BIBL 104

BIBL 104 Module 2 and 3 Discussion and Replies

Topic: In the assigned reading related to your Discussion Board Forum, Duvall & Hays discussed the importance of the historical-cultural context (Chapter 5). Throughout the chapter, they identify the key aspects you should consider related to the historical-cultural context when you study Scripture. Pulling specifically from the Duvall & Hays text and synthesizing into your own words, write a 250–300-word response to the 3 prompts below.

Answer the 3 prompts in 3 separate paragraphs, using about 100 words each.

1.      What can happen when people approach the Bible without any concern for the historical-cultural context?

2.      Besides those examples cited in this chapter, please give and explain an example of how understanding the historical-cultural context can shed significant light on the meaning of a specific biblical text. Cite the specific passage you are discussing in your post. (ex. Is. 40:27–30).

3.      For people living in an “instant application” society such as ours, what can persuade them to put forth effort to study the historical-cultural context?

Post your thread by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday of Module/Week 2. Post your replies by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday.

BIBL 104 Module 5 Bible Dictionary Project Instructions

 

For these 2 distinct projects, imagine you are writing a series of short articles for a Bible Dictionary. As we have seen in our study, Bible dictionaries are useful tools to learn more about the books, people, and places we encounter in Scripture.

 

Your task will be to write:

1.      Three concise 200–250-word essays about a book, person, and setting/place from the Old Testament (Due at the end of Module/Week 5).

2.      Three concise 200–250-word essays about a book, person, and setting/place from the New Testament (Due at the end of Module/Week 8).

 

Content Guidelines: Choose 1 book, person, and place from the list of the provided topics for each of the 2 projects.

 

Your essay must include the following per item:

 

Book:

Your biblical book essay must include: The basic literary genre, authorship, date written, key themes, purposes, major events, and main personalities.

 

Person:

This essay must include: The dates of the character’s life, place of birth, summary of their role or positions held, defining events in their life and work, contemporaries (other biblical characters they are associated with, etc.), and their legacy. If they are a biblical author, list the related works.

 

Setting/Place (i.e., municipality, kingdom, empire):

This essay must include: The keys dates (i.e., founding, demise, etc.), clarification of the location (regional description, the relevance of the place from a biblical/Ancient Near East (ANE) perspective, associated biblical books where it is a backdrop or central location), key attributes (religion, commerce, key figures, etc.), and associated biblical books.

 

Formatting Guidelines:

• Use 1 Word document for each stage of submission (That is, all of your Old Testament Bible Dictionary Project will be on 1 document, and all of your New Testament Bible Dictionary Project will be on 1 document).
• Use 12-point, Times New Roman font.
• Save your document according to the following filename formats:
• Module/Week 5 – LastnameFirstInitialOTBDP.doc (Example: DoeJOTBDP)
• Module/Week 8 – Lastname_FirstInitialNTBDP.doc (Example: DoeJNTBDP)
• Use the Bible Dictionary Project Template to format your summaries.

 

Submit the assignments to SafeAssign by the end of the assigned module/week. The first project is due by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday of Module/Week 5. The second project is due by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday of Module/Week 8.

 

BIBL 104 Week 6 Fourm 2

Topic: In Chapter 6 of the Duvall & Hays text, the authors discuss the importance of the literary context. Throughout the chapter, they once again identify the key aspects we should consider related to the literary context when we engage the Bible. Pulling specifically from the Duvall & Hays text and synthesizing into your own words, write a 250–300-word response to the 3 prompts below. Once again it may be helpful to you to bring in some of your personal experiences with these issues in light of what we have learned from our reading.

Answer the 3 prompts in 3 separate paragraphs, using about 100 words each.

1.      What happens if you carefully consider the surrounding context of a passage, but ignore its literary genre?

2.      Besides those examples cited in this chapter, what are some instances of interpreting a biblical passage apart from its immediate context? That is, give and explain an example of how ignoring the immediate can lead to an erroneous understanding or application of the text? Cite the specific passage you are discussing in your post. (ex. Rom. 6–16).

3.      When is topical preaching contextually valid? When does it disregard and violate context?

Post your thread by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday of Module/Week 6. Post your replies by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday.

BIBL 104 Module 7 Biblical Worldview Essay Instructions

Rationale for the Biblical Worldview Essay

Every person has a worldview whether he realizes it or not. What is a worldview? James W. Sire defines a worldview as:

 

[A] commitment, a fundamental orientation of the heart, that can be expressed as a story or in a set of presuppositions (assumptions which may be true, partially true or entirely false) that we hold (consciously or subconsciously, consistently or inconsistently) about the basic constitution of reality, and that provides the foundation on which we live and move and have our being.^[1]

 

Stated more succinctly, "…[A] worldview is simply the total set of beliefs that a person has about the biggest questions in life."  F. Leroy Forlines describes such questions as the "inescapable questions of life."  Life's inescapable questions include the following: "Is there a God? If so, what is He like? How can I know Him? Who am I? Where am I? How can I tell right from wrong? Is there life after death? What should I and what can I do about guilt? How can I deal with my inner pain?"  Life's biggest, inescapable questions relate to whether there is a God, human origins, identity, purpose, and the hereafter, just to mention a few.

 

Satisfying answers to the "inescapable questions of life" are provided by the Holy Scriptures. The Holy Scriptures, consisting of the Old and New Testaments, form the starting point and foundation for the biblical worldview. More specifically related to our purposes, the apostle Paul reflects several components of the biblical worldview in his letter to the Romans.

 

The apostle Paul authored Romans toward the end of his third missionary journey, about 57 A.D. He addressed this letter specifically to the Christians in Rome. At the time the church in Rome consisted of Jewish and Gentile believers, with Gentile Christians in the majority. Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome in order to address specific concerns and challenges they were facing. While Romans was an occasional letter (not a systematic theology), Paul presents the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a very systematic fashion. The Gospel is actually the overarching theme of Romans as Paul spells this out in his programmatic statement in 1:16–17. As the systematic presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Romans is foundational to the biblical/Christian worldview.

 

Recognizing that Romans is not a systematic theology and does not contain all the essential truths that are relevant to a worldview per se, the apostle Paul articulates truths that are foundational to the biblical worldview. In Romans 1–8, Paul addresses certain components of a worldview that relate to the natural world, human identity, human relationships, and culture.

In a 750–1000-word essay, describe what Romans 1–8 teaches regarding (1)the natural world, (2)human identity,(3) human relationships, and (4) culture. Furthermore, (5)explain how this teaching of these topics affects your worldview. Make sure that you address each of these topics in your essay.

 

·         As an essay, it must be written with excellent grammar, spelling, and style.

·         Begin your essay with an interesting introduction that contains a precisely stated thesis. End your essay with a strong conclusion that summarizes your main points succinctly.

 

Structure of assignment paragraphs:

 

·         Introduction/Thesis (approximately 75 words)

·         The Natural World (approximately 150–200 words)

·         Human Identity (approximately 150–200 words)

·         Human Relationships (approximately 150–200 words)

·         Culture (approximately 150–200 words)

·         Conclusion (approximately 75 words)

·         Use each of the categories above as headers for each paragraph in your essay.

·         The body of your essay must address the specified components of the assignment in excellent grammatical style.

·         Your essay must be typed in a Microsoft Word document using Times New Roman, 12-point font.

·         It must be single spaced, and must contain 750–1000 words.

·         All sources must be cited, and a bibliography must be included.

·         Format your paper in a Microsoft Word document using current APA, MLA, or Turabian style (whichever corresponds to your degree program). Review the Biblical Worldview Essay Grading Rubric to see the specific grading criteria by which you will be evaluated before submitting your essay.

·         Do not footnote Scripture references; cite them parenthetically within the essay body following the quotation or allusion to the biblical text.

 

Submit this assignment using SafeAssign by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday of Module/Week 7.