The Exegetical Process
Approaching the Text
1 Preview
Prayerfully read the Scriptures and make observations and notes, being sensitive to the
Holy Spirit as he moves you to study a passage more in depth for the purposes of your
own personal study or for teaching or preaching. As you being to focus on a passage,
pray through it, make simple observations, and ask questions for further study.
2 Book Introduction Analysis
Analyze a passage in terms of the general flow of the whole book, being careful to
understand the book’s overall structure, themes, and arguments, as well as the author,
date, audience, and historical circumstances of the book.
3 Passage Analysis
Analyze now the particular passage in terms of the books structure so as to specifically
define the limits of the passage you are going to study. The paragraph rather than the
chapter, sentence, or word is the best unit of thought.
4 Textual Analysis
Establish as far as possible the best form of the original text by analyzing and
evaluating textual variants according to internal criteria like style, grammar, difficulty,
and sense; and external criteria such as age, text-type, and geographical distribution.
Basic Bible Study
5 Literary / Form / Genre Analysis
Analyze the literary genre of the passage, observing how the author interacts with the
features of the literary form he is using in order to understand how he communicates
his message through his chosen medium.
6 Grammatical / Syntax Analysis
Analyze the meaning and significance of verb tenses, noun cases, prepositions, etc.
Analyze the meaning and relationships between large clausal structures within
sentences such as subordinate clauses and particles.
7 Lexical / Semantic Analysis
Analyze the meaning of all words or phrases in the passage, using both synchronic and
diachronic methods, especially those of theological significance.
8 Translation
Analyze the passage as found in different translations, observing style and choice of
words, and translate the passage yourself, formally or dynamically, depending on the
need, using all of the previous exegetical insights.
Advanced Bible Study
9 Argument / Rhetorical Analysis
Analyze the text in terms of a developing argument, that is, its premises, its thesis or
theses, explanations, or supporting arguments. This is an extension of the syntactical
analysis.
10 Source / Tradition / Redaction Analysis
When the text indicates sources or parallel passages exist, analyze the passage in terms
of how the author has made use of written or oral sources, and, if possible, construct a
tradition history showing where this passage fits into the history. The goal is to
understand the message of the author as expressed in his use of tradition as well as in
his unique contributions, rather than in examining the tradition as such.
By Mark McDonnel
11 Historical / Cultural Analysis
Analyze the passage in terms of its historical and cultural context, looking for direct or
indirect historical and cultural references on three levels: at the general historical level,
at the specific cultural locale, and in terms of the specific audience being written to.
12 Exegetical Synthesis
Bring together the different exegetical insights into a usable form such as an exegetical
statement that summarizes the different emphases of the passage in the author’s own
terms, in exegetical propositions, or a revised translation.
Theological Bible Study
13 Theological Analysis
Analyze the passage, drawing out theological propositions we can make based on the
passage, first those mentioned directly, then indirectly, then those more based on
implication or speculation.
14 Canonical Analysis
Analyze the text in terms of Biblical theology, as the words or ideas appear in parallel
passages.
15 Church Tradition Analysis
Research the ways in which the major theological traditions have understood the
passage, weighing differences and similarities in order to try to sense the moving of the
Holy Spirit in the proclamation of the Word through history.
16 Christological Analysis
Analyze the text as it relates to the large theological ideas of the Trinity and redemptive
history, and the mystery of Christ, the incarnation, grace, salvation and heaven.
Concluding the Study
17 Systematic Theological Analysis
Examine and evaluate each theological proposition in terms of one’s own overall
theological system, looking for associations with different topics in the system as well as
parallel passages in Scripture. Neither theological systems nor parallel passages should
compromise the integrity of a passage’s message.
18 Theological Synthesis
Synthesize theological insights into a usable form such as a theological statement that
summarizes the theological emphasis of the passage, or in theological propositions that
are transferable and more universal.
19 Application Analysis
Reflect on the message of the passage and its application to your own personal life.
This step goes beyond the general application observations of tropology to the domain of
your personal circumstances. Be specific as to principles, steps, and strategies for
living the message of the passage.
20 Homiletical Analysis
Analyze the passage as a whole, aim the message of the passage in the direction of a
particular audience, whether for preaching or teaching, for a popular or professional,
young or old, male, female or mixed audience.
2 By Mark McDonnel
