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AN OVERVIEW OF THE FORMAT FOR THE BIBLE COMMENTARY OBST520

The following is an overview example of the commentary assignment and is not intended to
replace the instructions that are provided each week in the course content.

Page 1 is a title page. The paper is based on Turabian format. Do your best to follow Turabian
format but spend your time on the content of the commentary. Be consistent with the format and
the paper will be accepted. There is no table of contents for this assignment.

Pages 2-3 address the introduction to book. You will answer the following questions. Do not
repeat the questions but use the bold headings.

Introduction
1 Historical Background
What do you know about the historical background that helps you to understand the
setting of the book? When did the events take place in the history of Israel? What was the
international setting of world powers at that time?

2 Prevailing Conditions
What clues does the author give about time, place, politics, spiritual or physical
conditions, etc. that provide specific details for the setting of the story?

3 Main Characters
Who are the main characters? Is there one major character around whom the story is
developed? Do not merely retell or paraphrase the story. Interpret the story! Answer questions
that you have about the story. Interpret and explain the story rather than repeat the story.

4 Major Argument
What is the author talking about? What is the main subject of the story? Summarize the
story in one sentence. The argument is not the application of the story. The argument is like the
headings in a newspaper or magazine article. Each week the video and audio lectures provide
examples of the argument of a biblical book.

5 Purpose
What is the outcome that the author hopes will happen when the recipients understand the
message?

6 Key Verse
A key verse or verses that summarize the argument and/or purpose.

7 Major Themes
What are the major themes that are developed in the book? The themes are repeated
words and concepts. The themes develop the major argument.
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Interpretation and Exposition

Pages 3-8? comprise your exposition of the text. Word count is not as important as word content.
Do not merely retell or paraphrase the story! You are answering questions about the text so that
you and your readers understand the meaning. You always have two major questions in your
mind: 1) What is the author talking about? 2) What does the author say about what he is talking
about? This is a combination of your insights and interpretive explanations from your research.
You want to help the reader comprehend the meaning of words and customs that are unfamiliar.
You take the reader on a journey in which you help the reader understand the development of the
argument and story from scene to scene. The course textbooks give you an example of how a
commentary explains the text. Your paper should not be a string of quotes about what other
interpreters have written about the story, but rather a combination of your insights about the
development of the story, the argument and theology with the help of other expositors. You are
answering questions that the reader will need to know to understand the story.

This is the main body of your paper, the commentary. You provide interpretive or expository
comments about the text to help the reader understand the story. Your commentary is structured
by the exegetical outline which is based on the major sections and paragraphs that are provided
in the instruction. A major section contains a central subject that is developed by several
paragraphs. Paragraphs are usually based on several sentences which develop the major section.
This outline becomes the framework for your commentary. The outline should be exegetical and
not homiletical. Avoid alliteration or creative titles. You are seeking to understand the exegetical
content of the book by means of each paragraph. You should engage the language of the text in
producing your summary statements. (Ex. Jonah flees from the presence of the Lord and sails
to Tarshish 1:1-3). The summary statements should be one sentence that averages about 8-12
words. Do not start the outline with “Major Summary Statement” or “Summary Statement.”
Your outline should be something like the following. Do not use these summaries as these are
examples.

1. Jonah is judged because he fled to Tarshish in disobedience to the Lord. 1:1-17.

1.1 Jonah flees to Tarshish 1:1-3.
1.2 The Lord hurls a great storm against the ship 1:4-6.
1.3 Jonah acknowledges that he is the cause of the storm 1:7-9.
1.4 Etc.

Exegetical Outline (with your exegetical comments below each outline point)
1 Major Summary Statement 1:1-17
1.1 Summary Statement 1:1-3
1.2 Summary Statement 1:4-6
1.3 Summary Statement 1:7-9
1.4 Summary Statement 1:10-14
1.5 Summary Statement 1:15-17
2 Major Summary Statement 2:1-10
2.1 Summary Statement 2:1-9
2.2 Summary Statement 2:10
3 Major Summary Statement 3:1-10
3.1 Summary Statement 3:1-4
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3.2 Summary Statement 3:5-9

3.3 Summary Statement 3:10
4 Major Summary Statement 4:1-11
4.1 Summary Statement 4:1-4
4.2 Summary Statement 4:5-8
4.3 Summary Statement 4:9-11

The exegetical outline is the framework for your commentary. The commentary should define as
clearly and concisely as possible what the passage says and what it meant from the original
author to the original readers. You are not writing a sermon! You are writing a commentary! You
should have 3-4 citations for each chapter of Jonah. Seek balanced research by having your
citations evenly distributed throughout the commentary. Do not be dependent on a single author
or source.
Application

Page 9 or so is the application section. You apply the 5 principles from the J. Daniel Hays article
(Applying the OT Law Today, Bibliotheca Sacra 158: 629 (2001): 21-35). This process is
explained in the course instructions. You should have at least one application from each of the
chapters of Ruth.

The following is an example of an application statement after you apply the 5 steps.
Jonah did not want to obey the Word of the Lord (1:1-3). There are times that we do not
like what the Bible tells us to do. We must obey the Word of the Lord or we will suffer the
consequences of disobedience.

Application 1
Application 2
Application 3
Application 4
Application etc.

Bibliography

The last pages are the bibliography. The bibliography should contain the commentaries and
journal articles that you have consulted in your research. The course instructions explain what
are acceptable and unacceptable sources. The bibliography should be in Turabian format.

The is an overview example of the commentary assignment and is not intended to replace
the instructions that are provided each week in the course content.