What Are The Two Ways To Read The Bible?

There are two ways Churches read/use the Bible. 

The first is called 'exegesis.' Exegesis reads out of the Bible; thus, the Word will interpret the culture, time, and context of people. 

The second is called 'eisegesis.' Eisegesis reads into the Bible; thus, the Word is typically interpreted through the culture, time, and context of people. 

The first puts the horse before the cart; the second puts the cart before the horse. That is to say; exegesis allows the Bible to correct, inform, and shape people regardless of things such as culture, whereas eisegesis will enable things, such as culture, to correct, inform, and shape the Bible.[1] 

Perhaps it is simplified best by saying: exegesis makes the person captive to the Word, whereas eisegesis makes the Word captive to the person.

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[1] While we typically think of mainline liberalism going the way of eisegesis (i.e., the higher criticism method), we also see eisegesis come forth when pastors/churches attempt to do sermon series based off of silly modern gimmicks, cultural cliches, and media trends - and then try to connect the sermon series back to the Bible. In other words, when we hear the word, 'relevance,' more often than not, we can typically hear it as synonymous with the word, 'eisegesis.' 

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