DocViewer Page of 2 Pages Directions for your Paper on the History of Biblical Interpretation:Church History 1 – Dr. Robert Caldwell Fall 2022 Overview: You will select a Psalm, and the write a 2500-word paper (about 8-9 pages) that analyzes three historical interpretations of that Psalm. For the historical interpreters, you will choose (1) Augustine,
(2) another pre-modern commentator (either early church, medieval, or reformation commentator), and (3) a modern commentator (1800 through today). Your paper will compare and contrast the three separate authors. You will conclude with a brief overview of the different readings including a discussion of their strengths and weaknesses. Directions (
1) Choose a Psalm which will be the focus of your paper. (2) Consult Augustine’s interpretation of that passage using his Exposition of the Psalms (see here: https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/1801.htm), and study how he interprets your text. a) You may want to note how Augustine draws connections between the Psalm and the person and work of Christ.
(3) Select two other interpretations of the same Psalm. Though it is not necessary, I would suggest that, for your other two commentators, you choose: a) A “Church History 1” interpreter (the early church through the medieval church), b) And you choose a “Church History 2” interpreter (the Reformation to the present).1 c) Consult the list below for online options. (
4) Study and analyze how the interpreters you selected interpreted your Psalm. a) Students may want to take note of the particular ways that the interpreters connect the Psalm choosen with the incarnation. It is especially helpful to see how Christology shapes and is shaped through the connections between the Psalms and the work of Christ. The psalms have long provided some of the most important passages that helped shaped the Church’s reflection on the nature of Christ. (5) Compile your findings / Write your paper a) In general, the paper should compare and contrast the three separate authors with three separate sections dedicated to each author.
b) The student should conclude with a summary of the different readings, including a discussion of their strengths and weaknesses. Where do I find resources? Students may use the library and find books (commentaries, homilies, and sermons on the Psalms by a particular author). Students may also take advantage of online resources. Please use the online resource for Augustine. “Church History 1” Resources Online: • Albert the Great (select psalms): https://sites.google.com/site/aquinasstudybible/home/psalms/st- albert-on-the-psalms • Thomas Aquinas (select psalms 1-55): https://www.corpusthomisticum.org/iopera.html#CB (scroll down to “Biblical Commentaries,” select a link, then use Google translate). 1 Please do not choose Warren Wiersbe. o For another source, see: https://hosted.desales.edu/w4/philtheo/loughlin/ATP/ Library Books: ? John Chrysostom, Commentary on the Psalms, trans. Robert Charles Hill, 2
