Introduction
Hermeneutics and Intended Meaning
The Inspiration and Authority of Scripture
Meaning is Genre-Dependent
The Simplicity and Clarity of Scripture
The Unity and Diversity of Scripture
The Analogy of Scripture
The Progress of Revelation
Expository Preaching
Conclusion

Part 1: General Hermeneutics
1. Context
The Historial Context
The Logical Context
1. Studying the Whole: Charting a Book
2. Studying the Parts: Diagramming the Paragraph
3. Arcing
Rhetorical of Compositional Pattern
2. Grammar
The Preliminary Task: Establishing the Text
1. External Criteria
2. Internal Criteria
Grammatical Analysis of the Text
1. The Historical Development
2. The Verb System
3. The Noun System
4. Prepositions, Particles and Clauses
Exegetical Procedures
3. Semantics
Semantic Fallacies
1. The Lexical Fallacy
2. The Root Fallacy
3. Misuse of Etymology
4. Misuse of Subsequent Meaning
5. The One-Meaning Fallacy
6. Misuse of Parallels
7. The Disjunctive Fallacy
8. The Word Fallacy
9. Ignoringthe Context
Basic Semantic Theory
1. Meaning
2. Sense and Reference
3. Structural Linguistics
4. Context
5. Deep Structure
6. Syntax and Semantics
7. Semantic Range
8. Connotative Meaning
9.Paradigmatic Research: Synonymity, Antonymity and Componential Analysis
10. Ambiguity and Double Meaning
Conclusion: A Methodology for Lexical Study
4. Syntax
Biblical Transformations
Propositional Display of Philemon 4-7
Performative and Emotive Language
Figures of Speech
1. Figures of Comparison
2. Figures of Addition or Fullness of Expression
3. Incomplete Figures of Speech
4. Figures Involving Contrast or Understatement
5. Figures Centering upon Association or Relation
6. Figures Stressing the Personal Dimension
Conclusion
Biblical Examples
Zephaniah 3:14-17
1. The Joyful Response of Israel (vv. 14-15)
2. The Message of Hope (vv.16-17)
Ephesians 3:16-19
1. Prayer for Power (vv. 16-17a)
2. Prayer for Insight (3:17b-19a)
3. Prayer for Fullness (3:19b)
Conclusion
Excursus on Transformational Grammar
Excursus on Rhetorical Criticism
5. Historical Cultural Backgrounds
Areas for Research
1. Geography
2. Politics
3. Economics
4. Military and War
5. Cultural Practices
6. Religious Customs
7. Summary
Specific Sources for Background Material
1. Old Testament Allusions
2. Intertestamental Allusions
3. Qumran Parallels
4. Rabbinic Parallels
5. Hellenistic Parallels
6. Summary
Sociology as a Tool for Interpreting Scripture
Problems in the Sociological Approach
1. Misuse of the Models
2. Revisionism
3. Tendency to Generalize
4. The Paucity of the Data
5. Tendency to Debunk the Systems
6. Reductionism
7. Theoretical Disarray
8. Determinism
9. Tendency to Disjunctive Theories
Evaluation and Methodology

Part 2: Genre Analysis
6. Narrative
The Methodology of Narrative Criticism
1. Implied Author and Narrator
2. Pointof View, Ideology and Narrative World
3. Narrative and Story Time
4. Plot
5. Characterization
6. Setting
7. Implicit Commentary
8. The Implied Reader
9. Conclusion
The Weakness of Narrative Criticism
1. A Dehistoricizing Tendency
2. Setting Aside the Author
3. A Denial of Intended or Referential Meaning
4. Reductionistic and Disjunctive Thinking
5. The Imposition of Modern Literary Categories upon Ancient Genres
6. A Preoccupation with Obscure Theories
7. Ignoring the Understanding of the Early Church
8. A Rejection of the Sources behind the Books
9. Conclusion
Methodological Principles for Studying Narrative Texts
1. Structural Analysis
2. Stylistic Analysis
3. Redactional Analysis
4. Exegetical Analysis
5. Theological Analysis
6. Contextualization
7. Use a Narrative Form for the Sermon
7. Poetry
The Form of Hebrew Poetry
1. Metrical Patterns
2. Parallelism
3. Poetic Language and Imagery
Types of Poetry
1. War Songs
2. Love Songs
3. Lament
4. Hymns or Praise Songs
5. Thanksgiving Hymns
6. Songs of Celebration and Affirmation
7. Wisdom and Didactic Psalms
8. Imprecatory Psalms
Poetry in the New Testament
Theology in the Psalms
Hermeneutical Principles
8. Wisdom
Characteristics of Wisdom
1. A Practical Orientation
2. Dependence on God
3. Indirect Authority
4. Creation Theology
The Forms of Wisdom Literature
1. The Proverb
2. The Saying
3. The Riddle
4. The Admonition
5. The Allegory
6. Hymns and Prayers
7. The Dialogue
8. The Confession
9. Onomastics
10. Beatitudes
Wisdom in the New Testament
Hermeneutical Principles
Excursus: The History of Wisdom Teaching
9. Prophecy
The Nature of the Prophetic Role
1. The Call of the Prophet
2. The Complex Role of the Prophet
3. The Characteristics of False Prophets
The Nature of the Prophetic Message
1. Present and Future Interact
2. The Revelatory State Differed
3. The Forms of Prophetic Proclamation Vary
Hermeneutical Principles
10. Apocalyptic
Formal Features and Characteristics
1. The Formal Features
2. Characteristics
The Interpretation of Symbols
Hermeneutical Principles
Excursus: The Origins of Apocalyptic
11. Parable
The Meaning and Use of Parables
The Purpose of Parables
The Characteristics of Parables
1. Earthiness
2. Conciseness
3. Major and Minor Points
4. Repetition
5. Conclusion at the End
6. Listener-relatedness
7. Reversal of Expectation
8. Kingdom-centered Eschatology
9. Kingdom Ethics
10. God and Salvation in the Parables
Hermeneutical Principles
Excursus: The History of Interpretation
12. Epistle
Letter-Writing in the Ancient World
New Testament Epistles
1. The Form
2. Authorship
Hermeneutical Principles

Part 3: Applied Hermeneutics
13. Biblical Theology
Relationship to Other Disciplines
1. Biblical Theology and Exegesis
2. Biblical Theology and Historical Theology
3. Biblical Theology and Systematic Theology
4. Biblical Theologyand Homiletical Theology
Specific Problem Areas
1. Unity and Diversity
2. Tradition History
3. Theology and Canon
4. The Analogia Field and Progressive Revelation
5. Authority
6. History and Theology
7.Language, Text and Meaning
8. Old Testament and New Testament
Toward a Methodology
1. The Synthetic Method
2. The Analytical Method
3. The History of Religions Method
4. Diachronic and Tradition-Critical Methods
5. The Christological Method
6. The Confessional Method
7. The Multiplex Method
8. The Problem of a Unifying Center
Conclusion
14. Systematic Theology
The Components of Theological Construction
1. Scripture
2. Tradition
3. Community
4. Experience
5. Philosophy
Issues in Theological Construction
1. Inspiration/Revelation
2. The Question of Metaphor
3. Theological Models
4. Tentativeness and Authority of Theological Assertions
5. Theology as a Contextualization
6. Verification or Validation of Theological Assertions
7. The Politics of Theological Decision-Making
Hermeneutical Principles
15. Homiletics I: Contextualization
Biblical Examples
Current Issues
Cultural and Supracultural Norms in Scripture
Hermeneutical Model
1. General Principles
2. Specific Principles
A Method for Contextualization
Conclusion
16.Homiletics II: The Sermon
The Place of the Holy Spirit
A Devotional Experience
From Text to Sermon
Principles for Determining Application
Practical Methods for Applying a Text
1. Focusing the Claims of the Truth
2. Suggesting Ways and Means
3. Persuasion and Motivation
Conclusion
1. Level I: Meaning/Interpretation
2. Level II: Interpretation/Relevance
3. Level III: Contextualization/Application
4. Level IV: Preparing the Sermon
Excursus on Preparing the Sermon
Excursus on Style
Appendix 1: The Problem of Meaning: The Issues
The Problem of the Reader and the Text
1. Author-centered Hermeneutics
2. The Movement Away from Author-Text: Gadamer
3. Structuralism
4. Poststructuralism
5. Reader-Response Criticism
6. Deconstruction
7. Conclusion
Mediating Postions
1.