NGRK 515 New Testament Bible Study Tools

This course will introduce students to resources, concepts, and essential procedures related to exegeting New Testament passages at the seminary level. There will be an emphasis placed on implementing the use of biblical Greek language resources, commentaries, background resources, and English translations as they are made available through the Logos Bible Software.

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

The student – whether preparing for pastoral ministry, Christian education, or academic scholarship – requires skills necessary to engage New Testament texts directly and thoughtfully, in ways that responsibly contribute to both ecclesial and academic communities, and that foster a commitment to faithful exegesis and the responsible transmission of biblical truth.

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (3)

The student will complete 3 Discussions in this course. The student will post one thread of at least 400–500 words by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Thursday of the assigned Module: Week. The student must then post 2 replies of at least 100-200 words by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Sunday of the assigned Module: Week. Students are expected to have a clear explanation of principles or rationale, thoughtful engagement with Learn material, and clear, professional writing (no casual blogging tone). (CLO: A, B, C, D)

Exegetical Report: Word Study Assignment

For this assignment, the student will complete a focused word study using Logos Bible Software and any additional academic resources (such as journal articles or theological dictionaries). This assignment emphasizes understanding semantic range, contextual meaning, and theological significance. The student will select from four theologically rich Greek words and analyze their usage in Scripture, exploring how word meaning shapes interpretation and application in a 500 – 750 word, double-spaced report. (CLO: A, C)

Exegetical Report: Syntax Observation Assignment

In this assignment, the student will analyze a New Testament passage by making structured grammatical observations in a 750 – 1000 word paper, focusing not only on what the inspired author chose to write, but also reflecting on alternative constructions that were possible but not selected. This approach is rooted in the student’s understanding of 2 Timothy 3:16: all Scripture is inspired—not just at the level of individual words (logoi), but also in the grammatical structures, forms, sequences, and stylistic choices the biblical authors used. Divine inspiration encompasses every aspect of how Scripture communicates. (CLO: B, D)

Exegetical Report: Tracing Subordination and Flow in Discourse Assignment

The student will move beyond isolated grammatical observations to explore how clause structure, phrase sequencing, and word order work together to shape theological meaning and rhetorical flow in a 3 – 4 page (double-spaced) report. This module shows how these elements function across larger discourse units—such as paragraphs or extended speeches—to build coherent, meaningful interpretation. (CLO: A, C)

Exegetical Report: Evaluating Interpretive Process Using the Logos Exegetical Guide Assignment

The student will move beyond individual grammatical observations and begin analyzing how larger discourse units are structured through the use of participles, prepositional phrases, and clause sequencing in a 2–3 page structured report. The student’s goal is to trace how New Testament authors shape theological meaning through grammatical subordination beneath finite verbs—recognizing that not all ideas in a paragraph carry equal weight. (CLO: B)

New Testament Exegetical Teaching Guide Assignment

In this capstone assignment, the student will transform their exegetical work into a practical teaching guide—something a pastor, teacher, or Bible study leader could actually use. Instead of producing an abstract academic paper, the student will synthesize their insights into a clear, structured resource (5 – 7 pages) that communicates Scripture’s meaning faithfully and accessibly. (CLO: D)