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Applying Biblical Exegesis Principles to Personal Study

Applying biblical exegesis principles to personal study involves a diligent and prayerful approach to understanding and internalizing Scripture. This process is not merely an academic exercise but a spiritual discipline intended to transform one's life and conduct [7].

One foundational principle is meditation on God's Word. The Psalmist declares, "I will meditate on your precepts, and consider your ways" [4]. This meditation is not a passive reading but an active, careful consideration of the text [8]. It involves reflecting deeply on the meaning of the biblical passages and how they apply to one's life. Just as physical food requires digestion to nourish the body, spiritual food—the Scriptures—needs to be appropriated through prayerful meditation to benefit the individual [8]. This practice is closely linked with seeking understanding, as expressed in the plea, "Let me understand the teaching of your precepts! Then I will meditate on your wondrous works" [5].

Diligence is a key component of personal biblical study. The Bible encourages believers to be diligent in seeking God, obeying Him, hearkening to His voice, and striving for spiritual perfection [2]. This diligence extends to cultivating Christian graces, guarding one's soul and heart, and engaging in "labours of love" [2]. In the context of personal study, diligence means consistently applying oneself to the Scriptures. This includes not only reading but also applying one's heart to instruction and one's ears to "the words of knowledge," which are the doctrines of the Gospel [13].

Self-examination is another crucial principle. The apostle Paul enjoins believers to "Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith" (2 Corinthians 13:5) [3]. This self-assessment is particularly necessary before participating in communion (1 Corinthians 11:28) [3]. While self-examination can be challenging due to the deceitfulness of the heart (Jeremiah 17:9), it should be undertaken with "holy awe," diligent searching, and prayer for divine insight [3]. The purpose of self-examination in conjunction with biblical study is to identify areas for amendment and growth [3]. The prophet Haggai similarly called the people to persist in self-examination that leads to repentance and the fear of the Lord [10]. This process helps individuals recognize God as a personal God and commit wholeheartedly to Him, avoiding mixed religious loyalties [12].

Personal study also requires prudence, which is intimately connected with wisdom [6]. Prudence involves understanding God's ways and one's own ways, dealing with knowledge, and looking carefully at one's actions [6]. It helps individuals foresee and avoid evil and is a characteristic of the wise [6]. In biblical study, prudence guides the interpreter to approach the text thoughtfully, considering its context and implications, rather than rushing to conclusions or misapplying its teachings.

The goal of personal biblical study is not merely intellectual accumulation but spiritual transformation, leading to Christian conduct [7]. This conduct is characterized by believing God, fearing Him, loving Him, and obeying Him [7]. It involves following the example of Christ, living for righteousness, and conducting oneself "soberly, righteously, and godly" [7]. Christ Himself serves as an example of diligence (Mark 1:35; Luke 2:49) and self-denial (Matthew 4:8-10; John 6:38), demonstrating the practical outcomes of a life devoted to God's will [1, 2].

The practice of "reading" Scripture, particularly in public congregations, was transferred from the Jewish synagogue to the Christian Church, with New Testament Gospels and Epistles being recognized as inspired and read alongside the Old Testament [11]. This public reading complements personal study, providing a communal dimension to engagement with the Word.

A significant aspect of personal study is the development of one's judgment. Believers are called to weigh arguments and "judge" for themselves, recognizing that they cannot divest themselves of this responsibility [9]. This does not imply an unchecked individualism but rather a careful, prayerful discernment informed by the principles of exegesis.

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Denial — Christ set an example of -- Mt 4:8-10; 8:20; Joh 6:38; Ro 15:3; Php 2:6-8. A test of devotedness to Christ -- Mt 10:37,38; Lu 9:23,24. Necessary In following Christ. -- Lu 14:27-33. In the warfare of saints. -- 2Ti 2:4. To the triumph of saints. -- 1Co 9:25-27. Ministers especially called to exercise -- 2Co 6:4,5. Should be exercised in Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. -- Ro 6:12; Tit 2:12. Controlling the appetite. -- Pr 23:2. Abstaining from fleshly lusts. -- 1Pe 2:11. No longer living to lusts of men. -- 1Pe 4:2. Mortifying sinful lusts. -- Mr ”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Diligence — Christ, an example -- Mr 1:35; Lu 2:49. Required by God in Seeking him. -- 1Ch 22:19; Heb 11:6. Obeying him. -- De 6:17; 11:13. Hearkening to him. -- Isa 55:2. Striving after perfection. -- Php 3:13,14. Cultivating Christian graces. -- 2Pe 1:5. Keeping the souls. -- De 4:9. Keeping the heart. -- Pr 4:23. Labours of love. -- Heb 6:10-12. Following every good work. -- 1Ti 5:10. Guarding against defilement. -- Heb 12:15. Seeking to be found spotless. -- 2Pe 3:14. Making our call, &c, sure. -- 2Pe 1:10. Self-examination. -- Ps 77:6. Lawful business. -- Pr 27:”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Examination — Enjoined -- 2Co 13:5. Necessary before the communion -- 1Co 11:28. Cause of difficulty in -- Jer 17:9. Should be engaged in With holy awe. -- Ps 4:4. With diligent search. -- Ps 77:6; La 3:40. With prayer for divine searching. -- Ps 26:2; 139:23,24. With purpose of amendment. -- Ps 119:59; La 3:40. Advantages of -- 1Co 11:31; Ga 6:4; 1Jo 3:20-22.”
  4. Psalms “I will meditate on your precepts, and consider your ways. -- Psalms 119:15”
  5. Psalms “Let me understand the teaching of your precepts! Then I will meditate on your wondrous works. -- Psalms 119:27”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prudence — Exhibited in the manifestation of God's grace -- Eph 1:8. Exemplified by Christ -- Isa 52:13; Mt 21:24-27; 22:15-21. Intimately connected with wisdom -- Pr 8:12. The wise celebrated for -- Pr 16:21. They who have Get knowledge. -- Pr 18:15. Deal with knowledge. -- Pr 13:16. Look well to their goings. -- Pr 14:15. Understand the ways of God. -- Ho 14:9. Understand their own ways. -- Pr 14:8. Crowned with knowledge. -- Pr 14:18. Not ostentatious of knowledge. -- Pr 12:23. Foresee and avoid evil. -- Pr 22:3. Are preserved by it. -- Pr 2:11. Suppress angry fee”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Conduct, Christian — Believing God -- Mr 11:22; Joh 14:11,12. Fearing God -- Ec 12:13; 1Pe 2:17. Loving God -- De 6:5; Mt 22:37. Following God -- Eph 5:1; 1Pe 1:15,16. Obeying God -- Lu 1:6; 1Jo 5:3. Rejoicing in God -- Ps 33:1; Hab 3:18. Believing in Christ -- Joh 6:29; 1Jo 3:23. Loving Christ -- Joh 21:15; 1Pe 1:7,8. Following the example of Christ -- Joh 13:15; 1Pe 2:21-24. Obeying Christ -- Joh 14:21; 15:14. Living To Christ. -- Ro 14:8; 2Co 5:15. To righteousness. -- Mic 6:8; Ro 6:18; 1Pe 2:24. Soberly, righteously, and godly. -- Tit 2:12. Walking Honestly. -- 1”
  8. 1 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Timothy 4:15: Meditate--Greek, "Meditate CAREFULLY upon" (Psa 1:2; Psa 119:15; compare "Isaac," Gen 24:63). these things-- (Ti1 4:12-14). As food would not nourish without digestion, which assimilates the food to the substance of the body, so spiritual food, in order to benefit us, needs to be appropriated by prayerful meditation. give thyself wholly to--literally, "BE in these things"; let them engross thee wholly; be wholly absorbed in them. Entire self-dedication, as in other pursuits, so especially in religion, is the secret of proficiency. There are chan”
  9. 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 10:15: Appeal to their own powers of judgment to weigh the force of the argument that follows: namely, that as the partaking of the Lord's Supper involves a partaking of the Lord Himself, and the partaking of the Jewish sacrificial meats involved a partaking of the altar of God, and, as the heathens sacrifice to devils, to partake of an idol feast is to have fellowship with devils. We cannot divest ourselves of the responsibility of "judging" for ourselves. The weakness of private judgment is not an argument against its use, but its abuse. We should t”
  10. Haggai (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Haggai 2:15: 2:15 Look at what was happening (see study note on 1:5): Divine blessing, whether spiritual or material, is contingent upon the obedience of God’s people (Deut 30:6-10). Haggai called the people to persist in the self-examination that leads to repentance and in the fear of the Lord that his first message initiated (see Hag 1:7, 12).”
  11. 1 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Timothy 4:13: Till I come--when Timothy's commission would be superseded for the time by the presence of the apostle himself (Ti1 1:3; Ti1 3:14). reading--especially in the public congregation. The practice of reading Scripture was transferred from the Jewish synagogue to the Christian Church (Luk 4:16-20; Act 13:15; Act 15:21; Co2 3:14). The New Testament Gospel and Epistles being recognized as inspired by those who had the gift of discerning spirits, were from the first, according as they were written, read along with the Old Testament in the Church (Th1 5:21”
  12. Jeremiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Jeremiah 24:7: 24:7 The Lord would do a marvelous work in the hearts of the exiles, helping them to recognize (literally know) . . . the Lord as a personal God (1 Chr 28:9; Pss 9:10; 36:10; Isa 19:21; 52:6; Dan 11:32; Hos 2:20; Titus 1:16; 1 Jn 4:6-8). • They will be my people, and I will be their God: God’s covenant with Israel would become a personal reality to them (Exod 6:7; 19:5; Deut 29:13; Rev 21:7). • wholeheartedly: The exiles would not mix religious loyalties; they would be completely committed to the one true God.”
  13. Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 23:12: Apply thine heart unto instruction,.... To the instruction of parents, and to the instruction of ministers of the word; to the Scriptures, which are profitable to instruction in righteousness; to the instruction of wisdom, or to the Gospel of Christ, which instructs in things relating to him, and to salvation by him: or, "bring in thine heart to instruction" (y); not only bring thy body to the place of instruction, the house of God, but bring thine heart thither also; and thine ears to the words of knowledge; the doctrines of the Gospel, which are the means of th”
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