Theology Terms Explained: “Eisegesis”
In this series on the blog, we’re providing sound doctrine for everyday people by providing you with clear and simple definitions that will strengthen your theological foundation. Each article covers 4 categories including:
The Term – We lay out how it’s pronounced.
The Definition – We provide the Merriam-Webster definition and an everyday version.
The Biblical Connection – We show you where the term connects with Scripture.
Used in an Everyday Conversation – We use it in a basic conversation.
Here we go!
The Term
“Eisegesis”
eis·ege·sis
The Definition
Merriam Webster: The interpretation of a text (as of the Bible) by reading into it one's own ideas
FTG’s Expanded Explanation: The word “eisegesis” gives us a clue to its own meaning simply by the sound of the word. When you think of “eisegesis” you should think of “isolation.” Because eisegesis takes a specific passage from the Bible and isolates it from its original meaning, the author’s original intention, and God’s original purpose. Preachers who use the Bible to make their own point can often practice this sort of bad interpretation of the Bible, but false teachers are especially guilty of this sort of thing. Sometimes a preacher may unintentionally take a passage out of context and grow as a teacher and preacher after their mistake, but intentional eisegesis is to be avoided at all costs. One simple way to illustrate this would be:
Reading your own meaning into the passage. In a typical Bible study, you might hear: “Here is what this passage means to me.” This is a potential red flag because it doesn’t matter so much what a passage means “to me,” but rather, what it means — period. When we read our own opinions or thoughts into a passage we can end up mishandling God’s Word. Another example of this is when a preacher takes a passage from the Gospels about Jesus and makes it apply to something completely out of context. For example, one preacher recently preached John 9 (the healing of the blind man) to make his own point that when “God gives you a vision it can get messy.” He used Jesus giving the man sight to correlate to “vision” and the spit that Jesus rubbed on the man’s eyes as things getting “messy”. This is not at all what John intended, nor the Spirit who inspired the text. The healing in John 9 was about Jesus proving He was God and bringing glory to God (John 9:3). Preachers should preach a sermon about Jesus being God and His extraordinary miracle bringing glory to God, then apply that to our lives as those who believe in Jesus to see trials, suffering, healing, and faith as that which brings glory to God. Furthermore, not all sickness is the result of sin. Sometimes, God allows trials and suffering to showcase His power in delivering His people from it.
The Biblical Connection
The best way to deal with Eisegesis is by re-reading what we explained in the “Theology Terms Explained” article on exegesis.
One simple passage makes this clear, though more have been listed below for further study.
2 Timothy 2:15 says this: “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”
If we did just the bare minimum of exegesis on this passage we’d quickly find that it is in the context of Paul’s instructions to Timothy to use Scripture the right way. Having just illustrated with the soldier, the athlete, and the farmer (2:1-6) doing things the right way to receive their reward, he shifts to the way a man of God is to handle God’s Word — the right way. The main idea here is to faithfully handle God’s Word. How?
Be diligent. The word “diligent” means to take great pains to do something. So a lazy handler of God’s word is an oxymoron.
Seek God’s approval. The word “approval” doesn’t mean you’re doing this to be saved or loved by God, but rather, when your use of God’s word has been tested, you are found to be an “approved” or “genuine” worker! Furthermore, you don’t seek to please people, you speak truth to please God. It’s His Word!
Avoid shame. You don’t have to be ashamed or embarrassed about how you handled God’s word if you’ll just take it seriously and devote some work to handling it faithfully. Yes, it’s easier to wing it. Yes, you can probably draw a crowd and swoon them into applause if you’re a gifted communicator. But you will be ashamed of how you did it when you meet the Author whose Word you’ve misused.
Cut it straight. “Rightly” or “accurately” translates in the Greek to “cutting a straight line.” What is the fastest and most efficient way to reach a destination? A straight line! What’s the right way to faithfully handle God’s word? Cutting it straight.
Further Study: 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus
Used in Everyday Conversation
“If we let the Bible uses us to preach its message, rather than the other way around, we will usually avoid eisegesis.”
“In trying to make his point and get a rise out of the crowd, the preacher eisegetically pulled out an Old Testament passage about blessings and guaranteed health and wealth to the audience. That is not at all what that passage is talking about.”
“Even a small group leader should learn some basic exegesis so he or she can convey biblical truth in an accurate way.”
