Narcegesis 3: Context Changes Everything

In reading and studying the Bible, it is tempting to treat it as a magic book of detached verses that mystically guides me along life’s path. Many people open the Bible at random places and pluck out individual verses in an attempt to hear God speaking to them.

Narcegesis Strikes Again: Why You Shouldn’t Try to Part the Red Sea

My first Narcegesis blog post was about how the Bible is not about me, but rather for me. Another vitally important aspect of biblical exegesis in properly understanding the Bible is distinguishing between the descriptive and prescriptive parts of Scripture. Descriptive passages of the Bible describe or recount, in narrative form, what happened in the… Continue reading Narcegesis Strikes Again: Why You Shouldn’t Try to Part the Red Sea

Narcegesis: Exegesis Gone Wrong

A friend of mine invented a new word to describe what is happening in many churches today—and I absolutely love it. “Narcegesis.” Narcegesis is exegesis gone wrong. Exegesis means “exposition or explanation.” Biblical exegesis involves the careful examination of a particular text of Scripture in order to properly understand it. Exegesis aims to arrive at… Continue reading Narcegesis: Exegesis Gone Wrong

God’s Word above all things?

Article 6 of the 39 Articles of Religion on the “The sufficiency of Holy Scripture for our salvation” says, Holy Scripture sets forth everything that is necessary for our salvation. Consequently, nobody should be required to believe as an article of the Christian faith, or to regard as necessary for salvation, anything that is not… Continue reading God’s Word above all things?