Research Template for Exegesis Paper

Exploring Historical-Cultural Backgrounds

1. Using the Scriptural references listed at the bottom of your UBS Greek New Testament (and, if
necessary, in the cross-references of an English translation), list here any OT texts that are
being quoted or alluded to in your pericope.

2. Look up each OT passage and read it along with the immediate context surrounding it.
Which OT passages are most helpful in understanding your pericope? How do they help you
understand more fully the point your pericope is making?

3. The question you are asking in this part of your exegesis is:
What items in your pericope might have been understood differently in
New Testament times than I understand them today?
List possible items in each of the boxes below, together with the text reference.
Famous People or Events

Places & Things

Customs

eg. Nazareth (1:46)

Social Roles or Institutions

Ideas, Beliefs, or Values

Shared Stories or Symbols

eg.Sheep (Jn 10:1)

a. Star the 3 items above that have the highest exegetical significance (i.e. that would
be most helpful for understanding what the author is seeking to communicate). Circle at
least one you will pursue.
4. Is the intended audience of this New Testament book primarily Jewish or primarily Gentile
(Greco-Roman)? If Jewish, were they in Palestine or the diaspora? (For Gospel narratives you
will need to think about the audience in the story world, as well as the audience reading or
hearing the Gospel itself, and consider what aspects of the pericope might reflect or seek to
appeal to the views of each.)

____________________________________
Use this information to decide whether you will look at Jewish understandings of the
item(s) you are researching, or at Greco-Roman understandings.
5. 3 main types of resources are listed below for learning about historical cultural backgrounds.
Use at least 1 of each kind of resource that discusses the item(s) you chose from the above chart.
REMEMBER: RIGHT NOW YOU ARE ONLY LOOKING AT THESE RESOURCES IN ORDER TO LEARN MORE
ABOUT HOW THE FIRST CENTURY JEWS OR GENTILES WOULD HAVE FELT AND THOUGHT ABOUT THIS
HISTORICAL-CULTURAL ITEM IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND YOUR PERICOPE BETTER.
Bible dictionaries or other historical-cultural reference books (see list in Fee 98-105);
Book Title:
Summary of Findings about what people in the 1st century understood/felt about the
Historical-Cultural Item you are researching:

Key Scholarly commentaries chosen from the following: Baker Exegetical, New
International Greek Testament, Anchor Bible, Hermeneia.
Book Title:
Summary of Findings about what people in the 1st century understood/felt about the
Historical-Cultural Item you are researching:

Related journal articles located using the online ATLA database.

Journal & Article Title about the Historical-Cultural Item you are researching:
Summary of Findings about what people in the 1st century understood/felt about the
Historical-Cultural Item you are researching:

(Fee pp. 16, 96-111, Blomberg 63-92 give more in-depth information and resources for this methodology.)