Herman Who?

Theologians are quite good at muddying the waters. If there is a multi-syllabic word for a simple concept, they will find it and use it because it sounds so impressive. Now, I don't mean to be insulting to theologians. I would love to be one. And in some sense, I am. All Christians should be involved in the study of the nature of God. (See? Even "theologian" is a fancy word for "people who study the nature of God".) But wouldn't it be nice if we could all speak the same language?

Here, let me show you a prime example. If you look up the word, "hermeneutics", you'll find that it means, "the branch of theology that deals with the principles of Biblical exegesis." There you go. Plain as day. Wait ... the branch of what that deals with the principles of what? So we learn to speak the language, not because it's superior, but because we can actually use those things if we learn to understand them. So ... slowly, now. "Theology": The study of the nature of God. Good. So there is a branch in that particular study that examines ... Biblical exegesis. Good. Okay. Now, "exegesis": the critical explanation or interpretation of a text. Oh, okay, now we're talking. So hermeneutics is the task of actually figuring out what the Bible says. Well, why didn't you say so?

Hermeneutics is an important field for any serious person who wants to know God. We need to know how to properly understand the Biblical texts without "eisegesis". I know ... slowly. Okay, if "exegesis" is what comes out of the Bible, then "eisegesis" is what goes in. That is, eisegesis is the process of putting meaning into Scripture that is a product of the reader's perception and not actually there.

This is an extremely common problem. Many people "proof text" their favorite ideas. That is, they have something that they believe, then go find verses that will support it. The verses, taken in context with proper understanding, may not actually support the view, but that's no matter. Eisegesis is fun and profitable. (Just look at the "name it and claim it" theology.)

One of the easiest errors of eisegesis is the error of the implied. We will often read a passage of Scripture and, by implication, come to a conclusion. An example would be "whosoever will". We see that concept often in Scripture. The most famous is, of course, John 3:16. Okay, all together now: "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Yeah, we know that one. Now, when we read it, we conclude that "whosoever believes" means "anyone can". It is, perhaps, implied, but nothing in the text requires it. Undaunted, people still press on with the confident belief that John 3:16 teaches explicitly that it is possible for all people to believe in Christ. If you suggest that, perhaps, that's not the case, you are defying clear Scripture ... what's wrong with you?

Now, as I pointed out here, the Bible speaks explicitly in more than one place that there is a problem with the human condition that makes him unwilling and, therefore, unable to believe simply by his own choice. One of the first rules of hermeutics is that we must interpret the implicit from the explicit. So while it may be implied from John 3:16 that everyone has the capability of believing, the explicit Word of God says that this is not the case. Therefore, it is an error to assume from John 3:16 that "whosoever believes" means "anyone can believe". It is ... eisegesis.

There are a limited number of rules in hermeneutics, but we would all do well to learn what they are. Understanding what the Bible says ("hermeneutics") is key to understanding God ("theology") and a given pursuit of anyone who considers himself a follower of Christ ("Christian"). Fancy words aside, we would all do well to take some time to figure out the common rules of understanding the Bible and check our own beliefs against the possibility that we may have gone down the wrong doctrinal path from time to time. It's humbling and difficult ... but much more profitable than some false theology that God wants everyone to be rich and healthy ... or whatever other faulty theology you might find out there.