They come up a bit when discussing Biblical study, and put very simply, Eisegesis, meaning “to lead into” is when someone essentially approaches a text with their own notions, and makes that text fit their point of view. Exegesis, on the other hand, is when you interpret the text with careful, interpretive analysis, and the word essentially means “to lead out of”.

Why does this matter?

Well, eisegesis is extremely easy to fall into, without realizing it, and not just when it comes to Biblical study (though it’s particularly common here as well). You may have heard of a similar practice called “proof texting” where an individual picks and chooses passages out of context that directly support their point of view in order to justify belief, behaviour, or position. This is why context is extremely important!  Many times, particularly when Jesus is speaking, the whole of the message cannot be captured in just one or two passages, and really requires the full context of the entire exchange to comprehend and grasp what’s going on!

Eisegesis is directly avoided by following a couple of simple guidelines:

Consider nearby passages.  Do they agree with your understanding of the passage?

Here’s an example.  Let’s say you read the following sentence:

“Running is good” he thought to himself, “Running is good.”

Seems innocuous, right?

Consider it again with the following context:

Ralph was in trouble. His mother was going to come home soon and see the mess he had made of his grades. He didn’t know what to do, just knew that he had to get out of there before his whole world came crashing down. Dashing out the door, he began to run.

“Running is good” he thought to himself, “Running is good.”

Not so great after all is it?  With just a limited view of the context surrounding the sentence, we can’t get a full picture of what is really happening.

Is your observation groundbreaking? Then it’s probably not.

This is not always true, of course! Martin Luther essentially staked (ha!) his life on a ‘different interpretation,’ but that was after careful consideration and noted abuses by those in power. If you think you’ve truly come up with something new, it’s best to discuss this observation with peers and experts (elders, pastors, etc) before nailing your own 99 on someone’s door.

Are you studying exclusively on your own?

One of the best ways to avoid prooftexting or eisegesis is to be engaged in a Bible study or small group with other believers where you are comfortable sharing your experiences and point of view. Not only will you grow in your own study, you’ll be able to help others who might find themselves thinking about things incorrectly as well!

Can you show me an example in the Bible?

Absolutely!

Consider, for a moment, :

“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me”, NASB

A rallying cry, right?  I mean, doesn’t that just get you fired up to go take on that sporting event/triathlon/big test/job interview? HE strengthens me, and I can do this! Except…

10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity.
11 Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be acontent in whatever circumstances I am.
12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.
13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
14 Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction.

, NASB

is coming from a standpoint of contentment – being content in all things, even things as bad as being stuck in a prison,  having lost everything, and getting by on the day to day. Paul is speaking directly to the fact that he is OK with where he is and that he can get through it because God strengthens him. He is not saying “I will break out of this prison, because God’s strength is behind me” he is saying “I will endure, and be content, because God’s strength is behind me. There is nothing that can take that away from me.”

And in this author’s opinion, that is so much better. Knowing that amidst the bad, there’s a loving Father standing by, caring for me, making sure that all things work together for my good, because I love Him…

Oh, wait.

Yea, that one’s wrong too =D

That is one condensed nutshell!

So there you have it – a basic overview of Exegesis, Eisegesis, and how to avoid the second.  I’d like to challenge you to give extra consideration to what you read in the future in order to limit your own cross-interpretation of the Word!  What are some other passages you’ve found that are commonly interpreted incorrectly?  Share them in the comments below!

Excellent album of the moment: The White Album (Remix Project) By Hillsong

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For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

–

We are justified through Christ

… and through no action or work of our own.

It’s true: you can’t work your way into heaven.  No amount of ‘good works’ will present you as righteous before God; the nature of our sin is too great.  “But,” you ask,  “what of Mother Teresa? She did a great many good works! One could even go so far as to argue that she had done nothing except good works!  Surely one who lives a life such as hers would be guaranteed a spot in heaven?” to which I would reply “You have a very eloquent and unique manner of speaking.”

I would also express that it’s not her that’s doing those good works, rather, it’s Christ in her that gives her the ability, desire, and motivation to do the things she did.  Without God we are powerless to do anything outside of our own selfish desires.  It’s Christ’s death on the cross that justifies us before the Lord.

You see, back in the day, when we were created (this is not a place for arguments about 7-day, 4k earth, or just general ‘genesis interpretation’), something in us became corrupted, sin was introduced into us, and redefined us.  Where once we existed with the ability to sin or not to sin, we now are able to sin and only sin.  Our very nature is to be selfish and self-serving, Anything which is not done for the glory of God is sinful (, ), and we are not capable of being truly righteous in our own actions.

Sounds bleak, doesn’t it?  Seems pretty hopeless; we know that the ‘wages of sin are death’ (, ESV) and if you consider that along with the knowledge that we are at our very core sinful then there’s really not much that we can do, right?

But God…

Ephesians gives an example of the hope we have in Him: “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved” (). If left to our own devices and desires, we will absolutely be ‘swimming in sin.’ When we find that there is something greater to be had in life – a life change that is given to us – we will find ourselves doing those good works – as a response to that grace, not in order to earn it!

Do you seek to do good works as a way to curry favor, or as a response to grace?

Killer Album of the moment: Zion by Hillsong

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 Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ So the last will be first, and the first last.’

– , ESV

What Does it Look Like to be Content in Everything?

From

At first read, we tend to side with the laborers don’t we?  I mean – we’re out there, working hard through the day, and when it comes time to receive the wages for the work we’ve done, we find out that the bossman is paying a bunch of lazy, good for nothing, barely-workers the same amount! It’s just not fair, and we want what is rightfully ours.

It seems applicable to just about everything, though, doesn’t it? Someone at work with less experience and skill gets a promotion.  A fellow parishioner who does essentially the same thing as you – every day – earns more.  Or maybe you’re a freelancer, and it just seems like you can’t get traction – you’ve got the skills, you have the work ethic, but you’re just not making enough money to buy that Tesla or 55 inch 4K TV. Sometimes, without even realizing it, I become jealous of those whom I ‘perceive’ to be ‘lesser’ than I because I deserve what they are getting and they don’t.

 But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? –

A denarius, in this context, was a day’s wage for a laborer. It was what was generally accepted to be what was owed to someone who you had hired to complete menial work, and when these individuals were hired, they went in with that understanding – that they would receive a days wages for a days work – regardless of when it started or what they did. Of course, the alternative was to not receive any work – and therefore no wages – but they weren’t happy with the fact that they were paid the rate that they agreed to. I mean, sure the employer could have been more forthcoming with his communication regarding wages to the employees (we don’t see anything in the passage indicating that they were told specifically what they would be paid), but the employees, upon comparing themselves to others, decided that what they received was no longer a fair wage.

The employer is not in any way obligated to explain himself – yet he does so – in an exceptionally loving yet firm manner! And so it is with our own lives – we follow Christ, and we should choose to accept that which He has given us as a result. It is not our place to complain that what we receive is not enough for what we do – we should look to Him and be grateful for that which He gives us – we should be content in what we have been given. It is by comparing our own selves to others that we find ourselves lacking contentment with our own status in life, with our own ‘belongings’ and with our own accomplishments.

What would it look like to be content where you are, rather than seeking contentment in the things, recognition, status, or prosperity that you don’t have?

 Killer album of the moment: Beyond Control [Explicit] (yes, it’s Christian) or the non-explicit version: Beyond Control

The post Speaking on Contentment appeared first on Two Minute Theology.

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. –

Have you heard the song “Always Been About You” by fellowship creative? (Here’s a 30 second sample on Amazon if you’re curious: Always Been About You). In the song, Fellowship Creative extolls how much everything is about God:

And it’s always been about love
It’s always been about grace
It’s always been about hope
And it’s always been about faith
It’s always been about peace
It’s always been about truth
Everything that’s ever been before
It’s always been about you

Unfortunately, I could simply rewrite every ‘it’s always been’ line in the whole chorus with the following:  “It’s always been about me.”  It is so much ‘easier’ – at least in the short term, to just think about myself.  What I want.  What would serve me. What I can get.

Let’s take a look at Imaginary Jim:

Jim’s driving home from work, and he observes two cars involved in what seems like a fairly serious accident. He thinks to himself: ‘oh – that’s happened already, someone has surely called 911’ and continues to drive on, perhaps saying a ‘little prayer’ for those involved before letting his mind wander back to what’s going to happen in the next episode of Once Upon the Walking Dead in Broadchurch or whatever show he’s currently watching.

The next day, at work, the internet goes down, and everyone’s gotten frustrated – apparently there’s something wrong with the ISP and IT can’t do anything about it, and they’ve sent out notice that they are working on the problem.  Within 10 minutes of downtime, Jim is joining everyone else in the office with texting the help desk with requests for updates and status as to the network. “Hey – I need the internet!” “When’s the internet coming back up?” “I can’t get any work done, what are you people even doing?!” Later, when the network is restored, no one sends a thank you to IT for working to get it fixed, and the help desk staff continues execute their routine duties without any affirmation or acknowledgement.

In both of these situations, who is Jim thinking about?  How difficult would it be to call 911, just to be sure that help gets to where it needs to go?  What would it look like to be patient and wait to see what IT says about a situation before assailing them with requests? Jim is quick to seek satisfaction when it’s something that affects him, and slow to seek assistance when it’s about someone else.

We should be striving to make our lives look like that chorus above – where people can look at what we do and say, and think: “They live their life as if everything is about God” – because in the end, it’s not about us, it’s about Him.

What about you?  Can you find areas in your life where you are slow to put the needs of others first, and where you demand that others serve you?

Oh – and thank your IT department right now.  No one ever does – they’ll be thrilled =)

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Have you ever had that drive to do better, try harder, do more, be better?  Who am I kidding – if you’re human (and you’re reading this, so you’re human), you’ve felt that at least once in your life: “I’m not good enough.  I have to try harder, or <something> won’t happen. In some cases – that’s true – you have to try hard at work, at school, or keeping your home in functioning order. There is, however, one thing where ‘try’ just doesn’t make any difference: Righteousness and salvation.

Yea – I kinda jumped right in there didn’t I? Well, the truth is, there’s really no way to dance around it. We’re saved because of God’s actions, not our own – and no amount of law following or do..gooder..y.. well, good behavior, I guess, is going to save you.  Paul puts it fairly succinctly in Galatians with “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.” ()

What’s this mean? It’s pretty simple: Failure to follow the Law (the Ten Commandments, not necessarily all of the Pharisee’s ‘extended version’) is punishable by death. Due to our fallen nature, it is literally impossible to follow the Law, and we should all therefore be subject to the penalty. Christ, who could follow the Law, stepped in and took that punishment for us. Because Christ took that punishment upon Himself, we are no longer bound by the penalty of the Law, and therefore our works have no effect on our salvation.

Because no matter how many “good” things we do, we will do just as many, if not more, “bad” things, and all sins, no matter how big or small have one punishment: death. It really doesn’t matter if we do a good thing for every bad, a single sin is enough.

It really doesn’t matter if we do a good thing for every bad, a single sin is enough to condemn.
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Fortunately, we have Christ to save us.

Oh – and lest we think that just because we’re “saved” we can do whatever we want ’cause the price is paid, remember that “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” () – fruit is evidence of salvation. And through salvation comes good works.

Things to consider:

1. How have I trusted in my own works, and not Christ’s, for my salvation?
2. Am I willing to give up my own hold on my ‘ability’ to do good?

The post It’s Not About What You’ve Done… appeared first on Two Minute Theology.

See, we are not perfect beings.  Far from it! (, , for a few examples) The work we do is not perfect – it can’t be – because there is only one perfect being – God (et. al.).  We humans strive to reach perfection; in some of us, even, perfectionism is such a huge issue that’s it’s crippling.  When things don’t go right, our endeavors don’t perform, or events continuously deviate from our intended path, the sense of abject failure may create a desire to just… freeze, so we don’t fail anymore.  It’s not that what we’re doing is wrong, or that we’re not good enough (more on that later),  or even that we’re not skilled or useful… It’s just that sometimes, well, things just don’t go our way.

The answer is God, of course, but not in that trite, over-used way of “Just trust in the Lord and everything will be OK.” While that statement is ultimately true – everything will not always be OK while we’re here in this plane of existence. Life on this Earth is not supposed to be easy ().  Yes – you do need to trust in God, because faith through the fires of tribulation leads to a stronger faith and perseverance ()… but that doesn’t mean that the cancer will be cured, or the job will be obtained, or the bills will be paid. Consider this:

Have you been faithful?  Have you trusted Him when things were going well – or at least when they seemed to be? Did you still trust in Him when you got what you wanted?

God loves us.  He wants to be near us, so draw near to Him when you find yourself lost and wandering in the desert – there’s a good chance you got there on your own, and it’s time to trust Him again to carry you to whatever that destination will be – “good” or “bad” – knowing that ultimately, our final destination, is with Him.

God loves us. He wants to be near us, so draw near to Him when you find yourself lost and wandering…
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“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” –

The post So. Nothing’s Going the Way You Want and You’re Ready To Just Give Up. appeared first on Two Minute Theology.

As a man, it doesn’t just end with creating things. I’m called to be a leader in our family – sans kids at the moment – as noted in various passages, including , . I’m called to lead her, both spiritually () and in all other means (), and that can be difficult. It’s easy for me to want to just be ‘alone’ – not without her around (because there’s not much I enjoy more than having a wife!), so much as alone in my responsibilities – life’s so much easier when I don’t have to be responsible for the spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being of another person!

Biblical womanhood, just like manhood, has it’s own challenges. The Biblical woman must ‘submit to her husband’ () and respect him as well (). Humanity, in it’s brokenness, tends to define this as ‘being ruled under an iron fist,’ leading to ideas of quiet servitude, instead of the more appropriate analogy of a partnership where the wife is supportive and uplifting of her husband.

We are broken, and that brokenness leads to disagreements and strife. While we were created to live in harmony with each other, as the embodiment of the relationship with God, we pull against the spiritual, and run towards the flesh. It’s only through a lifetime of prayer, supplication, and humility (sometimes forced!) that we begin to fall more clearly in the roles that God has for us, and it’s not until we have our ‘new’ bodies that that full sanctification will be revealed.

The post Anti-androgyny: Man and woman are not alike (Part 2) appeared first on Two Minute Theology.

As I try to write this article, I find that I’m actually having quite a bit of trouble even starting it; it’s very difficult to ‘break out’ of the mentality of ‘political correctness’ that has been fostered so heavily in the culture of our country these days, and that’s part of the problem overall, I believe. We, as a nation (and other parts of the world) have broken so far from the concept of ‘Biblical’ masculinity, femininity, and marriage that it’s often too easy to simply give credence to the idealized androgyny of modern society. Just as I, by habit, tend to still type two spaces after every sentence as I was taught in High School (a behaviour that was necessitated by the typewriter and monospaced font era), I find myself leaning toward what the world calls ‘normal’ even with the understanding of what the Bible teaches.  Many would call this ‘new normal’ – essentially a deviation from scriptural teaching – a proper thing, a movement in the ‘right’ direction.

It’s difficult to separate oneself from the culture in which one resides… and that’s just one of the many challenges that both genders face: How do we ‘be’ ourselves as we were created to be? Part of that, of course, is regular time in the Word, and solid interaction with believers in fellowship, accountability, and learning.

I love to build things. Wood craft, cabinetry, construction, metal working, welding, it really doesn’t matter what it is, I can lose literal hours in my workshop simply creating, designing, and building; it’s something that I don’t usually get paid for, but would be thrilled to spend the rest of my life doing. It’s part of who I am, and who I was created to be, and I firmly believe that the desire to build things with my hands is a direct manifestation of my role as a man in God’s creation. The embodiment of God’s strength in human form; God created the world, and He created us in His image. My wife, on the other hand, is vastly skilled with decorating. I would honestly be very happy with a house that had a place to sit, a place to eat, and a place to sleep, and I don’t much care for what it looks like. Function is far superior to form in my mind, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t appreciate the beauty that she is able to create in the design and decoration that she applies to our house, and she does an incredible job at it. She embodies the beauty and gentleness of God, both in her actual appearance and spirit, as well as in the things she does and creates.

We each represent a portion of God’s character.  How do you find yourself fitting in with His design?

On Friday, we’ll continue this article with a deeper look at the scripture behind this idea.

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Where’s your heart right now? I don’t mean your physical heart – hopefully, that’s still beating inside your chest, and if it’s not, now might be a good time to put down the phone and let the doctor work.

Is your heart open to God? It’s easy to respond to this question with defensiveness and self-righteousness; “of course I’m open,” one might say, “i’m in the Word everyday, I go to church on sundays, and I even talk to one or two people every once in a while after it.”

But are you open? Are you in a position to really listen to the truth that God is speaking to you? There are many levels to that truth; from the basic and majestic truth of salvation, to the truth of the value that you have as a child of God. The question, of course, is are you listening? Is your heart open to the Word of God? Are you reading the Word of God? Are you in community with other believers?

Is there room in your heart for God to move?

Here’s my heart Lord,
Here’s my heart Lord
Here’s my heart Lord,
Speak what is true
– Here’s My Heart (feat. Crowder)

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Many attribute that saying as coming directly from the Bible, and while it’s not actually in the Scripture in that specific form, there are many passages that can certainly be read to mean that whatever calamity you’re going through will soon be over. (, as a common example). The phrase immediately brings to mind the idea that, no matter how bad things get, there’s always a ‘greener’ pasture, there’s always a downhill after the up, and there’s always healing after sickness (even if that healing is eternal rather than mortal!).

In the book of Ecclesiastes, the unknown author (though Solomon is implied) waxes philosophical on the meaning of life, and presents many ideas, concepts, and conclusions that ultimately end at the quite poignant “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” (, ESV)

Let’s look at for a moment though…

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
2 a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
3 a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

You might realize by now where this is going; even the good things shall come to pass! Everything has a time, and that time, that season, must at some point come to an end. While this may seem defeatist and pessimistic, know that that is not my intention! For after every downswing, is another upwards thrust, after every peak, comes another valley. Life is not a plateau – no, it’s an undulating landscape of lessons, hardships, good experiences, and bad. And throughout it all, we should look to God, and know that He is good, that He has our lives in His hands, and that there is nothing that will be too much for us to handle.
When times are at their lowest, know that there is always something better coming, perhaps not in this lifetime, but the next, and when times are great, know that even that season has it’s end, and the next may not be so wonderful, or, perhaps, it may be even more amazing than the last.

Where do you put your trust? In the future of God’s kingdom, or the season you’re in now, be that good or bad?

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