First Steps in Logos: Hermeneutics 101

Dr. John Fallahee opens the training by emphasizing that Logos is a tool for careful biblical study, not a shortcut. He reminds viewers that the goal is to understand what God intended when He inspired Scripture, which requires a solid hermeneutical foundation. All of his training resources, including his dissertation on sermon preparation, are available through the Logos store under his name, and the webinar recordings are stored in a personal Logos book for later review. You can sign up for future sessions at learnlogos.com/events, and you can suggest topics to webinars@learnlogos.com.

The webinar quickly moves to practical Logos work. Dr. Fallahee demonstrates how to download a pre‑made collection titled “hermeneutics exegesis.” He opens the Documents pane, clicks Public, waits for the two windows to load, then pastes the search phrase “hermeneutics / exegesis learn logos” into the Find box. When the collection appears, a blue bar prompts you to add it to your documents. Clicking “Yours” shows the new collection, which you can use to locate books on specific topics without sifting through unrelated results. An image placeholder illustrates the steps:

Searching within a collection is shown next. He types “heading:author meaning” to look for headings that contain both “author” and “meaning.” Expanding an entry reveals articles that stress author‑centered meaning—the idea that meaning originates with the author, not the reader. The search interface is displayed in another screenshot:

Dr. Fallahee then outlines the core hermeneutical concepts. Grammatical study focuses on syntax and word usage in the original language. Literary study looks at genre—poetry, narrative, epistle, apocalyptic—and how form shapes meaning. Historical study seeks the author’s original context, including time, culture, and audience. He clarifies that “apocalyptic” refers to prophetic, visionary literature (e.g., Revelation, Zechariah) and not to false fables. Author‑centered meaning is a key principle: the text means what the author intended, not what we wish it to mean. An image shows the formatting markers that reveal speaker and listener icons:

Why context matters is explained next. Paragraph breaks in a digital Bible can be misleading, so he shows how to toggle the “reformat” option to see continuous prose and then re‑enable paragraph markers for clarity. The Passage Analysis tool (Tools → Passage → Locate Passage Analysis) lets you enter a passage such as Acts 2 and view cross‑references across multiple translations (ESV, HCSB, NASB). This helps you see how different Bibles handle the same context. An image of the Passage Analysis window appears:

The Bereans in Acts 17:11 provide a biblical example of careful daily examination of teaching against Scripture. Dr. Fallahee also points out how Logos flags speaker and listener icons when Peter quotes Joel; turning on these markers (Formatting → Markers) clarifies who is speaking and to whom. This visual aid helps avoid misreading who is addressing whom. The corresponding screenshot shows the icons in a passage:

Ten key principles for interpreting Scripture are presented as a list. Principle 1 stresses author‑centered meaning. Principle 2 calls for identifying the text’s context, using paragraph settings, passage analysis, and speaker icons to gauge scope. Principle 3 adds grammatical and historical considerations, including genre. Principle 4 suggests using the five Ws and an H as an inductive framework. Principle 5 urges checking the full context—immediate, broader, and canonical. Principle 6 warns to distinguish direct quotes from commentary. Principle 7 recommends building custom collections and searching by author, meaning, or topic. Principle 8 advises comparing several modern translations to see how wording differences affect understanding. Principle 9 reminds us to rely on the Holy Spirit while using Logos tools. Principle 10 moves from understanding to application, ensuring insight shapes an obedient life. Each principle is reinforced with practical Logos actions, such as using collections and search fields to gather relevant resources quickly.

Practical tips follow. Download and organize collections for easy access. Search smart by using heading, author, and meaning fields rather than vague terms. Turn on speaker and addressee markers to see who is speaking and to whom. Re‑format the text to view paragraph groupings, then restore markers for precise reading. Use the Passage Analysis feature to compare translations and sharpen contextual insight. Always ask what the author meant before asking what it means to you. Guard against bad hermeneutics by remembering that a wrong gospel has eternal stakes; diligent, author‑centered interpretation protects against doctrinal error. An image of the Collections pane highlights how to add a new collection:

In the second half of the session, Dr. Fallahee illustrates how context shapes meaning with several examples. Philippians 4:13 is often quoted alone, but the near context (Philippians 4:11‑13) shows Paul’s lesson on contentment in all circumstances, with “all things” referring to living for Christ in every situation. Matthew 18:20 (“where two or three are gathered”) must be read within the broader context of church discipline (verses 15‑22), where “two or three witnesses” (v. 16) confirms facts, not just spiritual presence. He demonstrates the Bible Word Study tool: right‑click “flesh” in Romans 8:5, choose “Bible Word Study,” then select the lemma (circle icon) and the Analysis tab. A floating window displays cross‑references such as Romans 2:28‑29, where “flesh” means “body and tissue,” contrasting outward circumcision with inward reality. Sorting by “sense” reveals nuances like “body” versus “flesh” in John 6:54. An image shows the Word Study window:

Figurative language is addressed next. John 6:40 (“whoever sees the Son and believes in him has eternal life”) is often misunderstood. The “will of the Father” (v. 40) parallels “eats my flesh and drinks my blood” (v. 54), symbolizing saving faith rather than the Lord’s Supper. The literal resurrection of Lazarus helps interpret the figurative language, preventing literalism. The Bible Word Study tool is used again to examine “believe,” showing lexical data that supports the figurative reading. Link Set A synchronizes tools so right‑clicking “raise” in John 6:28 instantly opens the Greek lexicon. The Exegetical Guide can be invoked for deeper word‑by‑word analysis of John 6:40, offering grammatical constructions and commentary options. An image of the Exegetical Guide appears:

Cross‑references enrich understanding. The Passage Guide (type “passage” → “Passage Guide” → input John 6:40) generates parallel passages such as John 3:16 and Romans 6:23, clarifying figurative language. Genre awareness is highlighted with Exodus 22:1 (law) versus Proverbs 6:31 (wisdom literature). The law prescribes specific penalties (five oxen for an ox), while Proverbs generalizes the principle that sinners must fully repay, even beyond the legal minimum. An image of the Passage Guide shows parallel verses:

Additional resources are recommended for deeper study. Cracking Old Testament Codes walks through literary forms (narrative, law, poetry, prophecy) and interpretation rules. A Basic Guide to Interpreting the Bible offers a play‑by‑play method for handling genres. The Proverbs Explorer breaks Proverbs into forms such as antithetical parallelism (wise/foolish son, glad/grief). The Psalms Explorer reveals structure like chiasms and acrostics; Psalm 1 uses a chiastic pattern (A‑B‑C‑C‑B‑A) to contrast the blessed with the wicked. Dorsey’s Literary Structure of the Old Testament maps chiastic patterns (e.g., Exodus 1‑4, Psalm 1) that lead to central themes. The Companion Bible’s columnar formatting (A‑B‑A‑B) highlights literary connections such as “godly vs. ungodly” in alternating columns. A screenshot of the Proverbs Explorer shows its layout:

Practical steps are summarized. Break large chapters into pericopes for sermon prep. Analyze words with sense sorting in Word Study to find parallel passages. Leverage parallel verses to clarify figurative language. Recognize genre differences—law prescribes specifics, wisdom offers general principles. Use Logos’ pericopes, Word Study, Passage Guide, and genre explorers to avoid misinterpretation. The segment ends with a reminder that context is king; never skip this step. Another image shows the Passage Guide in action:

In the final minutes, Dr. Fallahee recommends resources for difficult passages. Concise commentaries such as the Bible Knowledge Commentary and MacArthur Study Bible provide a solid start. More detailed expositional works like the New American Commentary and technical Word Biblical Commentary offer deeper insight. Specialized tools include Got Questions, which he demonstrates by searching Hebrews 6:4‑6 and accessing an article titled “Can a person believe in some sense and not be saved?” He also uses the Trace the Argument feature to locate multiple perspectives on eternal security within his library, showing how the tool surfaces scholarly comments and journal references. An image of the Trace the Argument window is included:

The outline of Romans is presented as a visual chart, dividing the letter into 16 thematic sections covering condemnation, justification, sanctification, and related duties. This chart tool helps organize study and saves time. A pro‑con table technique is explained for evaluating arguments on topics like the millennial kingdom. Arguments for a literal 1,000‑year reign cite Revelation 20’s repeated “thousand years” markers and Old Testament verses that speak of literal time frames. Figurative cautions note that 2 Peter 3:8 uses a simile, not an equivalence, and that symbolic language should be understood after establishing literal meaning. The pro‑con tool generates balanced arguments, encouraging thoughtful evaluation. An image of the pro‑con table appears:

The final practical steps involve confirming views with “two or three witnesses.” Dr. Fallahee advises praying for wisdom, rereading the passage, memorizing a key verse, noting the author, audience, and genre, and analyzing near and far context. He stresses studying key words in context, considering historical background, and comparing Scripture with Scripture. Application follows author intent, avoiding misuse of OT land promises for the church. An image of a prayerful note taking setup is shown:

The webinar closes with a prayer for wisdom to rightly divide Scripture and a reminder that the edited version will be released by Monday. Attendees are thanked, and a new webinar is announced for two weeks later. The emphasis throughout is on using Logos’ practical features—collections, smart searching, visual markers, passage analysis, and genre tools—to study the Bible accurately and apply it faithfully.