Course Description

This course provides a foundational bridge between biblical study and preaching. Students will master the primary tools and methodologies required to move accurately from the ancient biblical text to faithful contemporary proclamation. The course covers historical, cultural, grammatical, literary, and theological analysis, equipping students to avoid hermeneutical fallacies, handle original context correctly, and establish an unshakeable exegetical foundation before developing sermon outlines.

Course Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

Apply the Hermeneutical Triad: Analyse any biblical passage through its historical-cultural background, literary genre, and grammatical-canonical context.
Master Exegetical Tools: Use study resources (concordances, lexicons, Bible dictionaries, commentaries, and original-language software) efficiently and critically.
Avoid Common Exegetical Fallacies: Identify and prevent root fallacies, selective use of evidence, anachronism, over-allegorisation, and proof-texting.
Conduct Structural & Grammatical Analysis: Trace syntax, logical arguments, paragraph boundaries, and sentence flows in both OT narrative/prophetic/poetic and NT epistolary/gospel texts.
Formulate Exegetical & Homiletical Ideas: Synthesise detailed textual analysis into a single clear Exegetical Idea (what it meant then) and transition it into a Homiletical Idea (what it means now).

PR 301 – Biblical Hermeneutics & Exegesis for Preaching

Course contents