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Illustrating Biblical Principles with Biblical Examples

Biblical principles are often illustrated through concrete examples found within the scriptures, providing tangible demonstrations of abstract truths. This method of teaching, known as a "parable" in the New Testament, involves "placing beside or together, a comparison, a similitude, an illustration of one subject by another" [2]. The Bible itself frequently employs this approach, presenting both positive and negative examples to clarify divine expectations and human experiences.

One prominent principle illustrated through biblical examples is liberality. The Apostle Paul highlights Christ as an example of liberality in 2 Corinthians 8:9 [1]. The Torrey's Topical Textbook further notes that liberality is pleasing to God (2 Corinthians 9:7; Hebrews 13:16) and that God never forgets such acts (Hebrews 6:10) [1]. Saints are characterized by liberality (Psalm 112:9; Isaiah 32:8), which should be exercised in service to God (Exodus 35:21-29), toward other saints (Romans 12:13; Galatians 6:10), servants (Deuteronomy 15:12-14), the poor (Deuteronomy 15:11; Isaiah 58:7), strangers (Leviticus 25:35), and even enemies (Proverbs 25:21) [1]. However, liberality without love is deemed unprofitable (1 Corinthians 13:3) [1]. The practical demonstration of this principle is seen in giving to those in want (Matthew 5:42), giving alms (Luke 12:33), and relieving the destitute (Isaiah 58) [1]. John Gill, commenting on 2 Corinthians 9:13, notes that the liberality of Gentile churches toward poor saints in Jerusalem led to the glorification of God, as it demonstrated their "professed subjection to the Gospel of Christ" [13].

Another principle frequently exemplified is mercy. The Bible enjoins believers to show mercy, following God's own example (Luke 6:36) [5]. This principle is to be "engraved on the heart" (Proverbs 3:3) and is a characteristic of saints (Psalm 37:26; Isaiah 57:1) [5]. Mercy should be shown cheerfully (Romans 12:8) to brethren (Zechariah 7:9), those in distress (Luke 10:37), the poor (Proverbs 14:31; Daniel 4:27), backsliders (Luke 15:18-20; 2 Corinthians 2:6-8), and even animals (Proverbs 12:10) [5]. The blessedness of showing mercy is promised (Proverbs 14:21; Matthew 5:7), while hypocrites are described as devoid of it (Matthew 23) [5]. The Torrey's Topical Textbook also links communion with God to showing mercy, illustrating it with the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:33) and the father's compassion for the prodigal son (Luke 15:20) [3].

Sincerity is also presented as a crucial biblical principle. Christ himself is the ultimate example of sincerity (1 Peter 2:22), and ministers are called to emulate this (Titus 2:7) [6]. Sincerity is contrasted with "fleshly wisdom" (2 Corinthians 1:12) and should characterize love for God (2 Corinthians 8:8, 24), love for Christ (Ephesians 6:24), service to God (Joshua 24:14; John 4:23, 24), faith (1 Timothy 1:5), and love for one another (Romans 12:9; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:18) [6]. The preaching of the gospel should also be marked by sincerity (2 Corinthians 2:17; 1 Thessalonians 2:3-5), and the doctrines of the gospel are inherently sincere (1 Peter 2:2) [6].

Beyond specific virtues, the Bible also illustrates practical disciplines. Early rising, for instance, is exemplified by Christ (Mark 1:35; Luke 21:38; John 8:2) and is presented as requisite for devotion (Psalm 5:3; 59:16; 63:1; 88:13; Isaiah 26:9), executing God's commands (Genesis 22:3), and discharging daily duties (Proverbs 31:15) [4]. Neglecting early rising can lead to poverty (Proverbs 6:9-11) [4]. Biblical figures like Abraham (Genesis 19:27), Isaac (Genesis 26:31), Jacob (Genesis 28:18), Joshua (Joshua 3:1), Gideon (Judges 6:38), Samuel (1 Samuel 15:12), David (1 Samuel 17:20), and Mary (Mark) all exemplify this practice [4].

The use of examples is a fundamental pedagogical tool in scripture. Paul himself taught "by example," working for his own food to avoid being a burden (2 Thessalonians 3:7-8; 1 Thessalonians 2:9) [9]. The book of Hebrews, particularly chapter 11, provides a comprehensive list of individuals who demonstrated faith, serving as a "cloud of witnesses" to encourage believers [10]. Matthew Henry notes that the Apostle in Hebrews proceeds with a "plain profitable method of doctrine, reason, and use," applying truths through exhortation and argument [8]. This approach moves beyond the "first principles" or "rudiments" of doctrine, which are the elementary teachings, to deeper understanding and application [11, 12]. The Psalms also encourage meditation on God's "wondrous works" to understand His precepts (Psalm 119:27) [7].

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Liberality — Pleasing to God -- 2Co 9:7; Heb 13:16. God never forgets -- Heb 6:10. Christ set an example of -- 2Co 8:9. Characteristic of saints -- Ps 112:9; Isa 32:8. Unprofitable, without love -- 1Co 13:3. Should be exercised In the service of God. -- Ex 35:21-29. Toward saints. -- Ro 12:13; Ga 6:10. Toward servants. -- De 15:12-14. Toward the poor. -- De 15:11; Isa 58:7. Toward strangers. -- Le 25:35. Toward enemies. -- Pr 25:21. Toward all men. -- Ga 6:10. In leading to those in want. -- Mt 5:42. In giving alms. -- Lu 12:33. In relieving the destitute. -- Isa 58:”
  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: Communion With God — Christ set an example of -- Lu 19:41,42. Exhortation to -- Ro 12:15; 1Pe 3:8. Exercise towards The afflicted. -- Job 6:14; Heb 13:3. The chastened. -- Isa 22:4; Jer 9:1. Enemies. -- Ps 35:13. The poor. -- Pr 19:17. The weak. -- 2Co 11:29; Ga 6:2. Saints. -- 1Co 12:25,26. Inseparable from love to God -- 1Jo 3:17; Joh 4:20. Motives to The compassion of God. -- Mt 13:27,33. The sense of our infirmities. -- Heb 5:2. The wicked made to feel, for saints -- Ps 106:46. Promise to those who show -- Pr 19:17; Mt 10:42. Illustrated -- Lu 10:33; 15:20. Exemp”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Early Rising — Christ set an example of -- Mr 1:35; Lu 21:38; Joh 8:2. Requisite for Devotion. -- Ps 5:3; 59:16; 63:1; 88:13; Isa 26:9. Executing God's commands. -- Ge 22:3. Discharge of daily duties. -- Pr 31:15. Neglect of, leads to poverty -- Pr 6:9-11. Practised by the wicked, for Deceit. -- Pr 27:14. Executing plans of evil. -- Mic 2:1. Illustrates spiritual diligence -- Ro 13:11,12. Exemplified Abraham. -- Ge 19:27. Isaac, &c. -- Ge 26:31. Jacob. -- Ge 28:18. Joshua &c. -- Jos 3:1. Gideon. -- Jdj 6:38. Samuel. -- 1Sa 15:12. David. -- 1Sa 17:20. Mary, &c. -- Mr ”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Mercy — After the example of God -- Lu 6:36. Enjoined -- 2Ki 6:21-23; Ho 12:6; Ro 12:20,21; Col 3:12. To be engraved on the heart -- Pr 3:3. Characteristic of saints -- Ps 37:26; Isa 57:1. Should be shown With cheerfulness. -- Ro 12:8. To our brethren. -- Zec 7:9. to those that are in distress. -- Lu 10:37. To the poor. -- Pr 14:31; Da 4:27. To backsliders. -- Lu 15:18-20; 2Co 2:6-8. To animals. -- Pr 12:10. Upholds the throne of kings -- Pr 20:28. Beneficial to those who exercise -- Pr 11:17. Blessedness of showing -- Pr 14:21; Mt 5:7. Hypocrites devoid of -- Mt 23:”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Sincerity — Christ was an example of -- 1Pe 2:22. Ministers should be examples of -- Tit 2:7. Opposed to fleshly wisdom -- 2Co 1:12. Should characterise Our love to God. -- 2Co 8:8,24. Our love to Christ. -- Eph 6:24. Our service to God. -- Jos 24:14; Joh 4:23,24. Our faith. -- 1Ti 1:5. Our love to one another. -- Ro 12:9; 1Pe 1:22; 1Jo 3:18. Our whole conduct. -- 2Co 1:12. The preaching of the gospel. -- 2Co 2:17; 1Th 2:3-5. A characteristic of the doctrines of the gospel -- 1Pe 2:2. The gospel sometimes preached without -- Php 1:16. The wicked devoid of -- Ps 5:9; ”
  7. Psalms “Let me understand the teaching of your precepts! Then I will meditate on your wondrous works. -- Psalms 119:27”
  8. Hebrews (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Hebrews 2:1: The apostle proceeds in the plain profitable method of doctrine, reason, and use, through this epistle. Here we have the application of the truths before asserted and proved; this is brought in by the illative particle therefore, with which this chapter begins, and which shows its connection with the former, where the apostle having proved Christ to be superior to the angels by whose ministry the law was given, and therefore that the gospel dispensation must be more excellent than the legal, he now comes to apply this doctrine both by way of exhortation and argume”
  9. 2 Thessalonians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Thessalonians 3:7: 3:7 Teaching by example was highly regarded in the ancient world. Paul himself provided an example by working for his own food (3:8; 1 Thes 2:9).”
  10. Hebrews (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Hebrews 11 (introduction): A definition of faith, Heb 11:1, Heb 11:2. What are its immediate objects, Heb 11:3. What are its effects, instanced in Abel, Heb 11:4. In Enoch, Heb 11:5, Heb 11:6. In Noah, Heb 11:7. In Abraham, Heb 11:8-10. In Sara, Heb 11:11. In their righteous posterity, Heb 11:12-16 In Abraham's offering of his son Isaac, Heb 11:17-19. In Isaac, Heb 11:20. In Jacob, Heb 11:21. In Joseph, Heb 11:22. In Moses, Heb 11:23-28. In the Israelites in the wilderness, Heb 11:29. In the fall of Jericho, Heb 11:30. In Rahab, Heb 11:31. In several of the judges, and in David,”
  11. Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 6 (introduction): WARNING AGAINST RETROGRADING, WHICH SOON LEADS TO APOSTASY; ENCOURAGEMENT TO STEADFASTNESS FROM GOD'S FAITHFULNESS TO HIS WORD AND OATH. (Heb 6:1-14) Therefore--Wherefore: seeing that ye ought not now to be still "babes" (Heb 5:11-14). leaving--getting further forward than the elementary "principles." "As in building a house one must never leave the foundation: yet to be always laboring in 'laying the foundation' would be ridiculous" [CALVIN]. the principles of the doctrine--Greek, "the word of the beginning," that is, the discussion ”
  12. Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 5:12: for the time--considering the long time that you have been Christians. Therefore this Epistle was not one of those written early. which be the first principles--Greek, "the rudiments of the beginning of." A Pauline phrase (see on Gal 4:3; Gal 4:9). Ye need not only to be taught the first elements, but also "which they be." They are therefore enumerated Heb 6:1-2 [BENGEL]. ALFORD translates, "That someone teach you the rudiments"; but the position of the Greek, "tina," inclines me to take it interrogatively, "which," as English Version, Syriac, Vulga”
  13. 2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 9:13: Whiles by the experiment of this ministration,.... That is, the poor saints at Jerusalem having a specimen, a proof, an experience of the liberality of the Gentile churches ministered to them by the apostles, first, they glorify God; by giving thanks unto him, acknowledging him to be the author of all the grace and goodness which they, and others, were partakers of; particularly for your professed subjection to the Gospel of Christ. The Gospel of Christ is the doctrine of grace, life, and salvation by Christ, of which he is the author, as God, the subject m”
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