INTERPRETATION PROJECT1INSTRUCTIONS
Interpreting Gospel Passages
Interpretation Project 1 provides you with the opportunity to practice three essential
... [Show More] steps of inductive Bible study. It isrecommendthat you readchapters 1–3, 11–16, and 30 in the supplemental text book, Everyday Bible Study, in addition to the required reading from the Essence of the New Testament. The supplemental book will give you a bit more background for completing the first interpretation project.Threefoundational steps of inductive Bible study include reading the biblical text, discovering the meaning of the biblical text, and applying the teaching of the biblical text to your life-situation today. The goal in these initial steps of biblical interpretation is to discover the central message of the passage and applying it to your life in a meaningful way.
The first interpretation project focuses on the Gospels. More precisely, in order to complete the requirements for Interpretation Project 1, you must answer2 interpretive questionsabout Matthew 24:36–44; 24:45–51; 25:1–13 (Steps 1–2) and apply the central message of these passages to your life today (Step 3). What tools do you need to accomplish this task? Well, in addition to a study Bible (e.g., NIV Study Bible, HCSB Study Bible, ESV Study Bible), consult and cite at least 3 exegetical commentaries on Matthew. You will find excellent resources through the online BIBL 110 – New Testament Survey Research Guide. Cite each of your sources using current APA, MLA, or Turabian style (whichever corresponds to your degree program). You may cite your sources parenthetically within the body of your project. List your sources at the end of the document, on an additional page outside the chart.
The project must consist of700–800 words typed in Times New Roman 12-point font.Complete the project within the chart below. Do not let the chart fool you! You must write in excellent essay style using complete sentences and topical paragraphs. Copy and paste the provided chart into an Microsoft Word document, complete it, then upload it through the appropriate assignment link in Blackboard.
Complete the 3 steps below in relation to Matthew 24:36–44; 24:45–51; 25:1–13.
1. Step 1: Discover the central message of the biblical passage. The central passage for the purposes of this assignment is Matthew 24:45–51. In Gospel studies this passage is called a pericope (i.e. a self-contained unit or story). The Gospels consist of various pericopes (or stories)that were woven together by the evangelist (author) to present the life, teaching, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. Your goal is to discover the central message of Matthew 24:45–51 and write it out in the appropriate column within the chart (below).It is important to read this pericope within its immediate context by comparing the pericope that comes immediately before (Matt 24:36–44) and the one that comes immediately after (Matt 25:1–13). You will discover and write out the central message of each of these three pericopes (stories).
2. Step 2: Determine what the gospel writer is trying to say to his readers by the way he puts the smaller stories together.In this step, you will try to discover what the three stories have in common as well as what is different.Write out 3 paragraphsthat show the connections between the threeepisodes. As you contemplate these episodes, ask what they have in common. What is the common message?
3. Step 3: Apply the central message of the three episodes to your life today. It should always be your goal when engaging in inductive Bible study to apply the main message of the biblical text to your own life in a concrete manner. Write out at least 1 concreteapplication that is clearly based on the central message of Matthew 24:36–44; 24:45–51; 25:1–13.
Complete the first interpretation project by using the chart below. Save the chart in a Microsoft Word document using the following template for the file name: Your last name, Your first name_Year_BIBL110-Section Number_IP1.
Example: Smith, John_2017_BIBL110-B01_IP1
Submit Interpretation Project 1by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday of Module/Week 2.
Interpretation Project 1
Step 1: What is the central message of each episode?
Matthew 24:36–44 Matthew 24:45–51 Matthew 25:1–13
Step 2: What is the gospel writer trying to communicate to his readers by the way he connects the 3 stories together?
Matt 24:36–44; Matt 24:45–51; Matt 25:1–13
Step 3: Application - How do we apply the message of these gospel stories to our lives today? [Show Less]