Exegetical
Method
Exegetical Method
A. An Inductive Method
Induction:
Study
of Parts
Conclusion
about Whole
Exegetical Method
A. An Inductive Method
Versus Deduction:
Study
the Whole
Conclusion
about Parts
Exegetical Method
A. An Inductive Method
An inductive method is a good
starting point even though
deduction is a valid and necessary
method for theology.
Exegetical Method
A. An Inductive Method
1. Key: Study a particular passage in its
own context (book) without reference to
other biblical books.
Example: Studying James’ message without
interpreting James by means of Romans.
“We must let the individual voices [of the
biblical authors] speak if we are to allow
the New Testament to articulate a word
that may contravene our own values and
desires. Otherwise, we are likely to
succumb to the temptation of flipping to
some comforting cross-reference to
neutralize the force of any particularly
challenging passage we may encounter.”
[Richard Hays, The Moral Vision of the New Testament , 188]
Exegetical Method
A. An Inductive Method
2. Skills to Cultivate
a. Big Picture Mentality
•Keep Whole Book in View
•Historical Setting in View
Exegetical Method
A. An Inductive Method
2. Skills to Cultivate
b. Listening to the Text
•Initial Impressions
•Questions Raised
•Themes, Images, Effects
Exegetical Method
A. An Inductive Method
2. Skills to Cultivate
c. Summarization
•Focused on Central Point(s)
•“Disciplined Paraphrase”
Exegetical Method
A. An Inductive Method
2. Skills to Cultivate
d. Reading as Original Audience
[as much as we are able]
d. Reading as Original Audience
Barriers:
(1) Lack of Information about
Original Setting
Example: Parable of the Good
Samaritan [Lk 10]
d. Reading as Original Audience
Barriers:
(2) Contemporary Issues Cloud the
Text’s True Focus
Example: Old Testament law read
through eyes of
Reformation issues
d. Reading as Original Audience
Barriers:
(3) Overexposure to the Text
Example: Pharisee and the
Tax-Collector [Lk 18]
d. Reading as Original Audience
Reading as original audience
helps us discover the original
meaning (the author’s
original message)
Exegetical Method
B. Nine Exegesis Guidelines
1. Reflect on Presuppositions
Matthew 2: Who is Herod? Who
does he ‘work’ for?
B. Nine Exegesis Guidelines
2. Identify Context (historical backdrop)
a. “AADP”
“AADP”
(1) Author
(2) Audience
(3) Date
(4) Purpose
Ephesians 2:11-22
(1) Author: Paul (in prison)
(2) Audience: Ephesians or
broader church audience
(3) Date: A.D. 58-62
(4) Purpose: Encouragement
to be the church
4. Research Background Information
b. Historical Issues in Passage
Example: Covenants (2:12)
Example: Chief Cornerstone (2:20)
B. Nine Exegesis Guidelines
3. Identify Genre (kind of literature)
3. Identify the Genre
a. Identify the Literary Form(s) in
the Text
(1) Three Primary Biblical Genres
(a) Narrative
(b) Poetry
(c) Epistle
3. Identify the Genre
b. Consult Secondary Sources for
Tendencies of/Principles for
Interpreting Genres
“Once upon a time…”
“At 9pm on Wed. evening, an
unidentified gunman entered
the Burger King on Valley
Creek Road and began to
shoot…”
“Dear John…”
“Roses and red,
Violets are blue…”
“Here it comes..the dreaded
Christmas letter. This one will be
filled to the brim with all manner
of posturing and grandiose selfcongratulatory statements.”
B. Nine Exegesis Guidelines
2. Identify Context
3. Identify Genre
4. Identify the Text and Cotext
Identify the Text and Cotext
Goal: To avoid “proof-texting.”
[taking verses out of cotext]
Identify the Text and Cotext
“Are God’s consolations not enough for
you, words spoken gently to you? Why
has your heart carried you away, and
why do your eyes flash, so that you vent
your rage against God and pour out such
words from you mouth?”
[Eliphaz in Job 15:12-13]
a. The Whole Book
(1) Read through for Overview
(2) Outline Book: Natural Divisions
(3) Title Sections
(4) Identify Major Themes
(5) Identify Purpose(s)
Outline of Ephesians
Eph 1:1-3:21
God’s Purposes for the Church
Eph 4:1-6:24
Live In the Light of His Purposes
Identify the Text and Cotext
a. The Whole Book
b. The Larger Section
c. The Immediate Context
d. Reassessment of Text’s
Boundaries
Ephesians 2:1-10: Old Life before Salvation
“It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—
and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
not by works, so that no one can boast.” [2:8-9]
Ephesians 3:1-13: Paul’s Mission to Gentiles
“God’s intent was that now, through the church, the
multifaceted wisdom of God should be made known
to the rulers authorities in the heavenly realms.”
[3:10]
B. Nine Exegesis Guidelines
2. Identify Context
3. Identify Genre
4. Identify the Text and Cotext
5. Carefully Study the Text
Study the Text or Passage
[Read Passage Slowly & Carefully]
a. Outline the Passage: Find Major
Sections and Title
Ephesians 2:11-22
2:11-12 Remember Former
Exclusion
2:13-18 Present Reconciliation
through Christ
2:19-22 Inclusion into God’s
People
Study the Text/Passage
[Read Passage Slowly & Carefully]
a. Outline the Passage: Find Major
Sections and Title
b. “Map” the Passage
c. Identify Key Ideas
(put in sentence form)
1. The Gentiles were being reminded of
their former life of separation from God
and God's people.
2. Christ made peace between the
two groups, unifying them and
reconciling them both to God.
3. The Gentiles were thereby enfolded
into God's household, his building, his
temple.
Study the Text/Passage
[Read Passage Slowly & Carefully]
d. Research Key Words/Phrases
[original language caution]
e. Consult Commentaries
B. Nine Exegesis Guidelines
2. Identify Context
3. Identify Genre
4. Identify the Text and Cotext
5. Carefully Study the Text
6. Summarize the Key Ideas
of the Text
Ephesians 2:11-22
Paul reminded his Gentile audience that,
even though they had been formerly
alienated from God, they were now
reconciled with God and God’s people
through Christ and, as a result, an
integral part of the people of God indwelt
by God’s spirit.
B. Nine Exegesis Guidelines
2. Identify Context
3. Identify Genre
4. Identify the Text and Cotext
5. Carefully Study the Text
6. Summarize the Key Ideas
7. Integrate Conclusions with Larger
Biblical-Theological Story
7. Integrate Conclusions with Larger
Biblical-Theological Story
Use of OT Citations of Allusions
• Is OT used to support the argument?
• To evoke a part of Israel’s story?
• To provide an analogy?
• To stress continuity between OT and NT?
B. Nine Exegesis Guidelines
2. Identify Context
3. Identify Genre
4. Identify the Text and Cotext
5. Carefully Study the Text
6. Summarize the Key Ideas
7. Integrate Conclusions with Larger
Biblical-Theological Story
8. Delineate Relevant Implications for Today
Paul reminded his Gentile audience that, even
though they had been formerly alienated from
God, they were now reconciled with God and
God’s people through Christ and, as a result,
an integral part of the people of God indwelt
by God’s spirit.
OR…
YOU’RE IN!!
NO MORE EXCLUSION!
A Vision of the Church:
At peace with God and
reconciled and in unity with
one another through Christ
1. Reflect on Presuppositions that
Impact Interpretation of a Passage
9. Rethinking our Presuppositions:
Are we being transformed?
• Impact of “Conversations” with others
• Transformation that has occurred
• Studying the Bible Historically
and Inductively:
Like visiting a foreign
country
•Studying the Bible Historically
and Inductively:
Like visiting a foreign country
•Reading the Bible Devotionally:
Like visiting an old & dear friend