Greater Mt. Zion
Bible Study/Enhancement Hour
Bible Study Methods – Lesson 1
Gaidi K. Burgess, Pastor/Teacher
Exegesis - The term exegesis has its roots from a Greek word meaning “to lead
out of.” So, exegesis means “to read out” the meaning of the text. It is to explain
or interpret a text.1
Eisegesis - It is the idea of one reading into a text what one wants it to say. Thus,
the interpretive event is no longer a dialogue between the worshiper and God,
but rather a monologue between the worshiper and his or her thoughts about the
text2
Inductive Bible Study
The process of studying the Bible which includes three steps: observation,
interpretation, and application. We call the process “inductive” because we first
bring together the facts, then from these we draw conclusions about meaning
and application.3
Another approach, as given by Duvall and Hays is using what they call the
interpretive journey. It involves four steps4:
1.
2.
3.
4.
1
Grasping the Text in Their Town
Measuring the Width of the River to Cross
Crossing the Principlizing Bridge
Grasping the Text in Our Town
Darrell L. Bock and Buist M. Fanning, Interpreting the New Testament Text : Introduction to the Art and Science of
Exegesis (Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 2006). 23
2
Bruce Corley, Steve Lemke, and Grant Lovejoy, Biblical Hermeneutics : A Comprehensive Introduction to
Interpreting Scripture, 2nd ed. (Nashville, Tenn.: Broadman & Holman, 2002). 313
3
Ibid. 40
4
J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays, Grasping God's Word : A Hands-on Approach to Reading, Interpreting, and
Applying the Bible, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2005).
Greater Mt. Zion
Bible Study/Enhancement Hour
Bible Study Methods – Lesson 1
Gaidi K. Burgess, Pastor/Teacher
Greater Mt. Zion
Bible Study/Enhancement Hour
Bible Study Methods – Lesson 1
Gaidi K. Burgess, Pastor/Teacher
Let’s Start with Observation of Sentences
Things to Look for in Sentences
1. Repetition of Words
Look, for example at I John 2:15-17
Look at II Corinthians 1:3-7; John 15:1-10; Matthew 6:1-18; I Cor. 15:50-54
2. Contrasts
Look for items, ideas, or individuals that are contrasted with each other. For an
example, look at Proverbs 14:31; Proverbs 15:1; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 5:8; I
John 1:5-7
3. Comparisons5
Contrast focuses on differences while comparison focuses on similarities. Look
for items, ideas, or individuals that are compared with each other. Look at
Proverbs 25:26; James 3:3-6; Isaiah 40:31
4. Lists
Anytime you encounter more than two itemized things, you can identify them as
a list. Write the list down and explore its importance.6 Is there an order? Are the
items grouped in any way? Look at:



5.
I John 2:16
Galatians 5:22-23
Galatians 5:19-21
Figures of Speech
Figures of speech are images in which words are used in a sense other than
normal, literal sense.7 For example, think about the lamp image in Psalm 119:105
6. Cause and Effect
5
Ibid.32
Ibid.33
7
Ibid.34
6
Greater Mt. Zion
Bible Study/Enhancement Hour
Bible Study Methods – Lesson 1
Gaidi K. Burgess, Pastor/Teacher
Often the biblical writers will state a cause and then state the effect of that cause.
Again, Prov. 15:1 is a good example; Rom. 6:23
7. Conjunctions
If we imagine the biblical text to be like a brick house, then conjunctions are the
mortar that holds the bricks (phrases and sentences) together. One critical aspect
of careful reading is to
note all of the conjunctions (“and”, “for”, “but”, “therefore”, since”, “because”,
etc.) Do not skip over them!8
Verbs – Where All the Action Is
Verbs provide actions to the text. Try to decide what kind of verb is being used.
Is it active? Passive?9
Col. 3:1; Eph. 1:11; Gen. 12:3
8. Pronouns
Note all pronouns and be sure to identify the antecedent (to whom or what the
pronoun refers). Look at:
Ehp. 1:3
Phil. 1:27-30
Bock, Darrell L., and Buist M. Fanning. Interpreting the New Testament Text :
Introduction to the Art and Science of Exegesis. Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway
Books, 2006.
8
Ibid.35
Ibid.37
9
Greater Mt. Zion
Bible Study/Enhancement Hour
Bible Study Methods – Lesson 1
Gaidi K. Burgess, Pastor/Teacher
Corley, Bruce, Steve Lemke, and Grant Lovejoy. Biblical Hermeneutics : A
Comprehensive Introduction to Interpreting Scripture. 2nd ed. Nashville,
Tenn.: Broadman & Holman, 2002.
Duvall, J. Scott, and J. Daniel Hays. Grasping God's Word : A Hands-on Approach to
Reading, Interpreting, and Applying the Bible. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids, Mich.:
Zondervan, 2005.