Exegetical Conclusions
Steps on the Path to the Sermon
Moving from “A” to “B” is almost always a matter of taking a step at a time. The path from a biblical text to a biblical sermon is no different. I suggest a process with three big steps, each of which is made up of several smaller steps. First, we study the text to discover what it meant. Then we reflect theologically on the text to determine what it means. Finally, we shape the sermon to communicate both meanings effectively to our hearers.
At the transition point between step 1 and step 2, as well as between step 2 and step 3, we need to take a moment to summarize where we are – to clarify the fruit of the work we have done. I call these summaries “Exegetical Conclusions” and “Homiletical Conclusions.” The Exegetical Conclusions summarize what the text meant, based on your biblical study. The Homiletical Conclusions summarize what the text means based on your theological reflection.
The entire process looks something like this:
Writing Your Exegetical Conclusions
Once you have studied the literary and historical context of the passage, considered its genre and form, analyzed its structure, defined its words, and verified your findings through some good research, you are ready to summarize your conclusions in some straightforward statements about the text’s meaning in its original setting.
I want to emphasize that these are not to be contemporary statements about what the text means for today’s world, or even universal statements about what the text always means. These are past-tense statements, presented in historical terms, describing what the text meant to the author and original readers.
Here are some specific descriptions of how to best state these conclusions. This step may seem pedantic and unnecessary to you, and you may be tempted to take a shortcut here are there, but I would urge you to follow these steps carefully and you will arrive successfully at the desired destination of a biblical sermon.
Central Idea of the Text (CIT): A word or phrase that describes what the text is about—the “topic” of the text. (Note: this is not a sentence – just a word or phrase!)
Summary Statement of the Text (SST): A complete sentence, stated in historical terms and in the past tense, summarizing what the text says about the CIT, without itemizing individual parts. A statement of the meaning of the passage in its original historical context. (Resist the temptation to state it in present tense, or to make a list – leave the list for the ME’s …)
Major Emphases of the Text (ME’s): The key concepts or statements that the passage makes about the CIT, stated in complete sentences and in historical terms. (Here is where you can list supporting ideas, or key divisions within the main idea.)
These descriptions are about as clear and specific as I can make them, but you will probably need examples to help as you practice writing these conclusions. I have provided sample Exegetical Conclusions for three different types of biblical texts at the end of each of the samples on outlining prose, poetic, and narrative passages. Check these out and then try your hand at writing good Exegetical Conclusions for a passage you are studying.
