I’ve taught hermeneutics a few times in churces; and here’s the basic outline of what I taught. These are also the basic steps I go through every time I prepare a sermon.
Exegesis…
Historical Context
(Knowing the past in order to shed light on the full meaning of the Scripture)
(We can’t be Bible students without being historians)
1. Who are the recipients of this “book.” (Who was this Divinely inspired work of literature written to)?
2. Who wrote this “book.” (Who wrote this Divinely inspired work of literature?)?
3. What year was the “book” written (What year was this Divinely inspired work of literature written?)?
4. Where was the “book” written to (What place was this Divinely inspired work of literature written to?)? Briefly discuss the geography (the physical characteristics of the land).
5. What was happening around those that the “book” was sent to? Briefly describe each of these: Politically (Who, and what type of leader was in power?), Economically (Was the area poor or rich?), Religiously (What religions made up the area?), and anything else that you see as important.
6. What were some cultural norms according to the text given (With the text given, were there any differences culturally from their time to our time?)?
Literary Context
(We Must Interpret the Bible in the literary form the author wrote, for God inspired it in that form.)
1. Concerning genre, what type of literature is it (Legal (Exodus 20- Deuteronomy 33), Narrative (historical account), Poetry (the measured language of emotion), Proverb (A short saying instead of lots of words to get a point across), Parable (something placed alongside something else for the means of comparison), Epistle (letter), Prophecy (telling of future events), Apocalyptic (revelation of things that are hidden, particularly the end of times)?
2. What is the overall theme of the book (What is the overall reason the author wrote the book)?
3. Using the types of literature given above, what type of literature is the passage? What is the theme of this passage, and how does this theme relate to the overall theme of the book (How does the author’s single thought found in this passage relate to the overall purpose for writing the book?)
4. Identify the natural divisions of the text (determine where a paragraph ends and another begins).
5. Determine what the individual words mean.
a. Check at least three (preferably more) Bible Versions, one close to the literal category, one close to the interpretive category, and one in-between, to see if there are any differences in the texts (written verses). Recommended Bibles: NASB (New American Standard Bible), ESV (English Standard Version), NKJV (New King James Version), HCSB (Holman Christian Standard Bible), and lastly, the NIV (New International Version).
b. Now write down any differences you see between the texts: as far as different meaning of words.
c. If there were any differences in the meanings of the texts, then consult at least 2 Greek/Hebrew Dictionaries/ Commentaries. *ALSO, check a modern English dictionary for the words in question may be synonyms (one of two or more words or expressions of the same language that have the same or nearly the same meaning in some or all senses).
d. After checking these versions, consult at least five conservative commentaries to see if there are any differences between them concerning the texts (written verses).
e. If there are any differences between the commentaries, then trace the development of the author’s theme to help you decide which commentary is right. Then cross-reference the Scripture to see if there are any parallel passages in the Bible. (Since all Scripture is inspired, we must weigh it against itself; Many of our difficulties in study will be worked out this way.) Recommended Cross-reference tool: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, Your Study Bible.
6. Put the results of your analysis into non-technical, easily understood words that clearly convey the author’s intended meaning. (Put it in “Pew Talk” form).
Key Word/ Figures of Speech/ Antecedent Theology/ Analogy of Faith
Key Words
1. Verse by verse, what are the main words that develop the theme? List them here.
Figures of Speech
(simile or metaphor) (simile- like or as- (example- you smell like a cow); metaphor- direct (example- you are a cow.))
1. Are there any words that are used in a figurative way that you need to further explain? If so, explain them here. (Use Greek/Heberew dictionaries and commentaries).
Antecedent Theology
1. Concerning the theme of the passage, are there any Old Testament examples that come to mind? If so, list them. Since all Scripture is united in being God’s inspired Holy Word, we need to use it to explain itself. There is no better illustration than Scripture, for it is authoritative.
2. What was on the author’s mind from the Old Testament or the New Testament (must be from Scripture previous to the passage being studied), if anything, when he wrote this passage (Does the author quote anything from the Old or New Testament? Does the author refer to anyone or anything from the Old or New Testament? If so, then study out what he’s quoting so you can fully understand what the author is saying.)
Analogy of Faith
1. How does this passage fit in with the rest of the Bible; how does it fit in with the overall plan of redemption? (From Genesis to Revelation God has mapped out His plan for the salvation of man. How does this passage of Scripture fit in with this plan?)
Normative Behavior/Normative Principle/Normative Truths/Audience Analysis
Normative Behavior
1. Is there anything explicitly (Fully and clearly expressed; leaving nothing implied.) commanded? (If so, explain.)
Normative Principle
1. Is there anything that can be taken from the passage implicitly (capable of being understood from something else though unexpressed; It doesn’t come out and say it, but the principle is there. Does the author or main character set a Christ-like example that you can follow? If so, explain this example.)?
Normative Truths
1. Are there any truths that Christians should know? (Is there anything that doesn’t fit in with the Normative Behavior and Principle that we need to know. Is there anything that needs to be placed in our knowledge hard drive?)
Audience Analysis
1. Using the Normative Behaviors, Principles, and Truths from above, determine what areas of your life these truths need to be applied.
2. If you are going to be teaching or preaching this scripture, evaluate how the above truths can be applied to the persons’ lives that you’ll be teaching. (A teenager will need different application than that of an elderly person.)
Point of Contact
I. NAME THE TEXTUAL IDEA (What is the single thought?).
A. Find the Subject (1 word-most of the time).
B. Find the Complement (1 word-most of the time).
C. Turn the subject/complement into a working title.
II. WRITE THE TEXTUAL IDEA IN A SENTENCE. (What is the writer’s purpose for the passage? Past tense)
III. WRITE THE SERMON IDEA IN A SENTENCE. (How does this textual idea apply to us today? Present tense)
IV. WRITE THE INTERROGATIVE. (Turns the sermon idea into a question)
Asks Who, what, when, where, why, or how
V. WRITE THE TRANSITION SENTENCE. (Answers the interrogative, uses a number)
VI. WRITE THE DIVISION STATEMENTS. (Answers the interrogative and the transition)
Appropriate Response
1. What should be your appropriate response to the truths in this passage of Scripture? (What should you do now in order to properly apply and be obedient to what God has revealed to you in His Word today?)
2. What should be your audience’s appropriate response to the truths in this passage of Scripture? (What should they do now in order to properly apply and be obedient to what God has revealed to them today?)
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