Exegesis for Youth Pastors

As youth pastors, we are regularly faced with the eternally significant task of communicating the truth of God's word in a relevant way that students can understand; yet, at the same time, we want to ensure that we are exegeting the text (taking the Holy Spirit's intended message out of the text) instead of eisegeting it (putting our own outside thoughts and views into the text).

How do we ensure that we are staying theologically faithful to the Scriptures?

I was recently taught a simple way to accurately exegete the Bible by a retired pastor-theologian. While it is, for most student pastors, an extra step in the message preparation process, it is an important one. What use is it to ensure that the communication of our content is connecting well with students if that content is grievously flawed? According to the Apostle Paul, we are called to "...teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine." (Titus 2:1)

BIBLICAL EXEGESIS IN 3 SIMPLE STEPS

You will need the following materials:
-Greek parsing chart (http://bit.ly/17HusCN)

-Han's Parsing Guide (You can buy this used from Amazon)

-Greek/NAS interlinear Bible (You can get this from Amazon too)

1. Lookup your selected verse(s) in the Greek interlinear Bible.

Utilize the interlinear Greek/New American Standard to figure out the root Greek verbs that are used in the passage that you are studying.

2.  Determine the tense, voice, and mood of the verb with the Parsing Guide.
Using Han's Parsing Guide, figure out the tense, voice, and mood of the Greek verb you are exegeting.

3.  Refer to the parsing chart to see how the verb is literally translated from Greek to English.
Once one understands the tense, voice and mood, it becomes possible to determine the meaning of the verb as the Spirit intended. Often English translations are somewhat short here.

That's it. With a little practice, you will begin to memorize the different voices and tenses of the Greek language.

When you take the time to accurately exegete the Scripture during your message preparation, you allow the Holy Spirit to reveal the nuances of the text through the original koine Greek. This revelation, in turn, can then influence the rest of your preparation including main theme, illustrations, and sub-points.

One of the best gifts you can give the students in your ministry is solid preaching of the Word. "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12 NASB)




-----------------------------

www.mattmaiberger.com