Biblical Analysis
Significance of Biblical Exegesis by George N.Mburu, KE100653
The author delves to discuss the process of biblical exegesis reflected in the study of M1 TO M4 COURSES and their relevance in personal biblical understanding. In the endeavor of exposing the learned facts, the author utilizes a summarized descriptive and analytical approach.
The term “Exegesis” is derived from a Greek word, meaning “to dig out from”. The term holds crucial in relation to Hermeneutics which deals with not only the meaning but also the application of a Bible text. In essence, exegesis seeks to bring out the original meaning as intended by the author, and the modern audience gets a chance to hear as the original audience heard. The author looks into various types of theological approaches, the biblical genres and the lessons learned from the m1 to m4 course in respect to exegesis.
…show more content…
The moral of the illustration, reflects the need for proper understanding. The Bible and theology student like the author needs proper exegesis and hermeneutical skills, divine revelation notwithstanding, to handle the word of God. Accordingly, exegesis resonates well with biblical hermeneutics and systematic theology. Indeed, proper hermeneutics should be preceded by exegesis, since wrong understanding brings wrong interpretation and definitely affects application. In looking into parables, as a Bible genre in the New Testament, for instance, some people spiritualize and misinterpreted hence mis represent the parables. Erstwhile, parables should be treated as they are; Jesus used parables to captivate his audience, and used ordinary or familiar
The introduction deals with the ideas of authority and perspective, and how they function properly in the process of Biblical interpretation. A key idea is that reading is a dialogue between the text and the reader. Both sides have a role to play. If we acknowledge this, then we must also acknowledge that the perspective of the reader has some significance in how the Bible is interpreted and exercises authority. This dialogical reading transcends the categories of ‘objective’ and ‘subjective’, and
In today’s world people make a common mistake by making comparisons with the Bible and Aesop’s Fables. In the Bible it is important to which is emphasized more, law or grace. It is just as important to do the same in Aesop’s Fables. Very often a mistake is easily made in reading Jesus’s Parables. Understanding the emphasis of law and grace in both the Bible and Aesop’s Fables and realizing mistakes we make with reading Jesus’s parables can help with reading the parables
Interpretation is dependent on imagination. In order to have an adequate comprehension of the Bible’s teachings, one needs imagination. Brueggemann uses the example of understanding parables as one way an individual uses their imagination. Because parables are mainly symbolic stories that teach a lesson, it is up to the reader to comprehend or imagine what is trying to be taught through the story.
Logic is truly one of the most overlooked yet useful things in life and godliness. It is something that we, usually unknowingly, use daily. While many agree with the use of logic in scripture and bible study, there are many who think otherwise. Some others think it is unimportant and only for the scholarly. However, in Logic And The Bible by Thomas B. Warren, the reader is introduced to the reality of logic in the scriptures as well as its attainability in understanding. The author helps the reader recognize that logic is not just for the scholars, but also for the common man. Logic can be explained in a way that cannot only be understood, but a way that makes it able to be applied in the use of the bible student.
Therefore, according to the author Mathewson, one struggle with the Old Testament narratives considering there is no patience, also are tempted to press for an enumeration of facts or set of clear and sharply formulated the idea (fluff); to be honest, it is mostly ignorance. Second, one finds the Old Testament challenging considering its role is minimized in the canon as faulty. The importance of the Old Testament stories gives instruction to things not repeated in the New Testament, Creation, law, also covenant. Intimidated by the language and literature of the Old Testament is another challenge in preaching the narratives, as well as, one being enslaved to a particular style of exposition (Mathewson 12-25).
facet cherishes the Bible’s words, so those who strictly interpret can obtain new insights towards
I have read various books on Theological Hermeneutics, and one, whose title has slipped my mind, had once suggested the Hermeneutics isn’t only about picking up the Bible, analyzing it, and putting it back down, but also making an application through it. So, in this paper I have followed such a suggestion. First I will mention the background of the book being hermeneutically analyzed. This answers many of the questions needed to contextualize the book into its original socio-cultural setting for better understanding. Secondly, I will do an exegesis, or commentary, on the verses of the book to explain the interpretation that I had gotten out of it. This is done in
1) Grasp the text in their town. (Read the text carefully and observe. Try to see as much as possible in the text. Look, look, and look again, observing all that you can. Scrutinize the grammar and analyze all significant words. Study the historical and literary contexts. Write out what the passage meant for the biblical audience using past tense verbs and refer to the biblical audience.)p.42
In the Catholic Church, there are four senses in which the bible can be viewed: literal, allegorical, moral and anagogical. The literal sense presents a historical account, and can be viewed by anyone as a historical document. The other three senses reflect the religious nature of the bible, showing believers a more profound meaning that can influence one’s spiritual lives. While each of the four senses of scripture can reveal different things to the reader, it is the four senses together that provide the complete view of this divinely inspired book.
Harris, R. L. (1999). 68 אָחַר. (R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer Jr., & B. K. Waltke, Eds.)Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. Chicago: Moody Press.
To truly comprehend a biblical passage, it is important to have knowledge of the ‘hermeneutics which enables an understanding of the locus of meaning and the principles of bible interpretation’ . The audience needs to have a clear interpretation of the biblical passage which includes ‘content and unity of the whole of Scripture if the meaning of the sacred texts is to be correctly worked out’ , this supports the argument that all worlds of the text are equally important. ‘Biblical passages are often taken out of context and interpreted to support a particular viewpoint of justify a particular action’ . It is imperative to note that ‘in order to discover the sacred authors' intention, the reader must take into account the conditions of their
Jesus’ use of parables was to fulfill Old Testament prophecy; Psalm 78:2, “I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old-” (NIV). Additionally, Jesus used parables to teach the truth, basic moral, and spiritual principles using simple down to earth stories to reveal the message of the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven was the heartbeat of Jesus teachings; often his parables began with: the kingdom of God is like…. Jesus used parables to teach not of an earthly kingdom of God but of a spiritual kingdom, and those who chose to accept God’s kingdom would inherit eternal life. It is important to remember, that Jesus used parables not to replace to doctrine but to illustrate and confirm doctrine teachings.
Blomberg, Craig L., Jennifer Foutz Markley. A Handbook of New Testament Exegesis. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2010.
In biblical study, Narrative Criticism has been developed against the evolutionary models of historical criticism, which has been mainly focused to reenact the position and thought of the original writer and audience through certain ‘scientific and analysis of biblical material’. This discipline is the study of a narrative text most likely similar to any narrative literature. It is sub discipline of interpretation method under literary criticism, which emphases on ‘the literary form or shape of the text in its final form’ as pointer of what the texts meant. There is general agreement among the various disciplines of literary approach, that they all consider Scripture as a ‘literary document’, rather than a ‘historical’. These various disciplines,
There are three criteria for liberation exegesis. They are pretext, context and text. The pretext is the actual life situation out of which the community interprets the Bible on their situation basis. The context is the faith of the community. The shared experience of particular community of believers should be expressed. The text is the biblical word. It is a kind of reading the text.