Step 3: Explore the Specific Meaning of the Passage.

(This step can be incorporated into the middle steps on the inductive method on “What does it mean?”)

In this step, our idea is to explore more of, “What is it?” Who is the author? What is the intent, the language, the genre, etc…. Thus, the task is to isolate and then inspect and analyze specific words and phrases to better determine what is going on in the passage. What are the concepts being presented? Start to lay out the specific precepts and principles being presented.  Start to do your outline if you have not already, and then add to it in a logical, systematic way what you have discovered. Do this verse-by-verse; under each verse, list the points and principles. Look at each sentence and notice the words. First, look at the key words such as nouns and verbs; then, what is supporting them, and then the adjectives and structure. Remember the context and never divorce specifics from general context or visa versa.

·        How is the passage arranged and set up?

·        What is the sentence structure? The sequence of thought? What is the subordination (how things are supported) and logic, and how are they presented?

·        What are the contexts and/or background?

·        Look at the grammatical structure; this is the big clue to what is going on! Nouns, verbs, adjectives, and their person and number are crucial to the who, what, when, where, how, and why of the passage.

·        What are the word or phrase meanings? Examine the significance of the individual words and phrases. Be aware of idioms, metaphors, hyperbole, and such. When you get to a phrase, seek to determine what is contained in it, the thoughts, precepts, etc…

·        Look at other translations and paraphrases.

·        What are the maxims, subject, and theme? What is their relevance?

·        What are the intentions and propositions?

·        What are the problems and solutions?

·        Cause and effect?

·        Are there any theological terms and ideas that need to be researched and explained?

·        What are the arguments and points? What is the flow of the argument, or how is the case presented?

·        Good exegesis means we are to seek what God is saying, and not what we want Him to say. We are to dig out His principles—not read in ours!

Note: when you use other resources such as commentaries, there is always a bias from the human author. Be aware of it and remember; human works are not inspired and can be very fallible! God’s Word is inspired and is infallible! The problem is in how we interpret it, our predispositions, agendas, and limited reasoning skills. Thus, be humble when you approach His Word!

© 1985, 1989, 1998, 2006 R. J. Krejcir Ph.D. Into Thy Word Ministries www.intothyword.org