Old Testament Pericope Essay
Your paper is to be 8 pages double-spaced using Arial 12-point font.
The paper includes the following elements:
• A careful exegesis of the historical context of the passage chosen and the basic message for the people for whom it was written (65–
75 % of your paper)
• Hermeneutical considerations concerning contemporary implications of the passage and its application to writer’s life (25–35 % of your paper). See separate handout for guidance with hermeneutics.
• Appendices and a bibliography
The first thing you need to do is choose a biblical text (pericope) and gather resources for a research paper. Some of what you collect may be used in your final product but most resources that you actually read will influence your paper and, thus, are listed in the bibliography. Suggestions were highlighted in Minor Assignment 3 and your choice might be from one of these texts. Your decision might relate to the resources you find.
A pericope is a self-contained literary unit, something you can cut out of its context and still have it make sense. Because much of the Bible (Old as well as New Testament) circulated orally, it is legitimate to break it down into smaller units. Our modern Bibles, where editors give paragraph divisions and bold headings might be helpful but they are often too long to be one pericope. Thus, it is important to study the text carefully to see how you would divide the text if you were the editor!
Usually, a new pericope involves a change of scene, a new character coming on stage, a different literary form, a specific speech, etc. It is important to choose a section that is not too long for detailed study.
Deciding upon a specific pericope is a personal decision. You may choose something that intrigues you, something about which you have had questions, or something that has application to your personal life.
After choosing your pericope, follow these steps to begin bringing focus to concepts related to your research:
1. Read your pericope with different translations. Make preliminary notes about variations in text (similar to the way you did in minor assignment two). This work will be placed as Appendix One in your final paper. Translations you used will be in the bibliography.
2. Make preliminary notes regarding things you need to consider for your paper: footnotes and cross references. This is similar to minor assignment one, questions 1 & 2. This might help you find articles in the Eerdmans Dictionary that might be of use to you. These articles (by author of article, name of article) will be in bibliography.
3. For IPS 416 − If using a gospel text, determine whether you need to compare your text to other texts in the gospels (use the page in the Synopsis of the Four Gospels) and make notes on changes from one gospel to another. Make sure you also compare texts both before and after your periscope to see if there are any connections that you need to make. This is similar to minor assignment four. This work will be placed as Appendix Two in your final paper.
4. Decide upon a basic commentary to use (examples: New Jerome Biblical, New Collegeville, Paulist Commentary, Harpers, Sacra
Pagina). This is similar to question 3 in minor assignment one. The New Collegeville is available online through the library site. You may ask the librarian for a copy of relevant material that you need from a different commentary. Your professor can also be of help on this but you are advised to seek librarian help first. Commentaries will be in the bibliography.
5. Your professor provided you with articles from the ATLA database but there may be others that you need to request from a librarian. Survey each article and decide the ones that will be most beneficial for your paper (as you envision the contents). Articles will be in the bibliography.
6. Make some notes on the context of this passage within the:
ο Chapter?
ο Book of the New Testament?
ο Entire New Testament?
ο Entire Bible
It is important to ask how any New Testament passage relates to the Old Testament and vice versa. New Testament writers penned texts in light of their scriptures (OT). As a result of this, do you need any other bibliographical resources?
7. Make a preliminary bibliography for your research. Include the following from what you have already done above:
a. Specific pages in your textbook
b. Dictionary articles you decided to use and find helpful.
c. One or more commentaries.
d. Bible translations used
e. Articles from the ATLA database (make sure you have the URL)
f. IPS – 416: Synopsis of the Four Gospels
g. Any other recommended to you
8. If you follow through on all of the above, you will have a preliminary bibliography that will be both graduate level and academic.
Here are other recommendations in regard to bibliography:
a. If you find anything devotional and want to use it in the hermeneutical section, make sure you list that resource as well. However, this paper is not devotional in nature.
b. Use resources that are 1980 or after, unless the resource is a classic (an example would be Abraham Heschel, The Prophets).
c. You may use a resource from a general search on the internet but be extremely cautious. Much of the material found there is not on the net because it is the latest and best. It is there because the copyright has expired and it is available without paying royalties.
A later handout will give format for all of the above resources. For this initial phase of your work, use the following guide for making a bibliography:
Freedman, David Noel, ed., Allen C. Myers, and Astrid B Beck. 2000.
Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: William B.
Eerdmans Publishing Company.
(You will need to list the names of articles used and pages as separate documents because each has an author)
OUTLINE FOR 1 PAGE SUMMARY:
(1) Make a detailed outline of your pericope (submitted as Appendix Three)
(2) Make a rough draft outline of your paper (will change before you have a finished product; submit this as Appendix Four)
Important Note: the outline of the pericope is different from the outline of your paper, which you will do in order to organize your paper into its various sections.
Pay specific attention to these elements of sample outlines below
1. All outlines are lettered and numbered according to a traditional pattern (I, A, 1, a, i).
2. It is important to section in pairs; otherwise, it is not a division:
a. If you have a (I), you must have a (II).
b. If you have an (A), you must have a (B).
c. If you have a (1), you must have a (2).
d. If you have an (a), you must have a (b).
e. If you have an (i), you must have a (ii).
Note: parentheses are used in (2) above only for clarity; notice in my example that the outline does not have parentheses in the numbering.
3. Each line, with the exception of (III, A) has a reference after it (this is only one part of a verse). Abbreviations within parentheses are to follow the suggestion in the specific translation you are using. A passage outline always gives the Bible at the top of the outline.
4. I recommend that you use page breaks so that the outline will flow onto the next page in a sensible fashion (I did that here to
make sure my sample paper outline began at the top of the next page).
Sample Outline of Luke 5:1-11 (NRSV)
(Be very detailed so you note all the significant elements)
I. Preliminary: Jesus teaches the crowd (Luke 5:1-3) A. Characters and location introduced (Luke 5:1a)
B. Jesus in Simon’s boat off shore (Luke 5:1b-3)
1. The crowd was pressing in on Jesus (Luke 5:1b)
2. Jesus notices the men with two boats (Luke 5:2a)
a. They had gotten out of the boat (Luke 5:2b)
b. They were washing their nets (Luke 5:2b)
3. Jesus got into one of the boats (Luke 5:3)
a. The boat belonged to Simon (Luke 5:3a)
b. Jesus moves away from the crowd (Luke 5:3b)
c. Jesus taught the crowds (Luke 5:3c)
II. New scene: Jesus and the men fishing (Luke 5: 4-11)
A. Transitional verse, teaching ends (Luke 5:4a)
B. Jesus addresses Simon (Luke 5:4b)
C. Simon objects (Luke 5:5)
1. Fruitless night of fishing (Luke 5:5a)
2. Simon obeys (Luke 5:Sb)
D. Results of obedience (Luke 5:6-7)
1. Nets so full they start to break (Luke 5:6)
2. Call other boat to assist them (Luke 5:7)
a. They filled both boats (Luke 5:7a)
b. The boats began to sink (Luke 5:7b)
III. New scene: Response of characters (Luke 5:8-10) A. Note name change from (II. C.), Simon to Simon Peter
B. Response of Peter (Luke 5:8)
1. He falls on his knees (Luke 5:8a)
2. He suggests that Jesus leave him (5:8b)
3. He admits his sinfulness (Luke 5:8b)
C. Additional people in scene (Luke 5:9-10a)
1. “All” with him were amazed (Luke 5:9a)
2. Reason: catch of fish (Luke 5:9b)
3. Names of those with Peter (Luke 5:10a)
a. James and John, sons of Zebedee
b. They were partners with Simon
D. Response of Jesus (Luke 5:10b)
1. Command not to “be afraid”
2. Promise that they will be “catching people”
IV. Conclusion (Luke 5:11)
A. Fishermen bring boats to shore (Luke 5:11a)
B. They leave everything and follow Jesus (Luke 5:11b)
Notice that the outline finished by flowing over to an additional
page. However, I put a page break to begin the new sample outline on the next page.
Sample Paper Outline
Each paper will be different but the suggestion is three major sections
Paper outlines are guides that are completed after paper is written
Make a preliminary outline as you research
I. Introduction
A. Why passage chosen in a short paragraph
B. What I want to accomplish in this paper
II. Exegetical Section
The content and order vary depending upon your topic but these two elements can be a guide
A. What is behind the text?
Some elements but not necessarily in this order are:
• Historical background
• Authorship
• Geographical background
• Elements of the society at that time o Political o Social o Cultural o Religious
• OT background for NT text (or vice versa)
B. What is “in” the text?
Some elements but not necessarily in this order are:
• Literary form in which author wrote
• Literary devices (metaphor, allegory, etc.)
• Placement of text o In chapter o In book of Bible o In entire testament o In entire Bible
• Characterization (who is there? Actions?
• Plot
Note about exegetical section:
You discover all of these things in a number of ways
• Do a translation comparison
• For NT, do a gospel comparison (if in more than one gospel)
• Use cross-references and footnotes in Bible(s)
• Find dictionary articles to help you
• Find articles in ATLA
• Use handout on literary form
• Use commentaries
III. Hermeneutical Section
This section answers the question: what is in front of text?
Ask yourself these questions in order to surface ideas
• How was text used at time when “ink was wet”?
• How was text used in early church?
• How was text used over the centuries?
• How is text used today?
Note about hermeneutical section
• To help you with section III, there is another handout that gives you hints on where to find information
IV. Appendix
A. Comparison of translations
B. (416) Synopsis comparisons
C. Outline of passage
D. Outline of paper
E. Bibliography
Hermenuetical Suggestions:
Hermeneutics is the process used to study various interpretations of a biblical passage over the ages as well as in the current time. It involves researching sources that give you implications of topics you surfaced in the exegetical section. This section is not to be more than 25−35% of your paper.
It is important not to jump immediately to its applications today. A former colleague of mine, Fr. Patrick Madden, says that you might first ask, “What did the scripture text mean when the ink was wet.”
(Madden, University of Dallas, 2009)
Some of the following suggestions might be helpful for your hermeneutical section:
1. Investigate Church Tradition
a. Interpretation of a topic in the Catechism of the Catholic Church
b. Interpretation of a topic in a document of Vatican Council
1. Books by Bill Huebsch might be helpful
2. Titles are: Vatican II in Plain English
3. Translated from the Latin in “very readable” English
c. Interpretation of a topic in a recent encyclical (or even an older one but there are many throughout history; that is why I stressed a “recent” one)
d. Interpretation of a topic from a document of the United States Bishops
e. Interpretation of Church Fathers (because they often did not agree, your exegetical section would not include these arguments)
2. Interpretation in a commentary from a contemporary theologian
3. Interpretation of artists, scientists, or others in our society today
4. Implications of our society versus the time of text
a. View of your topic in relation to the time of its writing (you must consider different worldviews)
b. Challenges of the text from its application in biblical times
c. Support for any current trends in the Church or in society
d. Challenges for the contemporary situation, in the world as well as in the Church (do people today need to be open to a new view or a new angle that you have investigated?)
Note: Do not be afraid to give challenges that you have surfaced; hermeneutics is always in vogue. Can you think of areas where the text of scripture that you studied might lend new insight … if theologians, the hierarchy, politicians, and others would be open to a new view or a new angle?
e. Personal consolations and challenges (how did this study assist you with the reason you indicated in the introduction to your paper?)
Cautions about hermeneutics
1. Do not “moralize” in this section, telling people what they “should,” “must,” or “ought,” to do. Rephrase if you find yourself stuck in this mode. Here are two examples to help you:
• Instead of saying that “we must have faith … ” try saying, “If we act out of our faith commitment to Jesus, the result will be … ”
• Instead of writing “Christians should be in dialogue with the other religions of the world,” try “If Christians enter into dialogue with other faith traditions, the following are possible results: … ”
• Rarely, if ever, use the word “should”
2. Do not assume something about the pericope that was not within the scope of the author of the passage? For instance,
• Have I read later theology into the history and development of the text? (An example would be Trinity being read back into a biblical text when that dogma of faith was from a later Council)
• Have I used private revelation as a source for theological argumentation? (An example would be
Marian revelations)
3. This paper is to avoid cop-outs, which might include the following:
• Let the pope interpret the difficult passages, and we will all follow him (If you are on the Pontifical Biblical Commission, and he has asked you for your best advice, you would not give him this comment)
• Let the scholars decide these issues, and we humble ordinary people will teach whatever they say.
• Let the Fathers of the Church decide (these people had great wisdom, but what were the principles they were using? They wrote for their time and with their worldview). You are writing with your worldview.
• In order to avoid cop-outs, pretend you already have your Master’s degree, and people consider YOU as one of the
scholars! Don’t be afraid to own your ideas, even if they disagree with some scholar.
4. Good hermeneutics includes both support and challenge!
• Personal and spiritual aspects of hermeneutics seem quite easy for students. They have no trouble seeing how biblical texts support both their spiritual lives and the institutions for which they work. Make sure you recognize the challenges of the personal and spiritual aspects as well.
• Secondly, make sure you consider the social and institutional possibilities of hermeneutics. Imagine how the biblical text you are studying might challenge contemporary institutions, ecclesial or political.
5. Consider the worldview of the writer in relation to our own world. These might present some challenges that you might never have considered. Here are a couple of examples:
• What do we do with stories that depict epilepsy or leprosy (skin diseases) as the result of demonic activity? Do we regard these simply as primitive myths, sagas, legends, that have nothing to say to the 21st century?
• Most early Christians were on the fringes of society. How did social position affect the way that they expressed themselves? How does our social position as citizens of the richest nation in the world influence our attempts to understand biblical passages about social position? Who are the mighty in America (or in the world) today? Who are the lowly in our world today? Who are the mighty in the Church today? Who are the lowly in the Church today?
• Challenges abound if we are willing to consider the impact of the Bible on our world and our Church and not domesticate its message.
