What is Exegetical Study? A Guide to Biblical Exegesis and Theology

Exegetical Study is the process of discovering the original and intended meaning of a passage of scripture. Often referred to as biblical exegesis, this approach focuses on interpreting Scripture based on its historical, literary, and theological background. Exegetical theology is about letting Scripture shape what we believe, instead of trying to make Scripture say what we want it to say.  When considering the importance of knowing the truth, exegetical theology is vitally important. After all, would you want to get to the end of your life and discover God wanted you to do this while you were doing that?

So, how does one apply themselves to proper exegetical study? Like your favorite pastor’s sermon technique, we have three points for you to consider.

How to Practice Exegetical Study

1. Study the Context

You’ve likely heard about the blind men who were trying to describe an elephant. The first man touched only the side of the elephant and so described it as a smooth and solid wall. The second man touched the elephant’s trunk and described it as a giant snake. The third man touched the elephant’s tusk and concluded it was only a sharp spear. The last blind man touched only the tail of the elephant and decided an elephant was nothing more than a piece of old rope.

When participating in an exegetical study, we are all too often like blind men, not realizing what we cannot see. This is why context is so important. When attempting to understand a portion of scripture, we need to ask lots of questions.

What genre of writing are we studying? Poetry will be read differently from prose. Are we in the middle of a story? Are we being introduced to a new character? What was happening in the world at large? How did they view God’s people? These are just a few examples of questions that need to be asked.

The more we understand the biblical context, the better we will be able to understand the whole of what was happening. Who wrote the book we are reading? Who was the intended audience when this passage was first written? Was there a specific lesson that the original author was trying to teach the original audience?

2. Analyze the Language and Structure

All languages have rules. Since we’re studying a book that has been translated from an ancient language to a modern one, we need to be careful to understand the rules of the original language. After all, Moses did not write the first five books of the Bible in modern English, so he was operating under different sentence structures, with a different cultural understanding, and unique perspectives on how the world operates.

Knowing that the authors write in a different language means we will need to understand their original intention for what they wrote. What did those words mean, especially the theological terms that we throw around so quickly? After all, each word has a definition, and using basic sentence structure rules, we can know what the author was trying to convey. Oftentimes, unless there is a good reason to understand it differently, we can trust a simple answer based on the perspective of the author.

It is important for us to seek out the structural and theological meaning. The words we are reading form sentences, and those sentences form paragraphs, and those paragraphs form chapters and stories. These stories were written down for a purpose: to convey a truth. It is up to us to do the hard work of figuring out what God, the ultimate author of all Scripture, is trying to tell us. After all, we’re told that “all scripture is…useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16). Proper exegetical study will mean following the rules of sentence structure, grammar, and translation.

3. Apply the Meaning Faithfully

Have you heard of the pastor who preached the same sermon two weeks in a row? The congregation assumed it was a simple mistake and decided not to say anything. When it happened the third week in a row, they approached him to inquire if he was okay. He replied that when they applied the truth from this sermon, he would start preaching the next one.

We’re not advocating repetition in teaching until everyone finally gets it, but this anecdote does convey an important truth. The exegetical study, properly done and taught, should be applied. Honestly, this is the purpose of understanding scripture. If the Ethiopian eunuch had only understood the good news of Jesus but never applied the truth to his own life, it would not have done him any good.

In fact, James, the brother of Jesus, points out the silliness of understanding scripture without applying it.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it — not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it — they will be blessed in what they do (James 1:22-25).

How Seminary Training Teaches Exegetical Study

Seminary training teaches exegetical study by equipping students to understand Scripture carefully and faithfully. Through guided instruction, students learn to work with the original languages, pay attention to historical context, and use sound interpretive frameworks so they can see what the text meant when it was written and how it applies today. These are not just concepts to know; they are skills to be taught, practiced, and refined over time.

Just as important, seminary formation happens in a setting of mentorship and ministry context, where learning is connected to real-world application. Students are not only studying for academic growth, but for faithful service in the church, the pulpit, counseling, missions, and other ministry settings. That kind of training helps them move from understanding the text to teaching and living it with clarity, confidence, and care.

Are you interested in learning more about proper exegetical study and its techniques? The Master of Divinity in Exegetical Studies program develops your skills in Biblical Exegesis. Earn your Master of Divinity and be equipped to shepherd God’s people with the truth as it was intended to be taught.