Welcome to the Hermeneutics class. 

Hermeneutics deals with the interpretation of Scripture. It is both a science and an art; but, it is science before it is art. It is science because it adheres to standard principles of interpretation. It is art because it is shaped by the teacher and audience. 

There are three parts to this class. The first part examines the principles of interpretation through reading the text book. This book is the only required reading for the class, but it's loaded with great information. It may seem like four lessons is a lot of time to devote to one book, but you will understand why as you read. Soak up the information. It's worth it. Like the readings in other classes, you'll be referring to this book for years to come. ​​
They read from the Book of the Law of God and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people understand each passage. Nehemiah 8:8
​​The second part of this class takes a look at some online study sites/apps and Bible study tools. It's important to have a good platform for study, and tools that help and guide. 

​The third part is devoted to developing teachable outlines. First, you'll learn how to discover the three components of a passage: The Big, Supporting and Defining ideas. Then you'll learn the three steps of development: exegesis, hermeneutics and homiletics.  

Not everyone will learn at the same pace. Some will grasp the concepts quickly, others not so much. Most will be in the second group. If you find yourself in this group, don't despair. Don't quit! The journey of learning to create teachable outlines is a process. It's not instantaneous. It's a marathon not a sprint. Remember, no matter what your pace of development, YOU WILL GROW! People grow more by teaching than by being a student. Regardless of your pace of development, you'll grow more in your faith by learning how to teach than by remaining a student.  

Unless a lesson is defined by a specific reading assignment or activity, spend two hours to complete each lesson. 

​Don't forget to join the Modesto Bible College (MBC) Group so you can have your paper reviewed and review others. 
Text Book
How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth: Fourth Edition, by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stewart. 
Recommended Resources ​(Optional for further study).
Books
  1. ​How to Read the Bible Book by Book, Gordon Fee​​
  2. Biblical Preaching, Haddon Robinson
  3. Lord, Teach Me to Study the Bible, Kay Arthur
  4. Bible Study Methods, Rick Warren
  5. Living by the Book, Howard Hendricks​​
Free Bible study websites/apps
​​Paid Bible study apps
Lesson 1
  1. Read Chapters 1-3 in How to Read the Bible For All It's Worth, by Gordon Fee

  2. Write Summary paper. ​

  3. If you have not already done so, join the MBC Group and have your paper reviewed and review a paper. ​
Lesson 2
  1. Read Chapters 4-6 in How to Read the Bible For All It's Worth, by Gordon Fee

  2. Write Summary paper.
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  3. ​​Have your paper reviewed and review another paper at the MBC Group. 
Lesson 3
  1. Read Chapters 7-9 in How to Read the Bible For All It's Worth, by Gordon Fee

  2. Write Summary paper. ​
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  3. ​​Have your paper reviewed and review another paper at the MBC Group. 
Lessons 4
  1. Read Chapters 10-12 in How to Read the Bible For All It's Worth, by Gordon Fee

  2. Write Summary paper. ​
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  3. ​​Have your paper reviewed and review another paper at the MBC Group. 
Lesson 5
  1. Explore the online Bible study sites/apps listed below. Decide if you want to go digital with your Bible study and if so which one and what format (a free site or a paid app).​ 
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    Free sites/apps​: ​
    1. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Bible Gateway
    2. Bible Hub
    3. Blue Letter
    4. Lumina

      Paid tools/apps: ​​
    5. Olive Tree (a-la-cart: add study tools one at a time)
    6. Logos (bundled plans) ​​​​
      ​
  2. Write a Summary paper.

  3. ​​Have your paper reviewed and review another paper at the MBC Group. ​​
Lesson 6
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  1. Explore the Olive Tree Bible study app. 

    1. ​​Watch the "How To..." and "Look Inside..." ​videos.

    2. Bibles. ​These are some of the translations I use on Olive Tree. I added them over time and purchased them when they were on sale. Choose from the following list or create your own personal list.  Compare them using the side by side feature on Bible Gateway.
      1. New Living Translation (NLT)
      2. The Message (MSG)
      3. New Century Version (NCV)
      4. Amplified Bible (AMP)
      5. New International Version (NIV)
      6. American Standard Bible (NASB)
      7. Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
      8. English Version (ESV)
      9. New King James Version (NKJV). ​​
        ​
    3. Commentaries. These are the top commentaries I use on Olive Tree. I added them over time and purchased them when they were on sale. Choose from the following list or create your own. The links are the ones active on Olive Tree. The others will have to be reviewed elsewhere online.
      1. Bible Knowledge Commentary
      2. John MacArthur Study Bible
      3. Ryrie Study Bible
      4. New Living Translation Study Bible
      5. NIV Study Bible
      6. Thru The Bible by J. Vernon McGee
      7. Wiersbe's Expository Outlines and, The Be Series by Warren Wiersbe
      8. The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Set (33 volumes)
      9. Expositor's Bible Commentary (12 volumes) by Frank E. Gaebelein,
      10. Christ Centered Exposition Commentary (24 volumes)
      11. ​​The Smart Guide to the Bible Series

    4. Other resources. These are some of the other tools I use on Olive Tree. I added them over time by purchasing them when they were on sale. Choose from the following list or create your own.
    5. ​​​​Language aids. These are some of the language resources I use on Olive Tree. I added them over time and purchased them when they were on sale. Choose from the following list or create your own. The linked ones can be reviewed through Olive Tree, the others you'll have to look up yourself online for reviews. 
  2. ​​​Write a Summary paper. ​​​
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  3. ​​Have your paper reviewed and review another paper at the MBC Group. 
Lessons 7
  1. Read The Big Idea Study (GreatCommission.com) ​The goal is general understanding so read until you comprehend the basic concepts. It will make sense as you view the template, look at the samples, and when you start doing them yourself. 
    1. Watch Keep Looking
    2. Examine the template and sample 1 and sample 2.
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  2. Write a Summary paper. 

  3. ​​Have your paper reviewed and review another paper at the MBC Group. 
Lesson 8
  1. Do a Big Idea Study. Read Ephesians 1:1-11 and use The Big Idea Study template to do Steps 1 and 2 only. ​You'll do Step 3 in the next Lesson. You may have to modify the chart if you have more or less Supporting Ideas and Defining Ideas.
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    1. Hints for Step 1: ​Exegesis.

      Use the translation with which you are most comfortable. You may consult other translations but no other helps (commentaries, sermon outlines, etc.). The purpose of this exercise is to develop your own outline without first looking at the works of others. Remember, passage headings are not inspired. Use words from the passage itself.

      Start by reading the passage several times without taking notes. Just observe. Look for a Big Idea, Supporting Ideas and Defining Ideas. ​Think paragraphs.

      After several minutes of observational work begin to fill in the template. Don't over think this. You can change it later. Putting something in the boxes will help begin the process. It will also help determine if you picked good Big, Supporting and Defining Ideas. If it flows well, you probably did a good job. If it's forced, then back track or start again.

    2. Hints for Step 2: Hermeneutics. 

      Try and restate the words from Step 1 into timeless truths. A timeless truth is a statement that is always true. Remove terms tied to the time the verse was written. Terms like names, locations, cultural practices, etc. It may be helpful to look at other translations and even a thesaurus to find good synonyms.  ​​
      ​
  2. Produce a paper. Your template outline is your paper for this lesson. Convert it to a PDF. 

  3. Have your paper (template outline) reviewed and review another paper at the MBC Group. 

    ​Here is a sample outline from Ephesians 1:1-11 here. Only look at it after you have completed the chart for yourself. 
Lesson 9
  1. Complete your Big Idea Study.

    Do Step 3 for your Big Idea Study by creating a homiletical outline. 

    Hints for Step 3. Homiletics. 
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    1. Look back at the sample outlines (James, Colossians) and note about how they were created. Remember, this step will include an explanation, illustration and application (or a question and answers) for each Defining idea.  

    2. Think about your (potential) audience and let that shape your thoughts and words.

    3. Here is where you may want to consult commentaries to make sure you understand what the text means and how to add accurate explanation comments.

    4. Note the "dot, dot, dot" method of forming a complete thought by linking the Big Idea, Supporting Idea and Defining Idea together. Consult Step 4 of the Big Idea Study at GreatCommission.com to refresh your mind. 

    5. You are really creating two outlines at the same time. One is the teacher outline (with notes) and the other is the student or congregational outline (without notes). The congregational outline has blanks that need to be filled. Creating the teacher version is sufficient for this class.

  2. Produce a paper. Your outline is your paper for this lesson. Convert it to a PDF. 

  3. Have your paper (outline) reviewed and review another paper at the MBC Group. 

    ​Here is a sample Step 3 outline from Ephesians 1:1-11. Look it over but only after completing this Lesson.
Lessons 10
  1. Do a complete Big Idea Study. 

    Read Ephesians 1:12-14. That's right, just three verses. Learn how to create an outline from a small section of Scripture. Use the template. Feel free to modify the boxes in the template but keep the Discovery (Big, Supporting and Defining Ideas) and Development (Exegesis and Hermeneutics) components in place. 

  2. Produce a paper. Your template outline is your paper for this lesson. Convert it to a PDF. 

  3. Have your paper (template outline) reviewed and review another paper at the MBC Group.

    ​Here is an example of Steps 1 and 2. It shows how to modify the chart, including adding questions. Look it over AFTER you have completed your chart.
Lessons 11
  1. Do a complete Big Idea Study.

    ​Read John 3:16. That's right, ONE verse! I want you to see that the Big Idea Study is scalable. It works for any size Bible text. Be ready to modify the template. Learn how to ask questions when the amount of information from the text is lean. You will probably have to ask questions and provide answers for the bulk of the message. Use the template. Read about Discovery Study 2 to learn how to develop and answer questions. What are the "nuggets" from John 3:16? What questions can be asked of those nuggets? Which ones will you answer? 

  2. Produce a paper. Your template outline is your paper for this lesson. Convert it to a PDF. 

  3. Have your paper (template outline) reviewed and review another paper at the MBC Group.​

    Look over the sample study but only after you have finished your own. 
Lessons 12
  1. Do a complete Big Idea Study.

    Select a passage from any Epistle. Use the template. By now you should have an understanding of the basics of how to create a Big Idea study. Remember, you are studying the richest writings in the entire Bible. Be prepared for lots of information. Don't default to questions if there are plenty of Supporting and Defining Ideas. Give it a try. 

  2. ​Produce a paper. Your template outline is your paper for this lesson. Convert it to a PDF. 
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  3. Have your paper (template outline) reviewed and review another paper at the MBC Group.​​
Lessons 13
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  1. Do a complete Big Idea Study. 

    Select a passage from any Gospel. Use the template. Take a look at your highlights from the gospel section (chapter 7) in Reading the Bible for All it's Worth. The Gospels are a different genre than Epistles. They are a unique style of writing.

  2. ​​Produce a paper. Your template outline is your paper for this lesson. Convert it to a PDF. 
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  3. Have your paper (template outline) reviewed and review another paper at the MBC Group.​​​
Lessons 14
  1. Do a complete Big Idea Study.

    Select a passage in Acts. Use the template. Take a look at your highlights from the Acts section (chapter 6) in Reading the Bible for All it's Worth.

    Acts is a historical narrative. Passages are often large blocks of Scripture. Don't analyze every word. Focus on big concepts. Additionally, Acts is formative not normative. This means there are certain characteristics of the early church (sign gifts) that were essential to its initial development (formative) that are not essential for its continued existence (normative). Therefore care must be given about how principles are extracted. Doctrine is not formed in Acts. 

  2. Produce a paper. Your outline is your paper for this lesson. Convert it to a PDF. 
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  3. Have your paper (outline) reviewed and review another paper at the MBC Group.​​​​
A warning is in order here. If one wishes to use a biblical precedent [from Acts] to justify some present action, one is on safer ground if the principle of the action is taught elsewhere. — Gordon Fee
Lessons 15
  1. Do a complete Big Idea Study. 

    Select a passage from Revelation. Use the template. Take a look at your highlights from the section (chapter 13) in Reading the Bible for All it's Worth.

    Revelation is mostly prophetical. Some of it is present tense, most of it is future tense. It's all meant to encourage. One key to interpreting it is the word "like." It's used to describe something that is not literal. Revelation is also anchored to the Old Testament. Gordon Fee states, "Every significant moment in [John's] narrative is imaged almost exclusively in Old Testament language."     ​​

  2. Produce a paper. Your outline is your paper for this lesson. Convert it to a PDF. 
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  3. Have your paper (outline) reviewed and review another paper at the MBC Group.​​​​​​
Revelation is a unique, finely blended combination of three distinct literary types: apocalypse, prophecy, and letter. — Gordon Fee
Lessons 16
  1. Do a complete Big Idea Study. 

    Select a passage from any book of the Law (the first five books of the Old Testament). Use the template. Look at your highlights from the section (chapter 9) in Reading the Bible for All it's Worth.

    The Law is creedal. It's about beginnings; creation and Israel. 

  2. Produce a paper. Your outline is your paper for this lesson. Convert it to a PDF. 

  3. Have your paper (outline) reviewed and review another paper at the MBC Group.​​​​​​
The Old Testament is not our Testament...none of its stipulations are binding on us unless they are renewed in the new covenant. — Gordon Fee
Lessons 17
  1. Do a complete Big Idea Study.

    Select a passage from any Old Testament historical book (Joshua to Esther). Look at your highlights from the section (chapter 5) in Reading the Bible for All it's Worth.

    ​Historical books are narratives. Passages are often parts of a bigger story and consist of large blocks of verses. Pay attention to the beginning, middle and end. View them from a distance and capture key terms. Don't analyze it like you did the Epistles.     ​​
    ​
  2. Produce a paper. Your outline is your paper for this lesson. Convert it to a PDF. 

  3. Have your paper (outline) reviewed and review another paper at the MBC Group.​​​​​​
In any biblical narrative, God is the ultimate character, the supreme hero of the story. — Gordon Fee
Lessons 18
  1. Do a complete Big Idea Study.

    Select a passage from any Old Testament Poetry/Wisdom writing (Job to Song of Songs). Look at your highlights from the relevant section (chapters 11-12) in Reading the Bible for All it's Worth.

    Author Gordon Fee states, the Psalms serve three purposes: they serve as a guide to worship, they demonstrate how to relate honestly to God, and they show the importance of reflection and meditation on things that God has done for us.

  2. ​Produce a paper. Your template outline is your paper for this lesson. Convert it to a PDF. 
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  3. Have your paper (template outline) reviewed and review another paper at the MBC Group.​​​​​​​
No proverb is a complete statement of truth. No proverb is so perfectly worded that it can stand up to the unreasonable demand that it apply in every situation at every time. — Gordon Fee
Lessons 19
  1. Do a complete Big Idea Study.

    Select a passage from any Old Testament prophecy book (Isaiah to Malachi). Look at your highlights from the relevant section (chapter 10) in Reading the Bible for All it's Worth.

    "Orthodoxy is correct belief. Orthopraxy is correct action. Through the prophets, God called the people of ancient Israel and Judah to a balance of right belief and action." — Gordon Fee​
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  2. ​Produce a paper. Your outline is your paper for this lesson. Convert it to a PDF. 

  3. Have your paper (outline) reviewed and review another paper at the MBC Group.​​​​​​​​​
Lessons 20
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  1. Find the Series Idea.

    It's one thing to teach a message knowing you have given it your best and that it was transforming in nature. But it's another thing to string together a series of messages from one book under one unifying theme. That is often where lasting life change occurs. The purpose of this last lesson is to find one verse (or phrase) from a book that can serve as a theme that all the other messages can be anchored. It's the banner verse. It's the name of a series.

    Here is an example from the book of James. The Series Title is, "How to Thrive as a Believer in an Unbelieving World." The Series Idea is..."believers scattered" from James 1:1. This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am writing to the “twelve tribes”—Jewish believers scattered abroad. Greetings! James 1:1 NLT

    ​The Series outline might look like this. Each point is a Big Idea message. 
How We Thrive as a Believers in an Unbelieving (and hostile) World. 
James 1-5
1. Have the Right Perspective about Hardships. ​1:1-18
2. Exercise self control. James 1:19-27
3. Treat everyone equal. James 2:1-13
4. Have an observable faith. James 2:14-26
5. Control our tongue. James 3:1-12
6. Live wisely. James 3:13-18
7. Do the right things. James 4:1-17
8. Know the key truths about wealth.  James 5:1-6
9. Focus on the Lords return. James 5:7-12
10. Be a person of prayer. James 5:13-2
Your assignment is to find the Series Idea and corresponding Big Ideas from the book of Philippians.

​Step 1. Find the Series Idea. 

Read the book several times looking for a Series Idea. You may find a few. Narrow it to one. Most likely, it will be a few words or a phrase, not a complete verse. It will be timeless and universal in nature. It applies to everyone, in all situations, all the time. Sometimes it's at the beginning of a book, sometimes at the end, and sometimes between. It's an idea all other Big Ideas can be anchored to.

Step 2. Find the Big Ideas from the rest of the book. Passage headings are not Big Ideas. Use the text not headings. 

Step 3. Combine them into an outline like the one above from the book of James.

  • Produce a paper. Your outline is your paper for this lesson. Convert it to a PDF. 
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  • Have your paper (outline) reviewed and review another paper at the MBC Group.​​​​​​​​​
Feedback
Congratulations! You finished the class. We hope this has been a rich experience. You may print the certificate of completion for this class. Once you have completed all the lessons for all the classes you may print your diploma. 

Feel free to contact us and let us know about your experience. We would be encouraged to know how you may have been blessed as well as how you think this class might be improved.