Biblical Exegesis

The Bible is the best-selling book of all time.

Between 5 to 7 billion Bibles have been published.

Biblical exegesis is an explanation or critical (thorough) interpretation of the Bible. The term is taken from the Greek word ἐξηγεῖσθαι exegeisthai, which means "to lead out."

The primary reason for exegesis is to determine the meaning of the text, and this determination leads to discovering its significance or relevance. For conservative evangelicals, the meaning of the text is anchored in authorial intent. That is, the goal in exegetical analysis is to discover what the original author meant to the original audience in the time frame that it was written, the literal sense of scripture. After the meaning is determined, then principles are drawn from the meaning and applied to the present day and culture.

Traditional biblical exegesis includes such things as the following: research the historical-cultural background, confirm the limits of the passage, be thoroughly acquainted with your paragraph or pericope, analyze syntactical relationships and sentence structures, analyze the grammar, and analyze significant words. True Biblical exegesis requires a degree of inspiration from the Holy Spirit. Without faith, one cannot extract all the meaning from the Holy Scripture. Biblical exegesis is best done using Greek and Hebrew texts, although it is certainly possible to a certain degree using translation as well. However, many modern English translations are believed to be marred by "progressive" bias or "corrupt" Greek/Hebrew texts (this view is espoused mainly within the King James only movement).

Historical-grammatical method

See also: Historical-grammatical method (Literal hermeneutic)

The Historical-grammatical method, also called the Grammatical-Historical method, is a Christian hermeneutical approach to biblical studies that strives to properly understand the Bible by determining the meaning intended by the original author of the text through careful literary exegesis of the text by assuming that words and expressions in the text have a relatively stable meaning during given periods of history, as representing history and poetry.

Abortion

With the reversal of Roe v. Wade, Bible exegesis concerning abortion becomes increasingly important. Pro-abortion publications push a false narrative that the Bible does not prohibit abortion, when many verses are pro-life. See pro-life Bible.

Arguments that the Bible is silent about the unborn or abortion can be found on the internet, but do not withstand scrutiny. See abortion and the Bible.

Bible

Sections Old Testament New Testament Pentateuch The Gospels About History Canon Exegesis Accuracy Criticism Inerrancy Literalism Chronology Translations Hermeneutics Concepts Sabbath Sin Resurrection Prophet The Virgin Birth Tithe See also Christianity

See also

• Eisegesis
• Hermeneutics
• Historical-critical method (Higher criticism)
• Historical-grammatical method (Literal hermeneutic)
• Revelation, Book of (historical exegesis)
• Literalist Bible chronology
• Harmony of the Gospel (Conservative Version)
• Bible Commentary
• Inspiration of Holy Scripture: An Eastern Christian and Jewish Perspective
• Literalist Bible chronology
• Jewish Biblical way of interpretation: a solution for New Testament understanding
• Revelation, Book of (historical exegesis)

Biblical Exegesis Resources

• Basic Rules for New Testament Exegesis
• Biblical Studies: Conducting Exegesis, Marquette University
• Hermeneutics - A Guide To Basic Bible Interpretation, By Darryl M. Erkel
• A type of Biblical exegesis called arcing
• Ancient Greek dictionary

Tools for conducting Bible exegesis:

• Classic Bible commentaries
• A great tool for graphical Biblical exegesis