1. How to Write an Exegetical Paper
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--- Library of Congress main hall
© Dr. Esa Autero

2. How to Write an Exegetical Paper
What is your professor looking for?
Ability to “correctly handle the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15)
Accurate and careful reading of the text
Understanding and application of exegetical principles & tools
Historical context, literary genres & structures
Commentaries, dictionaries, word studies, journal articles …
Knowledge of relevant scholarly approaches & theories
Apply the text and listen what the Spirit says through the text
Coherent presentation
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3. How to Write an Exegetical Paper
Steps in writing an exegetical paper
Step 1:
Choose your hermeneutical approach and method
Exegetical and historical (historic-grammatical)
One passage and/or theme
Biblical theology – theme across the Canon
Specific reading strategy (existential, liberationist, post-colonial…)
Your approach depends on…
The purpose of the paper
Course assignment
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4. How to Write an Exegetical Paper
Step 2:
a) Choose the passage(s)
Individual passage or a series of passages?
What is the goal of your paper?
Meaning of a single passage or a theme?
b) Conduct preliminary exegesis of the passage(s)
Choose a literal translation (NASB; NKJV; NRSV)
OR translate the text from Hebrew/Aramaic/Greek
Get a sense of the text(s) & make observations
Read the text carefully – don’t apply it immediately
Important in thematic study:
1) Key passages
2) Depth of exegesis
3) Length of paper
4) Draw conclusions
Write down notes and observations
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5. How to Write an Exegetical Paper
Step 3:
Find, review and use up-to-date academic literature
a) Find commentaries, monographs, dictionaries, journal articles
Written by a scholar? Peer reviewed? Reputable publisher?
Order them based on relevance
b) Review and use sources to draw data
Read sources carefully and make (accurate) notes
Consider what is relevant for your paper (genre, structure, …)
Focus on historical context, literary structure & theological meaning
Avoid (interesting) “rabbit trails”
“Keep the main thing the main thing”
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6. How to Write an Exegetical Paper
Step 4:
Review all of the data and write an outline:
a) Read all your notes (preliminary & scholarly)
What is the main idea that you want to communicate?
What is the structure (outline) of your paper?
How to organize your paper into a coherent whole?
b) Write an outline – main headings and subpoints
Thesis statement  big points  subpoints
Place relevant observations, quotes/ideas under each point
Thesis statement
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7. How to Write an Exegetical Paper
Step 5:
Write first draft:
Communicate your ideas & provide evidence for each point
Don’t worry about grammar and spelling…yet…
Rearrange headings and subpoints as needed
Note the big idea – main headings, and subpoints
“Keep the main thing the main thing” – consider page count
Use relevant Scripture passages
Make note of scholarly references
 Fix preliminary references in final draft
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8. How to Write an Exegetical Paper
Step 6:
Write final draft:
Check logic, evidence, flow, references, and grammar
LOGIC: is there a logical progression b/w each point?
EVIDENCE: do I support statements with evidence?
FLOW: does each section and paragraph flow?
REFERENCES: all references footnoted and accurate?
GRAMMAR: is spelling and grammar correct?
 Ask somebody to proofread – read it out loud to yourself
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9. How to Write an Exegetical Paper
An Outline of (a typical) Exegetical Paper
Introduction – Give general introduction (text being studied, thesis, etc.).
Literal translation
Literary context and flow of thought
Literary genre – of the book and the passage itself
Structure of passage
Commentary – verse-by-verse comments.
Grammar and syntax
Semantic analysis (word studies)
Socio-historical background
Literary analysis and figures of speech
Interpretation – Interpret the passage in light of the whole.
Main theme/key thought
Theological significance
Relevance/Application
Conclusion – Tie all of the information presented together and return to the thesis presented in the introduction.
Bibliography – Lastly, list all of the sources that you cited in your paper.
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10. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
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More resources + sample “A” papers