EASTERN LITERATURE (biblical paradoxes)
This insight (i.e., that the Bible is an eastern book, not a western book) has been the most helpful to me personally as one who loves and trusts the Bible as God's Word. In trying to take the Bible seriously it became obvious that different texts reveal truth in selected, not systematic ways.
One inspired text cannot cancel or depreciate another inspired text!
Truth comes in knowing all Scripture (all Scripture, not just some, is inspired, cf. 2 Tim. 3:16-17).
Be careful of quoting a single passage (proof-texting)!
Most biblical truths (eastern literature) are presented in dialectical or paradoxical pairs (remember the NT authors, except Luke, are Hebrew thinkers, writing in common Greek).
Wisdom Literature and Poetic Literature (see SPECIAL TOPIC: HEBREW POETRY) present truth in parallel lines. The antithetical parallelism functions like the paradox. This synthetic parallelism functions like parallel passages. Somehow both are equally true! These paradoxes are painful to our cherished, simplistic, denominational, proof-texted traditions! Which of the following is true?
predestination or human free will (see SPECIAL TOPIC: ELECTION)
security of the believer or the need for perseverance (see SPECIAL TOPIC: PERSEVERANCE)
original sin or volitional sin (see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FALL OF MANKIND)
Jesus as God or Jesus as man (cf. 1 John 3:1-4)
Jesus as equal with the Father or Jesus as subservient to the Father
Bible as God's Word or human authorship
sinlessness (perfectionism, cf. Romans 6) or sinning less
initial instantaneous justification and sanctification or progressive sanctification (see SPECIAL TOPIC: SANCTIFICATION)
justification by faith (Romans 4) or justification confirmed by works (cf. James 2:14-26)
Christian freedom (cf. Rom. 14:1-23; 1 Cor. 8:1-13; 10:23-33) or Christian responsibility (cf. Gal. 5:16-21; Eph. 4:1; see SPECIAL TOPIC: CHRISTIAN FREEDOM vs.
CHRISTIAN RESPONSIBILITY)
God's transcendence or His immanence
God as ultimately unknowable (i.e., Ecclesiastes) or knowable in Scripture and Christ (John 1:1-4; 14:8-11)
the kingdom of God as present or future consummation (see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE KINGDOM OF GOD)
repentance as a gift of God (cf. Acts 11:18; Rom. 2:4; 2 Tim. 2:25) or repentance as a mandated response for salvation (cf. Mark 1:15; Acts 20:21; see SPECIAL
TOPIC: REPENTANCE [NT])
the OT is permanent or the OT has passed away and is null and void (cf. Matt. 5:17-19 vs. Matt. 5:21-48; Romans 7 vs. Galatians 3; and the book of Hebrews); see SPECIAL TOPIC: PAUL'S VIEWS OF THE MOSAIC LAW
believers are servants/slaves or children/heirs
Which of Paul's images for salvation are true?
adoption
sanctification
justification
redemption
glorification
predestination
reconciliation
"Both. . .And" is a better theological model than "Either. . .Or." Doctrines come in "constellations of truth," not which star is brightest" or "which one do I like the best"?!
Three books that have helped me in this area are
G. B. Caird, The Language and Imagery of the Bible, which describes the many literary aspects of Eastern Literature (i.e., poetry, parable, sarcasm, hyperbole, as well as paradox.
Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart, How To Read the Bible For All Its Worth, which analyzes the different genres found in Scripture and how to interpret them
John H. Walton, Ancient Israelite Literature in Its Cultural Context
SPECIAL TOPIC: HEBREW POETRY
SPECIAL TOPIC: PROPHECY (OT)
SPECIAL TOPIC: WISDOM LITERATURE
SPECIAL TOPIC: HISTORICAL NARRATIVE
SPECIAL TOPIC: HISTORIOGRAPHY
This insight (i.e., that the Bible is an eastern book, not a western book) has been the most helpful to me personally as one who loves and trusts the Bible as God's Word. In trying to take the Bible seriously it became obvious that different texts reveal truth in selected, not systematic ways.
One inspired text cannot cancel or depreciate another inspired text!
Truth comes in knowing all Scripture (all Scripture, not just some, is inspired, cf. 2 Tim. 3:16-17).
Be careful of quoting a single passage (proof-texting)!
Most biblical truths (eastern literature) are presented in dialectical or paradoxical pairs (remember the NT authors, except Luke, are Hebrew thinkers, writing in common Greek).
Wisdom Literature and Poetic Literature (see SPECIAL TOPIC: HEBREW POETRY) present truth in parallel lines. The antithetical parallelism functions like the paradox. This synthetic parallelism functions like parallel passages. Somehow both are equally true! These paradoxes are painful to our cherished, simplistic, denominational, proof-texted traditions! Which of the following is true?
predestination or human free will (see SPECIAL TOPIC: ELECTION)
security of the believer or the need for perseverance (see SPECIAL TOPIC: PERSEVERANCE)
original sin or volitional sin (see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FALL OF MANKIND)
Jesus as God or Jesus as man (cf. 1 John 3:1-4)
Jesus as equal with the Father or Jesus as subservient to the Father
Bible as God's Word or human authorship
sinlessness (perfectionism, cf. Romans 6) or sinning less
initial instantaneous justification and sanctification or progressive sanctification (see SPECIAL TOPIC: SANCTIFICATION)
justification by faith (Romans 4) or justification confirmed by works (cf. James 2:14-26)
Christian freedom (cf. Rom. 14:1-23; 1 Cor. 8:1-13; 10:23-33) or Christian responsibility (cf. Gal. 5:16-21; Eph. 4:1; see SPECIAL TOPIC: CHRISTIAN FREEDOM vs.
CHRISTIAN RESPONSIBILITY)
God's transcendence or His immanence
God as ultimately unknowable (i.e., Ecclesiastes) or knowable in Scripture and Christ (John 1:1-4; 14:8-11)
the kingdom of God as present or future consummation (see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE KINGDOM OF GOD)
repentance as a gift of God (cf. Acts 11:18; Rom. 2:4; 2 Tim. 2:25) or repentance as a mandated response for salvation (cf. Mark 1:15; Acts 20:21; see SPECIAL
TOPIC: REPENTANCE [NT])
the OT is permanent or the OT has passed away and is null and void (cf. Matt. 5:17-19 vs. Matt. 5:21-48; Romans 7 vs. Galatians 3; and the book of Hebrews); see SPECIAL TOPIC: PAUL'S VIEWS OF THE MOSAIC LAW
believers are servants/slaves or children/heirs
Which of Paul's images for salvation are true?
adoption
sanctification
justification
redemption
glorification
predestination
reconciliation
"Both. . .And" is a better theological model than "Either. . .Or." Doctrines come in "constellations of truth," not which star is brightest" or "which one do I like the best"?!
Three books that have helped me in this area are
G. B. Caird, The Language and Imagery of the Bible, which describes the many literary aspects of Eastern Literature (i.e., poetry, parable, sarcasm, hyperbole, as well as paradox.
Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart, How To Read the Bible For All Its Worth, which analyzes the different genres found in Scripture and how to interpret them
John H. Walton, Ancient Israelite Literature in Its Cultural Context
SPECIAL TOPIC: HEBREW POETRY
SPECIAL TOPIC: PROPHECY (OT)
SPECIAL TOPIC: WISDOM LITERATURE
SPECIAL TOPIC: HISTORICAL NARRATIVE
SPECIAL TOPIC: HISTORIOGRAPHY
SPECIAL TOPIC: EASTERN LITERATURE
Eastern Literature -- Special Topic by Dr. Bob Utley, professor of hermeneutics (retired).
www.freebiblecommentary.org
