Exegesis

Explanation

Exegesis is text-focused interpretation grounded in wording, context and, where relevant, historical conditions. In the link from epicrisis it distinguishes sustained interpretation from a following comment or judgement. This contextual note does not claim to survey all theological or philological traditions.

Movement of thought

1. Delimit the passage. 2. Examine linguistic details. 3. Reconstruct the relevant context. 4. Support the reading with evidence. 5. Separate interpretation from personal evaluation.

Example

Reading an old letter involves establishing whom “she” refers to and which earlier message the statement presupposes.

Counter-test

“I dislike this sentence” is an evaluation, not by itself exegesis.

Scientific use case

Textual scholarship can support readings, compare sources and document interpretive uncertainty.

Effect

An initially unfamiliar passage becomes intelligible without erasing its historical distance.

Resonance

The text receives an answer accountable to its details.

Distinction

Distinguish epexegesis as an explanatory addition, epicrisis and free association.

Sources

• Gideon O. Burton · Silva Rhetoricae · epexegesis

  Definition, related figures, primary-source references

  documented-source-register · Historische Synonymlisten sind traditionsgebunden; nicht als globale Äquivalenzliste übernehmen.
• Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy · Hermeneutics

  Begriffsdefinition und im Quellenvergleich benannte Unterscheidung

  documented-source-register · Fachlicher Überblick; kein Ersatz für vollständige historische Primärquellenprüfung.