|
Catholic Bible Institute
GUIDELINES for MONTHLY HOMEWORK:
One-Page Reflection Papers for Year 1 (Old
Testament)
|
Levels of
Interpretation:
|
Questions
to Consider:
|
|
LITERAL
|
What is the
biblical text literally about?
What is the content and style of the ancient
book(s)?
|
|
INTENDED
|
What did the
ancient author(s) intend to say?
What message did they want to give the original
readers?
|
|
PERSONAL
|
What does the
text mean to me here and now?
How does it apply to my own life individually?
|
|
COMMUNAL
|
What can
we as a community do about it today?
How can modern Christians collectively apply these
lessons?
|
Note: The first two levels focus on
the ancient world (the original author and original
audience),
while the last two levels focus on our modern world (today's
readers, individually and together).
| LITERAL: |
What is the
actual content of the text, as recorded by the biblical
author? (what historical events, people, stories are
recounted; e.g., The books of Kings narrate the history of
the Monarchy and the Temple.)
What literary style is used by the ancient author? (narrative,
poetry, letter, oracle, symbolism, etc.)
What important “facts”are conveyed by the notes in your
"Study Bible" and/or our textbook?
(e.g., David’s son Solomon built the first temple, which
was destroyed by the Babylonians in 587 B.C.)
|
| INTENDED: |
What was the
original message or purpose of the biblical book(s)? (God
creates, forgives, saves, etc.)
What lesson did the ancient writer want the original readers to
learn? (God is faithful to the chosen people, despite their
human sinfulness; God cannot be contained in a building;
etc.)
Which stories, parables, or examples in the text illustrate this
message? (Creation story, Noah’s Ark, etc.)
|
| PERSONAL: |
What does
the biblical text say to me personally? How can I apply this
message in my own life? (I need to trust God’s
faithfulness, acknowledge my own sins, failures or shortcomings. I
need to experience God’s love, so that I can love and care
for others; etc.) |
| COMMUNAL: |
What does the
biblical book say to us collectively, in the church,
society, or world? (In spite of the shortcomings of our church
or nation, God loves and cares for us. Our society must care for
the poor.)
What can we together, as a community, do about it? (We must be
good stewards of creation, using our nation’s resources for
the common good. The Church should expand its outreach to the poor;
etc.)
|
Practical Tips and
Instructions:
- After doing
the assigned readings each month, write a short essay (one full
page) on the assigned biblical book, covering all four levels
of interpretation (the four sets of questions), as explained
above.
- Each section
should be clearly labeled (Literal, Intended, Personal,
Communal), and approximately the same length (one-quarter page, or
one long paragraph for each level of interpretation).
- Include a
compact header on the top right-hand side of the page (your
Name, your Group, and the Date –single-spaced, so you leave
plenty of room for the body of your paper), and a title for
your paper.
- All papers
are to be typed, double-spaced, on a standard page (8
1/2”by 11”), using 10 or 12 point type-size, and with
one-inch margins all around (top, bottom, left, right).
- Papers are
due at the beginning of each monthly session. They will be
graded and returned the following month. Papers not meeting these
standards may be returned for re-writing. No certification/credit
will be given for failure to do the assignments.
- In
May and November, instead of writing the usual
one-page reflection, you will be asked to write a slightly longer
research paper (see the separate handout for more detailed
instructions on these papers).
|