Course Description

‘Inspired’; ‘infallible’; ‘authoritative’; ‘the Word of God’. Many Christians in Singapore would be happy to describe the Bible in those terms. But the Bible has to be interpreted and applied by men and women who are usually far from inspired, and who are all too prone to error (though they may still claim the authority of Scripture for what they say).

The result can be that falsehood is propagated in God’s name, and that the Bible is turned from being the saving and healing revelation of God into something harmful and even destructive. It is not enough to have a ‘high’ doctrine of Scripture: we must also interpret Scripture accurately.

The main subject of this course is the interpretation and application of Scripture. The course aims to help you reflect seriously on what is involved in interpreting the biblical text. During the course, several necessary aspects of biblical interpretation (e.g., word studies, the relevance of the historical context) will be considered.

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Lecturer

Mr Low Kwang Meng

Associate Lecturer

Mr Low Kwang Meng is the Director for Discipleship & Nurture at Paya Lebar Methodist Church. A graduate from TTC (MTh) and Monash University (MEd), Kwang Meng is currently doing his PhD in English Literature at NUS, where he explores the intersection between canonisation and apocryphication of early Christian literature in late antique Coptic Egypt. Kwang Meng is also a certified Belbin Team Roles facilitator. Previously, Kwang Meng was working in education related industry and the Children’s pastor at Grace Assembly of God.

Dr Philip Satterthwaite

Emeritus Lecturer

Dr Philip Satterthwaite is BGST’s Lecturer Emeritus. He was BGST’s Emeritus Principal and Lecturer in Old Testament and Biblical Hebrew. Prior to this, he was a Research Fellow in Hebrew and Aramaic at Tyndale House, Cambridge. His main research areas are the Old Testament historical books and the Septuagint. In 2007 his book Exploring the Old Testament 2: The Histories (co-authored with J.G. McConville) was published by SPCK/IVP. Philip has preached and taught in a number of churches in Singapore. He is a member of Prinsep Street Presbyterian Church. He is married to Eileen.

  • Location

    Online via Zoom (Live)
    with Blended Learning

  • Dates

    Fridays
    Aug: 11, 25
    Sept: 8, 22
    Oct: 6, 20
    Nov: 3

    Registration Close Date
    Aug 7, 2023

  • Timing

    7:15pm-10:00pm

Course curriculum

  • 1

    HE101 Biblical Hermeneutics and Interpretation

  • 2

    Session 1 (Live): Introduction to the Course

    • Chapter 7 - Figurative, Literal, and Christian Meanings from Scripture (Augustine) - History of Biblical Interpretation, a reader

    • Chapter 17 - Allegory, Authorial Intent, and Christian Doctrine (John Clavin) History of Biblical Interpretation. A Reader

    • Chapter 32 - Unmasking Ideologies in Biblical Interpretation (Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza) History of Biblical Interpretation. A Reader

    • Robert Stein 2011, "Introduction"

    • Introduction to Ignatian Contemplation

    • Introduction to Lectio Divina

    • HE101_EX1

    • Zoom recording for Lesson 1
  • 3

    Session 2 (Self-Study): The Need for Interpretation

    • Please read the following from your textbook before watching the Video Lecture:

    • Notes for Lecture 1

    • Video Lecture 1: The Need for Interpretation part 1

    • Video Lecture 1: The Need for Interpretation part 2

    • Audio MP3 for Lecture 1: The Need for Interpretation
  • 4

    Session 3 (Live): How to Read the Book - Sentences, Paragraphs, Discourses

    • PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING READINGS AND VIDEO LECTURES BEFORE COMING TO TUTORIAL

    • Please read the following from your textbook before watching the Video Lecture:

    • Notes for Lecture 2

    • Video Lecture 2: How to Read the Book part 1

    • Video Lecture 2: How to Read the Book part 2

    • Video Lecture 2: How to Read the Book part 3

    • Audio MP3 for Lecture 2: How to Read the Book Part 1

    • Audio MP3 for Lecture 2: How to Read the Book Part 2

    • Audio MP3 for Lecture 2: How to Read the Book Part 3

    • Exercises for Session 3 (to be completed before class)

    • Zoom recording for Lesson 3
  • 5

    Session 4 (Self-Study): What do we bring to the text? The Historical-Cultural Context; The Literary Context

    • Please read the following from your textbook before watching the Video Lecture:

    • Notes for Lecture 3

    • Video Lecture 3 part 1: The Historical-Cultural Context

    • Video Lecture 3 part 2: The Historical-Cultural Context (cont'd)

    • Video Lecture 3 part 3: What do we bring to the text?

    • Video Lecture 3 part 4: The Literary Context

    • Audio MP3 for Lecture 3
  • 6

    Session 5 (Live): Word Studies; Bible Translations

    • PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING READINGS AND VIDEO LECTURES BEFORE COMING TO TUTORIAL

    • Please read the following from your textbook before watching the Video Lecture:

    • Notes for Lecture 4

    • Video Lecture 4 part 1: Word Studies

    • Video Lecture 4 part 2: Bible Translations

    • Audio MP3 for Lecture 4
  • 7

    Session 6 (Self-Study): Who Controls the Meaning? Levels of Meaning

    • Please read the following from your textbook before watching the Video Lecture:

    • Notes for Lecture 5

    • Video Lecture 5 part 1: Who Controls the Meaning?

    • Video Lecture 5 part 2: Levels of Meaning

    • Video Lecture 5 part 3: Levels of Meaning (cont'd)

    • Audio MP3 for Lecture 5
  • 8

    Session 7 (Live): The Role of the Holy Spirit; Application

    • PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING READINGS AND VIDEO LECTURES BEFORE COMING TO TUTORIAL

    • Please read the following from your textbook before watching the Video Lecture:

    • Notes for Lecture 06

    • Video Lecture 6 part 1: The Role of the Holy Spirit

    • Video Lecture 6 part 2: Application

    • Lecture 6 part 3: Application (cont'd)

    • Audio MP3 for Lecture 6

    • Complete SHORT ESSAY 1 (One 1000-word assignment)
  • 9

    Session 8 (Self Study): New Testament Letters

    • Please read the following from your textbook before watching the Video Lecture:

    • Notes for Lecture 07

    • Lecture 7: New Testament Letters part 1

    • Lecture 7: New Testament Letters part 2

    • Lecture 7: New Testament Letters part 3

    • Audio MP3 for Lecture 7
  • 10

    Session 9 (Live): Gospels and Acts; Revelation

    • PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING READINGS AND VIDEO LECTURES BEFORE COMING TO TUTORIAL

    • Please read the following from your textbook before watching the Video Lecture:

    • Notes for Lecture 08

    • Notes for Lecture 09

    • Video Lecture 8 part 1: Gospels

    • Video Lecture 8 part 2: Gospels (cont'd)

    • Video Lecture 8 part 3: Acts

    • Audio MP3 for Lecture 8

    • Video Lecture 9: Revelation part 1

    • Video Lecture 9: Revelation part 2

    • Video Lecture 9: Revelation part 3

    • Audio MP3 for Lecture 9 part 1

    • Audio MP3 for Lecture 9 part 2
  • 11

    Session 10 (Self-Study): Old Testament Narrative; Old Testament Law

    • Please read the following from your textbook before watching the Video Lecture:

    • Notes for Lecture 10

    • Notes for Lecture 11

    • Video Lecture 10: Old Testament Narrative part 1

    • Video Lecture 10: Old Testament Narrative part 2

    • Video Lecture 10: Old Testament Narrative part 3

    • Audio MP3 for Lecture 10

    • Video Lecture 11: Old Testament Law Part 1

    • Video Lecture 11: Old Testament Law Part 2

    • Video Lecture 11: Old Testament Law Part 3

    • Audio MP3 for Lecture 11

    • Complete SHORT ESSAYS 2 & 3 (Two 1000-word assignments)
  • 12

    Session 11 (Live): Old Testament Poetry

    • PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING READINGS AND VIDEO LECTURES BEFORE COMING TO TUTORIAL

    • Copy of Please read the following from your textbook before watching the Video Lecture:

    • Notes for Lecture 12

    • Video Lecture 12: Old Testament Poetry Part 1

    • Video Lecture 12: Old Testament Poetry Part 2

    • Audio MP3 for Lecture 12
  • 13

    Session 12 (Self-Study): Old Testament Prophets

    • Please read the following from your textbook before watching the Video Lecture:

    • Notes for Lecture 13

    • Video Lecture 13: Old Testament Prophets Part 1

    • Video Lecture 13: Old Testament Prophets Part 2

    • Video Lecture 13: Old Testament Prophets Part 3

    • Audio MP3 for Lecture 13
  • 14

    Session 13 (Live): Old Testament Wisdom

    • PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING READINGS AND VIDEO LECTURES BEFORE COMING TO TUTORIAL

    • Please read the following from your textbook before watching the Video Lecture:

    • Notes for Lecture 14

    • Video Lecture 14: Old Testament Wisdom Part 1

    • Video Lecture 14: Old Testament Wisdom Part 2

    • Video Lecture 14: Old Testament Wisdom Part 3

    • Audio MP3 for Lecture 14

    • Complete SHORT ESSAYS 4 & 5 (Two 1000-word assignments)
  • 15

    Course Evaluation

    • Course Evaluation
  • 16

    Assignment Submission

    • Reflection Paper

    • Exegetical Paper