NT 123 Course at a Glance (2025)

Biblical Hermeneutics

Lectures By: Dr. Vern Poythress

4 Credits


Course Description

This foundational course provides tools by which you can more effectively discover the meaning of every passage in the Bible for yourself. Our focus will be on the wide framework for interpreting the Bible and on useful techniques in understanding its particular facets. That is, we will learn a combination of the following: general principles of interpretation, the practice of interpretation, and difficulties presented by detailed features of the Bible.


Books to Purchase

The books listed below are required readings which students should acquire by the start of the term. Additional required readings will be listed in the course syllabus and available electronically in Canvas.

God-Centered Biblical Interpretation

By Vern Poythress

P&R Publishing, 1999

ISBN: 9780875523767
Symphonic Theology

By Vern Poythress

P&R Publishing, 2001

ISBN: 9780875525174

Estimated Workload

Lectures Readings Assignments
1-2 25-50 4-8
Hours Per Week Pages Per Week Hours Per Week

Course Assignments

The assignments listed below are provided for general guidance for students to reference as they plan and register. Please reach out to support@wts.edu if you have any questions.

  • Live Class Meetings [4 - 1 hr meetings]
  • Short Analysis Papers [8 papers total]
  • Exhortational Biblical-Theological Paper [4,000-5,000 words]
  • Final Exam [3 hrs]

Synchronous Meeting Times

This course offers optional synchronous class meeting(s) through Zoom which will be scheduled during the term based on everyone's availability (a poll will be taken by the instructor for these meetings and they will be recorded for students who are unable to attend live). These meetings will be helpful for the formation your understanding of apologetics as well as provide an opportunity to practice the method live with your instructor.