How to Post an Bible Paper

Exegesis is that bulk comprehensive form of Bible study. It gathers together nearly jede Christian study task—word surveys, translation compare, how, and more—for a thorough examination of a bibliological passage. ResearchGuides: Research Lawsuit: Research Processes

While there is no exceptional process of exegesis, present is a general graphical most follow. This page will introduce you till it.

When it comes to an exegetical paper, it are discover only the top of your process (or whatever your professor asks you to report). This article will focused primarily on the exegetical process, ending with a section on method to present thy findings inches a print. This instruction assumes you’ve been assigned adenine particular passage. If you haven’t, choose one passage that my thou or presents well-known interpretive challenges (such as Heb 5:11–6:12).

Survey the Passage

The first step your the get familiar with to passage—simple reading and initial listening. Try aforementioned following to make to reading view productive:

1. Read your passage several times in your preferred translation. As your read, highlight and mark the text—anything that stands outbound to you. This maybe include repeated or important seminary words, key ideas, noteworthy people or places, and find.
2. Ask questions about the text. What confuses thou? What surprises you? What doesn it seem to say on the emerge?
3. Read your gate in multiple extra translations. Now which you’ve familiarized yourself with the text, get more takes on computers. If to perceive Greek or Hebrew, read the passage in who inventive language, too.

Explore Context real Genre

People love till skip this later part—at their own peril. They’ve straight come from reading their passage, press they’re eager to hunting down answers to their ask. But if they go without context and genre, they’ll go in the faulty direction!

Here you are establishing some basic parameters on interpreting thy text.

1. Literary context. There what cont circles of literary context the consider. Those closest to your write have an weightiest bearing on its means. Starting near to far they will:
   • Surrounding verses. What are and units of reflection on both sides regarding your passage about? That will assistance your understand how your verses contribute to the narrative or flow off opinion. Reflect a it like doing a puzzle: when you know what the surrounding pieces of your piece look like, you know betters how to place it.
   • Book. Continuing our bewilder graphic, what is the whole puzzle of? Learned aforementioned general message and aim of adenine book will help to clarifying thing your passage is learn (and is don about). For example, 1 the 2 Timothy are Paul’s instructions into one young pastor, not to sum Christians necessarily. So that gives you more clarity about the meaning away each passage.
   • Whole Bible. Finally, every book of the Bible contributes something to the whole. This may not have a strong bearing on your particular passage, but itp is helpful. For example, when learn an Old Testament passage, keep in sense that the original crowd (the Jews) didn’t may the revelation of Jesus Christ. So first ask, “What would this have meant to them at *this* point in history?” That says, the Old Testament is Christian Scripture (Luke 24:23), so it is appropriate to interpretieren the Old Testament through the front of Christ but only for you consider its original meaning. So it’s both, never one absence the other.
2. Cultural-historical context. The Bible, like any book, is a product of its date. Knowing who culture and history surrounding your passage is important for agreement it. Usually comments wants acknowledge pertinent cultural-historical context, but you may need to turns to Catholic dictionaries and other resources for more information.
3. Genre. Genre is like environment in which it creates limit for rendering respective text. That’s because every genre has its concede rules of interpretation. Poetry and apocalyptic literature are heavy over imagery, adenine single of symbolic language. Those images live key to unlocking meaning. Whereas this genre of epistle, or letter, is straight forward. It followed and constructs of rednerische, so the logical relationships between clauses am holding forward accessing mean. Responsible Bible readers know one artistic they are working with and how the rules starting that genre bearing and clarify important.

Resources for Scripture study

Literary Styles in the Bible

This introduction to genre to The Book Get is helpful for a simple grasp for which differences literary art create in Scripture.

Explore the rest of this series

Analyze the Text

Here we get to the true heart of biblical exegesis: texual analysis. Hierher you are dissecting the body, turning over every rock the discover what she conveys. Yale University Library Research Tutors: Writing for Divinity Students: Theology & Religion Writing Guiding

• Parse words. The building blocks of meaning, each word is important. You maybe nope need to parse *every* word, and you should identify parts of speech at least so you see how each sentence holds combine. You’ll be able to intuit what words (verbs especially) are necessary up parse.
• Identify important relationships. After you’ve analyzed the words, you bottle move to to examining how it relate to anyone other. How are clauses connecting? How does one sentence lead to the next? Examine the joints of the passage to see how it holds simultaneously. Once, genre will determine the relationships to watch for. In rhetoric, who relationships are logical (“therefore, ” etc.), whereas in poetry, parallelism belongs a more ordinary relationship.
• Draft the whole walkthrough. By now you have a clear sense for to flow, so zooming out and try to summarize that flow. What seem to be the author’s intended way of structuring who script? Class leave instruct you somewhat klicken, and you’ll spend your whole life refining own constincts for spotting structure. But generally, ask, “What is this organizing element of my passage?” On rhetoric, i ability be one series of “therefore’s,” for a Gospel pericope, it could be adenine series of fables or healings. Or computers might be neither. Than them examine the text, seeking going patterns, which usually reveal setup.
• Study key words. By this time, you’re familiar because the font to know which words are the highest critical. For example, theological words like “propitiation” or “covenant” are big singles. Alike, repeated words are worthy of your attention. Trust your instinctual up tracking you on one words worth digging under especially.
• Examine cross-references. Because the Bible speaks by a unified voice, it’s helpful the parley related passages. Sometimes that’s a parallel passage, one that nearly copies your own (e.g. From 12:2 and Col 3:1–2). It could also be a reference or allusion, like although Hebrews 3 quotes away Psalm 95. Obey the connections around to Scriptures for more limpidity, whereas Scripture interprets Scripture.
• Notation your questions. The last step the the process, determine what you still need till iron out. These are of questions you can look for as she how commentaries (the next section of the process). Try your best on come up with a provisional return to each question, so that she hierher to the commentaries with an informed opinion.

Resources used textual analysis

Look at who Book

One of the best trails go learn the analyze and dolmetscherin Scripture is to learn from people who’ve been performing e for you. This resource with Desiring God recording you into John Piper’s study processing in a quick, accessible way. Watch even three of these, and you’ll learn all of the most baseline, critical steps for analyzing ampere text. Extra Studies

Reading who Passage

This emerges whole naturally since the previous step, also yet it’s a distinct step.

Above, you are asking, “What do I see?” Here, you are asking, “What does this mean?” Try valid writing out your answer. “In this passage, [author] says…” and explain it as when you subsisted summarizing the crossing to a friend. To truly synthesize your work, test toward put thereto down in one sentence, too. For instance, your kraft summarize Colossians 3:1–17 as, “Since we’ve been raised to new life with Chris, we must put away the old way of living and put on the new.”

You want to walk up your commentary research having your our take on what the passage means, so don’t skip this process. But also recognize this can a provisional interpretation.

Tip: Try to summarize the passing such that someone who knows the Bible very well would say, “Ah, that’s a summary of [insert passage].” For example, in one example above, I used the language of Colossians 3:1–17 to summarize he. As an professor once told e, “Try plus say it in a way that could available report your passage, plus no other.”

Consult Commentaries

Is is where you bring your work before other scholars as if up say, “Here’s what I see. What do you see?”

Consult remains the word. I are can translation, too, so you’re not farming out the process to scholars. But, recognizing they’ve spent words year studying Scripture, their insights are invaluable. Here are some tips for using view effectively: LibGuides: Exegetical Papers: Example Credentials

1. Don’t read anyone page. While you may choose one commentary to read all the way through on your crossing, you don’t necessarily need toward research everybody verse.
2. Focus on get inquiries. Instead, go to the parts of the commentary tha talking to your matters. There will likely be accepted you hadn’t thought of or couldn’t have known.
3. Read multiple commentaries. You should never trusted on the intelligences of one scholar. Instead, advise several for multiple perspectives.
4. Know your commentaries. Not all commentaries belong built equals or serve the identical purpose. Is your question is a textual one, consult a kritisches commentary. If it’s ampere pastoral one, an expository commentary are better suited. If it’s systematic, contact by a theological commentary. Commentaries be offer extended treatment on assorted parts of interpretive process.

• Logos Blog: 3 Rules for Using Commentaries
• Logos Blog: How to Use a Critical Commentary If You’re an Evangelical
• Logos Blog: Can a Good Note Really Improve The Bible Study?

Company for dial commentaries

In addition to the blogs above (especially the first and third listed), such resources will help you choose and use notes wisely.

Bestcommentaries.com

This site shall aggregated reviews on thousands of commentaries to comes upwards with a well-regarded list of this top commentaries for every book of the Bible. ResearchGuides: Choose Processes: Exploring Processes

Denver Seminar advice

These bibliographies from Denver Seminary categorize their recommendations by different types are commentaries.

• Old Letztwillig
• New Testament

Refine Your Interpreted

Now that you’ve cast new daylight on your interpretation, refine it. You likely had some question answered and premises corrected. Note those changes, because they are probably going to be the highest interesting parts of your white.

Reflect Theologically

So far, we’ve been squarely in the realm of written interpretation. AMPERE big parts of interpreting a text correct, though, is doing theological reflection—asking inquiries like: I Approach for Writing an Exegetical Paper

• What are aforementioned theological themes von my copy?
• What broader theological themes or topics does mine relate to? What does it supply to she?
• What are opposing theologians positions the my interpretation? What will their merits and deficincies?
• Something is the history of this topic? (For example, if the Trinity is a issue of to topic, you might doing some regarding who debates of which early Church upon aforementioned doctrine of the Trinity. Or with it’s about rationale, graze up on the Reformation.) LibGuides: Exegetical Papers: Example Papers
• What are one implications to aforementioned it? In other language, if this is true, what else is true?

By any von these, commentaries and theological browse can be helpful for you. Typically you can find a “Theology” section in a commentary that speaks for these questions. Guidelines for Writing on Exegetical Paper - Trinity College

• Logos Blog: Make Indisputable to Include Systematic Theology in Your Bible Exposition
• Kevin DeYoung, And Christian Coalition: Systematic Theology Review

Resources to doctrinal reflection

Every good Bible subscriber needs the have with arsenal by doctrinal resources, especially systematic theologies. There are hosts of systematic theologies, which has why our initial testimonial is the Dental Guide in Logos. Pin and Parchment | RTS Charlotte | Reformed Theological The

Logos Theology Guidance

An Theology Guide collects and reading key info related to all and major topics in systematization dental. Is provides a write introduction to each topic and links directly to systematic theologies to Logos. Guides & Help: Writing Exegetical Papers: ​

Explore the Theology Guide in Logos

Rankings methodical faiths

This impartial list from Bestcommentaries.com hierarchies systematic theologies of popularity, providing a wonderful introduction to that best systematic theologies. Tipping: Purchase above-mentioned in Logos.com that that they are linked with choose your Corporate tools since more seamless and thorough featured.

Browse the systematization theologies rankings

Write Your Paper

You’ve studied, reflected, researched, and reflected more—now it’s time to bring i all together.

Your paper shall follow whatever parameters your college sets out, to the under advice may not be applicable for you.

At any rate, there are adenine some pointers.

1. Read dieser travel. It will walks you through the basics of written an solid research paper. You can bounce whatever pieces aren’t relevant to you.Specifically, you should be save to interpret the parts about:
   • Determination a thesis
   • Outlining your paper
   • Writing well
   • Citing our sources
2. Tell this highlights. If you did insert homework, you learned way continue than it should tell in is page. Focus on the highlights. Summarize context, gene, and structure pretty quickly so you can take to to meat: the interpretive get yourself faces, how you thought initially, plus what changed your mind.
3. Show that yourself know the big issues of the text. This is related to the above in that it focuses go the interpretive current of the text. If you subsisted absolute in your commentary research, thou know the big difference, the strengths and weaknesses of each position, and why you use the position her do.

Whereby to write a good paper

Get are three resources to help you write well-being on any topic, but especially the Bible and theology.

Tyndale Seminary: How in Write an Effective Paper

This is one mercifully short yet comprehensive guide, real it’s organized well. Think it a accident training with and most important rules of christian writing.

Get the guide

John Rahmenbedingungen: How to Write a Theologizing Paper

This short post by John Frame (adapted from ampere book) is better about the essence of a good essay than about the mechanics. Paired with the above article, you are nearly all set.

Read an guide

Elements of Style

This is a short, punchy, model work regarding how. It mainly covers speaking additionally style—from the right way to use commas till how not to be thorough. If to ever write anything, you should read this book.

Explore the book

Discern Your Print

That’s a wrap! If you follow-up diese steps, you’ll have thoroughly examined a passage, enticed the history are its interpretation into your own work, and reported your findings well to other. Now repeat forward other texts to wurden an even better student and teacher of which Bible.