Formatting Requirements for Exegetical Paper

In addition to the Student Supplement for the SBL Handbook Style, 2nd ed., found online, please pay attention to the following (SOME OF WHICH IS NOT SBL):

Fonts – 12 pt Times New Roman for body of paper. 10 pt Times New Roman for footnotes.
Heading – Name and Class Name single spaced in upper right of header section and will appear on every page – NOT SBL
Footer – page number in center of “footer” section
Each Section of a paper begins on a new page. At the end of each Section, skip one line and then insert a page break (under “insert” and “break” on MS Word).
Paraphrase the idea and then footnote the source. I don’t want to read a bunch of quotations. Keep them to just a few, maybe 1 quotation for every 3 pages.
don’t do not use contractions in your papers, it is too informal.
I hate fluff. Be precise and concise.
Do not need intro paragraphs or transitional paragraphs. You must have section titles alerting the reader to the changes.
Use gender inclusive language (“humanity” instead of “man”; “people . . . they” instead of “a person . . . he”)
Write in third person. Do not use “you” in your paper, it is writing in second person. The exception is any section dealing with personal theology, creed or application. [1st person is I / me / us and we. 2nd person is you / you all.]
Write for the eye, not the ear. This is not a paper that should sound like the way you speak. It should look like a paper that is written for a University course.

The Bible in Your Paper

The required translation, to be used in the paper, is the New Revised Standard Version (the New Oxford Annotated Bible is an NRSV translation).
The Bible is not noted in footnote or in Works Consulted page.

Research and Works Consulted

Minimum of 7 separate sources. A set of Encyclopedias or Dictionaries counts as one source and should be cited as one set. The Bible is not counted as a source.
Do not use any websites that are wiki in nature. Wikipedia is forbidden, it should not be used for any academic research. Only one website is used: studylight.org. Databases are acceptable websites.
Remember the text was not written in English, so Webster’s (or any English Dictionary) is forbidden; that includes but is not limited to dictionary.com and similar sites. Translate.google.com will give you the wrong words, it is based on modern Greek, not the Koine of the New Testament.
Any use of a New Testament Commentary in your paper will result in an automatic 0 in the Form and Grammar section worth 25 points. If the word “commentary” is in the title, put it back and don’t read it. If it discusses the text in a verse by verse manner, put it back and don’t read it. If in doubt, ask a librarian if it is a commentary, or email me.
You will research the words using books, journals, and websites mentioned in the Bibliography found in your syllabus and in these instructions.
There may be entries in the Works Consulted that are not footnoted, e.g. an article that you read, but did not use in the paper.
You must use 2 peer reviewed articles for you paper.
For each article you use for the paper you must attach, behind the Works Consulted, but before the Survey, an Article Evaluation form. These are found online.

Writing Center Evaluation

You are required to have at least TWO sections of this paper evaluated by the Writing Center. You will attach their evaluation of your work in an appropriate section of the paper. You should correct whatever they found so that you earn the most points possible. If you do not, you will receive a zero in the “forms section” of the paper.

Topic for Your Paper

Pick 1 of the following:

Luke 10.25-37 – Jesus speaking to a lawyer **tougher than it looks

Luke 18.18-30 – Jesus speaking to a rich young ruler

Acts 4.1-12 – Peter and John on trial in Temple complex

Acts 13.13-41 – Paul preaching in a synagogue in Antioch in Pisidia

Acts 13.44-52 – Paul and Barnabas speaking the next Sabbath after above passage

Acts 17.16-34 – Paul before the Areopagus in Athens **most challenging

Acts 28.16-28 – Paul speaks in Rome

Preparation for the Passage – Survey / Research

This is an exegetical study on one passage.
You are to Survey the passage thoroughly (I would think that four to six hours of Survey should be a good start). The Survey itself is the last section of the paper, but it is the very first thing you do.
The paper itself is an exegetical presentation of the passage. It is about the then and there, NOT the here and now.

Section One –Literary Context

20 points for this section (exactly three pages, exactly four paragraphs, double spaced)

Summarize the two chapters before your passage in two paragraphs; one each. Focus your attention on common vocabulary, events, themes and characters that relate to your text and topic. You will be aware of those themes and vocabulary because you have already surveyed the text. Those things should just jump off the page to you at this point.
Use third paragraph, to summarize rest of your chapter.
Explain how your pericope fits in with the previous two chapters and its own chapter, in the fourth paragraph.
For example, if you text is part of chapter 4, paragraphs one and two would go over chapters 2 and 3. Paragraph 3 would cover rest of chapter 4. And the final paragraph would cover all of chapters 2, 3, and 4.

This section of the paper does not require any research other than reading your Bible.

Section Two – Nature of Primary Audience OR Quotations and Allusions

30 points for this section (exactly two pages, double spaced)

This section is either/or, you pick either Option A or Option B, you do not do both.

Section Two OPTION A – Nature of Primary Audience

Discover the nature of the primary audience (the original audience that heard the sermon, who did Jesus, or Paul, or John speak to, not the reading audience) and describe it in detail. If there is one person or group that the speaker interacts with, focus on that person or group. You should have a paragraph for each of the following ideas.
Place – where is this taking place? Be as specific as possible. Who would be there?
Religious background of people present. Were they Jews, Gentiles, God-fearers, politicians or philosophers? What is your researched evidence or logic?
Based on the above, what type of educational background would they have? What is your researched evidence or logic?
What would be the social standing of those in the audience? What about gender breakdown of the group? Would women be present and if so, what can you say about them?
How that affects the sermon? What word choices or choice of quotations effect the audience? Are there introductory remarks made? Rhetorical gesture? Do those things add to your understanding of the audience?
This is a researched section. You should find what you need in Bible Dictionaries and Encyclopedias and Introductions. Consult the Bibliography in the Syllabus for appropriate works. My preference is Anchor Bible Dictionary.

Section Two OPTION B – Quotations and Allusions

Research the quotation mentioned in the source listed below. Find your text, read the quotation/allusion, and read one of the commentaries listed dealing with your quotation/allusion. Acts 17 has no Hebrew Bible quotations/allusions; your quotation is from a famous poem.
You are to briefly explain the context of the quotation/allusion. Read the quote/allusion, its entire story, the story before and the story after. (I would think that this will take a couple of hours)
You are to explain the meaning of any quotations/allusions.
Answer: What did it mean to the first audience?

In your work, you are to relate the quotation to your New Testament text. Are they related by theme, vocabulary, or events? How are the speaker and Luke reusing these older texts?
How does understanding the allusion/quotation help you understand the Lucan story?

You must use the work listed below. It will need to be cited and appear in your Works Consulted page.

Luke 10.27 – Deuteronomy 6.4-9, part of the Shema

Christensen, Duane L. Word Biblical Commentary: Deuteronomy. Nashville: T. Nelson, 2001. Theo Ref BS491.2 .W67 v.6A 2001

OR Craigie, Peter C. The Book of Deuteronomy. New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1976. Theo Ref BS1151.2 .N48 v.5

Luke 18.20 – Exodus 20.1-17, part of the 10 Commandments

Durham, John I. Word Biblical Commentary: Exodus. Waco, Tex: Word Books, 1986. Theo Ref BS491.2 W67 v.3

OR Sarna, Nahum M. Exodus: The JPS Torah commentary: the traditional Hebrew text with the new JPS translation. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1989. Theo Ref BS1225.3 J78 v.2

Acts 4.11 – Psalm 118

Allen, Leslie C. Psalms 101-50 [Sic], Revised. Word Biblical Commentary series. Nashville, Tenn: Thomas Nelson, 2002. Theo Ref BS491.2 .W67 v.21 2002

OR Goldingay, John. Psalms 90-150. vol 3. Baker Commentary on the Old Testament. Tremper Longman, ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2008. Theo Ref BS1151.2.B35 2005 v. 19c

Acts 13. 32-37– Psalm 2, esp. vvs 4-9

Craigie, Peter C. Word Biblical Commentary: Psalms 1-50. Waco, Texas: Word Books, 1983. Theo Ref BS491.2 .W67 v.19

OR Goldingay, John. Psalms 1-41. Vol 1. Baker Commentary on the Old Testament. Tremper Longman, ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2006. Theo Ref BS1151.2.B35 2005 v.19A

Acts 13.47 – Isaiah 49.1-13, esp. vs 6, one of the servant songs

Blenkinsopp, Joseph. Isaiah 40-55. Anchor Bible 19A. New York: Doubleday, 2002. Theo Ref BS192.2.A1 1964 .G37 v.19A

OR Oswalt, John. The Book of Isaiah: chapters 40-66. New International Commentary on the Old Testament Series. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1985. Theo Ref BS1151.2 .N48 v.23B

Acts 17.28 – Phaenomena, by Aratus of Soli

Callimachus. Hymns and Epigrams. Loeb Classical Library series. Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP, 1960. pg 207. Theo Ref PA3945.A2 1960.

Acts 28.26-27 – Isaiah 6.1-13, esp. vvs 9-10, the call of Isaiah

Oswalt, John. The Book of Isaiah: chapters 1-39. New International Commentary on the Old Testament Series. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1986. Theo Ref BS1151.2 .N48 v.23A

OR Watts, John D. W. Isaiah 1-33. Word Biblical Commentary Series. Waco, Word Books, 1985. Theo Ref BS491.2 .W67 v.24.

Section Three – Word Studies

60 points for this section (three or more pages, six or seven words studied, double spaced)

You will research six or seven words in the original Greek text. Every source used must be cited in Works Consulted page.

We wish for you to begin to understand the text close to how the first century audience would have understood.

You are to research and “define” the most important six or seven key words from your survey. Remember the text was not written in English, so Webster’s (or any English Dictionary) is forbidden. You must research the words in the original language.
In the paper you must use the transliterated form, not the Greek. Most students cannot use the font and miss accents and breathing marks. Just use the transliterated form.
Each researched key term must be researched in at least three separate sources. The numbers following the titles and abbreviations are the Call Numbers used in the Library. They are all found in the Theological REFERENCE section of Stamps Library.
The first source to consult and use is: Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (TDNT) BS2312 .K5813 1964 [the 10 volume set, not the abridged edition (unless full article is over 50 pages)].
The second and third required source is from the following:
Dictionary of New Testament Background (DNTB) BS2312 .D53 2000,

Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels (DJG) BS2555.2 .D53 1992 [2nd edition is available as an eBook],

Anchor Bible Dictionary (ABD) BS440 .A54 1992,

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) BS440 .I6 1979,

Theological Lexicon of the New Testament (TLNT) PA875 .S613 1994, Eerdmans Dictionary of Early Judaism BM176 .E34 2010,

or an academic journal of your choice.

For each academic peer reviewed article you must attach a completed Article Evaluation Form behind the Works Consulted and before the Survey.
Your “definitions” are to be written out in prose (paragraph with complete sentence) form and not in bulleted form. Each researched word is defined in just 1 paragraph.
Construct a definition that covers the history of the term and its breadth of meaning.
You should then try and relate your definitions to the text itself. So, your last sentence of each definition should be something like, “Luke uses the term X to mean Y in this passage.”
Go over the How to Do a Word Study in the Original Languages on the website.

This section is the most heavily researched section of the paper. You will use the required sources mentioned above or lose many points for failing to perform the task as instructed.

Words for Studies section (bold are must cover, choose from others)

Luke 10.25-37 – Inherit (25), Eternal (life) (25), Neighbor (27, 29, 36), Justify (29), Priest (31), Levite (32), Samaritan (33), Pity (33), Mercy (37)

Luke 18.18-30 – Inherit (18), Eternal (life) (18), Good (19), Commandments (20), Sad (23), Kingdom of God (24), Saved (26), Impossible (27), Possible (27)

Acts 4.1-12 – Resurrection (2), Proclaiming (2), Believed (4), Power (7), Name (7), Filled (with Holy Spirit) (8), Crucified (10), Salvation (12), Saved (12)

Acts 13.13-41 – Chose (17), Savior (23), Repentance (24), Raised (from the dead) (30), Preach the good news (32), Forgiveness (38), Sins (38), Believes (39), Freed (39)

Acts 13.44-52 – Blaspheming (45), Judge (46), Unworthy (46), Eternal (life) (46), Salvation (47), Praised (48), Destined (48), Believers (48), Devout (50), Persecution (50), Holy Spirit (52)

Acts 17.16-34 – Good news (18), Resurrection (18), Teaching (19), Religious (22), Unknown (23), Proclaim (23), Ignorance (30), Repent (30), Judged (31), Raising him from the dead (31)

Acts 28.16-28 – Sect (22), Explained (23), Testifying (23), Kingdom of God (23), Believe (24), Understand (25), Perceive (25), Salvation (28)

Section Four – The Exegesis of the Passage

45 points for this section (two to three pages, double spaced)

Present these findings in a fluid and conversational way.

Using your work from the previous sections, write your researched explanation following a verse-by-verse format. Your focus here must be historical — what might the text have meant to its ancient hearers given the ancient historical context. The assignment here is to keep your historical distance, and you will be graded on how successfully you are able to do so in this section. Be sure to explain important words, themes, historical elements, cultural elements, genre, quotations and allusions, and identify the people involved as primary audience.

This section should not require any additional research. You may want to, in order to explain some cultural items not covered as a word study. I would recommend looking up the cultural items in Bible Dictionaries and Encyclopedias. Consult the Bibliography in the Syllabus for appropriate works. Some good works for culture are: Dictionary of New Testament Background (DNTB), Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels (DJG), Eerdmans Dictionary of Early Judaism, and the Anchor Bible Dictionary (ABD).

Section Five – Works Consulted

20 points for this section (one or more pages, single spaced)

You are to produce a Works Consulted page which will include, in proper format, all of the works that were used, even if they were not incorporated into your paper.

Minimum of 7 sources.
All of the key term studies, from Section Three, must be researched in at least three different sources. Other items (places and such) should be researched in two places.
Do not use any websites that are wiki in nature. Wikipedia.org is forbidden, it should not be used for any academic research.
Remember the text was not written in English, so Webster’s (or any English Dictionary) is forbidden. Use of an English based Dictionary will result in a zero in this section of the paper.
You must research the words in the original language. You will research the words using books, journals, and websites mentioned in the Bibliography found in your syllabus and in these instructions.

Section Six –Forms

10 points for this section (three attached pages minimum)

Attach to your paper two (minimum) completed article evaluation forms for the two journal articles that you used. This is to get you to think critically about the resources you are using.

You will also attach an evaluation of at least two sections of your paper by the Writing Center.

Section Seven – Survey Materials

60 points for this section (five pages minimum, single spaced)

Attach to the back of your paper all of your Survey materials. They must be single-spaced. You should have at least two pages of just observations. You should have at least one page full of questions and a page of other survey materials (list of key words, thematic vocabulary, list of repetitions, genre discussion, etc.). If you are short (length of survey, not a comment about your height or your temperament) do a third set of observations.

Form and Grammar

25 points

How well does the paper conform to the instructions as presented here and to the directives in the Student Supplement for the SBL Handbook Style, 2nd ed.? This includes formatting of footnotes.

The Exegetical Research Paper will link to Student Learning Outcomes #4 and 5.