What is an Eisegesis vs Exegesis
This is an excerpt from a previous podcast on the woman at the well. An eisegesis vs exegesis, or, an eisegetical false teaching vs an exegetical teaching.
In review, an eisegesis (or eisegetical) teaching of God’s Word is to ‘lean into’ the Text or reading meaning into a Biblical Text. Whereas the preacher or teacher gives his opinions, telling his listeners what he believes the Scriptures are saying. But an exegesis (or exegetical) teaching of God’s Word is to ‘lean from’ the Text or drawing out the meaning that is already there. Whereas the teacher says what God is saying via His Word. And we use the Scriptures to interpret Scripture with the disciplines of proper hermeneutics and Textual criticism.
The Nelson’s Bible dictionary further explains both here.
“The problem is our bias, or our subjectivity. Many times we approach a passage thinking we already understand it. In the process we read our own meaning into the passage. This is called eisegesis. (Eis is a Greek preposition meaning “into.”) But interpreting the Bible correctly demands that we listen to what the text itself is saying, and then draw the meaning out of the passage. This is called exegesis. (Ex is a Greek preposition meaning “out of.”) If we let a passage be defined by what it and the surrounding verses say, then we have taken a large step toward interpreting the Bible properly. Only by watching the context carefully and by letting the passage speak for itself do we give Scripture the respect it deserves.”
Ronald F. Youngblood, F. F. Bruce, and R. K. Harrison, Thomas Nelson Publishers, eds., Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1995).
This post is part of a What Is series I’m working on.
Video of ‘A tour of the Mellor Ranch off road trail #4S05’ (it was way too easy)
Video message ‘A Rebuke of Adapting and Adopting to the Culture,’ by Voddie Baucham
Multiple videos of many open-air sermons given in Los Angeles; From Wall Street, to Broadway Street, to the Subway system
About The Author
Bill Rhetts
An ordinary sinner saved by an Extraordinary Savior. Radically saved, and radically changed, by a Radical God. For more details, see the above 'About me' tab.
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Two days ago The George Whitefield: Calvinistic Evangelist Facebook group posted this (publicly).
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“There, there, by faith, O mourners in Zion, may you see your Saviour hanging with arms stretched out, and hear Him, as it were, thus speaking to your souls; “Behold how I have loved you! Behold My hands and My feet! Look, look into my wounded side, and see a heart flaming with love; love stronger than death. Come into my arms, O sinners, come wash your spotted souls in My heart’s blood.”
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Yesterday I inputted this comment. “Whitefield here is saying the Lord said things that He never said. It’s an eisegesis to say the least.”
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Three days later they did not respond. Below are my thoughts.
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Some will say I’m majoring in the minors here, but I say there’s nothing minor about Theology proper. Unless a meme provides its source, we shouldn’t always assume the person said it. With a meme, or one post like this, we can make any dead person say something they never said. But according to ccel dot org, Whitefield did say this in his sermon on Luke 19:9-10. But the problem with this quote is that the second half is an eisegesis, not an exegesis. This can easily mischaracterize our Lord. Its eisegesis adds to the text. In error, it speaks on behalf of Jesus. It puts that romanticized Arminian feel to Christ’s atoning redemptive work. It mischaracterizes limited atonement as a well-meant offer (aka the free offer of the Gospel), erroneously claiming Jesus is waiting and wooing people to Him. In other words, it’s their decision to choose Jesus or not. It forgets the weight of the penal substitutionary atonement, the sovereignty of God, and so on.
Theology is the study of God. Theology Proper studies the attributes and character of God. When we speak of God’s character or attributes, we need to tread lightly and discipline ourselves to do a strict exegesis, not eisegesis.
I’ve fallen short; every preacher has fallen short. But we should not be creating and/or recirculating a meme that adds to the Text via an eisegesis (I marked it w/a red question mark).
I do not know if George Whitefield said this in a local church, or out in the world where he most often preached. But since there’s much exclusivity in Christ’s atonement and extent of His love, that matters too. We must remember the internet is an anonymous audience.
Though next to Christ Himself, the Apostle Paul is a major influence in my life. Aside from them, the works of Whitefield have been very helpful in the open-air ministry. And since Heralds who preach in public preach in an uncontrolled, unpredictable, hostile, and sometimes dangerous work environment, I am more gracious to them than to the preacher preaching to his own people in their own sanctuary. Nonetheless, be careful with memes (or posts). This post does not wrongfully quote Whitefield; it quotes Whitefield wrongfully, saying things that the Lord never said.
Lord, please forgive me for anything I have ever thought, said, preached, or written that misrepresents You and Your Scriptures. Only by the grace of God, so go I.
For What is an Eisegesis vs. Exegesis? Click here https://www.theexpositor.tv/blog/an-eisegesis-vs-exegesis/