Interpreting Figurative Language

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Interpreting Figurative Language
All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude
in parables and without a parable spake he not
unto them. Matt. 1334
Figurative Symbolic, allegorical
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We all use figurative language
Much of the Bible is written in figurative speech
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Jesus had a problem with people misinterpreting
figurative expressions John 648-66 eat my
flesh and drink my blood Matt. 2660-61
Destroy this temple and I will build it again
in three days.
Many false doctrines are based upon
a Misinterpretation of figurative speech
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I. Some Common Figures of Speech

• Parable

Throw along side familiar Luke 84-15 - sower
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I. Some Common Figures of Speech

• Parable
• Fable

A fictitious narration Used to teach a
lesson Judges 98-15 trees anointed a king over
them
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I. Some Common Figures of Speech

• Parable
• Fable
• Simile
• Similitude

Comparing two unlike things Matt. 316 like a
dove Matt. 724 unto a wise man
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I. Some Common Figures of Speech

• Parable
• Fable
• Simile
• Similitude
• Metaphor

Comparison implied Luke 1331,32 fox Rom.63,4
buried in baptism
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I. Some Common Figures of Speech

• Parable
• Fable
• Simile
• Similitude
• Metaphor
• Metonymy

One thing is said while another is meant Acts
828 reading Isaiah 1Cor.1125 - Cup
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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.35,6 - Jerusalem
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I. Some Common Figures of Speech

• Parable
• Fable
• Simile
• Similitude
• Metaphor
• Metonymy
• Synecdoche

• Irony

Saying one thing while meaning the opposite 2
Cor. 1119 - are wise
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I. Some Common Figures of Speech

• Parable
• Fable
• Simile
• Similitude
• Metaphor
• Metonymy
• Synecdoche

• Irony
• Sarcasm

To speak bitterly or scornfully Mark 1531,32
himself he cannot save
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I. Some Common Figures of Speech

• Parable
• Fable
• Simile
• Similitude
• Metaphor
• Metonymy
• Synecdoche

• Irony
• Sarcasm
• Hyperbole

To overstate a point for emphasis Deut. 128
fenced up to heaven
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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. 81,2
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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.
113 is Christ divided?
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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
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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.151 A soft
answer turneth away wrath
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I. Some Common Figures of Speech

• Parable
• Fable
• Simile
• Similitude
• Metaphor
• Metonymy
• Synecdoche

• Irony
• Sarcasm
• Hyperbole
• Personification
• Interrogation
• Allegory
• Proverb

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II. How to Determine when Language Is Figurative
1. Observe the Context Rev. 20 - 1000 years
reign Is it literal or figurative What does the
context suggest?
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II. How to Determine when Language Is Figurative
2. When a literal interpretation would involve an
impossibility Matt. 2324 Ye blind guides
which strain at the gnat and swallow a camel
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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. 310
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II. How to Determine when Language Is Figurative
4. When the scripture seems to demand actions
that are wrong Luke 1426 hate his father and
mother
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II. How to Determine when Language Is Figurative
5. When it is said to be figurative I Cor. 46
I have in a figure transferred to my self and
Apollos. Figure transfer Gal. 424 calls
it an allegory
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II. How to Determine when Language Is Figurative
6. Common Sense I Cor. 32 I have fed you with
milk, and not with meat It is obviously
figurative
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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
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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 dont always mean the
same thing
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III. Some Rules for Interpreting Figurative
Language
7. Avoid outrageous interpretations 8. Be
consistent
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Interpreting Figurative Language
rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Tim. 215
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Sermon by Arthur Pigman Evans Church of Christ
515 Gibbs Road Evans, Ga. 30809 706-855-1249 arth
urpigman_at_cybrtyme.com www.evansgachurchofchrist.or
g Sunday Evening June 3, 2007