Exegetical Fallacies by D.A. Carson
Published by Baker Academic on March 1, 1996
Pages: 160
Format: Paperback

From the Author’s Introduction: To focus on fallacies, exegetical or otherwise, sounds a bit like focusing on sin: guilty parties may take grudging notice and briefly pause to examine their faults, but there is nothing intrinsically redemptive in the procedure. Nevertheless, when the sins are common and (what is more) frequently unrecognized by those who commit them, detailed descriptions may have the salutary effect of not only encouraging thoughtful self-examination but also providing an incentive to follow a better way. I hope that by talking about what should not be done in exegesis, we may all desire more deeply to interpret the Word of God aright. [Note: This is the Second Edition of this book]

 
Dr. D.A. Carson’s Exegetical Fallacies is a helpful book for those who have the tools to understand its contents and its aim. This book is written primarily for pastors and those who have some academic training in the Scriptures, and it hits that mark exceptionally well! However, I don’t know that I’ll be recommending it to the masses.

The strength of this book is that it helps Bible students, teachers, and preachers think through the categories where exegesis can get off track. As noted in the author’s introduction, the focus is on common “sins” of exegesis. I believe this approach has its merits, as it has helped me recognize errors that I’ve made in the past and (hopefully) avoid them in the future.

The only real weakness of this book is that it takes a very academic approach, which means it’s not very accessible to those without some serious training in Biblical scholarship. Some knowledge of the original languages of the Bible is certainly helpful to use this book wisely. I should note that this isn’t so much a weakness as it is a function of the audience for which Exegetical Fallacies is intended. It’s definitely an “advanced” text.

Several years ago, I created an outline of Exegetical Fallacies that is useful as a reference…but only if you’ve already read the book. This summary isn’t meant to stand alone (it’s simply a reminder to myself of Dr. Carson’s categories). The book itself is much more detailed and filled with specific examples. It’s worth purchasing the book if you look over my outline and only feel a tiny bit petrified and overwhelmed!

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars