Biblical exegesis is the critical interpretation of the text of the Bible. It comes from the Greek word ἐξήγησις which means “explanation” or “interpretation”. Good biblical exegesis involves carefully examining the original languages, historical and cultural contexts, literary genres, and theology of Scripture to rightly understand and apply God’s Word.
Here are 9 key principles for doing good biblical exegesis:
1. Prayerfully rely on the Holy Spirit
Since the Bible is God’s Word, we need the illumination of the Holy Spirit to rightly interpret it (1 Corinthians 2:14-16). Pray for wisdom and understanding before studying a passage. Ask God to speak through His Word and transform you by the renewing of your mind.
2. Examine the historical context
Determine the date, author, original audience, and setting. Understand the political, cultural, and religious background. This helps us grasp why the text was written and how the original readers would have understood it in their historical situation.
3. Analyze the literary context
Look at the surrounding verses and paragraphs. How does this passage fit within the flow of the entire book? How do the words, phrases, and ideas connect? Examining the literary context prevents cherry-picking verses and misinterpretation.
4. Determine the biblical genre
The Bible contains history, poetry, parables, epistles, prophecy, and more. These genres have different conventions we must understand. For example, psalms express emotions in vivid poetic language which should not be taken literally.
5. Study the original languages
The Old Testament was written in Hebrew and Aramaic. The New Testament was written in Koine Greek. Learning the original languages helps uncover fuller meaning. But even using lexicons and commentaries for key words can provide insight.
6. Interpret according to context
Words and phrases can have different meanings across contexts. Let the surrounding verses, book, testament, and whole counsel of Scripture determine the right interpretation. Don’t impose external ideas onto the text.
7. Understand the meaning of words
Look up the range of definitions for key words using lexicons and dictionaries based on the original languages. Words can be used literally or figuratively. Note metaphors, similes, hyperboles, and idioms that may have cultural associations.
8. Discover the textual structure
Identify connecting words that indicate cause and effect, contrasts, logical conclusions, purpose, or conditional statements. Recognize repetition, chiasms, and shifts in person, space, or time. This reveals logical flow and emphasis.
9. Apply wisely
After doing the hard work to determine the original meaning, prayerfully apply the principles and truths to your current life and context, as led by the Spirit. Be careful not to misapply passages due to lack of understanding.
Doing good biblical exegesis takes time, effort, tools, and skill. But it’s essential because mishandling God’s Word leads to false teaching and dangerous theology. As 2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV) says, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”
Here are some key tools that aid in biblical exegesis:
Bible Dictionaries
Bible dictionaries provide background information on people, places, objects, events, customs, archaeology, culture, and more. This contextual knowledge brings color to the meaning of the text. Some examples are the Holman Bible Dictionary, International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, and Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary.
Bible Commentaries
Commentaries offer verse-by-verse explanations and analysis from biblical scholars and theologians. They offer historical insights, word studies, cultural references, connections with other passages, and applications. Some examples are Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, and the IVP New Testament Commentary Series.
Bible Concordances and Cross-References
Concordances and cross-references help you locate verses with specific words and phrases. This allows you to compare scripture with scripture. Examples are Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, and the cross-references in study Bibles.
Bible Word Study Tools
Word study tools delve into the meanings of the original Greek and Hebrew. They include lexicons like Strong’s and Vine’s that define key words, and Interlinears that show the original word translations underneath the English text. Software like Logos provide quick word studies.
Bible Atlases and Maps
Bible atlases and maps help you visualize locations and terrain referenced in Scripture. Understanding geography sheds light on events, journeys, spatial relationships, climate, agriculture, settlements, and more. Examples are the Moody Atlas of Bible Lands and the Holman Bible Atlas.
Bible Surveys and Introductions
Surveys and book introductions provide overviews of the background, structure, themes, theology, outline, and contents of Bible books and testaments. They set the literary scene before digging into passages. Examples are found in study Bibles or books like Encountering the Old Testament.
Online Resources
Many excellent biblical exegesis resources are now available online and free. Examples are NetBible.org for word studies, BibleGateway.com for comparing translations, and BlueLetterBible.org for commentaries, lexicons, and more.
Some keys to properly applying exegetical findings are:
1. Consider the redemptive historical context
Connect the text to God’s overarching story of creation, fall, redemption, and new creation. See how it relates to God’s covenant promises fulfilled in Christ. This prevents misapplying promises and principles.
2. Recognize literary form and devices
Genre affects interpretation. Poetry has vivid imagery. Narrative is selective and compressed. Hyperbole is exaggeration, not fact. Take historical accounts as reliable but not exhaustive. Literary devices have meaning.
3. Determine what is prescriptive vs. descriptive
Prescriptive texts command us to act or think a certain way. Descriptive texts record what happened without necessarily endorsing it. Be careful not to treat descriptive texts as mandates for living when they’re not.
4. Consider the full counsel of Scripture
Use clear didactic passages to help interpret vague passages. Look for consistent patterns and teachings rather than obscure isolated texts. Don’t build doctrine on poetic imagery. Synthesize with other scripture.
5. Understand principles and avoid legalism
Principles are timeless while rules are time-bound. But be careful not to dismiss commands as purely cultural. Look for reasons behind rules to find applicable principles for living.
6. Know your audience and purpose
The original audience is not always the current audience. Consider how to communicate insights appropriately for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training today (2 Timothy 3:16). Tailor applications wisely.
In summary, good biblical exegesis requires prayerful dependence on the Holy Spirit along with careful literary, linguistic, historical, and theological analysis to determine the original inspired meaning. This must then be faithfully and rightly applied to our lives and contexts. Handling God’s Word accurately unleashes its transformational power.