Do You Have An Extra Jesus?

Wait, what? an extra Jesus, I'm confused....

Actually, that's just a play on words for what I'd like to briefly address in this post regarding a different term, EXEGESIS (not extra Jesus).

What is exegesis and why is it important? In literary study (such as Biblical study), there are two main methods of interpreting Scripture, exegesis and eisegesis. These terms are best understood when contrasted with each other.

Eisegesis comes from the Greek preposition meaning "into" and refers to a process of interpreting text in such a way as to introduce one's own presuppositions, agendas and biases "into" the texts. This method is often used to "prove" a PRE-HELD opinion or bias. In other words, I inject my opinion into the text to make it say what I want it to say or what I already believe it to say.

The nasty results of eisegesis? Tens of thousands of religions and denominations abounding with man-made doctrines and traditions of men (Colossians 2:22) that cherry-pick the parts of the Bible that support their position, while throwing out anything that does not, or simply just make things up, adding to or removing from the Scriptures (Deuteronomy 4:2)

The opposite of this is exegesis. When done correctly, this method tends to be objective and not subjective. This is the process of drawing out FROM THE TEXT the meaning according to proper historical and cultural context. In other words, if you are studying a Hebrew/Aramaic/Greek document (such as the Bible) then you must develop an understanding of the historical context, culture, the political climate, the customs, the daily lives, the languages, idioms and terms they used to describe things, etc. To presumptuously inject a Western Greco-Roman English-Speaking Gentile bias into our study opens up tremendous opportunity for confusion and misinterpretation. That's not meant to be harsh, its just a reality. Where we are born, grow up and are taught shapes and influences our worldview.

What does this mean to the average Joe trying to study the Scriptures? It means we must, to the best of our ability, be willing to shed pre-conceived ideas, test what we've been taught growing up, what we've been told is truth and any biases towards a particular doctrine we may currently hold. As we read in Acts 17, we must be like the Bereans, who, when the Word was preached, they went back and searched the scriptures to see if what was being said was true and actually lined up with the whole of God's Word. If you are satisfied just going to church or watching a message on television and taking it at face value as truth, then you are not studying to show yourself approved unto God according to 2 Timothy 2:15.

If what you believe is the TRUTH, the Scriptures will confirm it, and more than once at that.........

"In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.” (2 Cor 13:1b)

...........if you are approaching your study in an unbiased fashion, with an earnest desire to know the Father.

"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." (Jer. 29:13)

#exegesis #eisegesis #Bereans #Study #doctrine #traditions