Exegesis And Spirituality Summary

Fee (2000), in his essay “Exegesis and Spirituality: Completing the Circle”, proposes that exegesis and spirituality are important tasks that should be done consciously and simultaneously when one reads his Bible. He identified the preconceived notion of Christian’s today about studying the true intent of the authors, the true meaning of the passages written by them, the historical and cultural context, and the people it is addressed to, have nothing to do with spirituality; when in fact it (spirituality) is or it should be the ultimate goal. Fee further explained his point by defining what spirituality and exegesis mean, then gradually lead us into the relationship of the two topics.
Spirituality, as the author states, is a gift from God and is God who leads and empowers us in our maturing relationship with Him. Without the dwelling of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and souls, the true essence of living, teaching and sharing …show more content…
Conversely, the churches tend to be subjective; which can result to “poor exegesis on the one side and almost no Spirituality on the other”. Thus, Fee emphasizes his argument in this perspective: if we, as the bearer of the truth, are not soaked in God (Spirituality) and His word (exegesis); if we do not fully understand and placed them in our hearts, then the recipients will not captivate in their hearts the bliss of living in and for the Spirit as well. For that reason, their purposes which are planned by God will not be achieved. He then encourages Christians to practice both: to interpret faithfully and carefully as if we are the original hearers of the past while in the presence of the Holy Spirit because then is the only time we experience what true exegesis and true spirituality does. Furthermore, He cited the works of Paul and suggests that we assimilate his example in our lives. He is not perfect but his desire to know Christ is our tool to do this two interconnected