- Guide — How to Write an Exegesis Paper
Course Texts: The following two texts are highly suggested for the course, and as resources for biblical interpretation. I am not requiring them because of the team-taught nature of this course; I would rather not force students to purchase and read lots of textbooks! But I do think these are excellent resources. Both are available electronically for quite a bit less cost than in paper.
- Mary F. Foskett. Interpreting the Bible: Approaching the Text in Preparation for Preaching. Minnesota: Fortress Press. 2009.
- Robert Alter. The Art of Biblical Narrative. New York: Basic Books. 1981.
Articles and Resources: You should read and digest these before class. (Readings without links are not in the public domain.)
- Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermons on the Song of Songs. Sermon 2.
- Source Sheet for 1 Samuel 10:27–11:1. (You will need this for class. Don’t worry if you don’t understand it right now.)
- J. Gerald Janzen. “Song of Moses, Song of Miriam: Who Is Seconding Whom?” CBQ 54.2 (1992): 211–20.
- Heidi Neumark. “Sisters Act.” Currents in Theology and Mission 36:3 (Jun 2009): 203–207.
- M. Daniel Carroll R. “Once a Stranger, Always a Stranger? Immigration, Assimilation, and the Book of Ruth.” International Bulletin of Missionary Research 39.4 (Oct 2015): 185–188.
Additional Articles: These relate to what we will be discussing in class. You do not need to read them ahead of time, but you may want to. You may also wish to read them after class for additional information.
- J. Paul Tanner. “The History of Interpretation of the Song of Songs.” Bibliotheca Sacra 154 (Jan–Mar 1997): 23–46.
- Aaron Decker. “Mutlivalent Readings of Multivalent Texts.” Currents in Theology and Mission 41:6 (Dec 2014): 412–416.
- Mary Douglas. “The Forbidden Animals in Leviticus.” JSOT 59 (1993): 3–23.
- Prayer Resource Sheet
- Link to all of Bernard of Clairvaux’s Sermons on the Song of Songs
- Commentary Recommendations from the faculty of Princeton Theological Seminary
- Poetics and Rhetorical Devices Resource Sheet
- Grading Rubric for OT Exegetical Paper