Hermeneutics

Dr. James Rosscup of The Master's Seminary teaches the craft of interpreting the Bible rightly, from careful observation to the parables, the types, and the prophets.

This course teaches the disciplines of sound Bible interpretation: learning to observe what a text says, the first principles of clarity and context, word studies and the case for literal interpretation, how parables and figurative language work, what makes a true type, and how to approach the prophets.

Each lecture below is a full seminary class session, and each has its own page with the video, a study sheet that walks the lecture section by section, links to every Scripture passage discussed, key terms, a comprehension check, discussion questions, and a printable PDF.

Lectures by Dr. James Rosscup, embedded from The Master's Seminary's public channel.

Optional textbook: Basic Bible Interpretation by Roy B. Zuck, one of the two texts Dr. Rosscup assigns alongside these lectures.

Optional textbook: Evangelical Hermeneutics: The New Versus the Old by Robert L. Thomas, the second of the two texts Dr. Rosscup assigns alongside these lectures.

Enrollment is free and optional, and takes a minute: let the church know you are studying.

All 15 lectures are ready.

  1. 01Learning to Observe: What Is Said, What Is Not Said, and the Questions That Matter48 min
  2. 02Where Hermeneutics Fits: The Disciplines, the Spirit, and the Art of Awareness77 min
  3. 03What Does It Mean? Interpretation, Correlation, Application, and Prayer All Through92 min
  4. 04Four First Principles: Clarity, Accommodation, Progressive Revelation, Cross-Reference90 min
  5. 05One Meaning, Rightly Checked: The Analogy of Faith, Five Smooth Stones, and the Languages91 min
  6. 06Be Filled: The Greek at Work, and the Case for Literal Interpretation101 min
  7. 07Word Studies: Etymology, Usage, and the Riches Behind the Words76 min
  8. 08Context Is King: Grammar, Cross-Reference, Genre, and the Customs Behind the Text90 min
  9. 09Parables: True to Life, Told in the Storm, and Struck for a Verdict94 min
  10. 10Keys to the Main Point: Parables Finished, Figurative Language Begun84 min
  11. 11Eagles, Numbers, and Names: Phenomenal Language, Symbols, and What Makes a Type96 min
  12. 12Running the Grid: Criteria for a True Type, from the Lamb to Jacob's Ladder113 min
  13. 13Signs, Symbols, and the Veil: Typology Closed, Prophecy Opened65 min
  14. 14The Millennial Map: Systems, Agreements, and the Issues That Divide91 min
  15. 15The Land, the Temple, and the Virgin: Prophecy's Questions Answered88 min

Start with Lecture 1

Learning to observe: what the text says, what it does not say, and the questions that matter. About fifty minutes with your Bible open.