Page 20 - Homiletics Student Textbook
P. 20

The more thorough one’s exegetical method, the more accurate his interpretation will be. As
                        Paul said to Timothy, Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who
                        has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
                                                                                35

                    C.  Application answers the question, “How does it work?”

                        It is difficult to lay out a process for determining specific applications of a biblical text. The
                        following excerpt from Duvall’s and Hayes’ book, Grasping God’s Word, puts this discipline into
                        proper perspective.

                          Perhaps the best way to make your applications specific is by creating real-world
                          scenarios. These scenarios function as illustrations or examples of how a person might
                          put the biblical principles into practice. They help us move beyond abstract principles to
                          capture the color and emotion of the biblical principle. We are quick to admit that these
                          real-world scenarios are not on the same level as inspired Scriptures; they are merely
                          illustrations. But we intend for them to be guided by the Holy Spirit and faithful to the
                          biblical principles (i.e., consistent with the author’s intended meaning). We also want
                          the contemporary audience to know that God’s Word is eternally relevant. Real-world
                          scenarios should be both faithful to the meaning of the text and relevant to the
                                                36
                          contemporary audience.

                       While applications of God’s truth may vary, the truth itself remains constant. It is important
                       for students of the Word to keep this in mind, not only as they seek valid applications of
                       truth, but especially as they discuss these applications of truth with others.

                    Keeping the bigger and more detailed picture of the interpretive journey described above in clear
                    view, the serious student of the Word will become proficient in his exegesis and much better
                    prepared for exposition.


                                   EXEGESIS                                         EXPOSITION
                                HERMENEUTICS                                       HOMILETICS &



               One cannot communicate (exposit) the scriptures accurately in a preaching (homiletics) or teaching
               (pedagogy) setting unless he is first a good student of the Word (exegesis). Biblical hermeneutics
               provides him with the tools he needs to be that good student. Accurate Bible interpretation is of utmost
               importance.












               35  2 Timothy 2:15
               36  Duvall & Hayes, 218.
                                                             19
   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25