What’s the difference between EXEGESIS and EISEGESIS?
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- čas přidán 21. 08. 2019
- #Eisegesis #BibleStudy #TheBible
There is something that we all do subconsciously while reading the bible. Eisegesis.
What is Eisegesis?
Let me illustrate:
In Matthew’s infancy narrative, if you think that there are three kings that visit baby, you are doing Eisegesis!
In Genesis 3, if you view the forbidden fruit that exiles humanity from the garden as an apple -- you’re doing Eisegesis!
In Luke, if the identity of the woman who anoints Jesus’ feet using her hair is Mary Magdalene, who in turn is a prostitute. Again… you’re doing Eisegesis.
What is Eisegesis?
Well, if Exegesis means to “Draw the meaning out” of the text, Eisegesis is to put meaning into the text.
In other words, rather than letting the original author tell us what he means in Scripture, we are applying our own meaning.
I mention that we do this subconsciously all the time -- the reason, we are surrounded by Tradition and traditional interpretations that make it VERY DIFFICULT for us to critical.
We are so used to hearing these stories and what they mean that we often passively read them. Exegesis requires active reading!
When I taught high school on occasion I would have a concerned parent tell me at the beginning of the semester that they were concerned that their child wouldn’t do well in my scripture class because they have no background in the Bible. I reassured the parent that when doing exegesis, a clean slate can actually be an advantage -- because you’re not going to bring your own preconceived notions to the text. You’re not going to fall into the trap of eisegesis.
To give you some perspective on how easy it is for us to fall into this approach to Scripture, last week when I was recording an audio dub on the story of Nicodemus , although the verse clearly said “Kingdom of God”, my mind kept telling me to say "Kingdom of Heaven." This happened four times even though I was trying to be an active reader! How often do we make these mistakes without even thinking about it?
Eisegesis is not only unfair to the original authors, but it can also be detrimental -- just look at poor Mary Magdalene who gained a reputation beginning in the Middle Ages of being a prostitute. Nowhere in the Bible is that ever referenced, yet how many of us view her that way while reading the Gospel stories?
Whether we believe that the Bible is God’s literal words or God’s inspired words, it is essential that we let the author tell us meaning, rather than impose our own meaning onto the author.
Today’s discussion topic: What are some other stories that people tend to impose their own meaning onto? Please comment below.
Can you name some other typical examples of scriptural eisegesis?
I would love your perspective on "Theology of the Body" written by John Paul II. I understand this is totally unrelated to the video however as a "theology teacher" it would be helpful to see you perspective on this document.
Not specifically scriptural, though I have heard it misused in sermons, and its sometimes misused in explanatory notes in bibles and bible study materials. "Decimate"/"Decimation" used as a way of describing total devastation or destruction of something when it means "reduced by a 10th"
People who go into the Scriptures believing in baptismal regeneration and proof-text their way into confirmation bias
The example kingdom of God isn't as clear example as an example of a person who sees the correct word but fails to see the context of words that are used to describe the subject. Like a person being told to wake up while standing in line in a store 🤣
The trinity
Makes sense. My wife eisegetes what I say all the time because she knows what I really meant better than I do
Thank you for this explanation. Scarily I don't think I have heard anyone use Eisegesis as a word before, despite there being plenty of people doing it.
Just found out about these two words after starting my bibe study and I gotta say I’m glad I caught it early before falling into the trap obviously ! 🙈
Thanks for the easy explanation and funny video :)
That also happens a lot when you read different translations of the Bible and they use specific phrases and stuff. Good video! Thanks for sharing. It's also really hard to get the real mood of the author which can change soooo much!
The entire body of "Reformed Theology" aka Calvinism ( of which Arminianism is just another form ) is a classic example of this, reading a philosophy into scripture rather than observing what it actually says and removing it from it's context.
You mean God doesn't choose people? You mean you're not dead in sin, in Adam all die? You mean you did something to deserve God's Grace? What did you do? I'd like to know, because I'm sitting here waiting on the Lord cause I'm sinking in the mire and cant pull myself out atm.
@@kimmykimkojust CALL on His NAME! Rom. 10:13
Good stuff. It even covers things like having various farm animals in the infancy narrative from Luke... or cramming the Magi into Luke's account on Christmas eve. Thanks for this. :)
@TheAccessibleFaithProject : Or using the term Christ-Mass Eve! 🙃
Sir! Thank you for the explanation. Thank you for going directly to the point...with a splash of nuance! We are following you guys now! #PraiseGOD
This is a very helpful video! I’m pretty passionate about this topic as a pastor myself!
Here is another, "Not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together" is said to teach "you need to go to church" , meaning a big building with a name on a sign. The believers to whom this letter of Hebrews was addressed would not recognize what we in the modern Western church refer to as "church".
I didn’t know this but I doubted it when I heard it used in this context and heard it preached several times.
Fascinating, and a great word to add to my vocabulary that makes sense of a bad habit we know all too well. On the topic of eisegesis, this convo really gets me thinking about the danger of a lot of translations out there. I wish it was as common place to learn and know Aramaic and koine greek in Christianity as it is to know Arabic in Islam. Would make life a lot easier. Gets you thinking about the limitations of culture and how intricately woven religion is with spoken language.
Oh heck yeah!
You hit on the Mary Magdalene misconception! First time I've heard anyone else say this. Thanks.
Perfect. Well said sir. There are so many people not living a full and truly meaningful Christian life because of the "Ministry Malpractice" going on in pulpits across the globe. Proper extrapolation of the messages from the Bible is so necessary.
For me, its one thing Bishop Barron brought up about Matthew 16:8, where it says "the gates of hell will not prevail", which is interesting because most people take it as an offensive action. Gates dont move, its supposed to be an offensive action against hell. Loving your lessons btw! Will you do a lesson about the strong influence culture has on biblical interpretation and how it leads to the various denominations?
What a great idea for a lesson. That’ll definitely take some time to work on. Thanks for the suggestion.
Matthew 24:44 “..be ye also ready.” People use this for being caught off guard in services to do anything! And for a myriad of other reasons! Eisegesis
EXEGESIS and EISEGESIS are like YIN and YANG and you cannot do one without the other. One must embrace the eisegetical to access to truly exegetical--and nothing is read without context of tradition and history, realized or unconscious.
THANK YOU THIS HELPED WITH A ASSIENMENR
i love your outro music
This comment made me watch to the end
You are so great.
I'm learning English and your videos help me a lot.
You have to make some videos about "Love". What is the biblical meaning of love? And how we can practice it?
God bless you.
Glad to help! That’s a great topic idea and I’ve actually been thinking about doing it for awhile now. Hopefully I can produce something in the near future. Thanks for watching. Regards, -K
Love your game room
Thanks! I can't wait to repaint it and add a few more games.
GREAT VIDEO! Matthew is the only one that used the phrase “Kingdom of Heaven” but he also used the phrase “Kingdom of God.”
The phrase “Kingdom of God” is used in the New Testament 70 times. And it can be found in the four gospels, the Book of Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, Galatians, Colossians and 2 Thessalonians.
The Kingdom of Heaven is only found in the book of Matthew
The Kingdom of God is found 70 times in the New Testament
I just spent 28 classroom hours at a "Seminary" in Ohio, where the "professor" taught esigesis as exegesis. Literally said this..."people determine the meaning of words"...and this...."there is never one right interpretation of any text"..."people can create their own interpretations" this guy was teaching 18 pastors. I wanted to cry.
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thanks
Thanks
Wow. The comments are stunning in that they show how unskilled people are at Bible hermeneutics and knowledge in general. Mind blowing.
My church tells us to “pray the scriptures over your children.” Isn’t it eisegesis to interpret the scriptures to meet their needs?
How should I read Exodus 20:4-6. This scripture teaches us about idolatry. However, I've heard many sermons that Idolatry can include money, career and relationships. Is this an example of eisegesis?
I'd call that a modern day application of idolatry. It would only be eisegesis if you refuse to acknowledge what it's originally about -- which is, as you stated idolatry/worship of pagan gods.
What if you don't trust the literature
@all?
So if someone claimed that Jonah 1:17 is about the messiah rising from the dead after three days, or that Jeremiah 31:15 is about the slaughter of infants in Bethlehem by Herod, or that Psalm 41:9 is about the messiah being betrayed by a close friend, would those be examples of exegesis or eisegesis?
These are exegesis examples. Because, the scriptures(Genesis - Malachi) centred around Christ Jesus Luke25:25-27, 44-45; John1:45; John5:39.
Matt. 18:20. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. Very often taken out of context
How?
While doctrine commonly refers to God as "HE",the same God appears as a pillar of fire, and a dove. Beyond the Messiah, applying human attributes would probably be exegesis.
Would who can be a pastor fall into this
Bible translators removed the Tetragammaton ( יהוה ) from the Bible and substituted for "LORD" and "GOD." What is that called when I read LORD or GOD knowing that God's name is יהוה ?
Mark 2:1-12. The focus seems to be on Jesus forgiving sin and healing a man. Hou about the 4 men Evangelically bringing the man to Jesus?
I started reading this study Bible by some guy named Charles Stanley. He tries to convince his readers that the ruach hakadosh (spirit of God) in Genesis 1:2 is proof of the Trinity. Eisegesis! And in Genesis 3:1 it's a serpent, a beast (or animal) not the Devil or Satan.
Uhh....
Mary Magdalene was not the Mary who wiped Jesus's feet with here hair. It was Mary of Bethany which is Lazarus's sister. The book of John clear shows that.
When will you do another video
Thanks for asking, but your guess is as good as mine! My third child was just born and I'm planning a new course for the Fall Semester so finding the time is really hard to come by at the moment. I can tell you that I'm aching to produce new material and even have completed scripts and new equipment! It's just a matter of time...
Next do Narsigesus!
But is there a proper use of eisegesis after deliberately using exegesis? What can you say about this?
I don't quite understand what you mean. Can you provide an example of a situation when that would be okay?
Another way to look at this: if you first discern what the author was saying (exegesis), you wouldn't then tell the author what he meant (eisegesis).
@@ThatTheologyTeacher thanks for your reply. How about people who say, Jesus did eisegesis by quoting the Torah. Is it really eisegesis or something else?
In Judaism, it's common to retell and expand stories as a form of commentary and to fill in narrative gaps. Rabbinic sages say the meanings of Scripture are infinite and through reading, interpretation, and commentary (midrash) they are uncovered. It is probable as a Rabbi, Jesus would've done this as well. (And since he's the word of God, he get's a pass in my opinion!)
So I guess the bigger question is, are we allowed to do this in Christianity today? I go back to my Mary Magdalene example. Is it okay to recognize her as a prostitute even though the scriptures never allude to that? Doing so, fleshes out her story more, but when people use this eisegetical addition to condemn women today, it's harmful. I don't have a problem with scriptural "imagination", but it can be dangerous when people mistake their own opinion/interpretation as God's actual words.
(These are just my initial thoughts.... you've given me something to think about).
@@ThatTheologyTeacher your answer makes sense though. Jesus is the Word of God after all. And you're also right to better avoid imaginations or self biases because they're dangerous.
Maybe like what said in 2 Corinthians 10:5?? KJV
Casting down imaginations(logismos,reasoning), and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
"In a beginning gods created . . . ."
Tell me the bible can be understood the "right" way without a little eisegesis right from [the] beginning.
You must unlearn what you have learned
Please correct me if I'm wrong. For example, if you are a literalist, would you not believe the author is actually talking about an apple when he or she says, "apple"? How about the boy that cried wolf? No disrespect to anyone's intelligence, but there actually may be that individual who believes the boy is really yelling, wolf!! In order to exegete a passage, would you not have to understand, from the very beginning, that the author is speaking in parable of allegory? Thank you
Yes, in order to exegete successfully, you need to discern whether or not it's literal or allegorical. And you do this through context clues -- who's the author, what's their writing style, what is being said, etc...
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Great vid! I finally understand the Exegesis vs eisegesis theology. Yeah I got one. When you read the word you just assume Samson was built like a super hero when in fact the bible doesn't say anything about his shape. He was probably a thin normal guy
Two of my favorites are Jonah and the whale, as well as Sodom and Gomorrah being wiped out because of homosexuality.
Thanks for sharing this video. I think that your working definition of eisegesis may be on to something. But the examples you provide don’t sound like examples of eisegesis as much as of simple misquotation, like the “Beam me up, Scotty” Star Trek misquote. It seems to me that eisegesis is a more deliberate and self-serving practice “reading into” Scripture to make it say what you want it to say, rather than making a benign mistake of misremembering the hymn “We Three Kings” as scriptural.
Here’s an article that I found on the rather commonplace habit we all tend to have of hearing and perpetuating misquotations from all types of media: www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theatlantic.com/amp/article/261146/
Thanks for the article link. My examples were actually intended to be simplistic because when one realizes that if they fall into these traps over simple details, they must confront the fact that traditions and traditional interpretations make it difficult for one to be objective in larger cases.
Oh yes I bet you looovvveeeee eisegesis don't you?
The kingdom of heaven is mention many more times than the kingdom of God. No difference to those who read the gospel.
I sorry, I stop.
It's okay to accidentally substitute "kingdom of heaven" for "kingdom of God" because they mean exactly the same thing.
Different writers wrote for different audiences. "Kingdom of heaven" was written for a Jewish audience because of their avoidance of anything that might come close to saying God's name (even though "God" is NOT his name), and this shows up today by their writing "G-d", "L-rd", etc. "Kingdom of God" was written for a Greek audience.
How about "trinity." EVERYTHING claimed to be a reference to "three in one", etc. is from eisegesis. These men had lived with, talked with, learned from, and traveled with Jesus for up to 3 years. Don't you think that, if they had even the slightest inkling that he was "God in the flesh," they would have shouted it from the rooftops??? But they DIDN'T. For example, Peter said to him, "Thou are the Christ, the son of the living God."' PERFECT chance to say "Thou art GOD."
Amen, amen and amen to your comment regarding the biggest example of eisegesis, which is the Trinity!
Icy Jesus
I’m going to anger a lot of Calvinists with this one. Romans 9.
Yeah it literally says God chose people before they were born or did any works. So you're not making Calvinists mad, it plainly says that. And it plainly says He chooses people in multiple books throughout the entire Bible.
most of the things you says are eisegesis: Jesus gay, Mary intersexual, Joseph transgender, so on...
God destroyed the Earth with water, Noah's flood, because of sin.
But Noah and his family were saved by a ransom. The "pitch" which covered the ark inside and out is "kofer" in Hebrew. This word actually also means "ransom, the price of a soul."
Sodom & Gomorrah