Writing instructions

Paper has to be on The Book of Mark Chapter 4: 35-41 An exegesis paper is nothing but an interpretive essay of a Biblical text. It is to be 6-8 pages in length (excluding title and reference pages) and written in APA format. The following are some guidelines on writing your exegesis paper. 1. Title Page The title page does not count toward your total number of pages.

It should be properly formatted according to APA guidelines and include the passage chosen. 2. Passage Chosen The passage you have chosen needs to be clearly stated on a title page and at the top of the first page of your exegesis paper. Do not put the actual text in the paper! 3. Introductory Section The introductory part of the exegesis paper is to deal with the questions of the formal Old or New Testament context as they relate to your passage.

This should include such items as:

1) identification of the periscope;

2) historical & sociological setting of the text;

3) genre. The section should be between no more than two pages. The information provided in your introduction should be the foundation for the rest of your paper. The statements made here should not be contradicted elsewhere in your paper.

4. Verse-By-Verse Exposition In this section, the writer will deal with his or her passage verse-by-verse.

Keep in mind:

a. Use of Translations In preparing your exegesis paper, at least three major translations need to be consulted. Note the major differences, if any, and briefly explain the differences in your exposition.

b. Word Studies Key words are to be identified and discussed from the passage. The use of Word Studies, Lexicons, and theological word books can aid in this research. Note: key words may be found by noticing either the similarities or the differences in the versions.

c. Cross References (Intertextuality) Also known as intertextuality. Are there allusions, citations, adaptations, or reinterpretations of this passage in other parts of the Bible? Are there parallel passages?

d. Commentaries How many were used? What were their weight and authority? In a paper this size, no more than 3-5 commentaries should be consulted. So choose wisely! Do not forget the earliest interpreters, whom the best commentaries will not fail to mention. See the list provided in the syllabus. Always use primary sources whenever possible and cite everything!

Do your best to avoid:

1) Quoting someone who is quoting someone else and;

2) Quoting a source you have not looked up and read personally. The verse-by-verse exposition of Scripture should comprise the primary part of the paper (5-6 pages).

e. Theological Interpretation What are the theological insights of the passage? Note: These points should be in one continuous unit not divided out into separate sections.

5. Conclusion The conclusion of the exegesis seeks to state the findings of the research in a concise manner. No new material is to be introduced in the conclusion. Its length is one page.

6. Application This final section should show how your findings can be applied today. In the application you are to peak with your own voice. While you will cite various authorities in your research, what are your insights? Are they appropriate from the material at hands? This section will seek to show your “faithful imagination” based on your research. While you speak with your voice it must also show proper scholarship and avoid anecdotal references (what you say needs to be able to be validated by sound research). Its length is 1-2 pages. 7.

Reference Page A references page should be included at the end of your paper (a separate page that does not count in the page requirement). All references in your research should be cited and formatted according to APA guidelines.

8. Mechanical Matters Ask of your paper…

a. How does it appear on the page?

b. Is the format correct? i. Margins ii. Headings iii. Title Page iv. Reference page v. Pagination vi. Font

c. Is it logical and coherent?

d. Did I include all the above headings? e. How is the spelling and grammar? Please see syllabus for due dates throughout the course. Dictionaries: For General Reference and Word Studies. Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible (5 vols.) Anchor Bible Dictionary (6 vols.) Commentaries:

Choose 3-5 Anchor Bible Commentary Broadman Bible Commentary Hermeneia Series Interpretation Series Interpreter’s Bible New American Bible Commentary New Interpreter’s Bible New International Commentary on the Old Testament/New Testament Old/New Testament Library Series World Biblical Commentary Word Studies (See Also Dictionaries Above) Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament Theological Dictionary of the New Testament Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament Internet Resources Peer-reviewed articles in ATLA and JSTOR (Montgomery Library Databases) Do NOT Use In Your Research (Except in a Preliminary Way)… “Introductory” texts Class lecture notes One volume commentaries or dictionaries Bible “Handbooks” Bible Concordances Study Bibles Generally, non-peer-reviewed sources