ITP 205: Biblical Interpretation II

Subtitle: Advanced Hermeneutics for Complex Genres

Course Description

Welcome to ITP 205! This course is the essential next step for the serious student of Scripture, building directly upon the foundational principles established in ITP 201. If the first course taught you the non-negotiable rules of interpretation—context, grammar, and history—this course equips you to apply those rules to the Bible’s most challenging and beautiful literary forms. We will move beyond basic narrative and epistles to master the interpretive skills required for Hebrew poetry, wisdom literature, prophecy, and apocalyptic writings. You will learn to navigate figurative language, understand typology, analyze symbolic visions, and confidently handle passages that are often misunderstood. This course is designed to sharpen your analytical skills, deepen your reverence for the complexity and unity of God’s Word, and give you the tools to accurately interpret and faithfully proclaim the whole counsel of God.

Course Structure

This course is composed of five chapters, each designed to build your interpretive skill set for specific biblical genres. Each chapter includes a detailed summary, five in-depth lessons, a chapter test, and an optional “Deep Dive” for further study. The course culminates in a final course test.

• Course: Syllabus + Interactive Syllabus + 5 Chapters + Course Test
• Chapter: Summary + 5 Lessons + Chapter Test + Deep Dive

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Master Figurative Language: Identify, analyze, and correctly interpret various forms of figurative language, including simile, metaphor, parable, allegory, and symbolism.
• Analyze Poetic Texts: Understand and apply the principles of Hebrew parallelism and imagery to interpret the Psalms, Proverbs, and other poetic literature.
• Interpret Prophetic Literature: Distinguish between different forms of prophetic speech, understand the “already/not yet” nature of fulfillment, and properly analyze messianic prophecies.
• Navigate Apocalyptic Writings: Grasp the key characteristics of apocalyptic literature (e.g., Daniel, Revelation) and apply sound principles for interpreting its rich symbolism and visions.
• Understand Typology: Define and identify biblical types and antitypes, tracing God’s progressive revelation and showing how the Old Testament foreshadows the person and work of Christ.
• Address Difficult Passages: Develop a systematic approach for researching and resolving challenging or controversial biblical texts with hermeneutical integrity.

Course Outline

Chapter 1: Foundations of Advanced Hermeneutics

• Lesson 1: Review of ITP 201: The Inductive Method & The Primacy of Context
• Lesson 2: The Theological Horizon: How Our Beliefs Shape Interpretation
• Lesson 3: The Unity of Scripture: Understanding Progressive Revelation
• Lesson 4: Introduction to Biblical Typology: Recognizing Patterns of Redemption
• Lesson 5: The Role of the Holy Spirit in Illumination

Chapter 2: Interpreting Biblical Poetry and Wisdom

• Lesson 1: The Heart of Hebrew Poetry: Understanding Parallelism
• Lesson 2: The Language of Worship: Interpreting the Psalms
• Lesson 3: The Skill for Living: Interpreting Proverbs and Wisdom Literature
• Lesson 4: The Cry of the Soul: Interpreting Job and Lamentations
• Lesson 5: The Song of Songs: An Allegory of Divine Love

Chapter 3: Interpreting Figurative Language: Parables and Allegories

• Lesson 1: “The Kingdom of Heaven is Like…”: Interpreting Similes and Metaphors
• Lesson 2: Principles for Parables: Finding the Central Truth
• Lesson 3: Analyzing the Parables of Jesus in the Synoptic Gospels
• Lesson 4: Understanding Allegory: From the Old Testament to Paul
• Lesson 5: Avoiding Extremes: The Dangers of Over-Spiritualizing and Over-Literalizing

Chapter 4: Interpreting Prophetic Literature

• Lesson 1: The Nature and Function of the Biblical Prophet
• Lesson 2: The Forms of Prophetic Speech: Lawsuit, Woe, and Promise
• Lesson 3: The Question of Fulfillment: Historical, Messianic, and Eschatological
• Lesson 4: Analyzing Messianic Prophecy: From Genesis to Malachi
• Lesson 5: Case Study: The Servant Songs in Isaiah

Chapter 5: Interpreting Apocalyptic Literature and Difficult Texts

• Lesson 1: Unveiling the Unseen: Key Characteristics of Apocalyptic Literature
• Lesson 2: Numbers, Symbols, and Visions: A Framework for Daniel
• Lesson 3: Major Interpretive Approaches to the Book of Revelation
• Lesson 4: A Method for Tackling “Problem” Passages
• Lesson 5: Case Studies in Difficult Texts (e.g., Jephthah’s Vow, The Imprecatory Psalms)

Assessments & Grading

• Chapter Quizzes: Short quizzes will follow each lesson to assess comprehension.
• Chapter Tests: A test at the end of each of the five chapters will review the material covered.
• Final Course Test: A comprehensive final exam will cover the key ideas from all five chapters.
• Passing Requirement: To successfully complete this course, you must achieve a score of 80% or higher on each of the five Chapter Tests and the Final Course Test.