What happens between reading a passage of Scripture and deciding what it means for our lives today?

This week on The Rooted Podcast, we explore hermeneutics—the ways we interpret and apply Scripture in our own time and context. Building on our previous conversation about exegesis, this episode asks what happens after we understand what a passage meant to its original audience and begin considering how it should shape the way we live today.

Interpreting Scripture involves more than simply reading a verse and applying it directly to our lives. Literary devices, historical context, and the questions we bring to the text all influence the way we understand Scripture. Through examples such as Jesus’ use of hyperbole and His conversation with the rich young ruler, we explore why moving beyond a simple “read and do” approach can help us better understand the heart of a passage.

The conversation also introduces several interpretive lenses, including blueprint, theological, Christ-centered, love, trajectory, and justice hermeneutics. Rather than offering one approach as the answer to every passage, these lenses invite us to ask deeper questions about who God is, what we learn about Jesus, and how Scripture shapes the way we love God and others. Ultimately, the goal is not simply to interpret the Bible correctly, but to allow it to form us into people who become more like Christ.

Topics we’ll cover:

• Moving from exegesis to hermeneutics and applying Scripture today
• Why every reader brings assumptions and interpretive lenses to the Bible
• The difference between a simple “read and do” approach and thoughtful interpretation
• Different lenses for interpreting Scripture, including blueprint, theological, Christ-centered, love, trajectory, and justice hermeneutics
• Why humility, curiosity, and community matter when reading the Bible
• Questions that can help us apply Scripture more faithfully
• How studying the Bible can lead to a deeper relationship with God

Resources from this episode:

• How to Read the Bible For All its Worth
• “Searching for the Pattern” by John Mark Hicks
• “Re-Examining Our Lenses” by Jeanie Shaw

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction: What Is Hermeneutics?
01:02 – From Exegesis to Interpretation and Application
03:07 – The Right Posture for Reading Scripture
04:50 – Why We Need Community and Curiosity
06:59 – Do We Really “Just Read and Do”?
09:20 – Why Reading the Bible Requires Interpretation
10:07 – Understanding Jesus’ Use of Hyperbole
12:39 – The Rich Young Ruler and the Problem With “Read and Do”
14:29 – Moving Beyond a Checklist Approach to Scripture
16:01 – The Greatest Commandment as an Interpretive Lens
17:11 – The Hermeneutic of Love
20:06 – Recognizing the Hermeneutic You Already Use
22:04 – The Blueprint or Pattern Hermeneutic
29:15 – The Strengths and Limitations of the Blueprint Approach
35:29 – Moving From Exegesis to Application
36:31 – Theological Hermeneutic: What Does This Teach Us About God?
42:03 – The Christ-Centered Hermeneutic
44:25 – From Commands to Relationship With God
45:45 – The Love Hermeneutic
46:59 – The Trajectory Hermeneutic
49:08 – Following the Biblical Trajectory on Slavery
50:15 – The Justice Hermeneutic
52:36 – Learning to Revisit and Relearn
53:25 – Resources for Going Deeper
54:00 – What’s Coming Next in the Series

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How can we understand what a passage of Scripture really means before deciding how it applies to us today?

This week on The Rooted Podcast, we explore exegesis—the practice of drawing meaning out of a biblical text rather than bringing our own ideas into it. Understanding a passage begins with considering its original audience and context. By asking who wrote it, who they were writing to, where it falls within the larger biblical story, and what kind of literature we’re reading, we can better understand what the text was originally communicating.

Context also helps us avoid common mistakes like proof texting and eisegesis, where verses can be separated from their original setting or interpreted through assumptions we bring to the text. Familiar passages like Jeremiah 29:11 and “where two or more are gathered” show how easy it can be to reach an interpretation that misses what a passage was actually saying—even when the conclusion itself sounds true.

Learning to read Scripture responsibly takes humility, patience, and a willingness to reconsider interpretations we may have held for a long time. We don’t have to work through those questions alone. Studying in community, learning from trusted spiritual guides, and developing a consistent process can help us approach Scripture thoughtfully while becoming more comfortable with questions that may not have immediate answers.

Topics we’ll cover:

• What exegesis means and why the original audience matters
• How historical, chronological, and literary context shape our understanding of Scripture
• The difference between exegesis and eisegesis
• What proof texting looks like and why reading verses in context matters
• Why reconsidering an interpretation can be an important part of spiritual growth
• The difference between Scripture and the doctrines we build from it
• Why humility, patience, and community matter when studying the Bible
• How to build a consistent process for reading Scripture responsibly

Resources from this episode:

• Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction: What Is Exegesis?
01:04 – Pulling Meaning Out of the Text
01:39 – Understanding What the Original Audience Heard
03:28 – Three Types of Biblical Context
03:47 – Historical Context: Who, When, Why, and for Whom?
05:50 – Chronological Context and the Larger Biblical Story
07:22 – What Is Proof Texting?
08:17 – Literary Context and Why Genre Matters
10:41 – Common Examples of Proof Texting
10:50 – “Where Two or More Are Gathered” in Context
13:26 – When the Conclusion Is Right but the Verse Is Wrong
14:11 – Jeremiah 29:11 and the Problem With Reading Verses in Isolation
18:11 – The Difficulty of Realizing You’ve Misread Scripture
20:13 – Scripture, Doctrine, and the Beliefs We Build
22:12 – Deconstruction and Rebuilding a Stronger Foundation
24:25 – Learning to Be Comfortable in the “I Don’t Know”
27:53 – Cognitive Dissonance and Holding Different Ideas in Tension
30:36 – A Real-Life Example of Using Scripture Out of Context
34:42 – What Is Eisegesis?
35:16 – Why We Need Community When Rethinking Our Interpretations
36:32 – Exegesis vs. Eisegesis
36:57 – Building a Consistent Process for Bible Study
38:20 – When Studying the Bible Starts to Feel Overwhelming
40:02 – Finding a Trusted Spiritual Guide and Taking Your Time
40:43 – Growth Is a Lifelong Process
41:26 – Questions to Ask the Next Time You Read Your Bible
42:00 – What’s Next: Hermeneutics and Applying Scripture Today

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How can you go beyond simply reading the Bible and understand it more deeply?

This week on The Rooted Podcast, we share practical ways to study Scripture with greater understanding. While the Bible was written for us, it wasn’t originally written to us—each book was written to real people living in a particular time, place, and culture. Understanding that background can help us better understand what a passage meant to its original audience and how we can faithfully apply it to our lives today.

Reading Scripture as one interconnected story can change the way we approach individual passages. From seeing God as the main character to reading an entire book in one sitting, tracing themes across Scripture, and exploring historical and cultural context, different approaches can help us notice details and connections we might otherwise miss.

Going deeper doesn’t mean studying alone. Bible dictionaries, commentaries, online tools, and other resources can help us ask better questions and understand the context behind what we’re reading. Community also plays an important role, bringing different experiences and perspectives to the conversation.

Topics we’ll cover:

• Why the Bible was written for us, but not originally to us
• How understanding the original audience can shape the way we read Scripture today
• Seeing the Bible as one larger story with God as the main character
• Questions that can help us better understand God’s character and heart
• Different approaches to Bible study, from close-up details to the bigger biblical story
• Helpful tools and resources for studying Scripture
• Why studying the Bible in community can deepen our understanding

Resources from this episode:

• Bible Gateway
• Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, Second Edition
• Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, Second Edition
• The NIV Application Commentary on the Bible: One-Volume Edition
• Google Gemini
• How to Read the Bible Book by Book

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction: Practical Tips for Bible Study
01:03 – The Bible Was Written for You, Not to You
03:06 – Why the Original Audience Matters
05:10 – Seeing the Bible as One Big Story
07:24 – Why God Is the Hero of Every Bible Story
08:28 – What to Do With Difficult or Uncomfortable Stories
09:15 – God Is the Main Character, Not Us
10:34 – Questions to Ask While Reading the Bible
12:08 – What Can Difficult Stories Teach Us About God?
13:33 – King Saul and Letting the Story Play Out
14:50 – David, Bathsheba, and Flawed Biblical Characters
16:13 – Why Biblical Characters Aren’t Always Examples to Imitate
19:04 – Reading the Bible Without Chapters, Verses, and Headings
20:00 – Reading an Entire Book in One Sitting
21:15 – Three Different “Lenses” for Reading the Bible
21:55 – The Reading Glasses: Digging Into Historical and Cultural Context
23:26 – The Big-Picture Glasses: Seeing Where a Book Fits in the Biblical Story
24:48 – The Sunglasses: Reading Scripture Through a Particular Theme
26:00 – Choosing the Right Approach for Your Bible Study
28:02 – Practical Resources for Studying Scripture
28:18 – Bible Dictionaries and the NIV Application Commentary
29:25 – Using AI as a Bible Study Research Tool
30:20 – Using Bible Gateway for Word and Topic Searches
31:06 – Why Community Is One of Your Best Bible Study Resources
32:36 – How to Read the Bible Book by Book
33:52 – Letting Resources Guide You Back to Scripture
34:30 – Closing Thoughts

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