| Seminar 2 - Exegetical Accuracy From: Preaching
and Preachers
A Series of Nine Seminars for Men Led by Stuart Olyott
We are preachers of God's inscripturated Word.
Nothing is of more importance than that we should get its meaning right!
- Some Inadequate Methods:
Superstitious - the search for hidden meanings.
Allegorical - the moral becomes more important than the intended sense.
Dogmatic - the passage is made to 'fit' the theological system.
Rationalistic - the supernatural and 'unreasonable' is rejected.
Mythological - the supposed mental-images of the writers are discarded.
- Some Foundation Principles:
A right approach: "God has spoken here".
What is the grammatical meaning of the words?
In what particular literary style are they found?
What is the immediate and wider context?
What is the historical setting?
What particular and general light is thrown on this passage by other parts of the
Scriptures?
- How Can we Help Ourselves to be Better Exegetes
By improving our Bible knowledge - It is clear that there can be no true understanding of
any part without a thorough knowledge of the whole.
By appropriate reading - For accurate exegesis, we need to be crystal-clear about
the progress of events (Bible history) and the development of special revelation (Biblical
Theology).
By the development of skills leading to an understanding of the text - Everyone can
learn to use textual tools.
Without exegtical accuracy there can be no true preaching, and the cause of God
and truth must inevitably suffer.
Questions for Discussion:
- Helping ourselves:
(a) What methods have you found most useful in your systematic personal study of
the Bible?
(b) What books have helped you to get a grasp of Biblical history and of Biblical
theology?
(c) What books would you recommend to those who want a thorough introduction to the
content of individual books and their backgrounds?
(d) What tools have you found helpful in getting to grips with the precise meaning
of the Biblical text?
- Many men simply do not have the time for thorough exegetical
study before the preach. Should they preach?
- How should commentaries be used? Is it not arrogance to
neglect them altogether? Is it not laziness to rely on them entirely?
- Is there anything else that you personally would have said in
a basic address on exegtical accuracy?
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