Starting Point Series: Sermon 2

Starting Point: Genesis 2

Exegesis and eisegesis are two conflicting approaches in Bible study. Big words, I know.

Exegesis is the exposition or explanation of a text based on a careful, objective analysis.

The word exegesis literally means “to lead out of.” That means that the interpreter (all of us) are led to our conclusions by following the text.

The opposite approach to Scripture is eisegesis, which is the interpretation of a passage based on a subjective, non-analytical reading.

The word eisegesis literally means “to lead into,” which means the interpreter, and we all, at times, some more than others, make this mistake directly by injecting our own ideas into the text, making it mean whatever we want.

Eisegesis is a mishandling of the text and often leads to a misinterpretation.

Exegesis, on the other hand, is concerned with discovering the true meaning of the text, respecting its grammar, syntax, and setting.

Eisegesis, often done intentionally in our society, is concerned only with making a point, even at the expense of the meaning of words.

Like one person once said to me, “making non-sense out of good common biblical sense.”

We read in 2 Timothy 2:15, which commands us to use exegetical methods, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”

Exegesis allows us to agree with the Bible; eisegesis seeks to force the Bible to agree with us.

Creationist, as all Christians must be, believe in creation as historically narrated in the Bible; if not, our misinterpretations, wrongful beliefs, and errant teachings to others, will most likely become stumbling blocks or obstacles or worse we boast in direct rejection of God and His biblical truth.

We may even fall away from our own beliefs and obedience to Christ by doubting and questioning, to the extent of our disbelief, the foundational truths of God and His creation, including the reason for sin and our need for salvation.

Many, as we will learn, eventually fall away from attending Church at a young age and many older adults do as well.

Believing in evolution and not taking God’s word literally in Genesis, most likely plays a larger role than we think when it comes to wavering and being tossed by the wind in our trust and belief in Who God was, is, and will always be.

Now, many of us have doubts and it is a normal part of our Christian journey, and these doubts, oftentimes, in cooperation with the Spirit, lead us back to God and His Word for deeper understanding and clarity.

We all have them and will continue to have doubts, much like we will continue to live here on earth with our sinful nature, but we must not get hung up on our doubts.

Our emotions and senses can trick, fool, and set us up for failure and are inconsistent. Whereas God is never changing, consistent, and inerrant and infallible.

Now, please listen to this one carefully. You can still be saved and have limited knowledge of Scripture and believe in evolution and millions and billions of years; however, you will struggle to mature or grow in your faith and understanding of biblical truth if you hold to these non-biblical views and don’t take God’s word literally. Likewise, we will struggle to share the truth and proclaim God’s woirrd, including Genesis.

And finally, It is also important to remember that we can persuade as much as we can and want to, but it is not we (mankind, men and women) who converts anyone to becoming God’s son or daughter, or believing in all that He says in His Word, but we must continue to proclaim and protect His truth on earth as He commands us to.

It is at this point that God’s communicable attributes come into play. Man is a living being capable of embodying God’s communicable attributes:

Romans 8:29 “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;”

Colossians 3:10 “and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him—”

In his rational life, he (Adam) was like God in that he could reason and had intellect, will, and emotion. In the moral sense, he was like God because he was good and sinless. However, it did not bestow deity upon man.