HERMENEUTICS
Figurative and Literal
Language used in Scripture
The Bible is filled with
language that is descriptive through highly figurative speech. It is found in prophecy, poetry, narratives, parables,
allegories, etc. It becomes of a
necessity for the student of the Bible to acquaint themselves with the rules
governing this kind of speech. We know
that if we shall interpret literal language as if it were figurative, or
figurative as if it were literal, we will certainly miss the meaning.
How Can We Know Figurative
Language? (Metaphorical)
Rule #1. Nothing should be regarded as figurative
unless such a demand is made by the meaning of the immediate context, or by the
evident meaning of the whole passage.
Rule # 2. A word or sentence is figurative when the
literal meaning involves an impossibility.
Ex. Jer. 1:18-19, For,
behold, I have made thee this day a defensed city, and an iron pillar, and
brazen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the
princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the
land. And they shall fight against thee;
but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to
deliver thee.
Ex. Psa. 18: 2-3, the LORD is
my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will
trust, my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to
be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
Literally speaking, it is
impossible for the above statements to be literally stated. (Matt. 8:22; Rev.
6:13; Matt. 26:26-28) Metaphorically it
is true.
FABLE (2 Tim.
4:4) The FABLE is often confused with
the parable, yet there is a clear distinction.
Webster: a feigned story or tale;
a fictitious narration, intended to enforce some useful truth. The FABLE is better suited to indicate some
blunder made by men, and to serve the purpose of amusing criticism, than to
illustrate any high moral truth. (Judges
9:6-21: 2 Kings 14:8-10) That which is upright and honorable is
rejected for that which is least competent and unworthy.
PARABLE: Two Greek
words, para-beside, ballein – to throw; a placing beside or
together, a comparing, a comparison: a story by which something real in life is
used as a means of presenting a moral thought. It is the oldest and most common
of all the figures of speech. The actors
in a parable are real and they do nothing which they could not do. (2 Sam. 12:
1-6; Matt. 13:10-13; Luke 20: 9-19) To
reveal truth: making the people to understand
the unknown by a comparison with the known.
The parable of the sower, Matt. 13:1-9, is explained in verses 10-23;
the parable of the good seed and the tares, Matt. 13:24-30, is explained in
verses 36-43.
SIMILE: Webster – A
word or phrase by which anything is likened in one of its aspects to another; a
similitude, a poetical or imaginative comparison. The simile always furnished the means of a
comparison by a statement, not a story.
Ex. Matt. 3:16, And Jesus,
when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the word and, lo, the heavens
were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and
lighting upon him. (Matt. 23:27; Isa.
53:6-7)
METAPHOR: Two Greek
words, meta, beyond, over, and pherein, to bring, to carry. Webster: A short similitude; a similitude
reduced to a single word; or a word expressing similitude without the signs of
comparison.
Ex. ‘ That man is a fox’ is a
metaphor, but ‘ that man is like a fox’ is a simile, similitude, or
comparison. The metaphor says it is it;
the simile says, it is like that. “I
will devour them like a lion” (Hos. 13:8), is a simile; “Judah is a lion’s
whelp” (Gen. 49:9), is a metaphor. The
institution of the supper in Matt. 26:26-28 is in the most beautiful of
metaphorical language.
ALLEGORY: Two Greek
words, allos, other, and agoreuein, to speak in the assembly, to
harangue. Webster say: A figurative sentence or discourse, in which the
principal subject is described by another subject resembling it in properties
and circumstances. The principal subject
is thus kept out of view, and we are left to collect the intentions of the
writer or speaker by the resemblance of the secondary to the primary. The distinction in Scripture between a
parable and an allegory is said to be, that a parable is a supposed history,
and an allegory a figurative application of real facts (Galatians 4:21-31)
TYPE: Greek term tupos, figure, pattern, fashion, manner,
form, example, likeness.
A person or thing or event is
so fashioned or appointed as to resemble another, the one is made to answer the
other in some essential feature; in some particulars the one matches the
other. Types are pictures, object lessons,
by which God taught His people concerning His grace and saving power. The Mosaic system was a sort of kindergarten
in which God’s people were trained in divine things, by which also they were
led to look for better things to come.
An old writer thus expresses it:
“God in the types of the last dispensation was teaching His children
their letters. In this dispensation He
is teaching them to put letters together, and they find that the letters,
arrange them as they will, spell Christ, and nothing but Christ.”
Classification of Biblical Types
Personal types…personal experiences illustrate some principle or
truth of redemption.
Adam, a figure of him that was to come, Romans 5:14. Melchizedek, Aaron,
Abraham, Joseph, Jonah.
Historical types…great historical events under the Providence of God foreshadowing
things to come. Noah and the Ark,
Deliverance of Bondage from Egypt, Wilderness Journey.
Ritual types…Altar, the Offerings, The Priesthood, the Tabernacle
and its furniture.
ANTITYPES: Greek word…anti instead of or because of, tupon, model or pattern. The antitype contains divine or spiritual thought, a message of higher import. Ex. Matt. 26:26-29, the blood of Christ spiritually, purchases the kingdom, removes in. 1 Peter 3:21, the like figure (antitupon)
BASIC RULES OF HERMENEUTICS
HERMENEUTICS - The art and science of understanding the laws, methods, and principles of interpreting authoritative writings, especially the Scriptures.
To interpret the Scriptures, every teacher should become acquainted with the land
(geography), the customs (cultural) and the language (dialects, etc), figures of speech
(metaphors) and the meaning of words as used in context.
The “Interpreting of Scriptures” in Christendom thought is used in basically three
Authoritative approaches.
1) Traditional Hermeneutics
Traditional Hermeneutics – who is speaking, to whom he is speaking, what are the circumstances of the text and the definition of the words. Specific or generic commands, apostolic approved examples and necessary inference are all the hallmarks of traditional hermeneutics.
2) Existential Hermeneutics
The Bible, the Word of God, cannot answer every question with book, chapter and verse. The spirit of the Word allows you to identify with the spirit of God in your experiences which will allow you to have insight into things not recorded in the Bible.
Examples: Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements. I know how I feel. I saw, I felt.
Catholicism, aberrations (blurred images of Deity, saints, etc.)
This is seen in the difficulty of converting such persons. They come with a different authority that the Bible.
3) Cultural Hermeneutics
The Bible is a living Book, hence, it is interpreted as it is filtered through the culture of the moment. The application is in concert with the applied meaning of the now culture. Example: the Lutheran church now allows same sex marriages which they outlawed 20 years ago. But the culture of today allows them that right. Homosexuality is now not a sin by the general norm of the culture. The woman’s role, etc. The authority of culture becomes the filter of God’s Word, rather than the Word of God becoming the authority to filter culture.
Denominationalism for the most part has always operated on this principle. Conventions assemble to vote to change practices and beliefs based upon majority vote.
Traditional Hermeneutics did not originate in the church of Christ. It began in the Restoration Movement in the Western World by Alexander & Thomas Campbell, Barton W. Stone, and others. To fight against the denominational system of Bible beliefs, they had to adopt a sound and solid Biblical approach to interpretation to counteract their beliefs. Traditional Hermeneutics, the tenets that represent the science, who is speaking, to whom he is speaking, what is happening in the text, the meaning of words, was also being used by the denominations. But one very special ingredient was added by the leaders of the Restoration Movement that they did not have in their science of Hermeneutics was Dispensationalism.
Dispensationalism – the principal of Dispensations – the dividing of the Bible into dispensations (periods of time). The reformers of the Catholic church were now being reformed. The leaders of the restoration movement set out to restore the New Testament Church, not the Catholic or other denominations. In order for that to be accomplished, the restorers said, you must understand the laws that God gave in the Patriarchical Dispensation were not binding upon the Mosaical Dispensation and the laws of the Mosaical Dispensation are not binding upon us in the Christian Dispensation. Facts, commands and promises must be respected in their Dispensation.
New Testament Church is bound by Apostolic authority and not Mosaic Authority.
Acts 2
Pattern Principle – Direct command, approved example, necessary inference.
Direct Command...Matt 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16 – To be baptized
Approved Example…Acts 8:37-39 – Man being baptized; no christening, no sprinkling.
Necessary Inference …Water you can see. Acts 8:36 (No Holy Spirit baptism)
Interpreting Scriptures through speech. Figurative or literal.
Fables ... 2 Tim. 4:4
Parables…Difference between a fable and a parable.
Metaphor…
Simile…
Allegory
Types…
Anti-types