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Vanderbilt
University |
TOPIC OF YOUR PAPER
PAPER DUE Monday, April 28 at 9:00am
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