“All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them.” Matt. 13:34

We all use figurative language… Much of the Bible is written in figurative speech

Jesus had a problem with people misinterpreting figurative expressions John 6:48-66 “eat my flesh and drink my blood…” Matt. 26:60-61 “Destroy this temple and I will build it again in three days.” Many false doctrines are based upon a Misinterpretation of figurative speech

I. Some Common Figures of Speech  Parable Throw along side – familiar Luke 8: sower

I. Some Common Figures of Speech  Parable  Fable A fictitious narration Used to teach a lesson Judges 9:8-15 – trees anointed a king over them

I. Some Common Figures of Speech  Parable  Fable  Simile  Similitude Comparing two unlike things Matt. 3:16 “like a dove” Matt. 7:24 “unto a wise man”

I. Some Common Figures of Speech  Parable  Fable  Simile  Similitude  Metaphor Comparison implied Luke 13:31,32 “fox” Rom.6:3,4 buried in baptism

I. Some Common Figures of Speech  Parable  Fable  Simile  Similitude  Metaphor  Metonymy One thing is said while another is meant Acts 8:28 “reading Isaiah” 1Cor.11:25 - “Cup”

I. Some Common Figures of Speech  Parable  Fable  Simile  Similitude  Metaphor  Metonymy  Synecdoche Whole put for a part, or A part for the whole Mt.3:5,6 - Jerusalem

I. Some Common Figures of Speech  Parable  Fable  Simile  Similitude  Metaphor  Metonymy  Synecdoche  Irony Saying one thing while meaning the opposite 2 Cor. 11:19 - are wise

I. Some Common Figures of Speech  Parable  Fable  Simile  Similitude  Metaphor  Metonymy  Synecdoche  Irony  Sarcasm To speak bitterly or scornfully Mark 15:31,32 “himself he cannot save”

I. Some Common Figures of Speech  Parable  Fable  Simile  Similitude  Metaphor  Metonymy  Synecdoche  Irony  Sarcasm  Hyperbole To overstate a point for emphasis Deut. 1:28 “fenced up to heaven”

I. Some Common Figures of Speech  Parable  Fable  Simile  Similitude  Metaphor  Metonymy  Synecdoche  Irony  Sarcasm  Hyperbole  Personification Inanimate objects are addressed as if they were actual persons Pr. 8:1,2

I. Some Common Figures of Speech  Parable  Fable  Simile  Similitude  Metaphor  Metonymy  Synecdoche  Irony  Sarcasm  Hyperbole  Personification  Interrogation Asking a question to affirm a proposition 1 Cor. 1:13 “is Christ divided?”

I. Some Common Figures of Speech  Parable  Fable  Simile  Similitude  Metaphor  Metonymy  Synecdoche  Irony  Sarcasm  Hyperbole  Personification  Interrogation  Allegory A figurative sentence or discourse a continued metaphor Gal.4 – 5 - Hagar and Sarah

I. Some Common Figures of Speech  Parable  Fable  Simile  Similitude  Metaphor  Metonymy  Synecdoche  Irony  Sarcasm  Hyperbole  Personification  Interrogation  Allegory  Proverb An old and common saying Short pity statement containing a valuable thought Prov.15:1 “A soft answer turneth away wrath:”

I. Some Common Figures of Speech  Parable  Fable  Simile  Similitude  Metaphor  Metonymy  Synecdoche  Irony  Sarcasm  Hyperbole  Personification  Interrogation  Allegory  Proverb

II. How to Determine when Language Is Figurative 1. Observe the Context Rev years reign Is it literal or figurative What does the context suggest?

II. How to Determine when Language Is Figurative 2. When a literal interpretation would involve an impossibility Matt. 23:24 “Ye blind guides which strain at the gnat and swallow a camel”

II. How to Determine when Language Is Figurative 3. When a literal interpretation would cause it to contradict another 1000 year reign of Rev. 20 Earth will melt with heat 2 Pet. 3:10

II. How to Determine when Language Is Figurative 4. When the scripture seems to demand actions that are wrong Luke 14:26 hate his father and mother

II. How to Determine when Language Is Figurative 5. When it is said to be figurative I Cor. 4:6 “…I have in a figure transferred to my self and Apollos.” Figure = transfer Gal. 4:24 – calls it an allegory

II. How to Determine when Language Is Figurative 6. Common Sense I Cor. 3:2 “I have fed you with milk, and not with meat:” It is obviously figurative

III. Some Rules for Interpreting Figurative Language 1. Let the author give his own interpretation 2. Keep the interpretation within the scope of the writer 3. Figurative accounts should be interpreted in light of literal accounts

III. Some Rules for Interpreting Figurative Language 4. Gain a clear concept of the matters upon which the figures are based 5. Never press a figure too far 6. The same figures don’t always mean the same thing

III. Some Rules for Interpreting Figurative Language 7. Avoid outrageous interpretations 8. Be consistent

“rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Tim. 2:15

Sermon by Arthur Pigman Evans Church of Christ 515 Gibbs Road Evans, Ga Sunday Evening June 3, 2007