Part of Biblical Exegesis:

1. Historical Survey

2. Biblical Criticism

3. Spiritual Exegesis

Writers of the first Christian centuries were familiar with a literal exegesis and a critical exegesis which hardly differed in aim from our present exegesis; only they did not have the benefit of our tools and improved methods. Origen, the pioneer of Christian allegory, became with his Hexapla the first great critical exegete and a great literal exegete whom St. Jerome often simply copied. Ne…