Theology Terms Explained: “Exegesis”

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: 

1. The Term – We lay out how it’s pronounced.

2. The Definition – We provide the Merriam-Webster definition and an everyday version.

3. The Biblical Connection – We show you where the term connects with Scripture.

4. Used in an Everyday Conversation – We use it in a basic conversation.

Here we go! 

The Term

“Exegesis”

ex·​e·​ge·​sis

The Definition 

Merriam Webster: An explanation or critical interpretation of a text

FTG’s Expanded Explanation: The word “exegesis” gives us a clue to its own meaning simply by the sound of the word. When you think of “exegesis” you should think of “excavation.” Like an archeologist will dig into the ground and carefully search for clues in order to uncover truths about the past, a Christian (and especially our pastors) should dig into Scripture and carefully search for clues in order to uncover truths that change the world. God’s truth should be carefully examined, interpreted, understood, and then shared with others in a way that is accurate. When people and pastors do not study faithfully by engaging in exegesis intentionally, they will take a passage out of context and preach something that is entirely not the point or true meaning of the passage. This is the worst possible outcome for anyone handling God’s Word because you’ve taken divine revelation and misused it. To engage in basic and proper exegesis, the average Christian should do no less than the following steps before ever teaching or explaining the meaning of a passage from Scripture: 

1. Read the passage you are studying several times in the NASB, ESV, & NKJV. This will help you see the small nuances in slightly different, but really accurate, translations. In Greek and Hebrew, a word can be interpreted with slightly different expressions. Like in English, one person would say: that was excellent! While another person chooses the other way of saying the same thing by expressing: that was superb! Consulting different translations may help you see things more clearly, and double-check that you’re getting the main expression of the text correct. 

2. Write down as many observations and questions about the text that come to mind. Here are just several examples:

   • Why did Jesus say this? 

   • How is it possible that this or that occurred? 

   • Who is that person? (king, queen, man, woman, child, prophet, tax collector, Jew, Gentile) 

   • Who is he speaking to? 

   • When did this occur? 

   • What does that word mean? 

   • Is there a command to obey? 

   • What does this passage tell me about God? 

   • What would this have meant to the original audience? 

   • Are there issues of sin in this passage? 

   • What do other translations say? 

3. Read the surrounding chapters, and even the entire book your passage is set in. This will answer many of the questions and observations you’ve made, and give you the context of your passage. This is incredibly important so you don’t take something from Scripture and butcher its meaning to get your own point across. 

4. Look up the meaning of key words in the Greek or Hebrew language. In the old days, this was nearly impossible unless you could read Greek or Hebrew. Now, you can use the Keyword Study Bible (which provides Greek and Hebrew dictionaries in the back of it for key verbs and phrases that are underlined in the text), or Logos (which does cost some money, but will give you more tools than the average person has ever had access to in church history). There are very few, if any, excuses for poor exegesis in this era of abundant resources, except for spiritual blindness or laziness. 

5. Write down the main idea of your passage. Use a simple sentence. For example, if I were to summarize 1 John 2:15-17 I might write down: Do not love this world. Or if I were to summarize 2 Corinthians 2:8-13 I might write down: True repentance is obvious. There is much more detail to each of those passages that I could break down in the sermon or message, but the main idea is simple and clear. When someone walks away from my message from the text, they will have a basic truth to live out. 

6. Consult reliable commentaries. This is last because commentaries are not inspired by God. Still, godly and educated scholars and pastors have spent countless hours and even their entire lives devoted to helping people understand the plain meaning of the Bible. They have done the years of work it takes to become an expert on historical background, context, the author, the audience, and in many cases, how you would apply the text. Commentaries are broken down by category. Devotional commentaries are helpful for everyday understanding and often contain a lot of illustrations along with some helpful interpretation. Expositional (or sermonic) commentaries are helpful for seeing how a reliable pastor handled the text, and the best ones contain some thorough interpretive study of every verse in a given book. Exegetical (or academic) commentaries contain actual Greek and Hebrew words and are helpful for technical interpretive work and seeing the different debates over how a text breaks down. Some good examples of commentaries are: 

   • Crossway “Preach the Word” Series (Expositional/Devotional)

   • MacArthur New Testament Commentaries (Expositional)

   • Warren Wiersbe’s Bible Exposition Series (Expositional)

   • The New American Commentary Series by B&H (Expositional/Exegetical)

   • The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Exegetical)

The Biblical Connection

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? 

1. Be diligent. The word “diligent” means to take great pains to do something. So a lazy handler of God’s Word is an oxymoron. 

2. 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!

3. 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. 

4. Cut it straight. “Rightly” or “accurately” translates in 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

“I need to spend a couple of days in study before preaching that sermon so that my exegesis is on point and I faithfully handle God’s Word.”  

“I want to be a faithful exegete (used as a Noun) so that God is pleased with my handling of His Word.” 

“Even a small group leader should learn some basic exegesis so he or she can convey biblical truth in an accurate way.”