BEREAN.AI ← Ask a Question

Interpreting Non-Biblical Examples in Theological Discussions

Scripture itself employs non-biblical examples throughout its teaching. The parables of Jesus place divine truth beside everyday images—a sower scattering seed, a woman searching for a coin, a father welcoming a wayward son. Smith's Bible Dictionary defines parable as "a placing beside, a comparison, a similitude, an illustration of one subject by another" [3]. This method of comparison pervades biblical pedagogy, establishing a precedent for theological discourse that draws on observable reality to illuminate spiritual truth.

Biblical Warrant for Comparative Illustration

Paul's ministry demonstrates sustained engagement with non-scriptural material when addressing particular audiences. In Athens, he quoted pagan poets to establish common ground with Greek philosophers, showing "the relevance of the gospel by dialoguing with them, critiquing their assumptions, and offering Jesus as a constructive alternative" [10]. This approach did not compromise apostolic authority but rather demonstrated how Christian truth addresses and corrects human wisdom. The apostle's method involved meeting his hearers where they stood intellectually, then redirecting their partial insights toward Christ.

The Pastoral Epistles distinguish sound doctrine from "divers and strange doctrines" not by rejecting all extra-biblical reference but by testing whether teaching "agree[s] with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness" [4]. The criterion is conformity to apostolic teaching, not the mere presence or absence of non-scriptural illustration. John Gill notes that "divers" doctrines are problematic because of "the disagreement of other doctrines with the perfections of God, the person and offices of Christ, the Scriptures of truth" [8]—the issue is theological fidelity, not illustrative method.

The Function of Example in Christian Teaching

Biblical writers consistently present Christ as the supreme example across multiple virtues: sincerity [1], self-denial [2], liberality [5], and zeal [6]. This exemplary function extends beyond Christ to include ministers, who "should be examples" in their teaching [1]. The logic of example assumes that abstract principles become clearer when embodied in concrete instances, whether those instances are biblical figures, historical persons, or even hypothetical scenarios that illuminate a theological point.

Chrysostom's interpretive practice involved "expounding the Spirit-inspired Old Testament Scripture, by comparison with the Gospel" and "conversely illustrating the Gospel mysteries by comparing them with the Old Testament types" [7]. This comparative method—placing one text beside another to illuminate both—operates on the same principle as using non-biblical examples: clarification through juxtaposition. If Scripture interprets Scripture through comparison, the use of external examples follows analogously, provided the external material serves rather than supplants scriptural authority.

Boundaries and Cautions

The danger lies not in comparison itself but in substitution. When non-biblical examples become the foundation rather than the illustration of doctrine, teaching drifts from its moorings. Clarke's commentary on John 3:12 captures this distinction: Jesus moved from "earthly things" (accessible metaphors) to "heavenly things" (direct revelation), using the former to prepare understanding for the latter [12]. The earthly image serves the heavenly reality; it does not replace it.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown warns against being "carried aside" by teachings that differ from "the one faith in the one and the same Jesus Christ" [9]. The test for any theological illustration—biblical or otherwise—is whether it reinforces or undermines apostolic doctrine. A non-biblical example that clarifies justification by faith serves the gospel; one that obscures it, however vivid or culturally resonant, fails the test of sound teaching.

Interpretive Integrity

The use of non-biblical examples requires interpretive discipline. The example must genuinely illuminate the doctrine rather than import foreign categories into it. Calvin acknowledged various ways of understanding the image of God in humanity, including patristic analogies to the Trinity, but insisted that "a definition of the image of God ought to rest on a firmer basis than such subtleties" [11]. Illustrations drawn from philosophy, science, or daily life can aid understanding, but they cannot establish doctrine. Their role remains pedagogical and provisional, always subject to correction by the text they serve.

Sources

  1. 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; ”
  2. 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 ”
  3. 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”
  4. 1 Timothy “1 Timothy 6:3 (NASB) — If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness,”
  5. 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:”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Zeal — Christ an example of -- Ps 69:9; Joh 2:17. Godly sorrow leads to -- 2Co 7:10,11. Of saints, ardent -- Ps 119:139. Provokes others to do good -- 2Co 9:2. Should be exhibited In spirit. -- Ro 12:11. In well-doing. -- Ga 4:18; Tit 2:14. In desiring the salvation of others. -- Ac 26:29; Ro 10:1. In contending for the faith. -- Jude 1:3. In missionary labours. -- Ro 15:19,23. For the glory of God. -- Nu 25:11,13. For the welfare of saints. -- Col 4:13. Against idolatry. -- 2Ki 23:4-14. Sometimes wrongly directed -- 2Sa 21:2; Ac 22:3,4; Php 3:6. Sometimes not accord”
  7. 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 2:13: also--We not only know by the Holy Ghost, but we also speak the "things freely given to us of God" (Co1 2:12). which the Holy Ghost teacheth--The old manuscripts read "the Spirit" simply, without "Holy." comparing spiritual things with spiritual--expounding the Spirit-inspired Old Testament Scripture, by comparison with the Gospel which Jesus by the same Spirit revealed [GROTIUS]; and conversely illustrating the Gospel mysteries by comparing them with the Old Testament types [CHRYSOSTOM]. So the Greek word is translated, "comparing" (Co2 10:”
  8. 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”
  9. 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”
  10. Acts (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Acts 17:16: 17:16-34 In this chapter, we see Paul presented as a model witness for Christ, engaging the thinkers of his day and challenging them with the Christian message. Paul quoted writers his audience would be familiar with and showed the relevance of the gospel by dialoguing with them, critiquing their assumptions, and offering Jesus as a constructive alternative (see Col 1:28). Paul reminded these proud intellectuals that there is a living God to whom all human beings are answerable; that they will be judged by him through Jesus, whom God raised from the dead; and that ”
  11. CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 5.31: and fourteenth books on the Trinity, also the eleventh book of the “City of God.” I acknowledge, indeed, that there is something in man which refers to the Father and the Son, and the Spirit: and I have no difficulty in admitting the above distinction of the faculties of the soul: although the simpler division into two parts, which is more used in Scripture, is better adapted to the sound doctrine of piety; but a definition of the image of God ought to rest on a firmer basis than such subtleties. As for myself, before I define the”
  12. John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on John 3:12: If I have told you earthly things - If, after I have illustrated this new birth by a most expressive metaphor taken from earthly things, and after all you believe not; how can you believe, should I tell you of heavenly things, in such language as angels use, where earthly images and illustrations can have no place? Or, if you, a teacher in Israel, do not understand the nature of such an earthly thing, or custom of the kingdom established over the Jewish nation, as being born of baptism, practised every day in the initiation of proselytes, how will you understand such ”
Ask Your Own Question
About Terms Privacy Contact

© 2026 BEREAN.AI. All rights reserved.