SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Interpret biblical texts in context 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
116026  Interpret biblical texts in context 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Christian Theology and Ministry 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 07 - Human and Social Studies Religious and Ethical Foundations of Society 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 6  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6  12 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard will be useful to people who wish to be grounded in the art of interpreting the biblical texts. Such a knowledge will enable them to interpret biblical texts in an ethical, responsible way. They will also be in a position to apply biblical texts to different contexts.

People credited with this unit standard are able to:
  • Explain basic theories of biblical and other textual interpretation,
  • Assess and apply the different approaches to hermeneutics use key tools for biblical interpretation,
  • Construct creative contextual interpretations of biblical texts. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    The credit calculation is based on the assumption that learners are already competent in terms of the following outcomes or areas of learning when starting to learn towards this unit standard:
  • The unit standard: Interpret the Bible and other Christian sources in their contexts 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    The following scope and context applies to the whole unit standard:
  • Alternative terms for interpret include make sense of, understand and do hermeneutics.
  • The phrase "biblical texts" refer to scriptural texts selected as subject matter for discussion, for example, a group of texts as in chapters or a pericope or individual verses.
  • Learners are encouraged to make the interpretation of biblical texts interact with their different South (African) contexts. 
    		•

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Explain basic theories of biblical interpretation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Biblical interpretation is defined and described in terms of its key elements, main processes and techniques. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The explanation includes a definition of hermeneutics 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The significance of biblical interpretation in Christian theology and ministry is described in terms of its purpose, impact and applications. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The relationship between biblical authority and biblical interpretation is outlined according to prevailing theories 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Fundamental theories of biblical interpretation are explained in terms of their basis, theoretical underpinnings, origin, technique and applications. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Describe and assess different approaches to biblical hermeneutics. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Historical and contemporary approaches are emphasised 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Comparisons between different approaches to hermeneutics identify their similarities, differences, strengths, weaknesses and applications in line with prevailing literature. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    There is a detailed discussion of the key tools for biblical interpretation. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Apply a selection of approaches to biblical hermeneutics to biblical passages. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Key tools and aids used in hermeneutics are identified and used 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    May include, among others, Bible Atlases, commentaries and lexicons
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The application uses a selection of the approaches described above. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Include especially those approaches which are assessed as useful and transformative.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Construct creative contextual interpretations of biblical texts. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Contexts of different learners are taken into account. A range of texts from both the Old Testament and New Testament are used. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The contextual interpretations of biblical texts include an full definition and discussion of contextualisation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Very clear links are made between texts and contexts. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The interpretations take adequate account of both the content of the biblical passages chosen, and the dynamics of the contemporary context. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Providers of learning towards this unit standard will need to meet the accreditation requirements of the appropriate ETQA.

    Moderation Option:

    The moderation requirements of the appropriate ETQA must be met in order to award credit to learners for this unit standard. 

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    The following essential embedded knowledge will be assessed through assessment of the specific outcomes in terms of the stipulated assessment criteria. Candidates are unlikely to achieve all the specific outcomes, to the standards described in the assessment criteria, without knowledge of the listed embedded knowledge. This means that for the most part, the possession or lack of the knowledge can be directly inferred from the quality of the candidate's performance. Where direct assessment of knowledge is required, assessment criteria have been included in the body of the unit standard.
  • Theories of hermeneutics
  • Application of hermeneutical approaches to a range of biblical texts 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems: Learners can identify particular challenges /problems encountered in their contexts and apply relevant biblical texts to address the challenges. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Understand the world as a set of inter-related parts of a system 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING 
    Contribute to the full development of oneself 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    Assessors should keep the following general principles in mind when designing and conducting assessments against this unit standard:
  • Focus the assessment activities on gathering evidence in terms of the main outcome expressed in the title to ensure assessment is integrated rather than fragmented. Remember we want to declare the person competent in terms of the title. Where assessment at title level is unmanageable, then focus assessment around each specific outcome, or groups of specific outcomes.
  • Make sure evidence is gathered across the entire range, wherever it applies. Assessment activities should be as close to the real performance as possible, and where simulations or role-plays are used, there should be supporting evidence to show the candidate is able to perform in the real situation.
  • Do not focus the assessment activities on each assessment criterion. Rather make sure the assessment activities focus on outcomes and are sufficient to enable evidence to be gathered around all the assessment criteria.
  • The assessment criteria provide the specifications against which assessment judgements should be made. In most cases, knowledge can be inferred from the quality of the performances, but other cases, knowledge and understanding will have to be tested through questioning techniques. Where this is required, there will be assessment criteria to specify the standard required.
  • The task of the assessor is to gather sufficient evidence, of the prescribed type and quality, as specified in this unit standard, that the candidate can achieve the outcomes again and again and again. This means assessors will have to judge how many repeat performances are required before they believe the performance is reproducible.
  • All assessments should be conducted in line with the following well documented principles of assessment: appropriateness, fairness, manageability, integration into work or learning, validity, direct, authentic, sufficient, systematic, open and consistent 
    		•

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    Definition of Terms:

    Terms have been clarified as far as possible through the use of range statements. Further clarification of terms is provided as follows:

    Pericope: Refers to a paragraph in the Bible consisting of a number of verses with one main thought conveyed.
    Hermeneutics: Refers to the art or science of understanding. The main object of understanding in this unit standard is biblical texts 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  48917   National Diploma: Theology and Ministry  Level 5  NQF Level 05  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  As per Learning Programmes recorded against this Qual 
    Elective  62609   National Diploma: Theology and Ministry  Level 6  NQF Level 06  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  As per Learning Programmes recorded against this Qual 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.