Below is a brief essay I wrote while studying Greek for exegetical purposes. I thought originally to write an article as a follow-up to my last post My Opinion Doesn’t Matter but then I was going through some of my documents and came across the subject document. The reason for the article is because many believe that the Bible is subject to the interpretation of individuals. The fact is it is not.
As such the following is presented as it was originally in seminary.
William James Carter, I
NGRK 506
The Importance of Good Exegesis
Recently this writer had opportunity to sit under a local pastor who chose not to study the Scripture but declared that he relied strictly on the Holy Spirit at the time of preaching. With this he never took notes and often used specific words out of context. One such word was “save” as used in Luke 8:51. The Scripture was used totally out of context thereby teaching the people the wrong idea which resulted in confusion.
This then is part of the importance of good exegesis. When good exegesis is not performed then what is taught can be damaging to the hearers. This is coupled with the fact that most do not read their Bibles regularly and study it even less. This then makes the preacher the ultimate authority of God’s Word. So, if the preacher declares a thing to be true and it is not true not only does it create confusion in the minds of the unlearned but it also creates mistrust, divisiveness and possibly a falling away from the faith.
If these negative items are true then their opposites must be true as well. If the preacher takes time to properly exegete the Word rather than creating confusion he will create peace. In the absence of mistrust there must be trust. Union eradicates the divisive spirit while those that may fall away, because of what ultimately can be construed as heretical, become stronger in the faith.
The above example of the lack of exegesis has resulted in weak membership. That is to say that none of the members have a clear understanding the Word of God therefore there is no reliance on it. Instead there is an expectation that the pastor will hear from God and give them whatever they need. Ultimately there has been the creation of a cult-like following of the pastor because no one is allowed to question what is being taught and if anyone does there is a severe penalty. With this there is tremendous damage done not only to those being “ministered” to but the impact goes beyond the immediate following to the families and friends of the parishioners. Unfortunately, the ultimate damage of this example has been that some have fallen from the faith.
But the pastor noted above appears to have a motive for his treatment of the presentation of the Gospel. While this writer is being careful to use good tact in this presentation there has to be acknowledgement of the fact that good exegesis prevents one from becoming arrogant concerning the things of God. This is to say that without dutiful exegesis one psychological problem could play out as arrogance.
There are many that feel the need to control others and some in ecclesiastical authority use the Scripture and pulpit to bolster their own sense of significance. When this happens there is no need to do proper study of Scripture instead the person presumes that he has been preaching so long that there is nothing he does not know.
This attitude was witnessed by this writer in that the pastor all but dared anyone to call into question his ability to “teach” and “preach”. His arrogance did not allow him to listen if someone may have had a suggestion or question that seemed contrary to what he taught. In fact, the psychological need for him to control lent him to public open rebuke of anyone that merely sought clearer understanding of what was taught.
So then, proper exegesis of the Word creates a right mind in the minister. He realizes that he has no need to control the people of God but that they are in need of good leadership – and that leadership can only come in the absence of arrogance and psychological weaknesses. It also allows for good reasoned discussions thereby promoting not only spiritual growth but also good practical academia. Good exegesis is the laying down of one’s own views in order that the truths of the Word are presented not to fulfill the needs of the speaker but to strengthen all that fall under his voice. Good exegesis results in the building of a strong and unified church.
I have been in many conversations wherein my opinion in respect to certain matters was solicited. There are times when it seemed practical to make my point of view clear. For instance, if I were to go to a restaurant and order a steak I would much prefer a well-done porterhouse. But the enjoyment of that tender piece of meat impacts no one else except if they cannot stand the smell of a well prepared piece of meat. On the other hand there are things in which my opinion bears no weight and the significance of my view is nullified.
Let’s get right down to it; if I am driving down the street and choose to run a stop sign while a police officer is looking on there is little doubt that I will be called into question for my behavior. My opinion will mean nothing if I tell the officer that there was no opposing traffic so that my opinion allowed me to run the sign without danger. Certainly the officer will let me know in a very professional manner that my opinion doesn’t matter and that the law provides no room for my opinion. There will be a consequence for me taking matters into my own hands.
Such is the case with the Word of God. My opinion doesn’t matter in respect to what the Word of God has to say on any level. One such matter is the very existence of God. At no point in Scripture is there any attempt to prove that God is. It simply assumes the truth of God without explanation. Genesis 1:1 simply states that “In the beginning God” and with that the narrative begins. If the text is so adamant about the unapologetic presentation of the truth that is then my opinion has no room for the facts as they are. The fact of the matter is that God is and because God is my opinion concerning Him has neither weight nor bearing. The fact of God simply is.
Not only does the fact of God’s existence not need my opinion neither does his standards. God has taken time to reveal Himself and to present standards of righteousness and holiness. If God calls anything contrary to His Word sin then it is certain that my opinion does not matter. God has a standard and that standard is holiness (Leviticus 20:7, 26; 1 Peter 1:16). The matter of holiness requires being set apart from the world and its ideals (Romans 12:1-2). As such my opinion doesn’t matter. Holiness is the standard set down by God and holiness should be the way of life for the Christian. No, my opinion doesn’t matter.
Just because you can do it does not mean you should do it!
I have been told that I protest too much against homosexuality. The reason is because I am supposed to be tolerant and understanding of those who choose to live a lifestyle other than that I have chosen. After all God loves the homosexual as well as the heterosexual. Making the matter more interesting is that one person proclaiming that I protest too much is counted as Christian. And while it is certain that God does indeed love the homosexual, absolute certainty provides for the fact that God hates sin.
But, as I reflect on things that Christians have been apathetic about, the matters of prayer and Bible reading in school comes to mind. It was because of one godless person the rights of Christians have been trampled upon. Because of her arguable hatred for the country and the God of it, Madalyn Murray O’Hair found reason to make legal protestations against prayer and Bible reading in public schools. In 1963 “After the Baltimore courts ruled against her, she appealed her case all the way to the Supreme Court, who overwhelmingly ruled in her favor in 1963: school-sponsored Bible reading and prayer were banned in public schools.”[1] It would seem that O’Hair had no opposition from Christians but what if Christians would have taken a stand? And while the Supreme Court did not say there could be no prayer and Bible in school many are afraid to participate in them out of fear of retribution.
This is the reason why I stand for the Word of God. I have worked in public schools and with many students outside the school setting. At no time did I lay aside my constitutional and God given right to celebrate Jesus. In fact, I have dared to teach biblical principles because it is not possible for me to separate myself from the God I serve. As such the reason why I am so bold in my stance is because the God of gods has proven Himself to me over and over and I refuse to relent to the sound of political overtures or bend to the whistling winds of destruction. But this is just one reason I stand. Roe vs. Wade is another Supreme Court decision wherein the Court decided that it was within a woman’s right to abort children under nearly all circumstances (410 U.S. 113 (1973)).
There is little doubt that the State of Texas fought on behalf the unborn child. But what would have happened if the Christians had gathered together and fought in light of the Word of God in respect to the sanctity of life? Would we have Planned Parenthood in place now? Now, while it appears that Planned Parenthood seeks to protect the rights of the woman its true purpose was, and may continue to be, the eradication of Blacks in the United States. But, Blacks were not the only problem. Planned Parenthood’s founder Margaret Higgins Sanger “primarily sought to control the reproduction of immigrants, the poor, certain religious groups, and anyone else she thought was from an “unacceptable” heritage.”[2] This is the reason I fight for the lives of those who cannot fight for themselves. If they are unborn they deserve to live out their lives as God prescribed. I am diametrically opposed to the unlawful and unrighteous taking of life just because the parents choose to live recklessly outside the perimeters set by God or because a true bigot takes issue with those for whom he disapproves.
And now Christianity is being attacked again but more vigorously than ever before. There was a time when homosexuals were ashamed of their practices because they knew it was wrong. Now it is politically incorrect to suggest that the act of homosexuality is an abomination. Yet there is an issue that many do not consider that lies side by side with this immoral conduct and that is the matter of the effeminate. Basically the effeminate, as laid out in I Corinthians 6:9, are men that take on the likeness of and act like females. This goes to the matter of cross dressing and a range of other issues. God is not pleased when mankind perverts and changes inherent conditions of males and females, yet we laugh when movie stars and others wade into this category. They have made light of God and made room for the abominable acts of homosexuality.
It seems that everyone is now stating that homosexual marriage is acceptable and should be a legal right. One of its greatest proponents is Barak Obama who unconstitutionally refuses to defend the Defense of Marriage Act signed into law by Bill Clinton. Going against his own convictions Clinton is now having reservations about marriage being between one man and one woman. And the matter grows worse. Even “Christians” are supporting this thing that God has condemned. One prominent group is the Episcopal Church. This corpus of adherents allows “priests in the 1.9 million-member church can officiate blessings to same-sex couples who are in long-term relationships.”[3] This very idea brings to light unchecked immorality that apparently runs throughout the Episcopal Church.
This is the reason why I stand for the standards set down by God. Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed for the very reason yet the United States Supreme Court is hearing arguments on who can constitutionally be married. The problem is that if the Court follows suit as in with abortion and prayer and Bible reading in school then this country might well find itself without the God who has been faithful to it. This is the reason why I stand because I know God’s Word to be true and I further realize that if Christians stand and hold fast to the Word of God then the immoral and ungodly agenda of reprobates and heathens will be halted. Yes, the reason why I stand is because Christ continues to stand for me. The reason I protest homosexuality is because it is abhorred by God!
The cry has been made time and time again. As soon as a preacher begins to point out the truths of the Scripture someone is bound to take offense as soon as the matter of sin is brought to the forefront. The offended one quickly blurts out that the preacher has no right to judge him or anyone else. The problem is multifaceted in nature but the heart of the problem is usually that the offended one does not want to conform to the Word of God. The fact of the matter is that anyone proclaiming the Gospel is not judging rather is doing the work ordained by God. In this the record is to be set straight in respect to judgment.
A causal reading of I Corinthians 6:9-11 shows that there are certain that will not see Heaven. The text reads, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” These acts are clearly displeasing to God and thus sin by that very reason.
It is the job of the preacher (prophet) to warn the people of impending danger (Ezekiel 3:17-21). This warning is not judgment rather it is providing notice that actions deleterious to God’s Word will meet sure and sudden consequences. With this in mind it is evident that the one claiming to be offended by the preachers warning is ignorant of the meaning of “judge” as it is reflected in Matthew 7:1. Simply put “judge” as being discussed in Matthew has to do with condemning others. This is likely a legal term but to discuss etymology at this juncture would be fruitless. Still the fact is that judgment as Jesus was presenting it had to do with the condemning of others which was common practice of the Pharisees.
Setting the record straight means that those that proclaim the Gospel in keeping with its purpose are not condemning others rather seeking to prevent eternal damnation to their audiences. Remember the Word of God is an offense to some (Matthew 24:10) but offense and condemnation are far from the same. With this preachers are encouraged to be bold and be strong because the Lord our God is with you. We are charged to preach and teach the Gospel truths even without condemnation. Warning is necessary and has nothing to do with judgment.
preachercarter 