Question: anyone have any suggestions for good resources on determining pericope boundaires?

MJ. Smith · 2010-08-09T21:54:10+00:00

I am aware of sections on the topic in: * A Beginner's Guide to New Testament Exegesis: Taking the Fear Out of Critical Method by Richard J. Erickson * Windows on Jesus: Methods in Gospel Exegesis by Wim Weren * Runge on segmentation is somewhat relevant but I'm looking for more "average pew warmer" level materials Have…

MJ. Smith

I am aware of sections on the topic in:

A Beginner's Guide to New Testament Exegesis: Taking the Fear Out of Critical Method by Richard J. Erickson
Windows on Jesus: Methods in Gospel Exegesis by Wim Weren
Runge on segmentation is somewhat relevant but I'm looking for more "average pew warmer" level materials

Have any great suggestions to share?

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Comments

Rosie Perera

There's a section on Establishing the Pericope in Reading the Synoptic Gospels by O. Wesley Allen, which looks to be "average pew warmer" level. I don't know how good it is, just found it through Googling.

Are you aware of http://www.pericope.net? Might not be what you're looking for here if you're looking for exegetical boundaries as opposed to liturgical reading boundaries, but it would be interesting to you nonetheless.

Bohuslav Wojnar

Of course you are aware of this tool in Logos 4 [:)]

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/159039#Comment_159039

Of course you are aware of this tool in Logos 4

Yes, I am - but my interest is in pericopes in the more classical sense of the second half of the definition "An extract or selection from a book, especially a reading from a Scripture that forms part of a church service."

What I am working on is a lector / liturgical reader analysis of a passage they are to read - reworking an old form to fit into modern tools. A significant element of the context of a pericope is how the boundaries separate the text from its broader context. This is easily identified in narrative (well most of the time) but I am struggling with a reasonable generic set of criteria for the epistles.And as one can see from the Logos chart, it is not as though the various Bible translators are in complete agreement. [:D]

Rosie Perera

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/159042#Comment_159042

Yes, I am - but my interest is in pericopes in the more classical sense of the second half of the definition "An extract or selection from a book, especially a reading from a Scripture that forms part of a church service."

What I am working on is a lector / liturgical reader analysis of a passage they are to read

In that case, aren't the pericope boundaries determined by the lectionary writer/editor? Does the lector/reader have to figure out the boundaries? Aren't they just given to him or her? And if you're looking back a level to determine how a lectionary writer/editor determines the boundaries, I'm guessing it's a combination of the same rules for dividing up pericopes for exegetical purposes, what liturgical season of the year it is, and what is a practical length to read during a church service. In any event, it doesn't seem to be the sort of thing that the average pew warmer would need to do.

garry Hill

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/159042#Comment_159042

There will be differences in the different translations as they write it differently as can be seen by the river diagram. Also it is not that important as to the exact place as long as the message is understood. As you state in the english sometimes it is easy to see the splits and sometimes it is more difficult to decide for that perticular translation.

Also the only way you would get an exact place would be in the original text. As with a lot of deeper more exact study of the bible, we are trying to explain language and text in a language with different rules to the original and so may not be possible unless going back to the original.

But that just my opinion !

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/159044#Comment_159044

In that case, aren't the pericope boundaries determined by the lectionary writer/editor? Does the lector/reader have to figure out the boundaries? Aren't they just given to him or her?

Yes, within limits they are just handed to you. The problem, however, is that a reading is always "ripped" from its context. In order to read it well, the reader needs to know the context - both liturgically and scripturally. One necessary element for understanding the pericopes place in scriptural context is to be aware of how sharply defined the borders are and whether the pericope is simply an element within what Weren refers to as "mesopericope".

I spent twenty years or so training all the lay liturgical ministers - some of that time including the musicians. I've trained people to lead small group Bible studies for a large urban parish. Pericope boundaries have been in the graphic organizer nearly that long. It's easy to teach by examples until they "get it." It is another thing to write clearly what you do when you do it by gut instinct. What is new is trying to make it clear to people outside formal instruction.

I'm guessing it's a combination of the same rules for dividing up pericopes for exegetical purposes,

Yes, the rules are the same, It's just that I have several resources on how to determine the boundaries in narratives. My primary sources for non-narrative tend to require a bit of rabbinic argumentation or a bit of Greek. My average pew warmer doesn't know Greek, In fact, they are much more apt to know Latin. I wonder why?[:D]

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/159045#Comment_159045

Also it is not that important as to the exact place as long as the message is understood.

I would describe the variation you describe as representing variation in the strength of of bond / division. Often it makes little difference as to where we make the break. However, if you read Jewish or Orthodox "popular" commentaries on Genesis you can see where the pericope boundary chosen between the first and second creation stories of Genesis 1-2 has a very significant effect on how one understands the text.

I didn't mean to generate a discussion over the usefulness of pericope boundaries in reader preparation. I really want referrals to resources that provide more coverage on non-narrative material than I have at hand.

An example of where I am heading in converting the form to the computer age:

Yes, I am finding interesting new strengths and weakness in Logos.