Why “Figures of Speech?”
That is a great question for Bible Studies. The missionary intentions of our bible studies are to enhance the Bible reader’s understanding; and sometimes, parables are understood … sometimes not. This will become clearer to the reader as reading this POST continues. It may seem initially much attention is given to “Figures of Speech” is not that important. Yet this is necessary and foundational; although admittedly, largely unknown to readers of the Bible in 2022.
That said, Figures of Speech were known to our ancestors, and have been lost through time, due to neglect, and a lack of real education beginning in the Middle Ages. Significant attention to Figures of Speech both in our Father ABBA’S Word, as well as in every day thoughts and speech (words chosen), resurfaced through the efforts of H.W. Bullinger, D.D. and Dr. Christian David Ginsburg in the period between 1890-97, when Ginsburg was finalizing his work entitled: “Introduction to the Massoretico-Critical Edition of the Hebrew Bible,” (1897) and Bullinger was finalizing his 1,100 page book entitled: “Figures of Speech of the Bible Used And Explained” (1898). Both men were long term friends, scholars in both Hebrew and Greek, and worked closely with one another in England. Bullinger’s book published over 8,000 figures of speech in the Bible; a fact astounding in itself; not only revealing to readers a large number of which were found in the Old Testament, as well as their intentional use by Christ Jesus in the New Testament; numbering over 30 times.[1]
Sometimes Figures of Speech are obvious to the hearer or reader of God’s Word, as in the case when Christ Jesus announces He is going to speak in a parable in answer to a question. The serpent who “speaks” to Eve in the Garden of Eden, may seem to readers to be another obvious Figure of Speech. Yet the overwhelming majority of these figures cannot be discovered from the rendered English words now appearing in Bibles of 2022. Diligent study of each word must of necessity be taken back to the roots of words in Aramaic (i.e., the Targums - Prophets), translated to Hebrew in the Old Testament, and to Greek in the New Testament, then to English; that is at a very minimum. These word studies of Figures f Speech take significant time, and always require the guidance of the Holy Spirit of Truth for these efforts to be revealed, for the context of the meanings of words when they were spoken, and the meaning of those words for the present day. The eternal truth in Father ABBA’s Word is not defined by time; nor man’s temporal existence. Father ABBA’s Word is immutable, eternal; living today and throughout all times.
It may be said, most people of today in 2022; and our ancestors alike, who read or heard Father ABBA’s Word, at times faced confusion and even inconsistencies; which caused them to “back off” forming opinions, perceptions, even man-made doctrines of doubt. Secularist influences for the past 1000 years across the fabric of societies were of no help. Yet, Bullinger offers the following counsel on this subject in his Introduction to Figures of Speech (ibid.) as:
“…This peculiar form or unusual manner may not be true, or so true, to the literal meaning of the words; but it is more true to their real sense, and truer to truth. Figures are never used but for the sake of emphasis. They can never, therefore, be ignored.Ignorance of Figures of speech has led to the grossest errors, which have been caused either from taking literally what is figurative, or from taking figuratively what is literal.”
Footnote:
[1] A parable is a story told to illustrate a truth. Jesus’ parables were teaching aids and can be thought of as extended analogies, comparing two things or ideas. A common description of a parable is that it is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Jesus told many parables; in fact, at least for a time in His ministry, Jesus relied heavily on story-telling: “He did not say anything to them without using a parable” (Mark 4:34). Counts of the parables in the Bible differ because categorizing various teaching tools is a subjective undertaking. Some parables in the Bible are clearly labeled as such. Others are not specified as parables, but they clearly match any reasonable definition of the word. Parable do include all parabolic instruction (such as Proverbs 25:11), the number of “parables” naturally rises. Some count about 100 parables in the Bible; others see over 250. There are over 30 parables of Jesus recorded in the Synoptic Gospels (the Gospel of John has none).
Here is a list of parables in the New Testament, defining parable as “a fictional yet realistic story that illustrates a spiritual truth”:
1. The Two Builders (Matthew 7:24–27; Luke 6:46–49)
2. The Sprouting Seed (Mark 4:26–29)
3. The Children of the Marketplace (Matthew 11:16–19; Luke 7:31–32)
4. The Unclean Spirit (Matthew 12:43–45; Luke 11:24–26)
5. Tree and Its Fruit (Matthew 12:33–37; Luke 6:43–45)
6. The Strongman’s House (Matthew 12:29–30; Luke 11:21–23)
7. The Sower and the Seed (Matthew 13:3–9; Mark 4:1–9; Luke 8:4–8)
8. The Wheat and the Tares (Matthew 13:24–30)
9. The Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31–32; Mark 4:30–32; Luke 13:18–20)
10. Leaven in the Dough (Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:20–21)
11. The Hidden Treasure (Matthew 13:44)
12. The Pearl of Great Price (Matthew 13:45–46)
13. The Dragnet (Matthew 13:47–50)
14. Treasures New and Old (Matthew 13:52 )
15. The Moneylender (Luke 7:41–43)
16. The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–42)
17. The Friend in Need (Luke 11:5–8)
18. The Rich Fool (Luke 12:15–21)
19. The Master’s Return (Luke 12:35–40)
20. The Unfruitful Fig Tree (Luke 13:6–9)
21. The Great Banquet (Luke 14:15–24)
22. The Lost Sheep (Matthew 18:12–14; Luke 15:3–7)
23. The Unmerciful Servant (Matthew 18:23–34)
24. The Lost Coin (Luke 15:8–10)
25. The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11–32)
26. The Dishonest Steward (Luke 16:1–8)
27. The Master and His Servant (Luke 17:7–10)
28. The Widow and the Unjust Judge (Luke 18:1–8)
29. The Laborers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1–16)
30. The Wicked Vine Dressers (Matthew 21:33–46; Mark 12:1–12; Luke 20:9–19)
31. The Two Sons (Matthew 21:28–31)
32. The Wedding Banquet (Matthew 22:1–14)
33. Faithful vs. Wicked Servants (Matthew 24:45–51; Mark 13:32–37; Luke 12:41–48)
34. The Wise and Foolish Virgins (Matthew 25:1–13)
35. The Three Servants and the Talents (Matthew 25:14–30)
36. The Ten Minas (Luke 19:12–27)
37. The Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31–46)
38. [Some consider the story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19–31) to be a parable; others consider it to be a true story that Jesus told.]
Because “Figures of Speech “ in the Bible are so significant, yet ignored topic in Bible study, Appendix VI in Bullinger’s Companion Bible (a monumental work in its own right) contains a summary of them extending 30 pages of more. His actual book “Figures of Speech” (ibid.) is over 1,100 pages in length, and it contains over 8,000 such figures of speech used in the Bible. The Holy Spirit has used many of these in Father ABBA’s Word; and, continues to point to them for usage and interpretation. As Bullinger and others affirm:
So this is very important for Bible Study; but not for that alone. In 2022, “Figures of Speech” are used in the public square in America, whether wittingly; but not often unwittingly, as a means describing people, thoughts, words, locations, intentions, labels of groups, cures for diseases, cause of economic conditions, nature’s observable phenomena, and much more. This is crucial to our study of words in Bible studies; that is: which ones to choose, which ones to avoid and … why? Christ Jesus says “… you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.” Sometimes understanding a figure of speech is one step toward that freedom in truth.
Peace be to you and your families. Grace is all. JT
