| Exegesis: A term used primarily in seminaries :-)
A loose definition is "interpretation". I say "loose"
because Eisegesis is also "interpretation" and this
is the opposite of exegesis. Eisegesis is reading into
a text a meaning, exegesis is reading a meaning out of
a text.
For example, Biblical theologies are relatively common.
There are those who believe in a covenantal theology
(2 covenants, Old and New), those who believe in
dispensations, those who believe in a one covenant theology
(former professor of mine), etc. Although these theologies
may have originally be developed from the text, the support
for them today is primarily done by eisegesis, i.e. you
start with the theology and see if the text fits it.
Likewise, eisegesis on this passage in I Timothy would be
starting with a position such as "Women are full equals of
men and should be treated as such" will all of its ramifications
and then see how the text can be fit into that theology. I
have read several books that take this approach.
Exegesis would simply attempt to understand the text regardless
of today's value and cultural struggles basing the understanding
instead on what is said in the text, the immediate context,
the fuller context, the knowledge of who the author was and
the historical and cultural context.
Now, there are well-respected evangelicals (who accept inerrancy)
whose views differ drastically on this passage. I still struggle
with verse 15 (none of the possible interpretations seem too
likely to me). My take on verse 15, at this point, is that I
don't understand what God was trying to say in that verse (i.e.
the problem is with me and my understanding, not with God's
writing). Of course, that is just being consistent with my
acceptance that God did indeed write the Scriptures that He
claims He did.
Collis
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never one to leave well enough alone, i once took a
class entitled "Midrash on Midrash". and that's what
it really was, a discussion on the interpretations of
interpretations.
and then there are the bibliographies of bibliographies,
the indexes of indexes, etc....
peter
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