There are many mistakes about exegesis. One of the commonest is to substitute eisegesis for exegesis. One's own opinion of the meaning of a text is not exegesis. Most scholars agree about the importance of determining the intention of the original penman as a basis for exegesis, but beyond this they do not agree. Some …
Metaphors and exegesis
Biblical exegesis is a wonderful God-given skill. It enables the exegete to draw out of Scripture the meaning intended by the Holy Spirit, as opposed to imposing on Scripture a meaning that the reader has already determined (eisegesis is reading into Scripture one's own prejudices). There are many principles for exegesis, but one of them …
Copyrighting our language
Language barriers and language battles are very real features of modern society. Now Google is taking over our alphabet. The world famous search engine company is rebranding itself as Alphabet. Can Alphabet be seriously trademarked? Will others be allowed to use the same name? Walt Disney once tried to get Dr Donald Duck, a Scottish …
How to search this website
There is a search box at the top of the right hand column of every page of the website. Type into this box what you are looking for, then click on the magnifying glass icon to search, or simply press Enter on your keyboard. A series of results will appear. If there are too many …
Pollsters’ post-mortem
Opinion pollsters are organising a post-mortem on why the opinion polls were so completely wrong in the recent General Election. There will be much huffing and puffing, money and time wasted in trying to reach a conclusion. For my part, a good part of the answer will be found in the tick box mentality of …
A summary of the opening chapters of Ezekiel
To understand Scripture, one needs to understand texts and passages in context. So a summary of Scripture chapters can be very useful to help us understand the context. I have been doing so for years for my Bible commentary, an on-going work that will probably be published posthumously. However, this does not prevent extracts coming …
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What do we do about confusion in congregational preaching?
Intelligent listeners will notice differences in teaching between preachers even in the same denomination, as well as between denominations. The right of private judgment is permitted to Christians, but the continuous and unchallenged preaching of different doctrines only leads to confusion in congregations - and God is not the author of confusion 1Cor 14:33. So …
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When did the Bible last change your thinking or behaviour?
Christians claim to be submissive to the Word of God. They acknowledge that they are not 'the finished article'. So when did the Bible last change your thinking or behaviour? The development of one's Christian character is effected by the Holy Spirit applying the Word of God to one's thinking, speech and behaviour. It is …
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The Synoptic Solution to the Synoptic Problem
The Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) have many similar stories, but with very slight variations. For example, Mark tells us Jesus healed blind Bartimaeus Mk 10:46, but Matthew tells us that Bartimaeus had another blind companion Mat 20:30, with the same request at the same time Mat 20:33. However, Mark mentions only one; he …
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Was the rich young ruler actually Saul of Tarsus?
Most of those acquainted with their Bible have heard about the rich, young ruler. He came to Jesus and asked him what he should do to inherit eternal life. He received the surprising answer - to sell all that he had and follow Christ! At this, he went away sad because he had great possessions. …
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