Page 20 - Homiletics Student Textbook
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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.
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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
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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.
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