Exegesis and eisegesis are methods of hermeneutics to interpret the bible.
When we read God’s Word, an interpretive method is used to understand what God is saying. In fact, we always use a method of interpretation when we read any book or whether we are listening to someone speak. In a conversation, we interpret not just by the words spoken, but we also use the speaker’s body language to interpret. With God’s word, there are two methods that people use, exegesis or eisegesis. Exegesis is defined as “reading out of the scripture.” Eisegesis is defined as “reading into the scripture.” Some incorporate a little of both, maybe a little bit more of one over another. Unless one is critically aware of their method of reading and studying scripture, both methods are used to some degree though a person leans more heavily towards one over the other. The correct method to read and understand God’s word is exegesis. This means that we come to the table and allow God’s word to define our theology.
Hermeneutics
Hermeneutics is the art and science of interpreting the bible. The science involved in interpreting the bible is based on rules such as the context, who is speaking, who is being spoken to, what message is being conveyed to the group being spoken to, and in difficult passages, allowing more clear passages to interpret the more difficult passages. Scripture interprets scripture.
We all have a hermeneutic but we do not all use the same hermeneutic. Some use a literal interpretation when a literal interpretation is inappropriate. For instance if I wrote “it’s raining cats and dogs,’” it cannot be interpreted literally. Any native English speaking person would understand the meaning of that statement whereas a non native English speaking person may be confused as to what I meant.
Exegesis & Eisegesis
Exegesis and Eisegesis are methods of hermeneutics that people use to interpret the bible. Eisegesis is bad hermeneutics. It is the method of pouring meaning into the scriptures. An example would be Mary being a perpetual virgin. Scripture does not make that statement. Jesus had brothers and sisters. It is incorrect to state that those brothers and sisters are cousins as there is a Greek word for cousin. It is incorrect because scripture states that Joseph did not know her until Jesus was born. Those are clear statements made by scripture. Eisegesis is the method of interpretation used with Mary being a perpetual virgin.
Strictly literal interpretation and using an eisegesis method of interpretation is bad hermeneutics. It does not convey the intent of the author.
Exegesis is the correct method of interpretation. This method allows scripture to define the proper interpretation. We want to draw out the meaning of the author. What is the author saying? What is the message to the target audience? How would someone speaking from a particular culture address his audience? Ancient culture differs from our modern culture. Ancient Jewish culture differs from our modern western culture. We think different than the Jews of Jesus’ time.
If a person’s background is covenant theology, they will interpret scripture based on that hermeneutic as opposed to a person who uses a dispensational theology. A person from a Pentecostal background will interpret scripture vastly different from one who comes from a covenant theology background.
Scripture is God breathed and He did not have different meanings for different groups of people. There is only one interpretation though it may have different applications based on a person’s life. “Do not covet” has one meaning but the application in one person’s life may be different from another person’s life. Ridding ourselves of presuppositions and/or clearing our mind of what we may have been taught and letting God speak to us through His written word as He meant it is proper bible interpretation. This is how correct doctrine will be determined. This is Exegesis.
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5 comments
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Tim
November 18, 2010 at 4:42 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I completely agree with your ideas about isogesis and exegesis and the misuse of scripture as a means to promote personal gain. However, I am curious about how this problem was addressed before the 1800′s. Especially since literacy is a fairly “new” concept and there are many reported cases when a person absolutely cannot read (i.e. dyslexia). What did the people do, during the middle ages for example, before the population could read? Surely, couldn’t they be mislead to follow someone that promoted Sola Fidie and/or Sola Scriptura without knowing any better? Couldn’t this be one of the things people were taught to accept without question? Surely, they had oral tradition, and I am fairly certain that Paul urged the people of Corinth to “hold fast to the traditions that you have learned while you were young.”
I wonder, what are these Traditions and where did they come from? Who established them? Where are these traditions practiced today?
I wonder… Do you?
Brad
January 14, 2012 at 2:47 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
The word you are looking for is eisegesis (from the Greek eis, meaning “into”) rather than isogesis.
Tishrei
April 29, 2012 at 12:14 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Thanks for pointing this out politely. You’re correct and since my spell checker did not pick it up and it is spelled that way on the internet (obviously incorrectly), I missed it. I will make the change to the post.
Walter T.
April 28, 2012 at 7:22 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Thanks, Brad. I couldn’t believe a pseudo-scholarly article was written misspelling eisegesis.
Tishrei
April 29, 2012 at 12:07 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I approved your snide remark. Feel better?
As to my spelling errors, I will be the first to admit that I should be more careful. But I can share this — I worked for this man who is known nationally in his field holding several advanced degrees. The man can’t spell.
I wonder what’s worse — nasty remarks to a person who makes a glaring spelling error or the spelling error itself.
PimpThisBlog.com
October 27, 2009 at 2:50 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
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[...] read Scripture) prevents a clear understanding of what is written. This is technically known as isogesis, the big mistake of “making God into our own image” when reading holy writ. The [...]