Biblical Exegesis and Application

Video length: 15:50
Biblical interpretation can be tricky, as some of the Bible's passages are difficult to contextualize and understand. However, most of the Bible can be interpreted in a fairly straightforward process to arrive at the author's intended meaning (the one meaning of scripture we are all trying to get!). This video lesson will discuss this process and show 2 in depth examples; one from the Old Testament and one from the New. I want to point out that this lecture is a starting point for biblical interpretation. This topic goes much deeper than this short video allows. This lesson is the first of 3 in a series that will discuss interpretation and literary genres in the Bible. You will find the outline for the video below so you can follow along.


Exegesis and Application

I. Exegesis

     A. to lead out of

     B. What did it mean to the author/audience?

          1. literary context

               a. What genre?

          2. historical context

               a. past circumstances

II.Application

     A. Given proper exegesis, what does a passage mean for us?

III. Old Testament example-Hosea 1:2

     A. exegesis

          1. literary context

               a. prophecy: full of symbolism and analogy for literal things

          2. historical context

               a. Hosea prophesied during the reigns of:

    Judah: Uzziah(Azariah)-Good

               Jotham-Good

               Ahaz-Bad

               Hezekiah-Good

    Israel: Jeroboam 2-Bad

               b. accompanying scripture: 2 Kings 14:23-29, 15:1-7, 15:32-16:20, 18:1-20:21; 2 Chronicles 26:1-32:33

               c. by calculating the reigns of the kings of Israel from Jeroboam 2, we get 41 years and 7 months to the fall of Israel (2 Kings 16:23-17:6) 

               d. Hezekiah started his reign in the 3rd year of Hoshea (of Israel) and reigned for 23 years after Israel’s exile by Assyria (2 Kings 17:1, 18:1-2)

               e. this means that Hosea prophesied sometime between 0 to 81 years before Israel's defeat and exile

          3. conclusion

               a. God ordered Hosea to marry a prostitute named Gomer and have kids "of whoredom", LITERALLY, in order to demonstrate by way of analogy the way Israel (Gomer) was treating God (Hosea) by worshipping other idols

     B. Application

          1. The analogy has an indirect correlation for us

          2. America has long forsaken the Lord. Does this mean some of us should marry a prostitute, have kids "of whoredom" and start telling people this is how they are treating God!?!?!?

          3. This is a lesson to us about how easy it is to forsake the Lord. As Paul says in Romans 9:4-5: “4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. 5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.” How easy it was for them to forgo their worshipful duties to the Lord! We should be wary of our own behavior as this treatment of God is our true nature without the power of Christ.

          

IV. New Testament example-2 Timothy 4:13

     A. exegesis

          1. literary context

               a. epistle (letter): a writing from one person to another person or group of persons

          2. historical context

               a. apostolic (Paul) instruction for a fellow servant (Timothy) of Christ in the management of the church in Ephesus (1:1-2, 1 Timothy 1:3)

               b. Paul imprisoned in Rome (1:16-17)

          3. conclusion

               a. specific instructions (bring cloak, books, parchment) relating to specific circumstances (visiting Paul in Rome (4:9)) for Timothy from Paul

     B. Application

          1. Does not apply to us

          2. If it does apply to us---Why have none of you been to see Carpus at Troas and brought Pauls’ stuff to him in prison in Rome?!