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Writing Exegesis Papers

Theology & Application

Overview

This section of exegesis is more nebulous and difficult to define. It can vary widely from paper to paper, depending on the passage selected for exegesis. Additionally, there may be significant overlap between this section and your detailed analysis. In general, there are two major considerations (discussed below).

 

Theology of Your passage

First, limit your discussion to the passage you are analyzing. You've already done a lot working through the context and details of your passage. Now you will need to summarize what your passage means. Here are some questions to help you start thinking: What does it mean? What does it teach us about God? Does your passage point to His love? His justice? His role as creator? His patience with obstinate people? His impatience with prideful people?

Hopefully, the claims you make in this section are well-supported by the previous sections of your paper (especially the Detailed Analysis).

 

Biblical Theology

The next step is to compare your text to other passages in the Bible. Begin with an investigation of other texts within the Testament of your passage (i.e., if your passage is in the New Testament, start with examining other New Testament passages, and vice versa). Your previous research in word studies should help you know what passages to consider.

Look for texts that contain similar theological ideas as well as texts that contain contrasting ideas. For instance, some passages might teach about how God has no tolerance for sin and injustice (think about Lot's wife, Ananias and Sapphira, or Uzzah). However, there are many passages that show God as patient and gracious (think about how he relented from punishment against Hezekiah, or his patience with David, or the conversion of Paul in the New Testament). The goal is to see how your passage fits within a balanced biblical theology.

Also, you should consider key passages to which your passage alludes. Are you working in a Psalm that describes God's work as creator? Then you may want to consider what Genesis 1 has to say. Are you working in an Epistle that makes reference to the work of Christ on the cross? Then you should probably read through the accounts of the crucifixion in the Gospels. Be careful that you do not make the assumption that the other passage necessarily was written first. In the case of the Gospels they were likely written after the Epistles.