David Clines, "Methods of Old Testament Study"

The Reading and Discussion Questions below should help you in understanding the reading and its organization.

Reading and Discussion Questions

1. What does Clines think the goals of academic biblical studies are?

2. What does Clines mean by first, second, and third order methods?

3. What do the following terms mean for Clines?

understanding

interpretation

exegesis

4. Put into your own words the following methods and give an example of each.

First Order Methods

Traditional Methods

historical-grammatical exegesis

textual criticism

redaction criticism

Methods in Literary Criticism

rhetorical criticism

the idea of the literary work of art

engagement

Second Order Methods

Feminist criticism

Materialist or political criticism

Reader-response criticism

Deconstruction

Third Order Methods

Historical criticism

Source criticism

Form criticism

5. What would you say that Clines’ presuppositions are? What are his aims in this chapter?

6. Have you seen any of the methods Clines describes used in other disciplines? If so, where and how? Can you give one or two examples?

Overview Questions for Later in the Semester

1.  How has your study of the Torah and Neviim altered and/or enriched your understanding of Clines? Use examples to illustrate your answer.

2.  Now that you have read Clines for a second time, what makes more sense to you (even if you disagree with Clines) than it did the first time?  What has happened in your study of the biblical materials since the first reading that makes Clines more intelligible?  Be specific.

3.  Argue for or against Clines' categorization of methods into First, Second, and Third Order Methods.  Give examples to support your argument.