An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church

Exegesis

Literally a “leading out.” The term is used in biblical studies to signify the drawing out of the meaning of the texts of Holy Scripture. Some biblical scholars, notably Rudolf Bultmann, use the term to indicate what the text means to the contemporary reader or hearer. Others, such as Krister Stendahl, use the term for the meaning of the text as intended by the original author. Having discovered what the text meant, a further step of exposition is necessary to discover what the text now means to the contemporary reader or hearer.

Glossary definitions provided courtesy of Church Publishing Incorporated, New York, NY,(All Rights reserved) from “An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church, A User Friendly Reference for Episcopalians,” Don S. Armentrout and Robert Boak Slocum, editors.