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Bible Study Toolbox: Exegesis vs. Eisegesis
Bible Study Toolbox
Exegesis vs. Eisegesis
Exegesis is from a combination of Greek words meaning, “to lead out of.” Eisegesis means “to lead into.” In Bible interpretation, we’re aiming for exegesis. We want to draw the original meaning out of the text rather than insert our own meaning into it. Our general and basic outlines can help us guard against eisegesis.
For instance, some use Romans 3:28 to argue that baptism isn’t necessary for salvation. Romans 3:28 says, “For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.” The argument goes, “We’re saved by faith, not works. Baptism is a work, therefore it can’t be necessary for salvation.” Well, since you’re an awesome Bible student, you take the time to read the entire book of Romans all the way through (long distance reading). Then you make a general outline:
Romans 1-3 - All have sinned (broken God’s law)
Romans 4-5 - God’s plan to save us by faith in Christ
Romans 6-8 - We’ve been set free from slavery to sin, so don’t live in it
Romans 9-11 - Jews can still be saved if they have faith in Christ
Romans 12-15 - How to be a holy sacrifice
Romans 16 - Closing greetings
Now you make a more detailed outline through chapter 3.
Romans 1:1-17 - Opening statements
Romans 1:18-32 - God’s wrath on the Gentiles for breaking His laws
Romans 2:1-16 - God’s wrath on the Jews for breaking the Law of Moses.
Romans 2:17-29 - Being Jewish can’t save you if you’ve broken God’s law.
Romans 3:1-20 - No one has kept God’s laws; we’re all condemned.
Romans 3:21-31 - Salvation is by faith, not by law.
Do you see? Paul is not saying, “It’s not necessary to keep any of God’s laws to be saved.” He’s saying, “It’s impossible to be saved on the basis of law keeping. To be saved by law, we’d have to keep every law perfectly, but none have!” When someone uses Romans 3:28 to say “Baptism is not necessary for salvation because it’s a work of the law and we can’t be saved by works,” that’s eisegesis. That’s reading one’s own meaning into the text instead of drawing the original meaning out. Baptism has nothing to do with saving ourselves by law keeping; Romans 3:28 says that’s impossible. We’re saved by faith, but part of faith is to trust that when God says we must be baptized to be saved (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21; etc.), He means it and we better do it! After all, “Faith without works is dead!” (James 2:26b)
