While Exegesis deals with the task of understanding what a text meant in its original context, hermeneutics deals with what those texts mean to us today. However, it is important to note that this is not the only definition in use today. Some authors use the term hermeneutics to refer to the entire process of interpretation, including the task of exegesis. Still others use it to refer to philosophical discussions about the meaning of meaning—discussions which can sometimes have very little to do with what God has revealed to us in Scripture. Whenever you see the term hermeneutics, be sure to take the time to understand in which of the above senses the author is using it!
