This repository contains the full text of Hermeneutics and Exegesis for Laypeople by Clayton Chancey, converted to markdown, alongside an AI-optimized methodology file (CLAUDE.md) that encodes the book's Bible study framework as actionable instructions.
CLAUDE.md— The book's Bible study methodology distilled into a structured instruction file. Covers the Pyramid of Interpretation, the "Ask the Text" question framework, the outlining technique, exegetical resource usage, and interpretive guardrails.book/— The complete book in markdown, split by chapter:
| File | Chapter |
|---|---|
00-preface.md |
Preface |
01-introduction.md |
1. Introduction |
02-the-doctrine-of-inspiration.md |
2. The Doctrine of Inspiration |
03-hermeneutics.md |
3. Hermeneutics |
04-exegesis.md |
4. Exegesis |
05-asking-the-text-questions.md |
5. Asking the Text Questions |
06-outlining.md |
6. Outlining |
07-using-exegetical-resources.md |
7. Using Exegetical Resources |
08-conclusion.md |
8. Conclusion |
09-appendix-a-ask-the-text-questions.md |
Appendix A: "Ask the Text" Questions |
10-appendix-b-recommended-resources.md |
Appendix B: Recommended Resources |
11-glossary.md |
Glossary |
12-scripture-index.md |
Scripture Index |
Hermeneutics-Exegesis_Updated_Web.pdf— The original PDF source.studies/— Bible studies conducted using the book's methodology:
| Study | Passage | Focus |
|---|---|---|
colossians-3-1-4/ |
Colossians 3:1-4 | The believer's heavenly orientation — identity in the risen Christ |
colossians-3-5-11/ |
Colossians 3:5-11 | Putting off the old self — sins of desire and speech |
colossians-3-12-17/ |
Colossians 3:12-17 | Putting on the new self — Christlike virtues and corporate worship |
colossians-3-1-17/ |
Colossians 3:1-17 | Unified application synthesizing findings from the three section studies |
colossians-3_18-4_6/ |
Colossians 3:18-4:6 | Christ's lordship applied — household code, work, prayer, and witness toward outsiders |
ezra-1-3/ |
Ezra 1-3 | God's faithfulness in the return from exile — decree, altar, and temple foundation |
The book teaches a layered approach to Bible study called the Pyramid of Interpretation:
- The Doctrine of Inspiration — Affirming Verbal Plenary Inspiration as the foundation
- Hermeneutics — Applying the Literal Historical Grammatical hermeneutic
- Exegesis — Doing the hard work of extracting meaning through context
- Interpretation — Arriving at a judgment about the text's meaning
Practical skills include asking structured questions of any passage, outlining books by genre, and using exegetical resources with intentionality.