DESCRIPTION: “Exegesis” (literally, “to draw out”) means to expound upon a text, to unpack a text of its many meanings. Thus the student will chose a New Testament passage from the following list and write an analysis of the text in order to: (1) discover and present what the passage meant to its original hearers in its original context; and (b) interpret this original meaning theologically and practically for the reader today. In doing so the student will consider the historical, religious, social, and cultural background in which the text was written, as well as the genre, structure, content and intent of the particular New Testament book in which the passage is contained. The student will also attempt to employ hermeneutical (interpretative) principles in so far as they are covered in class. The length of the exegetical paper should be 2000 words. POSSIBLE TEXTS FOR THE EXEGETICAL PAPER: Philippians 2:1 – 18 NOTE ON PAPER ORGANIZATION: Papers would benefit from an outline. If a paper cannot be outlined, the organization is likely to be weak. Paragraphs should have a topic sentence and paragraphs should be related to an overall purpose expressed through a thesis sentence.