How To Study The Bible Like A Pro Class #7a - Foundational Rules Of Bible Interpretation Series

1. The Bible is generally easy to understand.

It is not confusing or mystical. This is why it’s OK to study a Bible in our language. Most passages and verses are plain and clear. We understand what is being said easily and right away. But in some verses we can run into difficulty, so we turn to other important rules of biblical interpretation.

2. Scripture Interprets Scripture

If you struggle with the meaning of a passage then you need to give first consideration to what other parts of Scripture have to say on this topic, if there are any.

Ex: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” (Luke 6:20)

Q. Does this teach that we should be poor? How would other passages help us here?

[NOTE: First look at a parallel passage: Matthew 5:3]

Q. Can you find others that help shed light here?

[NOTE: Use your concordance to find other helpful verses

3. Take into account the Literary Genre

There are many types of literature within the Bible. There are narrative (stories), poetry, song lyrics, proverbs, teaching passages and prophetic sections to name some. Your interpretation will be determined by what type of literature you are dealing with. Each type is handled differently.

Ex: “He (God) will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge.” (Psalm 91:4)

Q. Does this mean God is a big chicken? Why would you interpret this differently?

That is, just because we take it literally doesn't mean we don't understand that it is written as a particular type of literature, such as poetry. I can take it as the Infallible Word of God expressed in a variety of styles. We will go over how to handle different types (of genres) of literature later in this study.

***Exact rules are needed for an exact result***

4. Eisegesis

The term ‘eisegesis’ comes from a Greek word meaning "to read INTO."

This is the most common (and dangerous) error of lazy Bible teacher/preachers. Eisegesis is when a person does not carefully examine the words of the text or their relationship to each other, nor cross-reference them with related passages throughout the entirety of Scripture. It is most often seen when a person approaches the Scripture with a pre-conceived idea and uses suppositional confirmation bias to prove their point, even if the Scriptures have to be "bent" like a pretzel to make them fit (aka: pretzel preaching).

A. Eisegesis involves

1) imagination: what idea do I want to present?

2) exploration: what Scripture passage seems to fit with my idea?

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 idea.

5. Exegesis [See ATTACHMENT # 5]

The term ‘exegesis’ comes from a Greek word meaning explanation or "to lead OUT of."

Exegesis is the foundation for theology and application. It is the exposition or explanation of a text -based upon using careful, objective analysis. It is concerned with discovering the true meaning of the text, respecting its grammar, syntax, and historical setting. It allows us to step beyond the culture of the people we read about in the Bible and bring solid principles down to our own lives.

Through exegesis we are able to develop solid theological conclusions based on our own study, rather than depending on what someone else tells us. While this sounds simple, we must realize that we all have some confirmation bias) and we must work carefully to see that we arrive at the TRUTH instead of seeking to PROVE we are right.

Confirmation Bias is the tendency to look for information that supports, rather than rejects, one’s preconceptions, typically by interpreting evidence to confirm existing beliefs while rejecting or ignoring any conflicting data (American Psychological Association). My confirmation bias is that God is love, merciful, kind, and good, wanting only the best for His children. When I come across a verse that seems to imply otherwise on a cursory glance I approach the Scriptures with that in mind.

Exegesis takes more time and diligence than eisegesis when studying the Bible because we approach the Scriptures to learn what they say and mean, not to prove our own point. We must allow the Bible to speak for itself and seek to understand what the original author had in mind. It is the only way to be an unashamed workmen “who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15 NIV).

A. 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?