical texts - for Matthew it is enough to include chapter and verses in the SBL format: e.g., 1:1-15 - and to good scholarly works -- the APA form [in text, author's name, page numbers; e.g. "(Blount, 127-129)" referring to a bibliography at the end of the paper] is best, because more succinct.
The thesis you are expected to defend (presented in an introduction that shows the importance of this issue; demonstrated in the body, and tightly argued in the conclusion) must follow either one of two forms, arguing either positively or negatively that:
"A particular interpretation of the chosen passages from Matthew on a chosen theme provides
EITHER the best (most helpful, constructive) teaching for specific Christian believers that you envision in a particular present-day context, both because it best conforms to basic Christian convictions ("loving God") and because it best addresses the needs of these believers and their neighbors ("loving neighbors")." (Note: Everyone can envision such Christians and Christian convictions, whether or not one is a Christian, as one does with believers and beliefs in other religious traditions.)
OR a most dangerous (destructive, oppressive, misleading) teaching for specific Christian believers in a particular present-day context, both because of the dubious basic convictions it presupposes (not "loving God") and because it is hurtful for these believers' neighbors ("loving neighbors") and for these believers themselves."
Length: Since your paper involves comparing three interpretations (presented by you and multiple scholars) regarding their three types of choices, and developed during half of the semester, you need space. Yet, you need to be concise. For undergraduates, I believe a 10-12 double-spaced page paper is a reasonable length (three times 4 pages); but your paper should not exceed 15 pages. For Divinity School Students, 12-15 page paper seems reasonable, because I would expect an extended concluding sections: choosing one or another interpretation has a lot of implications for the pastoral ministry; but your paper should not exceed 20 pages. (Of course, a good practice is to write a longer first draft, then to rewrite it more concisely.)