Andy Naselli

Thoughts on Theology

Exegetical Fallacies, 3rd Edition

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My new book:

Carson, D. A., and Andrew David Naselli. Exegetical Fallacies. 3rd ed. Baker Academic, 2026.

It releases in early August, and it’s available for pre-order now.

Preview the book: This 34-page sample PDF includes the front matter, the Introduction, and the first part of chapter 1.

My first print copies:

 

Dr. Carson wrote the first two editions, which released in 1984 and 1996. Baker Academic is releasing the third edition thirty years after the second edition.

Contents

Preface to the Third Edition

Dr. Carson is my mentor for exegesis and theology. It was my privilege to study under him for a PhD (2006–10) and to serve as his research manager (2006–14). The opportunity for me as a young exegete and theologian to be an apprentice under Dr. Carson was like a young lawyer getting to clerk for the Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

One of the books I cut my exegetical teeth on in the late 1990s was the second (1996) edition of Dr. Carson’s Exegetical Fallacies. When Dr. Carson invited me to update Exegetical Fallacies as his coauthor of this third edition, I accepted the honor with pleasure.

While Dr. Carson’s voice still predominates in this new edition, I have updated Exegetical Fallacies in three ways:

  1. I have removed some less relevant examples and added new ones, including some new fallacies. This third edition is about 30 percent longer than the second edition. Some of the new material discusses genre-related fallacies in more detail (as Dr. Carson expresses at the end of his preface to the second edition).
  2. Instead of using only labels as the headings for fallacies throughout the book, I have labeled each fallacy and then concisely define the fallacy. This makes the book a bit more user-friendly.
  3. I have lightly updated the style to make it as accessible as I could for non-experts. I have attempted to make it readable for beginning theology students as well as stimulating for those who are intermediate or more advanced.

—Andy Naselli

Endorsements

“The new edition of Exegetical Fallacies adds and updates Don Carson’s original book (published in 1984). Andy Naselli, Don Carson’s long-time research assistant, has done a good job in revising the book. This will give the book a longer life, which it deserves. I recommend this book to students, teachers, pastors, and anyone seriously interested in the interpretation of the New Testament.”

—G. K. Beale, Professor of New Testament, Reformed Theological Seminary, Dallas, TX

“This notorious bombshell of a book has embarrassed many. And it has blessed many more. For some, like me, it is strangely beloved. So, I rejoice for this fruitful, time-tested work to have fresh life, and I pray this new version might help a new generation, like the previous edition profoundly helped me. Hands down, this is one of the most influential books from my seminary years. I have re-read and referenced it often, and encouraged dozens of others to do so as well. It is one of the most worn and marked books I own. These precious principles, I hope, have gone deep into my soul and, with the Spirit’s help, not only kept me from mistakes, but led and guided private study and public teaching for more than two decades.”

—David Mathis, Senior Teacher and Executive Editor, desiringGod.org; Pastor, Cities Church in Saint Paul, MN; Adjunct Professor, Bethlehem College and Seminary

“The first two editions of Exegetical Fallacies proved to be of immense help in interpreting the Scriptures. The third edition, which adds the contribution of Andy Naselli, updates the book for a new generation. The book is accessible, clear, instructive, and thus at the end of day (though sometimes painful) edifying.”

—Thomas R. Schreiner, James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation, Associate Dean, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

“Exegetical Fallacies has served a generation of pastors and students and is now available in a thoroughly updated third edition. Carson and Naselli model sober judgment and serious care for the inerrant Scriptures as they explain and illustrate various interpretive fallacies. Highly recommended for all readers who desire to rightly handle God’s word!”

—Brian J. Tabb, President and Professor of Biblical Studies, Bethlehem College and Seminary; General Editor, Themelios

“When I completed my first year of Greek in college, my professor warned all of us, ‘You’re still dangerous.’ We had a long way to go to become faithful expositors of Scripture. Even after several years of Greek and Hebrew syntax and exegesis, many students, pastors, and teachers are still dangerous because they still misuse the text of Holy Writ. Many years of intense work in the languages will not, by itself, solve this problem, as James Barr clearly articulated sixty-five years ago in his Semantics of Biblical Language. But Barr addressed only some of the issues.

“D. A. Carson’s first edition of Exegetical Fallacies (1984) discussed more kinds of fallacies than Barr’s treatment of grammatical and lexical fallacies; it included logical, presuppositional, and historical fallacies as well. Exegetical Fallacies became an instant classic. At last, here was a guide to help Bible teachers get out of the danger zone. The second edition (1996) updated the discussions. And now, thirty years later, Carson and Naselli have improved the classic, adding thirty percent more material and making the language more user-friendly and the discussions more relevant to today’s readers. They have added short definitions for each fallacy, and literary and theological fallacies are new categories.

“The third edition of Exegetical Fallacies is needed now more than ever as evangelical Bible teachers are becoming, in the authors’ words, ‘frequently and inexcusably sloppy.’ Teachers of Scripture have a grave responsibility. This new edition is a wake-up call for that sacred duty, an antidote to the poison too often spewed from the pulpit. It needs to be close at hand for all those entrusted with a ministry of the Word.”

—Daniel B. Wallace, Senior Research Professor Emeritus of New Testament Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary; Founder and Executive Director, Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts

Related: Tools to Study the Bible and Theology.

A Wholesome Patriotism Is Full of Gratitude to God

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This evening my church gathered with three other churches in the area to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary. Here are the remarks I prepared to open the time of thanksgiving, prayer, and singing.

* * *

We have gathered as Christians who are also American patriots. We have gathered to thank God for our nation, the United States of America. We love our country, and we want to express our gratitude to God and ask him to continue to be gracious to us. We beg for God’s mercy on a country that is squandering the riches of our inheritance.

A typical way to define patriotism is “having or expressing devotion to and vigorous support for one’s country.” As a Christian, should you feel guilty for being patriotic? No.

  • I’m not talking about blind patriotism in which you can never criticize your nation or its leaders.
  • Nor am I talking about an idolatrous patriotism in which you essentially worship your country rather than God.
  • I’m talking about a wholesome patriotism in which you promote the good for your nation, which means that sometimes you should criticize your government authorities when they rebel against God’s design for government. A wholesome patriotism is full of gratitude to God. That’s my primary claim right now.

A wholesome patriotism rightly orders what you love. You love God supremely, but that doesn’t mean that you must hate everything else. I love my wife and my daughters and my church and my city and my state and my country. (I also love steak and Chipotle burrito bowls and Minnesota summers and Minnesota’s North Shore and music by Bach and Beethoven.) It’s okay to love more than one thing. You need wisdom to order what you love. And when you have a wholesome patriotism, you love your country in a way that is fitting. In short, you are full of gratitude to God for your country.

Dari Chevalier illustrates the opposite of patriotism. This past Tuesday Dari Chevalier won the Democratic primary for New York’s 13th Congressional District. She is a Muslim democratic socialist activist. In 2019, she posted this on Twitter: “I forgot to get napkins so I just wiped my hand on the American flag behind me 😊 [smiley face emoji].” That mindset is like saying, “I couldn’t find napkins, so I just took the portrait of my mother off the wall and wiped my hands on it.” That’s so disrespectful!

God commands you to honor your father and your mother. You don’t get to choose your father and mother. You are responsible before God to honor the father and mother whom God gave you.

When I hear another person thank God for his father or mother, I love it because that is fitting. It’s good to honor your father and mother.

And when I hear another person thank God for his nation, I love it because that is fitting. It’s good to support your nation by thanking God for your nation.

In international sports competitions like the Olympics or the World Cup, it’s good for Americans to cheer for Americans. I loved it when the USA men’s hockey team recently beat Canada to win the gold medal (and I loved that the athletes weren’t woke). It doesn’t bother me when Germans cheer for the German soccer team or when Mexicans cheer for Mexico or when Brazilians cheer for Brazil. What bothers me is when Americans actively root against America.

Let’s not be like that. Let’s not be thankless, discontent, disrespectful, dishonorable, disloyal ingrates. Let’s be full of gratitude for all of God’s gifts. For example:

  • Thank God for religious liberty—that four churches can gather in the open tonight to sing and pray in the name of King Jesus, with no fear of the state.
  • Thank God for a Constitution that recognizes rights we did not invent and government did not grant—rights our founders said that our Creator endowed us with.
  • Thank God for the rule of law—for just laws that are a terror to bad conduct and that approve what is good (Rom 13:3), for just authorities, courts, and police.
  • Thank God for those who defended this freedom with their lives—and for the soldiers, officers, and first responders standing watch even now.
  • Thank God for the freedom to speak, to worship, to assemble, and to raise our children in the fear of the Lord.
  • Thank God for the freedom to work, to build, to own, and to give—for an economy that, for all its faults, could be so much worse.
  • Thank God for self-government—that we can vote, disagree, and change our leaders without bloodshed.
  • Thank God for a nation that has sent more missionaries to the ends of the earth than any other.
  • Thank God for this land itself—its harvests and rivers, its mountains and canyons, its summers and its winters.
  • Thank God that, in his good providence, he set us here, in this country, for such a time as this. Thank God that he wrote us into his story and that we get to be part of his story right here.

A wholesome patriotism is full of gratitude to God. So thank God for the United States of America.

What God Says in 1 Timothy

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My new book is available in print and Kindle formats, and it will soon be available from Logos Bible Software. It’s 806 pages.

Naselli, Andrew David. What God Says in 1 Timothy. Build & Fight Press, 2026.

I explain and apply the apostle Paul’s first letter to Timothy. In addition to expositing 1 Timothy, I also teach what the whole Bible says about men and women, pastors, deacons, slavery, work, and money.

Contents

Endorsements

“Andy Naselli has given the church a timely and forceful exposition of Paul’s first letter to Timothy. In an age when the household of God is tempted to confusion, softness, and surrender, this book calls pastors and churches back to the apostolic charge: guard the truth, pursue godliness, and fight the good fight of the faith. Naselli writes with clarity, conviction, and pastoral urgency. He does not treat doctrine as an ornament for the mind, but as the architecture of a faithful church. Here is a book for elders, fathers, teachers, and saints who want to know how the church of the living God ought to behave in a world drowning in falsehood. Read it, mark it, and let Paul’s charge strengthen your spine for the good fight.”
—Uri Brito, Senior Pastor, Providence Church in Pensacola, Florida; Presiding Minister of Council, Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC)

“If Andy Naselli writes a book, I’m reading it! I am glad to add this insightful and practical book on 1 Timothy to my Naselli collection. And I warmly encourage you to read and share this study on a Pastoral Epistle that pastors and churches desperately need to hear and heed today.”
—H. B. Charles Jr., Pastor-Teacher of the Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church of Jacksonville and Orange Park, Florida

“Paul’s first letter to Timothy is an important book for the church due to its teaching on church government and the duties of men and women. There are several good commentaries in print, but what sets Andy Naselli’s work apart is its application, as well as its unique format. Do not let the page count of this book intimidate you. The headers, bullet points, and question-and-answer format make it easily accessible for all Christians. I plan to consult it regularly.”
—Zachary Garris, Pastor, Bryce Avenue Presbyterian Church (PCA) in White Rock, New Mexico

“From its summons to ‘fight the good fight of faith’ (1 Tim 1:18) to its discussion of false teaching, the proper use of the law, and God’s design for men, women, and the church, Paul’s first epistle to Timothy is stuffed with the sort of applied theology the church desperately needs in every age, including our own. To that end Naselli offers a thorough analysis of the big doctrines contained in this little book, explaining them with a theologian’s precision and applying them with a pastor’s heart.”
—Doug Ponder, Academic Dean and Professor of Biblical Studies, Grimké Seminary; Teaching Pastor, Remnant Church in Richmond, Virginia

“Andy Naselli has proven himself to be a faithful scholar, a trusted theologian, and a prolific author. Yet now, in addition to serving the universal church as a professor, he has taken on the mantle of being a pastor of his local church. This commentary on 1 Timothy is the fruit of that preaching ministry. With exegetical skill, Naselli offers pastoral wisdom in a style of writing that gets right to the heart of the text. For anyone preaching or studying 1 Timothy, this book will serve you well as a trusted source of biblical and theological insight.”
—David Schrock, Pastor of Preaching and Theology, Occoquan Bible Church in Woodbridge, Virginia; Editor-in-Chief, ChristOverAll.com

“Andy Naselli is a thoughtful exegete and a reliable guide. Pick up this volume if you are looking for a conservative, theologically informed, and readily applicable engagement with Paul’s longest pastoral epistle, 1 Timothy.”
—Colin J. Smothers, Pastor, First Baptist Church of Maize, Kansas; Executive Director, The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood

“This book is a rich asset for anyone thinking through 1 Timothy and the issues it raises. Andy Naselli’s sermons are marked by detailed analysis, careful attention to the text, and robust theological reflection and application. He speaks clearly and unashamedly, always pastorally with the aim of helping people live according to the truths of God’s Word so that they might please God and know the fullness of walking with God.”
—Ray Van Neste, Dean, School of Theology and Missions, Professor of Biblical Studies, Union University; author of Cohesion and Structure in the Pastoral Epistles, JSNTSup 280 (T&T Clark, 2004) and the notes on 1–2 Timothy and Titus in the ESV Study Bible (Crossway, 2008)

Preface (An Excerpt from the Book)

This book updates the first sermon series I preached to Christ the King Church in Stillwater, Minnesota. We first covenanted as a church on January 5, 2025, and it was my joy to explain and apply what God says in 1 Timothy. This raises five introductory questions:

Q1. Why are you publishing these sermons?

I wrote the sermons for my church—not for the internet and not for a book. But as I finished the series, it seemed good to my fellow pastors for me to lightly update my sermon manuscripts in a book.

When I study the Bible, it helps me to read not only technical exegesis of a passage but also how preachers and teachers have attempted to explain God’s words and to exhort God’s people in a church’s worship service. I pray that my teaching and exhorting may help you understand and obey what God says in 1 Timothy. That’s why I am publishing these sermons.

Q2. Why do some of your sermons explain what the whole Bible says about a matter?

For most of this book, I explain 1 Timothy passage by passage. (Those sermons are expositional preaching.) I also occasionally zoom out to explain what the whole Bible says about a matter and then show how that relates to what God says in 1 Timothy. (Those sermons are topical preaching.) I zoom out to address the following topics:

  • God’s good design for men and women (with reference to 1 Tim 2:9–15)
  • what shepherds do and how to discern if a man should be a pastor (with reference to 1 Tim 3:1–7)
  • deacons (with reference to 1 Tim 3:8–13)
  • slavery (with reference to 1 Tim 6:1–2)
  • work (with reference to 1 Tim 6:1–2)
  • money (with reference to 1 Tim 3:3; 6:6–10, 17–19)

I do that to show how the whole Bible fits together. The Bible brilliantly coheres. God does not contradict himself.

Q3. What resources on 1 Timothy do you recommend?

Here are five resources that I found especially helpful as I studied 1 Timothy—starting with the most helpful:

  1. Knight, George W., III. The Pastoral Epistles: A Commentary on the Greek Text. NIGTC. Eerdmans, 1992.
  2. Yarbrough, Robert W. The Letters to Timothy and Titus. Pillar New Testament Commentary. Eerdmans, 2018.
  3. Burk, Denny. “1 Timothy.” Pages 371–451 in Ephesians–Philemon. Vol. 11 of ESV Expository Commentary. Crossway, 2018.
  4. Calvin, John. Commentaries on the Epistles to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. Edited and translated by William Pringle. Logos, 2010.
  5. Mounce, William D. Pastoral Epistles. WBC 46. Word, 2000.

Q4. How can I access your phrase diagram of 1 Timothy?

A phrase diagram is a type of argument diagram. An argument diagram graphically displays the text’s logical flow of thought in two ways: (1) by dividing up the text into propositions and phrases and (2) by specifying how the propositions and phrases logically relate to each other. A phrase diagram traces the argument by (1) indenting clauses and phrases above or below what they modify and (2) adding labels and symbols like arrows to explain how the propositions and phrases logically relate.

The title of my phrase diagram is Tracing the Argument of 1 Timothy: A Phrase Diagram (Logos, 2026). It’s available from Logos Bible Software.

I meticulously phrased 1 Timothy line by line in Greek and then mirrored that in the ESV before I drafted my sermons. The structure of most of my sermons reflects how I think Paul argues.

Q5. Why are you dedicating this book to Nathan Colestock, Tom Dodds, and Dustin Williams?

Those three men are my fellow pastors, and they gave me constructive feedback on each sermon. In 2024, we prepared to plant Christ the King Church together, and it has been a joy to build and fight with these like-minded and like-hearted brothers.

How to Write a Paper: Five Steps to Writing a Theological or Literary Research Paper

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My new book is available in print and Kindle formats, and it is available for pre-order from Logos Bible Software:

Naselli, Andrew David. How to Write a Paper: Five Steps to Writing a Theological or Literary Research Paper. Lake Elmo, MN: Build & Fight Press, 2026.

My first print copy:

Contents

Who is this book for?

This book is for students—especially at the level of college and graduate school.

Advanced high school students could use it as well.

How should you use this book?

If you are a student, read this little book straight through before you write a paper, and consult it along the way as you plan, research, write, and revise.

If you are a teacher, require your students to read this little book before they begin the paper-writing process.

(This book is about how to write a research paper, but the principles apply to shorter essays as well as longer works such as an MA thesis, ThM thesis, DMin thesis, or PhD dissertation.)

Endorsements

“Naselli’s book helpfully supplies students a step-by-step, uncomplicated guide to writing a research paper, and by this he supplies teachers greater joys in grading and mobilizing a new generation of faithful communicators.”
—Jason S. DeRouchie, Research Professor of Old Testament and Biblical Theology and Rich and Judy Hastings Endowed Chair of Old Testament Studies, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; Pastor, Sovereign Joy Baptist Church in Kansas City, Missouri

“This is a remarkable resource that I wish I’d had on my desk years ago. As valuable for a professor as for a student, it is a practical guide to that dread academic exercise: the writing and the grading of research papers. It covers everything from conception to completion: researching and outlining, documenting and reasoning, editing and honing. I am buying copies for all my teachers.”
—George Grant, pastor of Parish Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Franklin, Tennessee; founder of Franklin Classical School, the Chalmers Fund, and the King’s Meadow Study Center; author of more than 70 books

“Andy Naselli is one of the most enjoyable authors to read because his prose is so clear and his style unencumbered by the typical academic jargon of our day. This book gives you direct insight on his writing process. Not only that, Naselli demonstrates what is the true foundation of clear writing—namely, clear thinking. Students and professors will gain practical, actionable insights for their academic writing and grading. Our day is in need of coherent and logical arguments made in a way that is faithful to God’s word and comprehensible to readers. That is where impact is made. I am grateful for the way this book paves the way for such writing to take place.”
—Jeremy M. Kimble, Professor of Systematic and Applied Theology, Cedarville University

“Professors often jest (with that kernel of truth that every good joke contains) that we teach for free and are paid to grade. Poorly researched, badly argued, sloppily written papers are to blame, of course, but the sad fact is that far too many papers match this description. And while only the gifts of God can make a great writer, anyone can become a good writer—or, at least, a better one. Naselli shows the way as a man who is no stranger to the author’s pen, having written two dissertations and a full shelf of books. Wise is the student who follows his advice, and blessed is the professor who makes this book required reading in his classes.”
—Doug Ponder, Academic Dean and Professor of Biblical Studies, Grimké Seminary; Teaching Pastor, Remnant Church in Richmond, Virginia

“Professors know the joys of teaching. Students know the joys of learning. And both professors and students know the pains of grading. In How to Write a Paper, Andy Naselli aims to increase joy and relieve pain for professors and students alike. Clearly and succinctly, he guides the reader through the research-and-writing process, modeling careful thinking, discipline, and pastoral wisdom. Practical and easy to read, this needed work will benefit every student looking to improve his research and writing. I heartily recommend it!”
—Michael Riccardi, Assistant Professor of Theology, The Master’s Seminary; Pastor of Local Outreach Ministries, Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California

“Like Dr. Naselli, I’m a professor who teaches for free and gets paid to grade. And I’m always on the lookout for resources to help students with the writing process. Dr. Naselli has written an accessible guide for both students and teachers. It will aid students in research and writing, and it will bless teachers with better papers. Read it, and then get to writing.”
—Joe Rigney, Fellow of Theology and Director of Greyfriars Hall, New Saint Andrews College; Associate Pastor, Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho

“In a world so often confusing and needlessly complicated, full of ambiguity and conflicting authorities shouting each other down, it is a profound relief to have someone sit you down and explain in a kind, clear voice exactly what is expected and why. This book speaks to you as if you were a slightly panicked student grasping at straws, and it offers you a life-raft of sound, plain-spoken advice, with helpful tables and examples. Read it.”
—Carson Spratt, Rhetoric and Integrated Humanities Teacher, Logos Online School

“This short book presents clear, practical, step-by-step help for students writing research papers. Naselli is a seasoned writer, editor, and teacher, and here he offers wise counsel applicable to anyone who wants to write well.”
—Brian J. Tabb, President and Professor of Biblical Studies, Bethlehem College and Seminary; General Editor, Themelios

“Writing research papers does not come naturally to any of us. We need expert guidance, and Andy Naselli’s short work may be the best concise one-stop shop for students to get started. If used well, it should result in clearer writing, better thinking, and happier teachers.”
—Justin Taylor, Executive Vice President of Book Publishing and Book Publisher, Crossway; Managing Editor, The ESV Study Bible

“Unfortunately, in our current educational system and the age of social media, the skill of how to write a solid research paper is becoming a lost art. This is why I am thrilled to recommend Andy Naselli’s How to Write a Paper. Naselli covers the crucial points with helpful illustrations regarding how to write an excellent paper, which will greatly aid students and receive the thanks of many teachers. Simply a wonderful resource for students of all ages and educational backgrounds.”
—Stephen J. Wellum, Professor of Christian Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; Editor, The Southern Baptist Journal of Theology; Pastor, Providence Baptist Church in Sellersburg, Indiana

“Andy Naselli has given students a gift: a guide that helps them steward their written words. Clear, practical, and accessible, this book trains students to write with patience and precision. Those who take its counsel seriously will not only write better papers—they will become better communicators.”
—Jonathon Woodyard, Vice President of Student Life and Assistant Professor of Historical Theology, Southwest Baptist University

Christ the King of Your Home: Dating, Marriage, and Parenting

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God has been so gracious to Christ the King Church in Stillwater, Minnesota. We recently celebrated our first year with our first guest preacher: Dr. John Piper. Now it’s our joy to announce our first conference:

“Christ the King of Your Home: Dating, Marriage, and Parenting” (August 21–22, 2026).

Pastor Doug Wilson plans to give three keynote addresses followed by Q&A that I plan to moderate.

There are also pre-conference sessions for men and women, and on Friday evening we plan to host a Contra Dance and singles mixer.

Seating is limited for our venue in downtown Stillwater.

More info here: conference.ChristTheKing.build.

Teaching Students in Person at Bethlehem Theological Seminary

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Wanted: A few good men to join us at Bethlehem Theological Seminary for in-person (off-line only) pastoral training for an MDiv.

Here’s the kind of seminary student I love to teach at Bethlehem Theological Seminary—and why in-person training is superior to online training (2:18 min.):

Here’s what the classroom is like for my seminary students—and why in-person training is superior to online training (4:26 min.):

Here’s what makes our seminary program rigorous—and why that’s so important (2:42 min.):

More info: bcsmn.edu/seminary.

A Little Book on How to Be a Manly Man: Advice for Young Men

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In this little book, I give advice to young men:

Andrew David Naselli. Help! I Want to Be a Manly Man. LifeLine for Teens. Wapwallopen, PA: Shepherd, 2025.

Help! I Want to Be a Manly Man

A manly man contrasts with a harsh macho man or a soft girly man. In this little book, I show you how to be a manly man by unpacking four statements:

  1. A manly man is on a mission.
  2. A manly man is responsible.
  3. A manly man is hardworking.
  4. A manly man is strong.

Here are resources I recommend at the end of the book:

Update: I recorded what I thought was an audio podcast about the book, and it turned out to be a video. Whoops. I was walking on the treadmill in my cold Minnesota garage in December.

“Help! I Want to Be a Manly Man” (64 seconds):

Here’s an interview with Pastor John Dalrymple (recorded on April 28, 2026):