01 Oct BIBL 104 Bible Study Project Assignment Instructions
Please see attached, Instruction on assignment, templet of assignment, blank sheet with assignment.
Please let me know if there are any questions, this is a quick turnaround.
BIBL 104
Bible Study Project Assignment Instructions
Overview
During this project, the student will complete four assignments using the techniques of observation, interpretation, correlation, and application. These are the four components of inductive Bible study outlined in Everyday Bible Study. Among other things, the student will examine a given passage of Scripture, consult various Bible study tools, and employ the structure as well as techniques detailed in the Everyday Bible Study text.
Instructions
Using the correct and provided templates, inductively study the given passage. Please be sure to pay attention to the specific instructions for each section in the templates so that the answers provided are correct, complete, and sufficiently detailed.
· The Observation Assignment is due at the end of Week 2.
· The Interpretation Assignment is due at the end of Week 4
· The Correlation Assignment is due at the end of Week 5.
· The Application Assignment is due at the end of Week 7.
Note: Your assignment will be checked for originality via the Turnitin plagiarism tool.
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BIBL 104
Name:
Bible Study Project: Observation Template
Passage: Acts 19:11-22
A. I have read Acts 19:11-22 in both a formal translation (NASB, NRSV, ESV, or CSB)
and a functional translation (NIV, NLT, or NCV). Highlight the correct answer. Please use the translation provided in your digital library or found at Biblegateway.com
· Yes
· No
B. Having read the passage in both formal and functional translation, list at least 2 similarities and 3 differences between the way both translations cover this story. These similarities and differences should be related to the text itself rather than the translation. For example, an observation like, “The formal translation is harder to read” is not an acceptable observation because it deals with the translation itself rather than the text. You may list as many similarities and differences that you find providing that you meet the minimum amount for each one.
1. Similarity –
2. Similarity –
3. Difference –
4. Difference –
5. Difference –
C. Identify the basic elements of the story you are studying.
1. Main characters: (List them)
2. Plot: (50-100 words)
3. Story structure: (50-100 words)
Note: Plot and Story Structure are not the same thing (see the tutorial and student example)
D. List basic observations about this passage using the “Key Question” for observation.
Remember to consult and review chapters 17 and 37 in Everyday Bible Study. This will help you be more detailed in your answers to “who,” “what,” “where,” “when,” “why,” and “how.” Please be detailed and specific.
1. Who:
2. What:
3. Where:
4. When:
5. Why:
6. How:
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BIBL 104
Name:
Bible Study Project: Observation Template Example
Passage: Luke 10:38-42
I. Observation
A. I have read Luke 10:38-42 in both a formal translation (NASB, NRSV, ESV, or CSB)
and a functional translation (NIV, NLT, or NCV). Highlight the correct answer.
· Yes
· No
B. Having read the passage in both a formal and a functional translation, list at least 2 similarities and 3 differences in the way both translations cover this story.
a. Similarity – Both translations note that specifically Martha welcomed Jesus into her home. Mary is not mentioned until after Martha has welcomed Jesus into her home.
b. Similarity – Both translations pointedly state that Mary “sat at the Lord’s feet” to listen to Jesus’ teaching.
c. Similarity – In both the ESV and NLT, Martha commands Jesus to tell Mary to assist her in serving. Martha does not tell Mary directly.
d. Similarity – Both translations recognize that the one “thing” (NLT) or “good portion” (ESV) that Mary has chosen “will not be taken away from her.” The translation is exactly the same for this specific phrase.
e. Difference – The ESV doesn’t state where Jesus and his disciples (“they” in the ESV) were traveling when they stopped in Mary and Martha’s village, but the NLT notes that they were on their way to Jerusalem.
f. Difference – The NLT says that Martha welcomes Jesus and all of his disciples into her home while the ESV translation states that Martha welcomed only Jesus into her house.
g. Difference – The ESV text recognizes that Martha was distracted with “much serving” while the NLT indicates that Martha was distracted by a big dinner that she was preparing.
h. Difference – In the ESV, Jesus tells Martha that she is “anxious” and “troubled” about “many things.” In the NLT, Jesus says that Martha is “worried” and “upset” over “all these details.” Although these words are different, they indicate that Martha is preoccupied with her service.
C. Identify the basic elements of the story you are studying.
1. Main characters: (List them)
Jesus, Mary, and Martha
2. Plot: (50-100 words)
Jesus and his disciples stop at a village in the midst of their travels, and a woman named Martha welcomes them into her home. Mary sits at Jesus’ feet and listens to his teaching while Martha focuses on serving. Martha, thinking that it is unfair for her to work alone, commands Jesus to tell Mary to help her serve. Instead, Jesus tells Martha that she is worried and anxious about serving while Mary has made a good decision by sitting at the Lord’s feet. Jesus says the “good portion” that Mary chose will not be taken away from her.
3. Story structure: (50-100 words)
Introduction: Jesus and his disciples enter a village, and a woman named Martha welcomes the men into her home.
Inciting Incident: Mary sits at Jesus’ feet to hear his teaching.
Rising Action: Martha’s service distracts her from the guests.
Climax: Martha tells Jesus to make Mary help her with the work.
Falling Action: Jesus recognizes that Martha’s work has troubled her and made her anxious when she should be focused on just one thing.
Resolution: Jesus commends Mary for resting at his feet and spending time with him while Martha worked for him by completing acts of service.
D. List basic observations about this passage using the “Key Question” for observation.
Remember to consult the list of items from the observation section in studying the Gospels in Chapter 36. This will help you be more detailed in your answers to “who,” “what,” “where,” “when,” “why,” and “how.”
1. Who:
· Luke (author)
· Theophilus and other Gentiles with largely Greek backgrounds (audience)
· “The conclusion is that Luke’s primary recipient (Theophilus), and others beyond him, were Gentiles with largely Greek backgrounds” (Hindson and Towns, p. 373).
· Mary
· Martha
· Jesus
· Jesus’ disciples (traveling with Jesus – not main characters in this story)
2. What:
Jesus and his disciples visit Mary and Martha’s village in the midst of their travel.
Martha welcomes Jesus and his disciples into her house. She shows hospitality in her willingness to serve Jesus and his disciples.
Mary sits at Jesus’ feet to hear his teaching. Her posture before Jesus is one of awe; she humbles herself before him as she sits on the ground, attentively listening. This indicates that Mary recognizes Jesus’ unending wisdom. She eagerly submits to his teaching.
Martha’s service distracted her from being at Jesus’ feet with Mary. Martha had good intentions as she aimed to serve Jesus and his disciples, but her work became overly important to her.
Martha told Jesus to instruct Mary to work with her, but Jesus insisted that Mary made a good choice by sitting at his feet and listening to his teaching. Martha believed she was in the right for working so hard. While Martha aimed to serve Jesus, he indicated that Mary made a better decision by being in his presence instead of worrying about her service for him.
Jesus says that Mary’s “good portion,” or her time spent at Jesus’ feet, will never be taken away from her.
3. Where:
· The region of Judea.
· Mary and Martha’s village – the village of Bethany (near Jerusalem).
· John 11:1 says, “Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha” (ESV).
· Martha’s house.
4. When:
· The story takes place during Jesus’ lifetime, specifically during his earthly ministry.
· Jesus’ visit to Mary and Martha occurs just after he teaches the parable of the Good Samaritan. After the story of Mary and Martha in Luke chapter 10, chapter 11 begins when Jesus teaches his disciples how to pray using the Lord’s Prayer.
· This narrative takes place after Jesus has set out resolutely for Jerusalem and his death, burial, resurrection, and ascension (Luke 9:51)
5. Why:
· Why did Jesus visit Mary and Martha?
· John 11:5 says, “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus” (ESV).
· This Scripture indicates that Jesus knew Mary and Martha and loved them. Whether to rest in the midst of travel or simply to visit the sisters, Jesus visits the village of Bethany, and the story takes place as Martha welcomes Jesus and his disciples into her home.
· Why did Mary sit at Jesus’ feet?
· Mary’s position demonstrates her eagerness to listen to Jesus. She surely understood his authority and sat humbly before him in order to learn from his teaching.
· Why did Martha get distracted with serving?
· It seems that Martha acted with good intentions. She did not serve Jesus in order to win his praise; rather, she hoped to demonstrate kindness toward Jesus and honor him.
· However, Martha let her work trouble her. Her service for Jesus became more important to her than spending time with Jesus.
6. How:
· How did Martha serve Jesus and his disciples?
· Martha first served Jesus and his disciples by welcoming them into her home.
· The NLT says that Martha prepared a meal for Jesus and his disciples. Meal preparation distracted Martha from sitting at Jesus’ feet like Mary.
· How did Martha confront Jesus?
· Martha believed that it was unfair for her to serve alone. She told Jesus to make Mary help her with the work.
· How did Jesus respond to Martha?
· Jesus responded to Martha with loving correction. He understood Martha’s intentions, but he helped her recognize that her work had begun to trouble her and make her anxious.
· He shifted Martha’s perspective, detailing the eternal value of Mary’s intentional, personal listening.
Bibliography
Hindson, Ed and Elmer L. Towns. Illustrated Bible Survey: An Introduction. Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2017.
