Download What is Figurative Language?

How to Study the Bible
Unlocking the Truths of the Word of God
Week 7 - Oct 6, 2011
Advanced Interpreation
And He opened their understanding, that they
might comprehend the Scriptures. (Lk 24:45)
Homework?
So then faith comes by
hearing, and hearing by the
word of God.
Romans 10:17
“The Method”
Observation
What Does it Say?
Interpretation
What Does it Mean?
Application
What Do I Do?
Classes Review
Week 1- Intro. & Observation
Week 2- Observation
Week 3- Interpretation: Content
Week 4- Interpretation: Context
Week 5- Interpretation: Compare, Consult,
Christ
Week 6- Application
Week 7- Advanced Interpretation:
Poetry, Parables, Prophecy,
Genre,
Week 8-etcEncouragement & Pot-
Unlocking Inductive
Bible Study Secrets
Different types of literature
Figurative Language
Parables
Hebrew Poetry
Spiritual Meanings
Prophecy
Different types of literature
Narrative (story form)
Didactic (teaching)
Prophetic
Poetic
Proverbial
Unlocking Inductive
Bible Study Secrets
Different types of literature
Figurative Language
Parables
Hebrew Poetry
Spiritual Meanings
Prophecy
Figurative Language
What is Figurative Language?
Not literal in meaning.
Forms a Word Picture (picture worth 1000
words)
Examples:“I
could
have
died
o
embarrassment”“I’ll just have to face th
music”“I was board to tears”“Don’t let th
cat out of the bag”
He makes me to lie down in
green
pastures; He leads me beside the
still waters.You prepare a table
before me in
the presence of my enemies; You
anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Psalm 23
Figurative Language
What is Figurative Language?
Not literal in meaning.
Forms a Word Picture (picture worth 1000
words)
Similes, Metaphors, Similitudes, Allegory,
Irony,
Sarcasm, Hyperbole, Personification,
Anthropomorphism
Figurative Language
How do we Interpret Figurative
Language?
If the literal sense makes sense,
seek no other sense.
When you have good reason to take
figuratively
1) God communicates to make clear simple
2) Content - See, feel the Word picture
3) Context - sets the bounds
4) Compare - often clarified elsewhere in
Bible
5) Consult, Christ
Unlocking Inductive
Bible Study Secrets
Different types of literature
Figurative Language
Parables
Hebrew Poetry
Spiritual Meanings
Prophecy
Parables
What is a Parable?
A parable is a true-to-life short story that is
designed to teach a truth or to answer a
certain question.
Not to confuse people - but help understand
Yet...those hard of heart - will harden more
Parables
Keys for Understanding
Content Look for passage to define. Feel the w
Ask what depths word pictures show
Context Why is the Parable given? Sets bounds
Compar Parabolic consistency
eConsult Often some very good helps on....
Yet, be wary of weird interpretations
Christ
Look for what shows of Christ
Unlocking Inductive
Bible Study Secrets
Different types of literature
Figurative Language
Parables
Hebrew Poetry
Spiritual Meanings
Prophecy
Hebrew Poetry
What is Hebrew Poetry?
Poetry today: Verbal Art, rhyme, meter
Hebrew Poetry: Rymes thoughts, not
sounds
often called Parallelism
Corresponding thoughts between
one line and the following line, or
between one section and the
Notice:following
Psalm 1section
Isaiah 4
Unlocking Inductive
Bible Study Secrets
Different types of literature
Figurative Language
Parables
Hebrew Poetry
Spiritual Meanings
Prophecy
Spiritual Meanings
Many believe passages have 3 meanings
Literal: what happened or specifically said
Practical: examples for us
Spiritual: picture behind the events or words
Numbers, Names, Colors, Metals, Types
Unlocking Inductive
Bible Study Secrets
Different types of literature
Figurative Language
Parables
Hebrew Poetry
Spiritual Meanings
Prophecy
Prophecy
What is Prophecy?
To speak by Divine Revelation
Can be “fore-telling”
Can be “forth-telling”
Divine Calling Card - proof of His Deity
Show us Jesus
Show us things to come
Prophecy
Keys for Understanding
Content Interpret literally as much as possible
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Though you are little among the
thousands of Judah, Yet out of
you shall come forth to Me The
One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose
goings forth are from of old, From
everlasting.”
Micah 5:2
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of
Zion! Shout, O daughter of
Jerusalem! Behold, your King is
coming to you; He is just and
having salvation, Lowly and
riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal
of a donkey.
Zechariah 9:9
Prophecy
Keys for Understanding
Content Interpret literally as much as possible
Prophecy can have dual fulfillments
Context What is God showing, why given?
Prophetic perspective covers lots of tim
Compar Prophetic consistency
e
Consult Often some very good helps on....
Yet, be wary of weird interpretations
Christ
Look for what shows of Christ
Unlocking Inductive
Bible Study Secrets
Different types of literature
Figurative Language
Parables
Hebrew Poetry
Spiritual Meanings
Prophecy
Homework
1) As a help for teaching this class again:What
parts of this class have been the most helpful for you? What
parts of this class have not been helpful for you?What do you
wish we would have gone into more? less?What advice do you
have for us teaching this class again?
2) Pick two passages in your own Bible
reading
this week to study
Observe the passage with
the skills you have learned
Interpret it by Content,
Context, Compare, Consult and Christ
Apply the
passage -toStudy
your lifeawith
the help
of the
Bonus
verse
daily
onSpirit
your own
How to Study the Bible
Unlocking the Truths of the Word of God
Week 7 - Oct 6, 2011
Advanced Interpreation
And He opened their understanding, that they
might comprehend the Scriptures. (Lk 24:45)