Improving Exegesis and Genre Awareness in Preaching and Teaching

Christopher Cone ThD, PhD, PhD drcone.com calvary.edu Improving Exegesis and Genre Awareness Preaching and Teaching for Spiritual Independence

Part 1 Refining Your Exegetical Process

Introduction: 3 Related Stages Stage 1 Epistemological basis for preferring Literal Grammatical-Historical (LGH) Stage 2 Applying LGH to the exegetical process Stage 3 Ground rules for praxis, exposition

First-Stage Textual Logic of LGH P1 Genesis contains almost 100 speech acts of God P2 In the roughly 70 instances in which we see the response, the response shows His speech act was understood with LGH P3 Genesis spans the first 2500 years of recorded history P4 The hermeneutic model used for the first 2500 years holds unless there is an announced change P5 There is no announced change P6 NT use of the OT reflects continuity in hermeneutic method P7 The Biblical hermeneutic model is LGH C Therefore, LGH must be employed

First-Stage Linguistic Logic of LGH: P1 There exists a God who created P2 Language and humanity originated from God P3 God communicated w/ humanity using language P4 God s use of language confirms language as suitable vehicle for revelation P5 Earliest recipients understood meaning based on normative use P6 Earliest interpretive model was based on face value, and recognized grammar and historical context P7 LGH best represents this approach C If we are to understand the intended meaning in the same way, LGH must be employed

First-Stage Worldview Logic of LGH:

Second-Stage Logic of LGH: Exegesis Step 1 Verify Text and Translation Step 2 Understand Background, Context Step 3 Identify Structure Step 4 Identify Grammatical, Syntactical Keys Step 5 Identify Lexical Keys Step 6 Identify Biblical Context Step 7 Identify Theological Context

Step 1 Verify Text and Translation P66, John 3:13 Stephen s TR, John 3:13 , . ,

Step 1 Verify Text and Translation P66, John 3:13 Stephen s TR, John 3:13 , . , Was Jesus concurrently in heaven and earth???

Step 2 Understand Background, Context Mt 27:52-53 The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many. Is this Graeco-Roman bios, or is it historical/theological narrative? Is this special effects?

Step 3 Identify Structure Genesis - eleven (generations) John 20:30-31 - (signs) Acts 1:8 - geographical, chronological markers Revelation 1:19 three chronological markers

Step 4 Identify Grammatical, Syntactical Keys Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 , [ ,] .

Step 4 Identify Grammatical, Syntactical Keys Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 , [ ,] .

Step 4 Identify Grammatical, Syntactical Keys Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 , [ ,] .

Step 5 Identify Lexical Keys Daniel 9:24 Seventy weeks have been decreed Weeks or sevens? Hebrew , plural for seven Greek , plural for seven

Step 6 Identify Biblical Context 2 Chron 7:14 and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chron 7:15 Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place. The immediate context qualifies God s promise

Step 6 Identify Biblical Context Job 34:35-37 Job speaks without knowledge, And his words are without wisdom. 36 Job ought to be tried to the limit, Because he answers like wicked men. 37 For he adds rebellion to his sin; He claps his hands among us, And multiplies his words against God. 34 Men of understanding will say to me, And a wise man who hears me The immediate context gives voice to the statements that follow, exonerating Elihu and indicting his friends

Step 7 Identify Theological Context Jn 14:2-3 house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. In My Father s

Step 7 Identify Theological Context Jn 14:2-3 house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. In My Father s He goes He prepares a place He comes again He receives them to Himself

Second-Stage Logic of LGH: Exegesis Step 1 Verify Text and Translation Step 2 Understand Background, Context Step 3 Identify Structure Step 4 Identify Grammatical, Syntactical Keys Step 5 Identify Lexical Keys Step 6 Identify Biblical Context Step 7 Identify Theological Context

Third-Stage Logic of LGH: Praxis and Exposition Understanding is necessary for praxis If LGH is necessary for understanding, LGH is necessary for praxis Exposition is a part of praxis, LGH is a necessary component of exposition

Third-Stage Logic of LGH: Praxis and Exposition Correct praxis without correct exposition is oxymoronic Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another All believers are exhorted to teach one another exposition is not just pastoral Heb 5:12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers Arguably, all believers are to make disciples a process that includes teaching

Purpose, Content, and Mechanics of Biblical Teaching: For Equipping The Purpose: equipping for every good work (Eph 4:12; 2 Tim 3:17) The Content: The teacher doesn t equip, the word does equip (2 Tim 3:17) The Mechanics: entrusting the word of God (2 Tim 2:2)

Measuring Effectiveness: Capability to Reproduce Are learners developing ability to teach others the word of God? Do we give them the tools to do so? Are we teaching for spiritual independence? Are we showing them how to discover and learn for themselves?

Conclusion We must teach the Text as it is, and we must show (model) our work Doing, while being observed is a critical component of the teaching process Can our spiritual children and grandchildren, by following our example, grow to maturity?

Part 2 Refining Your Genre Awareness

Second-Stage Logic of LGH: Exegesis Step 1 Verify Text and Translation Step 2 Understand Background, Context Step 3 Identify Structure Step 4 Identify Grammatical, Syntactical Keys Step 5 Identify Lexical Keys Step 6 Identify Biblical Context Step 7 Identify Theological Context

Step 3 Identify Structure Genesis - eleven (generations) John 20:30-31 - (signs) Acts 1:8 - geographical, chronological markers Revelation 1:19 three chronological markers

Biblical Genres Historical Narrative Prophecy Poetic Epistolary Apocalyptic??? Near East Myth??? Greco_Roman Bios???

Biblical Genres Historical Narrative Prophecy Poetic Epistolary Apocalyptic??? Near East Myth??? Greco_Roman Bios???