Comparing the Example with Other Passages on the Same Theme

The comparison of biblical passages on similar themes is a long-standing practice in Christian scholarship, aimed at understanding the nuances and consistency of scriptural teaching. This method, often called "analogy of Scripture" or "comparing Scripture with Scripture," helps to clarify meaning and resolve apparent discrepancies ^[7].

Augustine, for instance, extensively engaged in harmonizing the Gospels, particularly when faced with seemingly divergent accounts of the same event. He maintained that variations in wording or narrative order did not constitute contradictions. Instead, he suggested that such differences might indicate distinct instances of similar circumstances or repeated utterances of the same words, or simply matters of too little consequence to create serious theological issues ^{[7, 8]}. For example, in his Homilies on the Gospels, Augustine compares Matthew's account of Jesus teaching in his own country with those of Mark and Luke, noting their harmony despite differing details ^[9].

This approach extends beyond narrative harmonization to thematic comparisons. For example, the Psalms frequently express themes of divine protection and trust in God, which resonate with other Old Testament passages. Psalm 35:1, "Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me," finds a parallel in 1 Samuel 24:15, where David appeals to God as judge ^[1]. Similarly, Psalm 56:3, "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you," echoes David's declaration in 1 Samuel 30:6, "David was greatly distressed... But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God" ^[3]. The theme of God's help is also seen by comparing Psalm 118:7 with Psalm 54:4 ^[6], and divine intervention in distress is linked between Psalm 138:7 and Psalm 60:5 ^[5].

New Testament writers also draw upon Old Testament themes. For instance, the call to worship and prayer in Psalm 50:15, "Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me," is reflected in 1 Peter 4:11, which speaks of speaking as one who utters oracles of God and serving with the strength that God supplies, so that in everything God may be glorified ^[4]. The instruction to be ready to give a defense for one's hope in 1 Peter 3:15 is cross-referenced with Psalm 25:9, which speaks of God guiding the humble in justice and teaching them his way ^[2].

Theological systems also employ this comparative method. Charles Hodge, in his Systematic Theology, discusses how certain prophetic passages, such as 2 Peter 3:6-13, which describe the destruction of the world by fire, are to be understood in a literal sense, contrasting them with other passages that might be interpreted as political or moral revolutions ^[10]. John Calvin's commentaries frequently cross-reference Scripture to build a comprehensive understanding of a doctrine or theme ^{[11, 12, 13]}. This method ensures that interpretations are consistent with the broader biblical witness, preventing isolated readings that might distort meaning.

Sources

OpenBible.info “Cross-reference: Ps.35.1 → 1Sam.24.15 (confidence: 12 votes)”
OpenBible.info “Cross-reference: Ps.25.9 → 1Pet.3.15 (confidence: 10 votes)”
OpenBible.info “Cross-reference: Ps.56.3 → 1Sam.30.6 (confidence: 25 votes)”
OpenBible.info “Cross-reference: Ps.50.15 → 1Pet.4.11 (confidence: 11 votes)”
OpenBible.info “Cross-reference: Ps.138.7 → Ps.60.5 (confidence: 10 votes)”
OpenBible.info “Cross-reference: Ps.118.7 → Ps.54.4 (confidence: 10 votes)”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 6: Augustine — Homilies on the Gospels — THIS BOOK EMBRACES A DISCUSSION OF THOSE PASSAGES WHICH ARE PECULIAR TO: MARK, LUKE, OR JOHN. PROLOGUE. 1. As we have examined Matthew's narrative in its complete connection, and as the comparison which we have carried out between it and the other three on to its conclusion has established the fact, that not one of these evangelists contains anything either at variance with other statements in his own Gospel, or inconsistent with the accounts presented by his fellow-historians, let us now subject Mark to a similar scrutiny. Our plan will be to”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 6: Augustine — Homilies on the Gospels — TRANSLATOR'S INTRODUCTORY NOTICE. (part 4): sight discordant versions of one incident, by supposing different instances of the same circumstances, or repeated utterances of the same words. He holds emphatically by the position, that wherever it is possible to believe two similar incidents to have taken place, no contradiction can legitimately be alleged, although no Evangelist may relate them both together. All merely verbal variations in the records of the same occurrence he regards as matters of too little consequence to create any serious p”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 6: Augustine — Homilies on the Gospels — CHAP. XLII.--OF HIS COMING INTO HIS OWN COUNTRY, AND OF THE ASTONISHMENT OF THE PEOPLE AT HIS DOCTRINE, AS THEY LOOKED WITH CONTEMPT UPON HIS LINEAGE; OF MATTHEW'S HARMONY WITH MARK AND LUKE IN THIS S (part 1): 89. Matthew thence proceeds as follows: "And it came to pass that, when Jesus had finished these parables, He departed thence: and when He was come into His own country, He taught them in their synagogues;"(4) and so on, down to the words, "And He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief."(5) Thus he passes from the abo”
CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 93: Remarks. 1. These passages are not to be understood as predicting great political and moral revolutions. It is possible that some of them might bear that interpretation; but others are evidently intended to be understood in a more literal sense. This is especially the 862 case with 2 Peter iii. 6-13 , in which the Apostle contrasts the destruction of the world by the waters of the deluge with the destruction by fire which is still future. If the fact be established that the Scriptures anywhere clearly predict the destruction of the world ”
CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, section 84.1: Index of Scripture References Genesis 1 1:26 3:22 9:6 9:6 9:6 14:13 Exodus 7:11 14:13 14:31 32:32 Leviticus 19:14 Deuteronomy 7:7-8 10:17 13:3 1 Kings 19:18 Job 4:18 Psalms 7:8 35:19 37:5 55:22 55:22 69:28 73:1-12 122:6 128:2 137:6 138:8 138:8 145:18 Proverbs 3:5 5:15 8:36 10:4 Ecclesiastes 9:3 Isaiah 11:4 26:9 30:15 30:21 33:22 42:1 45:23 48:11 50:5 53:1 55:11 55:13 60:2 60:2 60:2 64:8 Jeremiah 5:8 17:9 23:29 31:33 Ezekiel 11:20 Daniel 12:2 Hosea 1:10-11 Amos 9:36 Zechariah 14:8 Malachi 4:2 Matthew 5:11 5:14 5:15 ”
CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 1, section 23.2: 62:10 65:20 65:24 Jeremiah 1:6 1:17 2:21 2:21 7:4 7:4 7:21 7:22 9:23-24 9:26 10:14 17:5 17:5 22:7 23:5 23:19 23:36 25:11-12 29:10 30:9 30:9 31:34 32:18 33:15 41:5 48:7 48:13 48:29 48:30 48:32 48:32 48:32 48:34 Lamentations 2:22 3:22 Ezekiel 4:16 13:9 18:20 20:22 34:23 34:23 36:25 37:11-12 37:16 37:24 37:24 47:1 47:1 Daniel 2:44 7:10 7:14 7:27 9:24 9:27 Hosea 2:5 2:13 2:18 2:19-20 2:23 3:4 3:5 6:6 13:11 14:2 14:9 Joel 2:31 2:32 2:32 Amos 2:4-5 3:11 5:11 5:18 5:20 5:21 6:11 9:11 9:11 Jonah 1:2 3:10 Micah 1:16 5:10 6:7-8 7:8 Habakkuk 1:16 2:2 2:”
CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 2, section 53.2: 64:7 66:24 Jeremiah 4:31 5:8 5:28 7:4 7:4 9:1 10:23 10:24 10:24 11:21 17:1 17:5 18:16 19:6 19:8 22:24 22:28 25:9 25:13 25:18 28:10 28:11 30:11 31:15 43:2 48:2 50:11 Lamentations 1:7 2:5 2:8 3:29 Ezekiel 15:3 16:26 20:11 20:24 20:25 26:2 26:14 37:1 43:15 43:15 47:11 Daniel 5:28 5:30 5:31 7:10 7:17 8:20 Hosea 1:7 6:4 8:14 9:6 13:3 Joel 1:13 2:13 2:23 2:28 Amos 1:3 3:6 4:1 4:1 5:10 5:19 8:11 Micah 1:3 1:11 2:11 7:9 7:16 Nahum 3:8 Habakkuk 2:1 2:1 2:1 2:2 3:2 3:2 3:13 Zechariah 9:14 13:4 14:3 Malachi 1:4 1:11 4:2 Matthew 2:14 3:12 3:12 3:12 3:12 ”

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