Does anyone know what these are called?

F

fromtheold Jan 25, 2011

Often times in scripture a way of putting things is used, they match up with each other and there is a word for this.

Does anyone know what this word is? Its like a parable but its called something else.

Here is an example:

For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

sermonindex Jan 25, 2011

The way of analyzing these verses to understand truth/doctrine would be called inductive Bible study. Probably not the word you were looking for, but still an important principle regarding what you're getting at. Here's a good link about it:

http://www.bible.ca/ef/topical-inductive-bible-study.htm

Hope that helps

M

mguldner Jan 25, 2011

I am going to try and throw out a couple of possibilities hopefully I can step on the landmine :)

Parallel
Foreshadow
Application
Precept
Principle

let me know if any of those are close!

W

whyme Jan 25, 2011

syllogism

M

mguldner Jan 25, 2011

Wow I was way off :P

G

ginnyrose Jan 25, 2011

Wow I was way off :P

Well, Matthew, aren't you glad that it won't effect your love for the LORD in one way or another? :-)

sermonindex Jan 25, 2011

From http://www.buzzle.com/articles/figures-of-speech-list.html

Antithesis:

An antithesis is a figure of speech where there is a juxtaposition of two contrasting ideas in a balanced clause or sentence. Some illustrations of antithesis:

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way.

- A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens

From http://www.nipissingu.ca/faculty/williams/figofspe.htm

there is also, Chiasmus:

Reversal of grammatical structures or ideas in sucessive phrases or clauses, which do not necessarily involve a repetition of words

But O, what damned minutes tells he o'er
Who dotes, yet doubts; suspects, yet strongly loves.

---Othello, 3.3.169

A modern, perhaps clearer example of chiasmus -

"In the end, the true test is not the speeches a president delivers; it’s whether the president delivers on the speeches."

(Hillary Clinton, March 2008)

http://grammar.about.com/od/c/g/chiasmusterm.htm

F

Faith1 Jan 26, 2011

To reply to your question, the Bible is its own expositor. Meaning it explains or interprets itself.

EXPOS'ITOR, n. [L.] One who expounds or explains; an interpreter.