Exegesis: The Intellectual Enzyme that Transforms Stupor into Hope
"I believe the Bible is God's Word. Therefore, I must define the ultimate goal of exegesis so as to embrace the heart as well as the head. The Scriptures aim to affect our hearts and change the way we feel about God and His will. The exegete, who believes that this aim is the aim of the living God for our day, cannot be content with merely uncovering what the Scriptures originally meant. He must aim, in his exegesis to help achieve the ultimate goal of Scripture: its contemporary significance for faith. It is the will of God that his Word crush feelings of arrogance and self-reliance and that it give hope to the poor in spirit
The Lord has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may sustain with a word him that is weary (Isaiah 50:4)
Exegesis that does not sooner or later touch our emotions, and through us, the emotions of others, is ultimately a failure because it does not mediate the effect which Scripture ought to have.
Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that by the steadfastness and encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope (Romans 15:4)
Therefore, Biblical exegesis should be the intellectual enzyme that transforms the stupor of our worldly and futile affections into a deep and glad and living hope. Jesus said:
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full (John 15:11).
John Piper
Biblical Exegesis
pp. 4-5