COMMUNICATION: EVOLVING AND ENDURING

Critical Consideration Eight - Nuances of Language and Communication: Evolving and Enduring

Idioms - An idiom is a figurative expression of a concept, feeling, idea, or circumstance. One should never interpret an idiomatic expression literally as it is most often unique to the language or context of a particular culture or people. Every language has its idioms. However, with Biblical Hermeneutics, those idioms of the ancient Hebrew most used in the Old Testament and the ancient "Hellenistic or Mediterranean" Greek are critical in the effective, complete, and accurate interpretative process. The ancient Hebrews were known for their dominant use of idioms in the oral traditions of culture and religion. For example, one of the more recognizable idioms of the Hebrew scripture is (Exodus 3:7-8).

“Then the LORD said, "I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the

Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.”

In the ancient Hebrew culture, milk and honey were prized and highly valued commodities. The writer did not intend that the land would flow abundantly with literal milk and honey. The land was highly valued because it was a covenant promise from their God. All that God gives is good - and to be prized and highly valued. Was the land plenteous, and did the land prosper? Yes, when the people of God righteously worked the land, honored God, and kept the word of their covenant with Him.

Maxims - A maxim is a brief expression of a general or proverbial truth, fundamental principle, or rule of conduct from a general or biblical truth. A Biblical example, "Whatever a man sows that will he also reap.” A general example, “The pen is mightier than the sword."

Parable - A parable is a short allegorical story intended to illustrate (or teach) some truth, Biblical principle, or moral lesson. Jesus spoke with parables and idioms or figures of speech many times and is the most commonly recognized in Scripture. However, parabolic teaching was not just common to Jesus and the Gospels - the Old Testament writers also used parables to teach, warn, and correct effectively. The Poor Man's Lamb from the prophet Nathan to King David (2 Samuel 12:1-4), The Escaped Prisoner from the prophet to King Arab (1 Kings 20:35-40), The Fruitless

Vineyard from Isaiah to Judah, and the house of Israel (Isaiah 5:1-7), and, The Two Eagles and the Vine from Ezekiel to the House of Israel (Ezekiel 17:3-10). These provide just a few examples.

Paradox - A paradox is a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that, when investigated or explained, may prove to be well-founded or accurate. The Bible is paradoxical because it represents both divine and human realities that appear contradictory, yet both can be true. For example, the Bible is a unity, while its contents reveal a remarkable diversity. Unfortunately, throughout most of the Church's history, Christians assumed the unity of Scripture and downplayed or overlooked the reality of its diversity. The assumption was that it spoke with one voice, the voice of its author.

Nevertheless, the Bible has two very distinct Testaments, written in at least three primary languages, with many dialects, and many nations. This paradox has taken place over centuries of time and distance, using multiple genres, styles, and translations. How can there be unity in such diversity? For centuries, readers and interpreters of Scripture harmonized or justified conflicts and tensions within the Bible or resorted to typology, allegory, or the

principle of the regula fidei (the rule of faith) to interpret complex or paradoxical texts in the light of clearer ones.

As we said, a paradox is a seeming contradiction that, upon contextual and literary analysis, is seen to express truth. The nature of Jesus' teaching is most often paradoxical.

This paradox is evident when He says, "the first will be last, and the last first" (Matthew 20:16); "the person who finds his life will lose it, and the one who loses his life will find it" (Matthew 10:39), and "the one who would be first must be a servant of all" (Mark 10:44). Much like the use of hyperbole, the paradox captures our attention moving us away from complacent thinking towards seeking and confronting a much-needed truth.

A paradox requires two interpretive actions from us. The first is to identify the paradox when we find it. At the surface level, it is a contradiction, and we need to let the contradiction reveal and resonate with us - this is a contradiction. However, a paradox is an apparent contradiction, not an actual one. If we hermeneutically analyze and resolve the contradiction, we can see that it reveals the truth. For example, people who appear last in worldly estimation and logic, either literally or by self-renunciation, can be first by

trusting in God and thereby gaining eternal life. A paradox functions like a riddle, initially confusing or perplexing us and leading us to process the apparent contradiction rightly.

The categorical processing of God's Word is neither right nor righteous, nor is it one of hermeneutical fidelity.

Can one be first and last, or both lead and follow simultaneously?

Can one gain it all and, at the same time, give it all away?

Can we surrender and conquer, or lose and win concurrently?

Is it possible to both die and live simultaneously?

Under the unlimited sovereignty of God, the answer is an emphatic - YES. Without identifying and factoring in the sovereign, mysterious, and paradoxical nature of God and His Word, the complete and righteous hermeneutical process is impossible.

Covenants - A deep-dive understanding of Biblical covenants (Old and New) and God's divine and eternal purpose for them with His people is essential to the complete interpretive process. We filter

Biblical understanding and meaning through the covenant between God, the author, and His people. Those historical covenants are relevant to our present-day covenant with Christ and His Church. There must be a significant working knowledge of Biblical covenants in any reliable hermeneutic process. Covenants are about promises, expectations, integrity, consequences, fulfillment, and fruition. Limited understanding or value of Biblical covenants represents limited understanding and value of Scriptural meaning and intent.

Chiasm - A chiasm (or chiasmus if you prefer) is a writing style that uses a unique repetition pattern for clarification and emphasis. Chiasm (ky′ -az-um) is often called the chiastic (ky′ -az-tic) approach or the chiastic structure. This repetition form appears throughout the Bible yet is not well known. The way a passionate student of the Bible approaches the scriptures should be dramatically enhanced while learning what chiasmus is and how to recognize them. A chiasm is one more on the list of critical considerations in the interpretive process for both the Old and New Testament passages. The importance of the chiastic structure is in its hidden emphasis, clarification, and confirmation of context. Some scholars have identified over one thousand examples of chiasmus in the Bible.

A chiasm is a repetitive reversal pattern such as A-B-C repeated in reverse sequence as C-B-A. One excellent example of chiasmus is in (Joshua 1:5-9).

A - No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. [Verse 5b]

B - Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, [verse 6,7a]

C - being careful to do according to all the law that Moses, my servant, commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. [Verse 7b]

D - This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, [verse 8a]

D - but you shall meditate on it day and night, [verse 8b]

C - so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. [verse 8c]

B - Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, [verse 9a]

A - for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. [Verse 9b] (ESV)

Comprehending and researching the idioms, maxims, parables, paradoxes, and covenants of the Old and New Testament are genuine gems of revelation towards learning engagement and creating priceless teachable moments. It is especially true in oral environments and cultural communication platforms. Knowledge and understanding have always been powerful - now, they are a matter of distinction or extinction for the present-day Christian leader, teacher, or preacher. They must become a critical "best practice" consideration for sound and spiritually healthy hermeneutical interpretation and exegesis of Scripture.