Exegesis & Hermeneutics: How to Handle the Word of Truth

Bible Believing Christian
Oct 31, 2025
4 min read

Exegesis & Hermeneutics: How to Handle the Word of Truth

Every false doctrine begins with a failure of interpretation. Some twist Scripture to fit their biases; others never learn to read it properly. The danger is ancient. Paul warned Timothy to “accurately handle the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). That command requires two disciplines every believer must understand: hermeneutics—the principles of interpretation, and exegesis—the act of drawing meaning out of the text. Without them, good intentions quickly become bad theology.

Biblical Foundation

Scripture is not a collection of disjointed sayings; it is a unified revelation inspired by the Holy Spirit. “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16–17).

The Greek phrase πᾶσα γραφὴ θεόπνευστος (pasa graphē theopneustos) literally means “every writing is God-breathed.” Because its source is divine, it must be interpreted according to God’s intent—not human imagination.

Peter echoes this truth: “No prophecy of Scripture becomes a matter of someone’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Peter 1:20–21). The text carries divine intention; our task is to uncover it, not reshape it.

Word Study

Ἑρμηνεία (hermēneia) — “interpretation” or “translation.” From this comes hermeneutics, the science and art of discovering meaning. The root connects to Ἑρμῆς (Hermes), the messenger god, symbolizing the faithful transmission of a message.

Ἐξήγησις (exēgēsis) — “to draw out” or “to explain.” John 1:18 uses this word when it says, “No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.” Jesus Himself is the exegesis of the Father—the living exposition of divine truth.

Together, these words remind us that faithful interpretation doesn’t invent—it reveals.

Historical & Contextual Notes

From the beginning, the Church struggled to interpret Scripture correctly. The Alexandrian school (notably Origen) often over-allegorized the text, seeking mystical meanings in every phrase. The Antiochene school countered with a focus on historical and literal sense.The Reformers later restored balance: Scripture interprets Scripture. It is to be taken literally when meant literally, and symbolically when written symbolically.

Yet errors persist today.

Hyper-literalism reduces poetry and prophecy to rigid prose, missing their depth.

Subjective spiritualizing reads feelings and modern ideology into ancient texts.

Both mistakes flow from the same root: approaching the Bible without disciplined interpretation.

Principles of Sound Hermeneutics

Context is king. Every verse belongs within a paragraph, every paragraph within a book, every book within the canon. Isolated proof-texts often betray the passage’s meaning.

Scripture interprets Scripture. The Bible is its own best commentary. Later revelation clarifies earlier revelation.

Genre matters. Psalms are poetry, Proverbs are wisdom, and Revelation is apocalyptic vision—each demands its own interpretive lens.

Language has layers. Hebrew parallelism, Greek syntax, and the Septuagint’s nuances illuminate meaning. For instance, Isaiah 7:14’s παρθένος (parthenos, “virgin”) in the Septuagint becomes central to Matthew 1:23’s fulfillment of the virgin birth.

Authorial intent rules. Meaning resides in what the inspired author meant to convey—not in what modern readers wish to find.

Practicing Exegesis

Exegesis follows a simple but essential process: observation—what the text says; interpretation—what it means; and application—how it applies today.Skipping the first two steps leads to eisegesis, reading one’s own ideas into Scripture. This is the seedbed of heresies—prosperity gospels, political distortions, and mystical speculations alike.

Paul’s command in 2 Timothy 2:15 uses the word ὀρθοτομέω (orthotomeō)—“to cut straight.” A craftsman measures twice and cuts once; a faithful interpreter studies twice and speaks once.

Theological Reflection

Sound hermeneutics anchors the Church; poor hermeneutics sets it adrift. The Pharisees knew Scripture yet missed its heart. The Gnostics boasted of hidden insight and invented new revelations. Both erred because they approached the text without the Spirit’s guidance and without discipline.

The purpose of hermeneutics is not merely academic understanding—it is spiritual transformation. “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12). That sword must be wielded with precision, or it wounds instead of heals.

Connection to Christ

Every true interpretation points to Jesus. He is both the subject and fulfillment of Scripture. On the road to Emmaus, “beginning with Moses and with all the Prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures” (Luke 24:27).Christ is the master exegete, the perfect hermeneutic. In Him, the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms converge and find their meaning.

Christ-Centered Conclusion

Exegesis without the Spirit becomes arrogance. Hermeneutics without reverence becomes philosophy. But when both submit to Christ, the written Word reveals the Living Word.

The believer’s task is not to twist Scripture to match the world, but to let Scripture reshape how we see it. To “cut straight” the Word of truth is to walk the narrow path of faithful interpretation—one that leads, always, to Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh.