User:RobertC/Examples

From Feast upon the Word (http://feastupontheword.org). Copyright, Feast upon the Word.

What type of questions are appropriate for the questions section

Good candidates include:

• a question you really have about the scripture. something you suspect someone may know the answer to but you don't
• a question you think is helpful to think about in order to understand the scriptures better even if the scriptures don't provide enough information for us to know the answer

Questions are not likely to be good if:

• the answer to your question is clearly given in the text. These are the type of questions that would be good for a quiz to see if you had read carefully. These types of questions tend not to be very valuable for readers.
• you want to take a certain position but choose to do it by suggesting it as a question rather than putting it as a position in the exegesis.

What exegesis is and is not

Since the Savior taught by example (1 Pet 2:21), perhaps teaching by example is the best way to explain the purpose and intent of commentary pages:

• Example of what is NOT commentary:

"This verse reminds me of an experience I had when..."

Although personal experiences can be interesting and edifying, they are not appropriate for the commentary page. Instead, they should be put on a user page (see instructions here) and linked to in the related links section.

• Example of what IS commentary:

"Alma's exposition on the purpose of the priesthood may seem out of place in the middle of Alma's longer sermon on repentance. Possible explanations for why this sermon is included are.... Alternatively, it may be that...."

Notice that first person pronouns are avoided on the commentary pages. A neutral point of view should be used instead. Also, note that definitive claims are avoided and softened with phrases such as "a possible explanation..." or "this suggests that..." or "one reason for this may be...." Following these guidelines helps prevent contention on the site. Futhermore, it fosters a teachable attitude in studying the scriptures.

If we assume that we already know what the scriptures say, then they cannot continue to teach us. If we assume that they mean something other than what they say, then we run the risk of substituting our own thoughts for what we read rather than learning what they have to teach us.

- James E. Faulconer, Scripture Study: Tools and Suggestions, FARMS, p. 11