Biblical Exegesis: Step Four: Establish the Meaning

Guiding Question: How does the meaning of the text correlate with the rest of the Bible?

1. What did the text mean to the original audience?

Summarize the meaning of the text for the original audience in a paragraph or two.

2. Consult the Biblical Map

a. Examine all relevant cross references. If this part of step four does not apply to the selected passage, move on the next part.

b. Examine all relevant parallel passages (e.g. Kings and Chronicles, Gospels, Pauline Letters). If this part of step four does not apply to the selected passage, move on the next part.

c. New Testament use of an Old Testament Passage [1]

How does tan examination of cross references, parallel passages, or use of other Scripture passages in the selected passage help to understand the meaning of the passage for the original audience?

3. Commentary Comparison

a. Interact with no less than one of the types of commentaries: critical, exegetical/homiletical, and devotional.

• Take note of similarities and differences in your interpretation of the selected passage and the commentator’s interpretations.
• Work through any differences.

4. Incorporate any additional essential insights gleaned from the commentaries that you did not already uncover in your own work.