Our tagline, “Let the Word speak for itself,” reflects a simple but often overlooked principle of Bible reading: Scripture does not need to be reshaped to fit us; rather, we are called to be shaped by it. Before we dive deeper, it’s helpful to pause and consider some of the common challenges we face when reading God’s Word.
Have you ever reached the end of a passage and realized you hadn’t really absorbed it? You may find yourself rereading the same verse multiple times while your mind drifts to dinner plans, training schedules, or even just fatigue. These distractions are normal, they happen to all of us and they can easily pull us away from Scripture. One simple way to address this is by creating a quiet space to read, whether it’s a room in your home, a park bench, or a small corner for prayer and reflection.
A deeper challenge arises when we interpret Scripture through the lens of what we want to hear. Sometimes, if a passage doesn’t align with our preferences, it’s tempting to twist its meaning to suit ourselves. This approach, known as eisegesis, meaning “to lead into”, places our own ideas into the text rather than drawing out what God intended. It often ignores context, cross-references and the broader story Scripture tells, risking distortion of The Lord's Word.
By contrast, exegesis meaning “to lead out of”, invites the meaning to emerge from the text itself. It requires patience, attention, and humility, considering the context, language, and purpose of Scripture. Exegesis allows God’s Word to speak on its own terms, rather than being shaped to fit our desires.
Let’s look at an example from Exodus 20:4- 5 (KJV):
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
An eisegetical reading might treat this passage as a blanket ban on all religious images, rejecting practices like icons outright.
An exegetical reading, however, looks at the historical context: Israel was surrounded by nations practicing idol worship, and the Israelites themselves had fallen into this sin with the golden calf. The commandment addresses worshiping images as gods, not the creation of images in general. If we continue reading, God later gives Moses specific instructions for the Tabernacle, including the creation of Holy symbolic images.
Exodus 25:18 (KJV):
18 And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat
These images were part of God’s design for worship, showing that not all imagery is prohibited, only that which is made to replace God in our hearts.
This illustrates how careful exegesis respects the text and its context. It helps us see the intention behind the commandment and prevents us from adding assumptions.
Subtle visual aids, like icons, can naturally support focus in prayer and worship. They gently draw the wandering mind back toward the truths Scripture reveals, reminding us of the realities they represent without becoming objects of worship themselves, like a cross one would wear to represent Christ.
When we approach God’s Word with patience, humility, and trust, we allow it to shape us. True understanding comes not from twisting the text to our will, but from listening carefully and letting Scripture guide our hearts and minds. In every passage, every question, and every study, we are called to do one simple yet profound thing: let the Word speak for itself.
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