I spent most of the day working on Lecture 1 in my upcoming course on Poets and Prophets at PRTS.

Here’s an outline of the general principles behind my approach to Old Testament exegesis.

1. Pray: for enlightenment/illumination

2. Meditate: Meditation is thinking and thinking and thinking about the words of the text without outside help. Roots of the word means “to mutter out loud.”

3. Simplify: Start with the clear and the obvious and move towards the less clear

4. Widen: Start with the text and move towards wider context that may have influence on text

5. Concentrate: shut off all distractions (email, phone, etc).

6. Slow: Stop skimming and start diving

7. Link: Do not isolate words and phrases from each other but focus on transitions and relations

8. Spiral: exegetical steps are not to be followed A-B-C…Z, etc, but A-B-C-A-B-C-D-E-F-A, etc. We keep revising earlier conclusions in the light of later research. We spiral downwards rather than skim forwards.

9. Horizon: Keep in view that the overall purpose of the Bible is to make a person wise unto salvation through faith in Jesus Christ (2 Tim. 3:15). Although God addresses people in their own original situation, His words are always anticipating the climactic revelation of Jesus Christ (John 5:39; Lk. 24:27).

10. Believe and obey: God promises more light and understanding to those who believe and obey His Word (James 1:22-25; 2 Pet 1:5-8; 1 Pet. 3:7).

Tomorrow I’ll post the outline of my step-by-step guide to Old Testament exegesis.

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God’s Technology DVD: Training our children to use digital technology for God’s glory

  • Mike Greenwood

    Dear David,I have only come across your blog and your on-line work in the last week through searching for a video explanation of the Millenium for a Doctrine course I was teaching a small groupd of people at our small church in Australia. I thank God that I did. You are a great gift to the church and I am loving reading your blog, listening to your ‘Connected Kingdom’ podcasts with Tim Challies and being edified by your vimeos at Puritan Pod! Please keep up your faithful Christ-centred work that is having a worldwide impact! I don’t know of any other ministry that is so clearly and practically engaging with the technological age that is so needed for us to be effective Christian witnesses today! I have just downloaded and watched your superb ‘God’s technology’ material and can’t wait to start implementing it with my 4 kids and my church!May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be yours in abundace!Mike GreenwoodCentral Coast, Australia

  • David Murray

    Mike, that’s an amazingly encouraging comment. Thank you so much. I don’t know why, but I think my biggest encouragers on the blog are Aussies! Maybe it’s because I’m not English!