Biblical Hermeneutics

Hermeneutics is basically the study of interpreting written text.

A lot of people actually practice hermeneutics quite often in their life.

Whether it's trying to understand a play from Shakespeare in English Lit., trying to understand the details in a phone contract or even reading someone's body language.

But quite too often, your average Christian does not practice hermeneutics when it comes to the bible.

For many Christians, we don't try to find out what the author of the scripture is trying to convey, but instead we are quite happy to pick a verse, or even half a verse, and give it whatever meaning we choose - whether it sounds right or not.

This ought not to be.


For a real Christian, in other words... someone that follows Christ, wanting to know what the bible says and what it means is very important. A real christian hungers for the word of God. A real Christian desires to know what the bible says.

So, a Christian should be applying hermeneutics to the bible when we read and study.

When it comes to biblical hermeneutics, its more than just reading and understanding verses within their immediate context (surrounding verses, paragraphs, chapters, book, and the bible as a whole). There is also the matter of understanding the historical context as well.

For example, in Revelations 3:15-16 where Jesus talks to the church in Laodicea about being neither cold nor hot. Without the historical background for the significance of what being hot and being cold means, we miss a greater understanding of what Jesus means.

Obviously, getting the historical relevance of passages is for in-depth study. But what about when we are doing our daily reading of the word? What about when we're meditating on various passages?

In those instances, at the very least, we should be reading the context in order to get as much as we can out of the passage in question.

This is generally known as exegesis. This means, to lead out. So the meaning that we get out is meaning that was intended by the author.

When we read into the verse what was not intended, this is generally known as eisegesis.

Many preachers, teachers, leaders, employ eisegesis rather than exegesis, and the congregation usually doesn't bat an eyelid, but instead erupts in a round of amens.

To miss-quote someone is wrong. And the bible says that when we know what is right and don't do it, to us it is sin (James 4:17).

Many Christians remain ignorant of the scriptures for two reasons.
1. Because of the eisegesis (scripture twisting) of many pastors/preachers/leaders/teachers.
2. Because they don't check to see whether or not what they have heard is true.

Some people have been so convinced by the eisegesis of their leaders that even when they read the verse(s) for themselves, all they see as what they have been taught.

An example of this is found in the account with Abraham and God regarding the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18). Many people are taught that in this chapter, Abraham intercedes on Lot's behalf.

When you read the chapter, you find that is not the case. Abraham wasn't interceding for Lot at all.

An example of stout adherence to bad really bad eisegesis is found in Malachi 3 where God is talking about how the Israelites have robbed Him. A lot of Christians who have been duped by this have a had time of listening even when you show them the context of the surrounding verses, entire chapter, and entire book of Malachi.

Eisegesis can lead to very bad and damaging theology. After all, you are not being told what God wanted to say to His church, but are being told something different.

As we read the bible, let us take ask God to reveal what it is He wants us to learn. Don't read the bible when you're tired and your mind is sluggish. Don't read the bible when you're in a rush.

Set aside proper time to read it. Prepare your mind to receive instructions from the bible when you're going to read it. Let your mind be focused on not only reading, but understanding what is being said.

And then, once you have set the bible down, take the rest of the day to meditate on what you have read.