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Distinguishing Non-Biblical Examples from Biblical Ones

The Bible employs various literary devices, including examples, parables, and types, to convey spiritual truths and moral instruction. Distinguishing between these categories is crucial for accurate interpretation.

An "example" in a biblical context refers to a person, event, or action that serves as a model or warning. Christ himself is presented as an ultimate example for believers to follow [4]. For instance, his self-denial is highlighted as an example for Christians [3]. Similarly, pastors are called to be examples to their flocks [4]. The experiences of the Jews in the Old Testament also serve as examples, particularly as warnings for future generations [4]. The prophets are likewise presented as examples of enduring affliction [4].

A "parable" is a narrative form used for comparison or illustration [2]. The Greek word parabole literally means "placing beside" or "comparison" [2]. In the New Testament, this term has a broad application, encompassing short proverbs, prophetic utterances, enigmatic maxims, and expanded metaphors [2]. A key distinction of a parable is that it relates events that are true to fact and actually take place, teaching higher heavenly and spiritual truths [5].

In contrast, a "fable" is a narrative where irrational or inanimate beings are feigned to act and speak with human characteristics for moral instruction [5]. Unlike parables, fables are not true to fact and primarily teach earthly moralities [5]. The Bible contains only two examples of fables: Jotham's parable of the trees in Judges 9:8-15 and Jehoash's parable of the thistle and the cedar in 2 Kings 14:9 [5].

Beyond examples, parables, and fables, the Bible also utilizes "types." A type is a person, event, or institution in the Old Testament that prefigures a corresponding reality, or "antitype," in the New Testament, particularly concerning Christ and his work. For instance, the Paschal Lamb is presented as a type of Christ [1]. The characteristics of the Paschal Lamb—being a male of the first year, without blemish, taken from the flock, chosen beforehand, examined for four days, killed by the people at a specific place and time, and its blood shed and sprinkled—are all seen as prefiguring aspects of Jesus' life, sacrifice, and death [1]. Similarly, the nation of Israel was intended to be a "royal priesthood" among nations, a concept that finds its spiritual fulfillment in believers as a "royal priesthood" in the New Testament [13].

The concept of "types" extends to other areas, such as the various kinds of bodies and their suitability to their species, or the differing glories of celestial bodies like the sun, moon, and stars, which are used to illustrate the nature of resurrection bodies [10, 12].

The New Testament warns against "divers and strange doctrines" that differ from the unified truth of the Gospel [6, 9]. These can include various rites and ceremonies of the law, traditions of elders, or other human doctrines that do not align with the perfections of God or the person and work of Christ [9]. Believers are encouraged to "approve things that are excellent" or "try things that differ," discerning between morality and grace, earthly and heavenly matters, and human doctrines versus Christ's teachings [11]. This discernment is crucial for avoiding being "carried aside" by teachings foreign to the truth [6]. The principle of not being "unequally yoked" with unbelievers, drawn from Old Testament laws against mixing diverse kinds, also extends to avoiding close association with those alien in spirit, whether in marriage or other relations [7]. The New Testament emphasizes that in Christ, there is "no difference" or distinction between Jew and Greek, as the same Lord is rich in grace to all who call upon him [8].

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Paschal Lamb, Typical Nature Of — A type of Christ -- Ex 12:3; 1Co 5:7. A male of the first year -- Ex 12:5; Isa 9:6. Without blemish -- Ex 12:5; 1Pe 1:19. Taken out of the flock -- Ex 12:5; Heb 2:14,17. Chosen before-hand -- Ex 12:3; 1Pe 2:4. Shut up four days that it might be closely examined -- Ex 12:6; Joh 8:46; 18:38. Killed by the people -- Ex 12:6; Ac 2:23. Killed at the place where the Lord put his name -- De 16:2,5-7; 2Ch 35:1; Lu 13:33. Killed in the evening -- Ex 12:6; Mr 15:34,37. Its blood to be shed -- Ex 12:7; Lu 22:20. Blood of, sprinkled on lintel an”
  2. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Parable — (The word parable is in Greek parable (parabole) which signifies placing beside or together, a comparison, a parable is therefore literally a placing beside, a comparison, a similitude, an illustration of one subject by another.--McClintock and Strong. As used in the New Testament it had a very wide application, being applied sometimes to the shortest proverbs, (1 Samuel 10:12; 24:13; 2 Chronicles 7:20) sometimes to dark prophetic utterances, (Numbers 23:7,18; 24:3; Ezekiel 20:49) sometimes to enigmatic maxims, (Psalms 78:2; Proverbs 1:6) or metaphors expand”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Denial — Christ set an example of -- Mt 4:8-10; 8:20; Joh 6:38; Ro 15:3; Php 2:6-8. A test of devotedness to Christ -- Mt 10:37,38; Lu 9:23,24. Necessary In following Christ. -- Lu 14:27-33. In the warfare of saints. -- 2Ti 2:4. To the triumph of saints. -- 1Co 9:25-27. Ministers especially called to exercise -- 2Co 6:4,5. Should be exercised in Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. -- Ro 6:12; Tit 2:12. Controlling the appetite. -- Pr 23:2. Abstaining from fleshly lusts. -- 1Pe 2:11. No longer living to lusts of men. -- 1Pe 4:2. Mortifying sinful lusts. -- Mr ”
  4. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Example — Of Christ (1 Pet. 2:21; John 13:15); of pastors to their flocks (Phil. 3:17; 2 Thess. 3:9; 1 Tim. 4:12; 1 Pet. 5:3); of the Jews as a warning (Heb. 4:11); of the prophets as suffering affliction (James 5:10).”
  5. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Fable — A fable is a narrative in which being irrational, and sometimes inanimate, are, for the purpose of moral instruction, feigned to act and speak with human interests and passions.--Encyc. Brit. The fable differs from the parable in that-- + The parable always relates what actually takes place, and is true to fact, which the fable is not; and + The parable teaches the higher heavenly and spiritual truths, but the fable only earthly moralities. Of the fable, as distinguished from the parable [[510]Parable], we have but two examples in the Bible: + That of the tree”
  6. Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 13:9: about--rather, as oldest manuscripts read, "carried aside"; namely, compare Eph 4:14. divers--differing from the one faith in the one and the same Jesus Christ, as taught by them who had the rule over you (Heb 13:7). strange--foreign to the truth. doctrines--"teachings." established with grace; not with meats--not with observances of Jewish distinctions between clean and unclean meats, to which ascetic Judaizers added in Christian times the rejection of some meats, and the use of others: noticed also by Paul in Co1 8:8, Co1 8:13; Co1 6:13; Rom”
  7. 2 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Corinthians 6:14: Be not--Greek, "Become not." unequally yoked--"yoked with one alien in spirit." The image is from the symbolical precept of the law (Lev 19:19), "Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind"; or the precept (Deu 22:10), "Thou shalt not plough with an ox and an ass together." Compare Deu 7:3, forbidding marriages with the heathen; also Co1 7:39. The believer and unbeliever are utterly heterogeneous. Too close intercourse with unbelievers in other relations also is included (Co2 6:16; Co1 8:10; Co1 10:14). fellowship--literally, "”
  8. Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 10:12: For there is no difference--or "distinction" between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord over all--that is, not God (as CALVIN, GROTIUS, OLSHAUSEN, HODGE), but Christ, as will be seen, we think, by comparing Rom 10:9, Rom 10:12-13 and observing the apostle's usual style on such subjects. (So CHRYSOSTOM, MELVILLE, BENGEL, MEYER, DE WETTE, FRITZSCHE, THOLUCK, STUART, ALFORD, PHILIPPI). is rich--a favorite Pauline term to express the exuberance of that saving grace which is in Christ Jesus. unto all that call upon him--This confirms the application of”
  9. Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 13:9: Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines,.... The word "divers" may denote the variety and multitude of other doctrines; referring either to the various rites and ceremonies of the law, or to the traditions of the elders, or to the several doctrines of men, whether Jews or Gentiles; whereas the doctrine of the Scriptures, of Christ, and his apostles, is but one; it is uniform, and all of a piece; and so may likewise denote the disagreement of other doctrines with the perfections of God, the person and offices of Christ, the Scriptures of truth, the anal”
  10. 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 15:39: Illustrations of the suitability of bodies, however various, to their species: the flesh of the several species of animals; bodies celestial and terrestrial; the various kinds of light in the sun, moon, and stars, respectively. flesh--animal organism [DE WETTE]. He implies by the word that our resurrection bodies shall be in some sense really flesh, not mere phantoms of air [ESTIUS]. So some of the oldest creeds expressed it, "I believe in the resurrection of the flesh." Compare as to Jesus' own resurrection body, Luk 24:39; Joh 20:27; to whi”
  11. Philippians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Philippians 1:10: That ye may approve things that are excellent,.... Or "try things that differ". There are some things that differ one from other; as morality and grace, earthly things, and heavenly things, carnal and spiritual, temporal and eternal things, law and Gospel, the doctrines of men, and the doctrines of Christ; all which differ as much as chaff and wheat, as gold, silver, precious stones, and wood, hay, stubble. These are to be tried and proved; they are not to be received without distinction, but should be examined, which is right and best to be chosen and preferred;”
  12. 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 15:41: one glory of . . . sun . . . another . . . of . . . moon--The analogy is not to prove different degrees of glory among the blessed (whether this may be, or not, indirectly hinted at), but this: As the various fountains of light, which is so similar in its aspect and properties, differ (the sun from the moon, and the moon from the stars; and even one star from another star, though all seem so much alike); so there is nothing unreasonable in the doctrine that our present bodies differ from our resurrection bodies, though still continuing bodies. ”
  13. 1 Peter (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Peter 2:9: Contrast in the privileges and destinies of believers. Compare the similar contrast with the preceding context. chosen--"elect" of God, even as Christ your Lord is. generation--implying the unity of spiritual origin and kindred of believers as a class distinct from the world. royal--kingly. Believers, like Christ, the antitypical Melchisedec, are at once kings and priests. Israel, in a spiritual sense, was designed to be the same among the nations of the earth. The full realization on earth of this, both to the literal and the spiritual Israel, i”
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