Help with exegesis on Bible scripture

APPENDIX 2

WRITING AN EXEGETICAL PAPER

These guidelines assume that you are using Grasping God’s Word to learn how to read, interpret, and live out the Bible. As a result, we will focus here on how to present the results of your interpretive work. Teachers have personal preferences when it comes to writing exegetical papers (e.g., footnotes or endnotes?). Our guidelines present the basics related to form and content that should prove helpful.

FORM

The paper is to be typed, using double spacing, a twelve-point font, and one-inch margins. The minimum length is nine pages; the maximum is thirteen pages (excluding the title page and the bibliography).

Citations should be referenced in accordance with the guidelines of the style manual that your teacher prefers. Commonly used style manuals for writing exegetical papers include these:

Hudson, Robert, gen. ed. The Christian Writer’s Manual of Style. 4th ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2016.

Turabian, Kate. A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. 9th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2018.

Vyhmeister, Nancy J., and Terry Robertson. Quality Research Papers: For Students of Religion and Theology. 3rd ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2014.

CONTENT

1. Title Page (1 page)

The title page should clearly state the passage that you are exegeting, the course title, the professor’s name, the date submitted, and your name.

2. Main Idea and Outline (1 page)

Identify your passage, then summarize the main idea of the passage in one sentence. Next, present a full outline of your passage, showing how the main idea unfolds. For each main point of your outline, show in parentheses the corresponding verses. All the verses of your passage should be included in the main points of your outline.

3. Introduction (½–1 page)

This paragraph should gain the reader’s attention and introduce the main idea of your passage.

4. Context (1–2 pages)

This part consists of two sections. First, include a brief discussion of the historical-cultural context of the book. What do your readers need to know about the biblical author, the original audience, and their world in order to grasp the meaning of the passage?

Second, discuss the literary context of your passage. Describe the author’s flow of thought in the book and discuss how your passage fits into and contributes to the flow of thought. Pay particular attention to how your passage relates to the passage that precedes it and the one that follows it.

5. Content (5–8 pages)

This represents the body of your paper and the heart of your exegetical work. You should let the main points of your outline function as subheadings. Include under each subheading a detailed explanation of your passage.

Explain what the text says and what it means in context. Be sure to include significant elements that you discovered as you observed the text and studied the passage’s historical-cultural context. Also, explain the meaning of critical words and concepts. Synthesize your own observations with those of the commentaries.

Speaking of commentaries, you must consult and cite at least four sources. Allow these commentaries to assist you, but be careful not to let them dictate what you conclude about the passage. Be critical of your sources and do not be afraid to disagree with commentators. As always, cite your sources so as not to plagiarize.

Keep in mind that the goal of this section is to explain the meaning of the text in context. Discuss the details of the text, but be sure to move beyond mere description of details to show how they come together to convey meaning.

6. Application (1 page)

Discuss several applications of this passage to contemporary audiences. Be as practical and realistic as possible.

7. Bibliography (1 page)

Present a formal bibliography of the sources you cite in your paper in accordance with your teacher’s preferred style manual.

CHECKLIST

• I have double-spaced the paper with a twelve-point font and one-inch margins.

• The paper has a title page.

• The paper is between nine and thirteen pages long.

• I have cited sources in accordance with the preferred style manual.

• My main idea summarizes the entire passage in one sentence.

• All verses in the passage are included in my outline.

• My introduction gains the reader’s attention and introduces the main idea.

• I discuss both the historical-cultural and literary contexts.

• The main points of my outline serve as subheadings in the body of my paper.

• I explain the meaning of critical words and concepts in my passage.

• I have consulted at least four reputable sources.

• I discuss several applications of this passage for a contemporary audience.

• I include a bibliography of sources cited in the paper.

• I have proofread the paper.

GRADING

Grading will be based on the following:

• Form and style (typing, spelling, grammar, etc.)

%

• Research (use of sources)

%

• Main idea and outline

%

• Context (historical-cultural and literary)

%

• Content

%

• Application

%

J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays, Grasping God’s Word: A Hands-On Approach to Reading, Interpreting, and Applying the Bible, Fourth Edition. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 2020), 505–507.

APPENDIX 2

WRITING AN EXEGETICAL PAPER

These guidelines assume that you are using Grasping God’s Word to learn how to read, interpret, and live out the Bible. As a result, we will focus here on how to present the results of your interpretive work. Teachers have personal preferences when it comes to writing exegetical papers (e.g., footnotes or endnotes?). Our guidelines present the basics related to form and content that should prove helpful.

FORM

The paper is to be typed, using double spacing, a twelve-point font, and one-inch margins. The minimum length is nine pages; the maximum is thirteen pages (excluding the title page and the bibliography).

Citations should be referenced in accordance with the guidelines of the style manual that your teacher prefers. Commonly used style manuals for writing exegetical papers include these:

Hudson, Robert, gen. ed. The Christian Writer’s Manual of Style. 4th ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2016.

Turabian, Kate. A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. 9th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2018.

Vyhmeister, Nancy J., and Terry Robertson. Quality Research Papers: For Students of Religion and Theology. 3rd ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2014.

CONTENT

1. Title Page (1 page)

The title page should clearly state the passage that you are exegeting, the course title, the professor’s name, the date submitted, and your name.

2. Main Idea and Outline (1 page)

Identify your passage, then summarize the main idea of the passage in one sentence. Next, present a full outline of your passage, showing how the main idea unfolds. For each main point of your outline, show in parentheses the corresponding verses. All the verses of your passage should be included in the main points of your outline.

3. Introduction (½–1 page)

This paragraph should gain the reader’s attention and introduce the main idea of your passage.

4. Context (1–2 pages)

This part consists of two sections. First, include a brief discussion of the historical-cultural context of the book. What do your readers need to know about the biblical author, the original audience, and their world in order to grasp the meaning of the passage?

Second, discuss the literary context of your passage. Describe the author’s flow of thought in the book and discuss how your passage fits into and contributes to the flow of thought. Pay particular attention to how your passage relates to the passage that precedes it and the one that follows it.

5. Content (5–8 pages)

This represents the body of your paper and the heart of your exegetical work. You should let the main points of your outline function as subheadings. Include under each subheading a detailed explanation of your passage.

Explain what the text says and what it means in context. Be sure to include significant elements that you discovered as you observed the text and studied the passage’s historical-cultural context. Also, explain the meaning of critical words and concepts. Synthesize your own observations with those of the commentaries.

Speaking of commentaries, you must consult and cite at least four sources. Allow these commentaries to assist you, but be careful not to let them dictate what you conclude about the passage. Be critical of your sources and do not be afraid to disagree with commentators. As always, cite your sources so as not to plagiarize.

Keep in mind that the goal of this section is to explain the meaning of the text in context. Discuss the details of the text, but be sure to move beyond mere description of details to show how they come together to convey meaning.

6. Application (1 page)

Discuss several applications of this passage to contemporary audiences. Be as practical and realistic as possible.

7. Bibliography (1 page)

Present a formal bibliography of the sources you cite in your paper in accordance with your teacher’s preferred style manual.

CHECKLIST

• I have double-spaced the paper with a twelve-point font and one-inch margins.

• The paper has a title page.

• The paper is between nine and thirteen pages long.

• I have cited sources in accordance with the preferred style manual.

• My main idea summarizes the entire passage in one sentence.

• All verses in the passage are included in my outline.

• My introduction gains the reader’s attention and introduces the main idea.

• I discuss both the historical-cultural and literary contexts.

• The main points of my outline serve as subheadings in the body of my paper.

• I explain the meaning of critical words and concepts in my passage.

• I have consulted at least four reputable sources.

• I discuss several applications of this passage for a contemporary audience.

• I include a bibliography of sources cited in the paper.

• I have proofread the paper.

GRADING

Grading will be based on the following:

• Form and style (typing, spelling, grammar, etc.)

%

• Research (use of sources)

%

• Main idea and outline

%

• Context (historical-cultural and literary)

%

• Content

%

• Application

%

J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays, Grasping God’s Word: A Hands-On Approach to Reading, Interpreting, and Applying the Bible, Fourth Edition. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 2020), 505–507.