OLD TESTAMENT EXEGESIS

OLD TESTAMENT EXEGESIS
Introduction
Chapter 1. Guide for Full Exegesis 5
1.1. Text 5
1.1.1. Confirm the limits of the passage. 5
Please note that your passage division is open to question. Note any changes you believe ought to be made. If none exist simply say “No differences.”
1.1.2. Compare the versions.
If you know Hebrew, translate the passage (This must be your own translation, and must include the Hebrew text.). Otherwise list the differences found in five English versions. Show this in a table listing the translations side-by-side. Be sure to identify the different versions in the top row. Indicate in some way (either in the table or in a list below the table) the differences between the English versions. (Dont be concerned about how the size of the table)
KJV (example)

6
1.1.3. Reconstruct and annotate the text. 6
1.1.4. Present poetry in versified form. 7
Note differences, if any, in lines of poetry in your English translations. If none exist simply say “No differences.”

1.2. Translation 7
1.2.1. Prepare a tentative translation of your reconstructed text. 7
1.2.2. Check the correspondence of text and translation. 8
1.2.3. Revise the translation as you continue. 8
1.2.4. Provide a finished translation. 9
Indicate the translation from 1.2 you believe is best and tell why. 9

1.3. Grammatical Data 9
1.3.1. Analyze the significant grammatical issues. 9
Note grammatical issues that arise through translation in original languages or any differences in the English translations that reveal grammatical questions. If you have had Hebrew, list a couple of the more significant grammatical issues. Otherwise list any grammatical differences that can be seen upon observation of five translations in your table above. Look for things such as tense and person differences, etc., and make note of them.

1.3.2. Analyze the orthography and morphology for date or other affinities. 10

1.4. Lexical Data 10
1.4.1. Explain all words and concepts that are not obvious. 10
Identify those words or phrases that seem significant for understanding the passage.
1.4.2. Concentrate on the most important concepts, words, and wordings. 11
List the three most significant words or phrases.
1.4.3. Do “word studies” (really, concept studies) of the most crucial 11
words or wordings.
List two original language lexicon or dictionary sources for lexical studies.
1.4.4. Identify any special semantic features. 11
Note any of the devices used (see a sample list in Stuart)

1.5. Form 12
1.5.1. Identify the general literary type (genre). 12
List the general literary type of your passage.
1.5.2. Identify the specific literary type (form). 12
List a previously unmentioned source that discusses the characteristics of the specific literary form (Give page numbers)
1.5.3. Look for subcategories. 13
1.5.4. Suggest a life setting. 13
1.5.5. Analyze the completeness of the form. 14
1.5.6. Be alert to partial and broken forms. 14

1.6. Structure 15
1.6.1. Outline the passage. 15
Do this per Stuarts instructions.
1.6.2. Look for patterns. 16
Note any seen.
1.6.3. Organize your discussion of structure according to descending units of size. 16
1.6.4. Evaluate the intentionality of the minor patterns. 17
1.6.5. If the passage is poetic, analyze it accordingly. 17
Do this per Stuarts instructions.

1.7. Historical Context 18
1.7.1. Research the historical background 4
List two sources for this information from Bible Encyclopedias, Dictionaries or Old Testament Introductions. (Give page #s)
1.7.2. Research the social setting 10
List two sources for this information from Old Testament commentaries or journal articles. (Give page #s)
1.7.3. Research the historical foreground. 10
Give a statement regarding the foreground of your passage.
1.7.4. Research the geographical setting 11
State the suggested geographical setting of the passage.
1.7.5. Date the passage. 11
Suggest the date the events of the passage took place or with poetry and wisdom the date of writing. 19

1.8. Literary Context 20
1.8.1. Examine the literary function. 20
Give an impression regarding any of Stuarts questions that are appropriate for your passage.
1.8.2. Examine the placement. 20
Give an impression regarding any of Stuarts questions that are appropriate for your passage.
1.8.3. Analyze the detail. 21
Give an impression regarding any of Stuarts questions that are appropriate for your passage.
1.8.4. Analyze the authorship. 21
Is the author stated, if not, is it possible to identify the author?

1.9. Biblical Context 21
1.9.1. Analyze the use of the passage elsewhere in Scripture. 22
Identify if and where your passage is quoted elsewhere in Scripture.
1.9.2. Analyze the passages relation to the rest of Scripture. 22
Make note of any possible thematic elements that are found elsewhere in scripture
1.9.3. Analyze the passages import for understanding Scripture. 23
Make note of any other biblical passage that inform or are informed by this passage.

1.10. Theology 23
1.10.1. Locate the passage theologically. 23
What category(ies) of systematic theology does your passage inform and how? (i.e. Theology, anthropology, Christology, etc.)
1.10.2. Identify the specific issues raised or solved by the passage. 24
1.10.3. Analyze the theological contribution of the passage. 24
Does your passage address a specific issue or problem regarding a doctrine?

1.11. Application 25
1.11.1. List the life issues. 26
1.11.2. Clarify the nature of the application (informing or directing). 26
1.11.3. Clarify the possible areas of application (faith or action). 27
1.11.4. Identify the audience of the application. 27
1.11.5. Establish the categories of the application. 27
1.11.6. Determine the time focus of the application. 28
1.11.7. Fix the limits of the application. 28

1.12. Secondary Literature 29
1.12.1. Investigate what others have said about the passage. 29
List two previously unmentioned sources for this.
1.12.2. Compare and adjust. 30
1.12.3. Apply your discoveries throughout your paper. 30

Explanation of the exegetical guides by Fee & Stewart and instructions regarding the Exegetical Exercises.

The texts by Gordon Fee (New Testament Exegesis) and Douglas Stewart (Old Testament Exegesis) are companion works that have a parallel structure and outline. Chapter one of each work is entitled “Guide for Full Exegesis.” This chapter takes you through the basic steps that are required for doing exegesis. In each text Chapter 1 is paralleled in Chapter 2, which is entitled “Exegesis and the Original Text.” This chapter goes through the same information that is briefly summarized in Chapter 1, but does so in much greater detail. You will note that while reading through the steps in Chapter 1 the authors refer you ahead to Chapter 2 where each step is discussed more fully. Chapter 3 in each book is entitled “Short Guide for Sermon Exegesis.” This chapter explains how to use the information derived from the guides in Chapters 1 & 2 to write sermons. Chapter 4 is titled a bit different in each book, but both give the same information: Resource material for doing the work of exegesis. This chapter also parallels the steps in Chapters 1-2 but provides a bibliography of the resources that need to be consulted while doing the steps of exegesis.

Chapters 1, 2 & 4 will be your guide and also provide much of the bibliographical information necessary for the completion of the Exegetical Exercises. I have provided two Word files on Bb that contain the table of contents of Chapter 1 (“Guide for Full Exegesis”) in each book. These must be used for the completion of your Exegetical Exercises. Download them and read through the steps outlined by each author. To complete the exercise work through the outline responding at a minimum to those elements in the outline that are in bold type and have instructions listed in italics.

The Exegetical Exercises will require some consultation of other texts, but many of the instructions can be completed on your own as you examine the passage you have chosen while using Chapters 1, 2 & 4 in the Fee and Stewart exegesis guides, as well as the knowledge gained from your reading of Osborns Hermeneutical Spiral.