Devotion or Exegesis? That is the question...

I wouldn't call it a breakthrough and quite frankly I'm surprised it took me this long to figure out why I felt the need to create my own Bible. What I've discovered is that the study Bibles I own consistently cater to one type of reader or another. Specifically one type of "study" Bible caters to the devotional or "spiritual" reader while the next Bible will cater to the exegetical reader. Essentially the difference is in the audience.


"Devotion or Exegesis?" is indeed the question. When you read are you looking for daily bread, something that will "lift the spirits" giving encouragement or consolation? Or are you concerned with the what the author originally intended to say, his/her original audience, and the historical background of the composition? Essentially, the difference is in the treasure sought for by the reader, "original meaning" versus "personal application." When you read do you put yourself into the text asking questions such as "what would I say/do in the same situation?" Do you feel the emotions of the narrative and try to identify with the characters? Or do you read to gather forensic information? Do you try to find absolute truths/principles on how to interpret and approach life.


This has been my dilemma. Not that I have been chained to one approach or another but rather that I so frequently change camps even within the same reading. This type of interchange in my mind requires more than a paraphrase for devotional purposes for soon my mind wishes to grasp something more concrete and wrestle with the text in its rawest form, unprocessed. On the other hand, I cannot be satisfied with only the raw exegetical meaning without the foggiest clue of how to apply what has been written.


With all that said it seems clear that the Bible I intend to construct must meet both needs not only at the textual level by providing parallel versions but also at the note/commentary level. Exegetical and Personal Application notes must be offered within the Bible's construction on separate but equal footing at the bottom of each page of text.


However, introductions to each book must not be presented as such. Exegesis must come first then application. One cannot "apply" before one knows what he/she is "applying." The purpose of exegesis should be to discover a timeless unchanging meaning (though there may be many different shades to this) intended by the author with a particular audience in mind (and dare I say whatever is humanly comprehendible of what God was thinking as well).  This is to be followed by personal application introductions or even better a set of post-text conclusive remarks summarizing the applications discovered along the way and constructing an overall spiritual application.


A suitable methodology that could be used for constructing the exegetical introductions may be the procedures outlined in Gordon D. Fee's New Testament Exegesis (3rd Edition) page 8-9.


Though the task will require herculean effort I confess that the challenge is rather invigorating and exciting though a bit daunting.

In the beginning...

Today I accept defeat to take up a new challenge. Years of searching for the perfect Bible have left me at best unsatisfied. No longer do I wait for Bible publishers to guess at what I want. My plan is to create my own study Bible, one book at a time from shortest to longest. Some of the features I'd like to include are parallel translations, study notes, exegetical commentary by modern Bible scholars, Protestant Reformers, and commentary from Ellen White and other Seventh-day Adventist pioneers. Least of all I will also include my own notes. Not to mention colored maps and diagrams. To describe this project as a monumental task is an understatement but it must be done or I doom myself to having to carry multiple copies of the same beloved Book for different reasons/features. First and foremost feature set and format of the text must be decided. Hopefully I'll have that done within the next few weeks before the fall semester begins. Keep me in prayer that the Spirit guides me in my quest...I'm pressing on the upward way...