MINI BIBLE STUDY --
There are two Greek words used when one thinks of reading a text in the Bible.
Exegesis and eisegesis are two conflicting approaches in Bible study. Exegesis is the exposition or explanation of a text based on a careful, objective analysis. The word exegesis literally means “to read out of.” That means that the interpreter is led to his conclusions by following the text.
The opposite approach to Scripture is eisegesis, which is the interpretation of a passage based on a subjective, non-analytical reading. The word eisegesis literally means “to read into,” which means the interpreter injects his own ideas into the text, making it mean whatever he wants. When he “reads into” the text this may have been something he heard from a minister or teacher in the church and he/she “reads into” the text what he heard or was taught by the teacher. (This is one of the reasons we have over 133,000 denominations today teaching false doctrines.)
Each individual is responsible to Christ for his own life which includes his/her studies into the bible.
Obviously, only exegesis does justice to the text. Eisegesis is a mishandling of the text and often leads to a misinterpretation. Exegesis is concerned with discovering the true meaning of the text, respecting its grammar, syntax, and setting. Eisegesis is concerned only with making a point, even at the expense of the meaning of words. Even at the point of false doctrine out of ignorance.
God commands us in Second Timothy 2:15 to use exegetical methods: “Present yourself to God as one approved a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”
An honest student of the Bible will be an exegete, allowing the text to speak for itself. Eisegesis easily lends itself to error, as the would-be interpreter attempts to align the text with his own preconceived notions. Exegesis allows us to agree with the Bible; eisegesis seeks to force the Bible to agree with us.
The process of exegesis involves:
1) observation: what does the passage say?
2) interpretation: what does the passage mean?
3) correlation: how does the passage relate to the rest of the Bible? and 4) application: how should this passage affect my life?
Eisegesis, on the other hand, involves
1) imagination: what idea do I want to present?
2) exploration: what Scripture passage seems to fit with my idea? and
3) application: what does my idea mean?
Notice that, in eisegesis, there is no examination of the words of the text or their relationship to each other, no cross-referencing with related passages, and no real desire to understand the actual meaning. Scripture serves only as a prop to the interpreter’s ideas.
There are two Greek words used when one thinks of reading a text in the Bible.
Exegesis and eisegesis are two conflicting approaches in Bible study. Exegesis is the exposition or explanation of a text based on a careful, objective analysis. The word exegesis literally means “to read out of.” That means that the interpreter is led to his conclusions by following the text.
The opposite approach to Scripture is eisegesis, which is the interpretation of a passage based on a subjective, non-analytical reading. The word eisegesis literally means “to read into,” which means the interpreter injects his own ideas into the text, making it mean whatever he wants. When he “reads into” the text this may have been something he heard from a minister or teacher in the church and he/she “reads into” the text what he heard or was taught by the teacher. (This is one of the reasons we have over 133,000 denominations today teaching false doctrines.)
Each individual is responsible to Christ for his own life which includes his/her studies into the bible.
Obviously, only exegesis does justice to the text. Eisegesis is a mishandling of the text and often leads to a misinterpretation. Exegesis is concerned with discovering the true meaning of the text, respecting its grammar, syntax, and setting. Eisegesis is concerned only with making a point, even at the expense of the meaning of words. Even at the point of false doctrine out of ignorance.
God commands us in Second Timothy 2:15 to use exegetical methods: “Present yourself to God as one approved a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”
An honest student of the Bible will be an exegete, allowing the text to speak for itself. Eisegesis easily lends itself to error, as the would-be interpreter attempts to align the text with his own preconceived notions. Exegesis allows us to agree with the Bible; eisegesis seeks to force the Bible to agree with us.
The process of exegesis involves:
1) observation: what does the passage say?
2) interpretation: what does the passage mean?
3) correlation: how does the passage relate to the rest of the Bible? and 4) application: how should this passage affect my life?
Eisegesis, on the other hand, involves
1) imagination: what idea do I want to present?
2) exploration: what Scripture passage seems to fit with my idea? and
3) application: what does my idea mean?
Notice that, in eisegesis, there is no examination of the words of the text or their relationship to each other, no cross-referencing with related passages, and no real desire to understand the actual meaning. Scripture serves only as a prop to the interpreter’s ideas.
