Books › Exegetical fallacies
Exegetical fallacies
First published 1984 · 153 pages
A rigorous, cautionary guide that sharpens the mind by illuminating the most common pitfalls in biblical interpretation.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like sitting in a lively, rigorous masterclass on critical thinking and biblical exegesis. The pace is steady and methodical, carefully guiding the reader through forty-eight distinct interpretive pitfalls—from word-study errors to logical leaps. The mood is highly analytical yet deeply earnest, driven by a cautionary desire to protect the unwary from common mistakes. Its prose is enlightening and occasionally provocative, drawing on real-world examples from both world-class scholars and popular preachers to illustrate its points. It is an intellectually stimulating experience designed for theology students, pastors, and serious readers who want to refine their grammatical, historical, and theological study practices by learning exactly what not to do.
- Mood
- analytical
- cautionary
- intellectual
- rigorous
- Tone
- instructive
- critical
- lively
- earnest
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- biblical interpretation · intellectual rigor · avoiding errors · critical thinking
- The writing
- Lively and enlightening, structured around specific, real-world examples drawn from both scholarly and popular sources.
- The arc
- Moves from a cautionary awareness of common interpretive errors toward a deeper, more rigorous desire for sound theological understanding.
- Who it's for
- Students of theology, pastors, and serious readers seeking to sharpen their biblical interpretation skills and avoid common logical pitfalls.
Content notes
- theological debate
About the book
This book offers updated explanations of the sins of interpretation to teach sound grammatical, lexical, cultural, theological, and historical Bible study practices.
"I hope that by talking about what should not be done in exegesis, we may all desire more deeply to interpret the Word of God aright," says the author. "If I focus on the negative, it is in the hope that you will thereby profit more deeply from the positive instruction you glean from texts and lectures." Forty-eight kinds of fallacies are organized in this volume into four groups: (1) word-study, (2) grammatical, (3) logical, and (4) presuppositional and historical fallacies. "These pages make no claim to comprehensiveness in the kind of error discussed," writes the author. "Entries are treated because in my experience they are among the most common." Specific illustrations of fallacies abound. They are drawn from the works of liberals and conservatives, Calvinists and Arminians, unknowns and world-class scholars. "By and large my examples have been drawn from fairly serious sources, not popular publications where the frequency of error is much higher," the author writes. "But I have also included a few examples from popular preachers." This lively, enlightening, and not uncontroversial volume begins by discussing the importance of the study of exegetical fallacies, the dangers of it, and its limits. The book concludes with a list of seven areas "either not mentioned or barely alluded to in this book where more opportunities for fallacies lurk in the darkness to catch the unwary." The author has not written a highly technical book, aiming it instead at seminary students, pastors, and undergraduate Bible students with a command of elementary Greek. - Back cover.
Description from Open Library.
Books like Exegetical fallacies
See why they match
How to Read the Bible for All Its WorthGordon D. FeeA steady, clarifying guide that transforms passive reading into active, thoughtful interpretation.
The Gospel according to JohnD. A. CarsonA rigorous, deeply reverent excavation of one of the Bible's most profound texts.
Systematic TheologyWayne GrudemA massive, methodical, yet surprisingly warm exploration of faith that bridges the gap between the seminary classroom and the devotional prayer closet.
Willmington's Guide to the BibleH. L. WillmingtonA structured, comprehensive roadmap that transforms the vastness of scripture into an accessible, navigable landscape.
Preaching the Whole Bible As Christian ScriptureGraeme GoldsworthyA clear, methodical handbook that equips readers to find and preach Christ-centered messages across all types of biblical literature.
Biblical Preaching,Haddon W. RobinsonA structured, practical guide to mastering the art of expository communication for a modern audience.