Exegesis and eisegesis are two approaches to interpreting biblical texts. Exegesis refers to drawing out the original intended meaning of a text based on historical, linguistic, and literary context. Eisegesis, on the other hand, refers to reading one’s own interpretations or assumptions into a text. Understanding the difference between these two approaches is crucial for properly understanding and applying the Bible.
Exegesis
The term exegesis comes from the Greek word ἐξήγησις which means “explanation” or “interpretation.” Exegesis involves carefully investigating a biblical text in its original historical, linguistic, and literary context in order to determine the author’s original intent. Some key aspects of exegetical study include:
- Examining the historical background – understanding the culture, politics, geography, and events surrounding the text’s composition.
- Analyzing the grammar and syntax – closely looking at word meanings and the grammatical relationships between words and phrases in the original language.
- Literary analysis – identifying literary devices, genre, structure, and themes.
- Considering the biblical co-text – analyzing how the passage fits within the larger book and biblical canon.
- Determining the meaning for the original audience – asking what the text would have meant to its earliest readers.
By objectively investigating the text in its original context, the exegete seeks to set aside their own biases and assumptions in order to hear the text on its own terms. The goal is to carefully and respectfully draw out the original intent and meaning of the text.
Eisegesis
In contrast to exegesis, eisegesis involves reading one’s own interpretations, perspectives, or agendas into a text. The term comes from the Greek preposition εἰς which means “into” and the word ἐξήγησις meaning “to lead out.” Thus, eisegesis leads personal ideas into the text rather than drawing meaning out of it.
Eisegetical interpretation often disregard aspects like historical background, literary genre, and original languages. Instead, readers insert their own perspectives and assumptions, often unintentionally. Eisegesis can involve:
- Ignoring historical context and reading the text through a modern lens
- Failing to consider literary forms and genres
- Projecting one’s own desires or agendas onto the text
- Reading later theological concepts or ideas back into the text
- Interpreting based on preconceived personal preferences
Unfortunately, eisegesis persists in many interpretive practices today. However, extracting foreign meanings not intended by the author distorts the purpose and message of the text. Sound exegesis provides an essential safeguard against such distortion.
Dangers of Eisegesis
Eisegetical interpretation often originates from noble motivations – people naturally want the Bible to connect to their present circumstances and questions. However, the dangers of eisegesis include:
- Circumventing the intended meaning – the original purpose and message become subverted when foreign meanings are imposed onto the text.
- Obscuring the historical truth – eisegesis often ignores the historical rootedness of Scripture which is essential for sound interpretation.
- Distorting biblical authority – the Bible’s authority stems from the inspired intentions of the human authors and ultimately God himself as the divine author. Eisegesis undermines this authority.
- Breeding subjectivism – interpretation becomes driven by personal agendas and reader-response rather than objectively submitting to the message of the text.
- Allowing interpretive chaos – without constraints, interpretations spawn endlessly with no mechanism for determining accurate meaning.
For these reasons, eisegesis must be avoided. Scripture becomes vulnerable to revision and abuse when handled carelessly. Therefore, rigorous exegetical analysis is crucial.
Exegetical Safeguards
Several exegetical principles form essential safeguards against eisegesis:
- Authorial intent – Meaning resides in what the author willed to communicate to the original audience. The interpretive process seeks to read out this original intended meaning, resisting the temptation to replace it with contemporary agendas or wishful thinking.
- Literary context – Each text possesses a literary shape, genre, flow of thought, linguistic patterns, and textual interconnections. Accurate interpretation requires engaging with the literary design of the passage.
- Historical setting – Scripture was composed within cultures and historical circumstances foreign to contemporary readers. Immersing interpretation in original historical events, languages, and ancient near eastern literary customs provides control against anachronistic readings.
- Theological cohesion – Since Scripture ultimately has one divine Author, valid interpretations will cohere with the theological fabric of biblical revelation as a whole. Apparent contradictions suggest misinterpretations requiring further exegetical work.
- Humility & community – No interpreter approaches Scripture without biases. Humility coupled with interpreting within a diverse community provides accountability and balance for discovering text meaning without personal distortions.
Attempting to understand an ancient text through foreign lenses inevitably leads to distortion. Responsible exegesis applies appropriate linguistic, cultural, historical, and literary analysis to extract meaning from the text rather than imposing meaning onto it. Interpretation requires examining the world behind the text, within the text, and in front of the text in order to hear and appropriate Scripture on its own terms.
The Need for Exegesis
Why is sound exegesis so vital? Several important reasons include:
- Scripture’s nature – The Bible claims divine inspiration. Therefore, Scripture’s meaning and authority depend upon authors skillfully communicating God’s truth. This requires exegesis to avoid missing or distorting God’s intended revelation.
- Correct interpretation – Exegesis provides necessary constraints for determining accurate meaning. Without exegetical controls, people interpret according to personal agendas at the expense of authorial intent.
- Historical rootedness – By situating texts in original settings, exegesis connects God’s Word to real people and events in history. Eisegesis ignores this historical grounding.
- Defense against error – Careful exegesis exposes shallow interpretations and protects against textual distortions or revisionist agendas.
- Spiritual nourishment – Scripture provides nourishment when texts speak into our lives by their originally intended meanings. Eisegesis often replaces enriching meaning with thin superficiality.
In summary, exegesis serves Scripture by drawing out authentic authorial meaning. It provides the necessary controls and rigor for biblical interpretation that eisegesis lacks. While requiring skill and diligence, good exegesis unearths the treasures God breathed into the text for the benefit of all generations. Submitting to this process allows God’s Word to speak powerfully on its own terms.
Practical Steps for Exegesis
How can an interpreter move from eisegesis to responsible exegesis? Some practical initial steps include:
- Prayerfully approach Scripture with humility, inviting the Holy Spirit’s illumination.
- Make careful biblical observations inductively before drawing interpretive conclusions.
- Ask probing historical and literary questions of the text using available linguistic and background resources.
- Analyze grammar, syntax, genre, literary shape, tone, and textual connections.
- Evaluate how your interpretations align with patterns of biblical thought.
- Explore various interpretive options, being aware of your own biases.
- Situate your understanding within the wider community of faith across history.
- Continually reassess your interpretations according to rigorous exegetical principles.
Learning exegetical skills takes time and requires entering imaginatively into foreign historical worlds. However, the enriching rewards of hearing Scripture on its own terms far outweigh the effort. By carefully and prayerfully employing sound exegetical methods, the Spirit graciously guides interpreters into biblical truth.
Examples and Applications
In closing, some examples highlight the crucial need for exegesis:
- Passages like Psalm 137:9 blessing those who dash infants against rocks jar sensibilities if wrenched from historical context. Exegesis situates this in the literary genre of imprecatory psalms invoking divine vengeance.
- Without exegesis, Christians risk reading Trinitarian formulations back into the Old Testament and missing Israel’s original messianic expectations.
- The New Testament letters address specific issues in 1st century churches. Eisegesis imposes modern concerns while exegesis uncovers meaning for ancient readers.
- Interpretations that seemingly condone slavery or the subjugation of women gain traction when torn from historical settings. Responsible exegesis provides essential correctives.
- Prophetic apocalyptic texts embody complex ancient literary forms. Failure to exegete according to appropriate genre yields disastrous distortions.
The lure persists to project our assumptions and desires onto Scripture. However, respecting the integrity of the text requires submitting to diligent exegetical analysis. By applying appropriate linguistic, cultural, historical, and literary lenses, exegesis enters the world of the text and allows God to reshape our lives through His Word.