Dr.

Mark Yarbrough, 214-887-5011 BE101PI, Bible Study Methods and Hermeneutics, 3 hours
Dallas Theological Seminary Passion City Church
myarbrough@dts.edu Course Dates: 1/17 – 3/7
(personal admin: pcole@dts.edu) Live Lectures: WebEx 1/27 (3:30 pm-5pm EST)
Main Contact: PGI Course Manager Marty McKee Wed/Thurs 2/15;2/16 (6pm-9pm)
mmckee@dts.edu Fri 2/17 (10am-4pm)
Sat 2/18 (8am-10am)
Live LAB: Fr 2/17 (6pm-9pm)
Sat 2/18 (10:30am-4pm)

BIBLE STUDY METHODS AND HERMENEUTICS

SYLLABUS

I. COURSE DESCRIPTION

“An introduction to inductive Bible study involving the steps of observation, interpretation (hermeneutics),
application, and correlation. Principles in these steps are applied to several biblical passages and books.
Required prerequisite or corequisite to all Bible Exposition courses. 3 hours.

II. COURSE OBJECTIVES

A. Cognitive Objectives: By the end of this class the student should be able to …

1. Implement a methodical approach to inductive Bible study steps of Observation, Interpretation,

Correlation, and Application.

2. Effectively function in the hermeneutical world of historical, cultural, rhetorical, and grammatical
interpretation.

3. Understand the need to exegete both the world of the text and the world of the reader for proper
biblical application.

B. Affective Objectives: By the end of this course, the student should …

1. Feel more confident in rightly handling all segments of the Word of God.

2. Appreciate the various literary genres chosen by God to communicate His mind to humanity.

3. Commit to the diligence necessary to be a qualified interpreter of the Scriptures.

III. COURSE TEXTBOOKS

Required

Leland Ryken, How to Read the Bible As Literature. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984.

Roy B. Zuck, Basic Bible Interpretation. Colorado Springs, CO: Chariot Victor Publishing, 1991.

[One of the following two is required]

Robert A. Traina, Methodical Bible Study. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, reprint 1985.

Yarbrough, Mark, How to Read the Bible Like a Seminary Professor. New York, FaithWords, 2015.

An edition of the New American Standard Bible (NASB) without notes, outlines or other prepared
study helps is to be brought to every class unless the student has it available during class on a laptop.

Additional Tools for Study:

1. A good unmarked Bible and Study Bible.

2. An electronic Bible study program.
3. An ample supply of plain paper and pens.
4. Supplementary tools and recommended texts will be presented in class.
BE101PI, Bible Study Methods and Hermeneutics 2
Spring 2017

IV. COURSE REQUIREMENTS

A. Reading Assignments
All of the required textbooks are to be read by the end of course. A suggested reading schedule is
included and suggested. The instructor’s notes (if needed and available) will be posted online. A list
of the topics and required reading is included in the schedule. Students will be asked on the final
course date to report that they have completed the reading (March 7!). This reading accounts for
twenty percent (20 %) of the final grade.
B. Written Assignments (papers, study exercises, charts, etc.)
This is designed as a methods course. Practice is essential to strengthen both the art and the skills of
Bible study. Six small assignments will be given at various points during the course and will not be
unlocked until the student has watched the appropriate videos and/or have participated in live
lectures. These assignments are to be submitted by the prescribed due date, unless otherwise
discussed. These assignments will account for sixty percent (60 %) of the final grade.

C. Course Integration Assignment

No quizzes or examinations will be given. However, students must submit a written course
integration assignment on or before Tuesday, March 7. This exposition of an assigned passage will
be 8 to 12 pages in length, typed, double spaced, and include a bibliography of sources used. The
purpose of this assignment is to enable the student to apply the course principles to a passage and
make an appropriate application. This paper will account for twenty percent (20 %) of the final grade
and will be discussed during the live sessions 2/15 – 2/18.

V. COURSE POLICIES

A. Weight Given to Course Requirements for Grading

1. Reading assignments count for twenty percent (20%) of the final grade.

2. Written assignments count for sixty percent (60%) of the final grade.

3. The course integration assignment accounts for twenty percent (20%) of the final grade.
B. Class Participation
Students will be expected to participate in group projects and class discussion. They will also have
opportunity to share the results of their personal research with the rest of the class on a regular basis.

C. Late Assignments

Each assignment is discussed on the date it is due. Thus, it is impossible to accept late assignments,
since these will already have been reviewed. The work of other students, as well as that of the
professor, will have been given making it unfair to the remainder of the class if late assignments are
accepted. In the event of medical or similar emergency students are responsible to contact the
instructor. Alternate arrangements will be at the discretion of the professor.

D. Absences

Students are expected to attend the online session (WebEx), watch the video sessions, and
attend/participate in the live lectures/labs assigned in the course schedule. For part of the “live”
sessions (Friday evening and Saturday) students will participate in “Lab” through Passion Global
Institute. The Lab will be taught by Ben Stuart and Mark Yarbrough. More information is available
at https://www.passionglobalinstitute.com/labs/ . The Lab is an important part of the class and is thus
mandatory. Extreme medical and family emergencies are rare, however, they do occur. In such a
case the instructor must be notified of the reason and any variation in policy will be at his discretion.
BE101PI, Bible Study Methods and Hermeneutics 3
Spring 2017

E. Letter/Numerical Grade Scale

A+ 99-100 B+ 91-93 C+ 83-85 D+ 75-77 F 0-69

A 96-98 B 88-90 C 80-82 D 72-74
A- 94-95 B- 86-87 C- 78-79 D- 70-71

F. Plagiarism

Students must write papers in their own voice. Sources should be interacted with by means of
quotation and citation, not copied as if they were one’s own thoughts. The attempt to make one’s
paper look better than it is by not citing the sources for facts, or by consistently borrowing another’s
work, or line of thought without citing is considered deceitful and cannot be tolerated in an academic
setting. Students should learn appropriate research, writing and notation procedures. Avoid the
temptation to cut and paste from the Internet or other resources directly into your paper except for
specific, cited points which bolster your paper’s analysis. Plagiarism violations will result in
automatic failure of the project and possibly of the course, and disciplinary procedures in accordance
with the student handbook and student dean’s office.

VI. COURSE SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

A. Access to the Instructor: Students may contact the professor by phone, or email at the following
locations.
Dr. Mark Yarbrough
Dallas Theological Seminary
3909 Swiss Ave., Dallas, TX, 75204
Office phone: 214-887-5011
E-mail myarbrough@dts.edu

Best contact and to schedule an appointment:

Pam Cole (my administrative assistant)
Office phone: 214-887-5010
(pcole@dts.edu)

For course information:

Contact PGI Course Manager Marty McKee (mmckee@dts.edu)
B. Disability policy

DTS does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the operation of any of its programs and
activities. To avoid discrimination, the student is responsible for informing the Coordinator of
Services for Students with Disabilities and the course instructor of any disabling condition that will
require modifications.
C. Copyright and privacy of the professor

Classes may be recorded for personal study purposes or to make up a missed class, but any
recording or written copies of class notes should not be shared with those outside the class, posted
on the web, or published in any fashion without the express permission of the professor.
D. Receive Weather and Flu Alerts by Text Message

DTS also wants you to be aware of our emergency texting service. We strongly urge you to go to
https://www.dts.edu/account/alerts/ and sign up to receive emergency texts related to weather or
disaster school closing
BE101PI, Bible Study Methods and Hermeneutics 4
Spring 2017

VII. COURSE LECTURES AND ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE

Since this is a hybrid course, the student is responsible for watching select videos on Canvas and completing course
work according to the syllabus. The work prior to the “live” sessions is critical. Please note the due dates and submit
work in a timely manner. The live sessions (including the “Lab” [see section V, D for more information]) will build
upon this work and assume the student has a grasp of the previously covered material. The video sessions are from
Dr. Mark Bailey, who also teaches this course on the Dallas campus as well as online. You will find this material
very informative.

The SCHEDULE below outlines the 4 primary units of the course. Unit 1 and 2 will be completed prior to the 2/15 –
2/18 live sessions. Unit 3 outlines the material covered during the live session. Unit 4 is material covered after the
live session. The reading assignments are listed for each unit. At the end of the semester, a reading report is due
asking for the percentage of reading completed – not when it was completed. In other words, read as you desire. The
suggested schedule below will keep pace with the content in each unit. For clarity sake, three books are required for
the course:

Books Abbreviation
 Leland Ryken, How to Read the Bible As Literature. How to Lit
 Roy B. Zuck, Basic Bible Interpretation. BBI
[One of the following two is required]
 Robert A. Traina, Methodical Bible Study. MBS
 Yarbrough, Mark, How to Read the Bible Like a Seminary Professor. Sem Prof

The description of each assignment and the applicable due date is available on the course site on Canvas. Please note
that each assignment will not be available to you until the course videos for each unit have been watched. As this is
a methods course, sequence and mastery of material is important.

Unit Dates Topic Reading Assignment

1 1/17 - 1/27 Introduction/Unit is Open Watch Intro Video

Watch Unit 1 Videos

Bible Study Methods MBS Ch 1-2 (or)
Observation and Rules for Reading Sem Prof Intro-Ch8 Assignment 1
Components of Observation BBI Ch 1-3 Assignment 2
Laws of Literary Composition Assignment 3
1/27 LIVE: WebEx Intro (3:30pm-5:00pm) WebEx Intro

Unit Dates Topic Reading Assignment

2 1/28 – 2/15 Unit 2 is Open
Introduction to Hermeneutics BBI Ch 4-11 Watch Unit 2 Videos
Grammatical Contexts Sem Prof Ch 9-11
Mechanical Layouts Assignment 4
Figures of Speech Assignment 5

Unit Dates Topic Reading Assignment

3 2/15 – 2/18 Unit 3: LIVE at Passion City Church
Interpretation How to Lit (entirety) Assignment 6
Historical/Cultural Backgrounds Sem Prof 12-17 (or) (Done during class)
Narrative Literature MBS Ch 3-4
Poetry/Parables/Epistles/Prophets/PT’s
Live LAB (2/17 evening and day 2/18)

Unit Dates Topic Reading Assignment

4 2/18 – 3/7 Unit 4 is Open
Theological Systems Sem Prof 18-20 Watch Unit 4 Videos
Correlation Final Integration
Application Paper DUE 3/7
BE101PI, Bible Study Methods and Hermeneutics 5
Spring 2017