The Exegetical Process

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The Exegetical Process

• Discovering the Word of the LORD

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Exegesis (Greek ???es?a? 'to lead out')
The word exegesis means "to draw the meaning out
of" a given text. Exegesis may be contrasted with
eisegesis, which means to read one's own
interpretation into a given text. In general,
exegesis presumes an attempt to view the text
objectively, while eisegesis implies more
subjectivity. (Everybody claims exegesis and
imputes eisegesis!)
Exegesis involves an extensive and critical
interpretation of a text, especially of a holy
scripture -- such as Tanach and the New
Testament of the Bible(s), Talmud, Midrash,
Quran, etc An exegete is a practitioner of this
science.
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Exegesis (Greek ???es?a? 'to lead out')

• Traditional exegesis involves
• analysis of significant words in the text in
  regard to translation
• examination of the general historical and
  cultural context,
• confirmation of the limits of the passage,
• examination of the context within the text.

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Exegesis (Greek ???es?a? 'to lead out')
The Three Legged Stool Reason Thinking,
Clearly Consistently,and Coherently Tradition
Thinking in Dialogue with the Great Traditions
of Historic Christianity Scripture Thinking
Biblically
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John 1220-33 -- How does it fit into the Gospel
as a whole?
1.1 1.18 Prologue
1.19 10.42 The Challenge
11 The Turning Point
12-20 The Last Week
21 Epilogue
The first step in sermon preparation, is to read
the book through at least 30 times. -- G.
Campbell Morgan
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John 1220-33
High Priest
Priests
Bazaar of Annas
Israel
Bazaar of Annas
Gentiles
Women
Blind, Lame
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Your Own Exegetical Process

• Discovering the Word of the LORD

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Become a Student

• Do your best to present yourself to God as one
  approved by Him, a worker who has no need to be
  ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth.
• -- 2 Tim 2.15

Master the Bible
Read it all Read different translations Mark-up
Bible File cabinets Physical files Computer
files Master one book per year Read a great
commentary
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• Gathering tools

Commentaries English Dictionaries Bible
Dictionaries Dictionaries of OT / NT Figures of
Speech Bible Handbooks
Learn Grammar Analytical Concordance Cultural
Background Judaica Historical Background Wright
NT People of God Wright Jesus Victory of
God
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• Continuing Education

Walk Thru the Bible EfM Diocesan
Programs National Cathedral St Marys Ecumenical
Inst Lenten Studies Video / Audio Series Synagogue
Internet
Bible Gateway Archeology, Culture Geography,
Maps Judaica Theology Discussion groups
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Become a Student
www. stmarkshighland. com gtgt Resources Bible
study Sermon Prep
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Start Digging

• Read the Propers
• Set each Proper within its own book
• You cant understand the whole apart from its
  parts
• You cant understand the parts apart from the
  whole

For each book What is the occasion? What is the
purpose? What is the structure? What is the
argument? Expect to revise, clarify, and deepen
your grasp each time!
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• Back to the Propers
• How does this proper fit the occasion, purpose,
  structure, and argument of its context?
• How do they relate one to another?
• How do they relate to the liturgical occasion?

Assumption It probably would not have been
collected into the collection of Holy Scripture
if it had been mundane If it comes to easy,
youre probably missing something!
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• Start Asking Questions
• Who?
• What?
• When?
• Where?
• How?
• Why?

Start Asking Questions What are the significant
words? Why these words rather than others? What
questions do they raise?
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Exegesis (Greek ???es?a? 'to lead out')

• Start Asking Questions
• What questions are raised by the general
  historical and cultural contexts ?
• How is light shed by the general historical and
  cultural contexts?

• Traditional exegesis involves
• analysis of significant words in the text in
  regard to translation
• examination of the general historical and
  cultural context,
• confirmation of the limits of the passage,
• examination of the context within the text.

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• Start Asking Questions
• What limits are there? ie Textual questions
  specific occasion or address Intention of
  literature?

Start Asking Questions How does the passage flow
from the previous passage? How does the passage
flow into the next passage?
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• Youll regret it if you dont. Maybe not today,
  but soon and for the rest of your life.
• Rick -- Casablanca
• Write it down!!!!
• Your observations ideas
• Your research
• Your conclusions
• Your questions

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Exegesis requires creativity and imagination
but it is about discovering rather than
creating digging rather than imagining.
Homiletics is art.
Exegesis is the invisible science behind the art
that allows the art to be Truth.