Eisegetic

/ˌaɪsɪˈdʒɛtɪk/ adjective

Definition

Relating to the practice of reading your own ideas or beliefs into a text rather than finding what the text actually says.

Etymology

From Greek 'eis' (into) + 'hegeisthai' (to lead or interpret). The term was coined in the 19th century as the opposite of 'exegesis,' which means drawing meaning out of a text rather than putting meaning into it.

Kelly Says

This word describes a fundamental bias in reading: we all bring our own baggage to texts, but eisegetic reading does it so much that the text disappears entirely. Religious scholars use this term to call out bad biblical interpretation!

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