Essential Tools for the New Testament Exegetical Paper

“What is an exegetical paper?” is a question often asked by seminary students. Within this question, others are implied. What is the aim of an exegetical paper? How is an exegetical paper researched and written? Which sources and aids must be consulted? And perhaps most often implied, what do seminary professors expect from an exegetical paper? In any version, the question is fair and deserves a detailed answer, which is often not possible on the spot. This article seeks to give a more thorough answer. Two limitations of scope are necessary to keep this guide manageable. First, this paper is not a step-by-step guide to exegetical method. The best resource for such is undoubtedly Gordon Fee’s, New Testament Exegesis: A Handbook for Students and Pastors, now in a third edition. 2 Needless to say, this article is a poor substitute for careful study of Fee’s guide. Rather, it is intended to be a quick refresher for those who have already taken a full introductory course on exegetical method. Second, this article seeks to be a practical guide to “essential tools” for writing NT exegetical papers. In other words, this mode asks: What are the essential elements of a good NT exegetical paper and which tools ought to be consulted for each element involved? With this aim in mind, many tools and resources are reviewed with some instruction on how to use them. The present article is divided into the following sections: preliminary considerations, general tools, exegetical tools, and tips for writing. Incorporated within the relevant sections is a bibliography with some annotations.