Pontious Learning Resource Center

How To Write an Exegesis Paper by Sherill Harriger

WRITING THE FIRST PART: THE INTRODUCTION (PART A)

1. Author: Who wrote the book. Possible theories and tradition. Draw a personal conclusion as to which you believe is most likely.

2. Date: When was the book written.

3. Audience: To whom was the book written to.  Many times this will not be a direct statement, consider whose history the Bible is and make an educated guess.

4. Where Written: Place or territory the writing was done.

5. Historical Situation: What was going on at the time the book was written. What was going on at the time the book was spoken. Keeping in mind that most Books were written years after the events took place.

6. Concern of Book: What is the book about. Look for themes of the whole book.

TRANSITION BETWEEN INTRODUCTION AND TEXT

• Function of the sassage in it's immediate context: How does the passage relate to the theme or themes of the book. How does the passage fit within the chapter. Depending on the passage, does it fit with the preceding chapters and those that follow.

EXPLANATION OF THE TEXT (PART B)

1. All quotes must be in NRSV.

2. Style and/Literary Form: Consider the structure of language usage . What typeof literature is it: prose or poetry, history or allegory, apocalyptic, literal or symbolic, lament or hymn, law or diary, sermon, letter, parable?

3. "The literal meaning": Look for the single meaning of the text.  Only rarely will a passage indicate that it has more than one meaning. Avoid allegorizing and spiritualizing on your part.

4. Key Words: Look for and define key words and phrases. What does each word mean. Use Biblical dictionaries, or word studies and commentaries to define words. Do not use general English dictionaries.

APPLICATION (PART C)

• Look at how the passage deals with today.  Look at how it could be used today.  See how the passage relates to God, humanity and their relationship. How does humanity relate to humanity or the created order.

REQUIRED FORM FOR THE EXEGESIS PAPER

1. Margins: top, bottom, left, and right all will be 1 inch.

2. Begin the paper with a title page and follow Hacker example p. 384 (or see the link to Title Page Example). Include the following information: name, campus mail box number, BST 2000, Old Testament Exegesis Paper (or New Testament), Scripture (book x: x-x), date.

3. Double Space.

4. Pagination: Place last name followed by the page number (and no period) in the upper right hand corner of the paper, one half inch from the top page.

5. On a separate  page at the end of the paper center the heading -- WORKS CITED-- at the top of the page.

6. Always include a minimum of three sources.

7. Always staple your material.

8. No papers will be accepted after the beginning of the class on the due date.

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