Posted: November 18th, 2015

exegesis

OLD TESTAMENT EXEGESIS

Introduction

Chapter 1. Guide for Full Exegesis                                                                                                                             5

1.1. Text                                                                                                                             5

1.1.1. Confirm the limits of the passage.                                                                                                                 5

Please note that your passage division is open to question. Note any changes you believe ought to be made. If none exist simply say “No differences.”

1.1.2. Compare the versions.

If you know Hebrew, translate the passage (This must be your own translation, and must include the Hebrew text.). Otherwise list the differences found in five English versions. Show this in a table listing the translations side-by-side. Be sure to identify the different versions in the top row. Indicate in some way (either in the table or in a list below the table) the differences between the English versions. (Don’t be concerned about the size of the table)

 

 

KJV (example)

 

6

1.1.3. Reconstruct and annotate the text.                                                                                                                 6

1.1.4. Present poetry in versified form.                                                                                                                 7

Note differences, if any, in lines of poetry in your English translations. If none exist simply say “No differences.”

 

1.2. Translation                                                                                                                             7

1.2.1. Prepare a tentative translation of your reconstructed text.                                                                                                                 7

1.2.2. Check the correspondence of text and translation.                                                                                                                 8

1.2.3. Revise the translation as you continue.                                                                                                                 8

1.2.4. Provide a finished translation.                                                                                                                 9

Indicate the translation from 1.1.2 you believe is best and tell why.               9

 

1.3. Grammatical Data                                                                                                                             9

1.3.1. Analyze the significant grammatical issues.                                                                                                                 9

Note grammatical issues that arise through translation in original languages or any differences in the English translations that reveal grammatical questions. If you have had Hebrew, list a couple of the more significant grammatical issues. Otherwise list any grammatical differences that can be seen upon observation of five translations in your table above. Look for things such as tense and person differences, etc., and make note of them.

 

1.3.2. Analyze the orthography and morphology for date or other affinities.                                                                                                                 10

 

1.4. Lexical Data                                                                                                                             10

1.4.1. Explain all words and concepts that are not obvious.                                                                                                                 10

Identify those words or phrases that seem significant for understanding the passage.

1.4.2. Concentrate on the most important concepts, words, and wordings.                                                                                                                 11

List the three most significant words or phrases.

1.4.3. Do “word studies” (really, concept studies) of the most crucial                                                                                                                  11

words or wordings.

List two original language lexicon or dictionary sources for lexical studies.

1.4.4. Identify any special semantic features.                                                                                                                 11

Note any of the devices used (see a sample list in Stuart)

 

1.5. Form                                                                                                                             12

1.5.1. Identify the general & specific literary type (genre).                                                                                                                 12

List the general literary type of your passage.

1.5.2. Identify the specific literary type (form).                                                                                                                 12

List a previously unmentioned source that discusses the characteristics of the specific literary form (Give page numbers)

1.5.3. Look for subcategories.                                                                                                                 13

1.5.4. Suggest a life setting.                                                                                                                 13

1.5.5. Analyze the completeness of the form.                                                                                                                 14

1.5.6. Be alert to partial and broken forms.                                                                                                                 14

 

1.6. Structure                                                                                                                             15

1.6.1. Outline the passage.                                                                                                                 15

Do this per Stuart’s instructions.

1.6.2. Look for patterns.                                                                                                                 16

Note any seen.

1.6.3. Organize your discussion of structure according to descending units of size.                                                                                                                 16

1.6.4. Evaluate the intentionality of the minor patterns.                                                                                                                 17

1.6.5. If the passage is poetic, analyze it accordingly.                                                                                                                 17

Do this per Stuart’s instructions.

 

1.7. Historical Context                                                                                                                             18

1.7.1. Research the historical background                                        4

List two previously unmentioned source sources for this information from Bible Encyclopedias, Dictionaries or Old Testament Introductions. (Give page #s)

1.7.2. Research the social setting                                                     10

List two previously unmentioned source sources for this information from Old Testament commentaries or journal articles. (Give page #s)

1.7.3. Research the historical foreground.                                      10

Give a statement regarding the foreground of your passage.

1.7.4. Research the geographical setting                                         11

State the suggested geographical setting of the passage.

1.7.5. Date the passage.                                                                     11

Suggest the date the events of the passage took place or with poetry and wisdom the date of writing.                                                                             19

 

1.8. Literary Context                                                                                                                             20

1.8.1. Examine the literary function.                                                                                                                 20

Give an impression regarding any of Stuart’s questions that are appropriate for your passage.

1.8.2. Examine the placement.                                                                                                                 20

Give an impression regarding any of Stuart’s questions that are appropriate for your passage.

1.8.3. Analyze the detail.                                                                                                                 21

Give an impression regarding any of Stuart’s questions that are appropriate for your passage.

1.8.4. Analyze the authorship.                                                                                                                 21

Is the author stated, if not, is it possible to identify the author?

 

1.9. Biblical Context                                                                                                                             21

1.9.1. Analyze the use of the passage elsewhere in Scripture.                                                                                                                 22

Identify if and where your passage is quoted elsewhere in Scripture.

1.9.2. Analyze the passage’s relation to the rest of Scripture.                                                                                                                 22

Make note of any possible thematic elements that are found elsewhere in scripture

1.9.3. Analyze the passage’s import for understanding Scripture.                                                                                                                 23

Make note of any other biblical passage that inform or are informed by this passage.

 

1.10. Theology                                                                                                                             23

1.10.1. Locate the passage theologically.                                                                                                                 23

What category(ies) of systematic theology does your passage inform and how? (i.e. Theology, anthropology, Christology, etc.)

1.10.2. Identify the specific issues raised or solved by the passage.                                                                                                                 24

1.10.3. Analyze the theological contribution of the passage.                                                                                                                 24

Does your passage address a specific issue or problem regarding a doctrine?

 

1.11. Application                                                                                                                             25

1.11.1. List the life issues.                                                                                                                 26

1.11.2. Clarify the nature of the application (informing or directing).                                                                                                                 26

1.11.3. Clarify the possible areas of application (faith or action).                                                                                                                 27

1.11.4. Identify the audience of the application.                                                                                                                 27

1.11.5. Establish the categories of the application.                                                                                                                 27

1.11.6. Determine the time focus of the application.                                                                                                                 28

1.11.7. Fix the limits of the application.                                                                                                                 28

 

1.12. Secondary Literature                                                                                                                             29

1.12.1. Investigate what others have said about the passage.                                                                                                                 29

List two previously unmentioned sources for this.

1.12.2. Compare and adjust.                                                                                                                 30

1.12.3. Apply your discoveries throughout your paper.                                                                                                                 30