From Previous Post: Friday, April 19, 2013
Figures of Speech
Excerpt from Bullinger's King James Version Companion Bible Appendix 6:
It is most important to notice these [figures of speech]. It is absolutely necessary for true interpretation. God's Word is made up of "words which the Holy Ghost teacheth" (I Cor 2:13, I Thess 2:13, II Tim 3:16, II Pet 1:21, etc.).
A "Figure of speech" relates to the form in which the words are used. It consists in the fact that a word or words are used out of their ordinary sense, or place, or manner, for the purpose of attracting our attention to what is thus said. A Figure of speech is a designed and legitimate departure from the laws of language, in order to emphasise what is said. Hence in such Figures we have the Holy Spirit's own marking, so to speak, of His own words.
This peculiar form or unusual manner may not be true, or so true, to the literal meaning of the words; but it is more true to their real sense, and truer to truth.
Figures are never used but for the sake of emphasis. They can never, therefore, be ignored. Ignorance of Figures of speech has led to the grossest errors, which have been caused either from taking literally what is figurative, or from taking figuratively what is literal.
The Greeks and Romans named some hundreds of such figures. The only work on Biblical Figures of speech in the English language is by Dr. Bullinger, from which we have taken the whole of the information given here as well as in the marginal notes [of the Bullinger's KJV Companion Bible]. He has classified some 217 separate figures (some of them with many varieties or subdivisions), and has given over 8,000 illustrations.
Why do I mention any of this? If you are not already aware of it, then now you are...and if you do not realize the enormity this plays in so many misunderstandings from the manuscripts then you soon will. As we go along in our studies, I will point out these Figures of Speech and their meanings.
It is most important to notice these [figures of speech]. It is absolutely necessary for true interpretation. God's Word is made up of "words which the Holy Ghost teacheth" (I Cor 2:13, I Thess 2:13, II Tim 3:16, II Pet 1:21, etc.).
A "Figure of speech" relates to the form in which the words are used. It consists in the fact that a word or words are used out of their ordinary sense, or place, or manner, for the purpose of attracting our attention to what is thus said. A Figure of speech is a designed and legitimate departure from the laws of language, in order to emphasise what is said. Hence in such Figures we have the Holy Spirit's own marking, so to speak, of His own words.
This peculiar form or unusual manner may not be true, or so true, to the literal meaning of the words; but it is more true to their real sense, and truer to truth.
Figures are never used but for the sake of emphasis. They can never, therefore, be ignored. Ignorance of Figures of speech has led to the grossest errors, which have been caused either from taking literally what is figurative, or from taking figuratively what is literal.
The Greeks and Romans named some hundreds of such figures. The only work on Biblical Figures of speech in the English language is by Dr. Bullinger, from which we have taken the whole of the information given here as well as in the marginal notes [of the Bullinger's KJV Companion Bible]. He has classified some 217 separate figures (some of them with many varieties or subdivisions), and has given over 8,000 illustrations.
Why do I mention any of this? If you are not already aware of it, then now you are...and if you do not realize the enormity this plays in so many misunderstandings from the manuscripts then you soon will. As we go along in our studies, I will point out these Figures of Speech and their meanings.
No comments:
Post a Comment