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Testing Analogies and Examples Against Scripture's Clear Teachings

The Bible is considered by Christians to be the inspired Word of God, given through the Holy Spirit [1]. As such, it serves as the ultimate authority for faith and practice, and all analogies, examples, and teachings must be tested against its clear declarations [10]. The apostle Paul emphasizes the divine origin of Scripture, stating that "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God" (2 Timothy 3:16) [1]. Similarly, Peter notes that "prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21) [1].

The concept of "testing" or "proving" is a recurring theme in Scripture, applied to various aspects of Christian life, including one's own faith and the teachings received [11]. For instance, believers are exhorted to "prove your own selves" to see if Christ is in them (2 Corinthians 13:5) [11]. This self-examination ensures that one's personal convictions align with biblical truth.

When it comes to external teachings, particularly those presented as analogies or examples, the standard of Scripture is paramount. The Bereans in Acts 17:11 are commended for examining the Scriptures daily to see whether Paul's teachings were true [10]. This practice highlights the importance of critically evaluating all claims, even those from respected teachers, by comparing them with the established biblical text [10]. The Old Testament prophet Isaiah similarly instructs, "To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them" (Isaiah 8:20) [10]. This verse underscores that any teaching that deviates from Scripture lacks divine illumination.

The term "parable" itself, derived from the Greek parabole, signifies a "placing beside" or a "comparison," illustrating one subject by another [2]. While parables and analogies are valuable teaching tools, their interpretation must always remain consistent with the broader, clear teachings of Scripture. For example, John Chrysostom, in his homilies, discusses how God "tempts" or "proves" individuals not out of ignorance, but to make their faith more evident, as seen with Abraham or Philip [6, 8]. This understanding of divine testing must be reconciled with God's omniscience, as He "knoweth all things before they come into existence" [8]. Therefore, analogies about God's actions must not imply any deficiency in His knowledge or power, but rather illustrate His perfect wisdom and purpose [9].

The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in understanding and interpreting Scripture. The apostle Paul writes that believers "speak the things freely given to us of God" which the Holy Spirit teaches, "comparing spiritual things with spiritual" (1 Corinthians 2:12-13) [7]. This "comparing spiritual things with spiritual" implies interpreting Scripture by Scripture, using the clear teachings of the Holy Spirit-inspired Word to understand more complex or analogous passages [7]. This method ensures that interpretations of analogies do not contradict the unified message of the Bible.

The danger of misinterpreting or misapplying analogies is evident in various biblical warnings. For example, the tongue is described as a "fire, a world of iniquity" (James 3:6), capable of setting ablaze the course of nature [3]. This vivid analogy highlights the destructive power of speech, and its implications must be understood within the broader biblical teachings on the importance of righteous speech and the dangers of slander and deceit [3]. Similarly, the devil is referred to as "that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world" (Revelation 12:9) [4]. This analogy emphasizes his deceptive nature, which is further elaborated in passages warning against his schemes and temptations [4, 5].

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Scriptures, The — Given by inspiration of God -- 2Ti 3:16. Given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit -- Ac 1:16; Heb 3:7; 2Pe 1:21. Christ sanctioned, by appealing to them -- Mt 4:4; Mr 12:10; Joh 7:42. Christ taught out of -- Lu 24:27. Are called the Word. -- Jas 1:21-23; 1Pe 2:2. Word of God. -- Lu 11:28; Heb 4:12. Word of Christ. -- Col 3:16. Word of truth. -- Jas 1:18. Holy Scriptures. -- Ro 1:2; 2Ti 3:15. Scripture of truth. -- Da 10:21. Book. -- Ps 40:7; Re 22:19. Book of the Lord. -- Isa 34:16. Book of the law. -- Ne 8:3; Ga 3:10. Law of the Lord. -- Ps 1:2; Isa”
  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. Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “James 3:6 cross-references: Genesis 3:4, Leviticus 24:11, Numbers 25:2, Numbers 31:16, Deuteronomy 13:6, Judges 12:4, Judges 16:15, 1 Samuel 22:9, 2 Samuel 13:26, 2 Samuel 15:2, 2 Samuel 16:20, 2 Samuel 19:43, 1 Kings 21:5, 2 Chronicles 10:13, 2 Chronicles 13:17, Psalms 64:3, Psalms 120:2, Psalms 140:3, Proverbs 1:10, Proverbs 6:19, Proverbs 7:5, Proverbs 7:21, Proverbs 15:1, Proverbs 16:27, Proverbs 26:20, Isaiah 30:27, Jeremiah 20:10, Jeremiah 28:16, Matthew 5:22, Matthew 12:24, Matthew 12:32, Matthew 15:11, Mark 7:15, Mark 7:20, Mark 14:55, Luke 16:24, Acts 5:3, Acts 6:13, Acts 20:30, Roman”
  4. Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Revelation 12:9 cross-references: Genesis 3:1, Genesis 3:4, Genesis 3:13, 1 Chronicles 21:1, 2 Chronicles 18:21, Job 1:6, Job 2:1, Psalms 109:6, Isaiah 14:12, Isaiah 27:1, Isaiah 65:25, Ezekiel 28:16, Zechariah 3:1, Matthew 4:1, Matthew 4:5, Matthew 4:8, Matthew 4:10, Matthew 13:39, Matthew 24:24, Matthew 25:41, Luke 8:12, Luke 10:18, Luke 13:16, Luke 22:3, Luke 22:31, John 8:44, John 12:31, John 14:30, John 16:11, Acts 5:3, Acts 26:18, Romans 16:18, Romans 16:20, 2 Corinthians 2:11, 2 Corinthians 4:4, 2 Corinthians 11:3, 2 Corinthians 11:14, 2 Corinthians 12:7, Ephesians 4:14, 2 Thessalonians”
  5. Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Ephesians 6:11 cross-references: Judges 3:2, Nehemiah 4:13, Mark 13:22, Luke 14:29, Romans 13:12, Romans 13:14, 1 Corinthians 10:13, 2 Corinthians 2:11, 2 Corinthians 4:4, 2 Corinthians 6:7, 2 Corinthians 10:4, 2 Corinthians 11:3, 2 Corinthians 11:13, Ephesians 4:14, Ephesians 4:24, Ephesians 6:13, Colossians 3:10, 1 Thessalonians 5:8, 2 Thessalonians 2:9, Hebrews 7:25, 1 Peter 5:8, 2 Peter 2:1, Jude 1:24, Revelation 2:24, Revelation 12:9, Revelation 13:11, Revelation 19:20, Revelation 20:2, Revelation 20:7”
  6. CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Acts & Romans: tempt Abraham, so He was putting Peter to the proof whether he would obey the call to the Gentiles, as if Peter understood the vision in that sense. Had he so understood the command, “Kill and eat,” he would not have objected; for he could not be either ignorant or unwilling. But he did not so understand it, and his objection was solely to the matter of eating. And as he needed not the lesson (it was intended for others): so neither did God need to learn his willingness. When God tempts, or proves, it is not to learn something that He did not know be”
  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. CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Acts & Romans: order to learn by the proof whether he would obey or not—how should it be so? for He knoweth all things before they come into existence: but on both occasions it is spoken after the manner of men. As, when it is said, He searcheth the hearts of men, it indicates the search, not of ignorance, but of perfect knowledge; so when it is said, He tempted, tried, or proved, it means no other than that He perfectly knew.—Or, it may mean, that He made the person more approved: as Abraham there, so Philip by this question, leading him into the sure knowledge of”
  9. CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on 1 & 2 Corinthians: the deep things of God.” For the word “to search” is here indicative not of ignorance, but of accurate knowledge: it is the very same mode of speaking which he used even of God, saying, “He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit.” ( Rom. viii. 27 .) Then having spoken with exactness concerning the knowledge of the Spirit, and having pointed out that it is as fully equal to God’s knowledge, as the knowledge of a man itself to itself; and also, that we have learned all things from it and necessarily from it; he added, “whi”
  10. 1 Thessalonians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Thessalonians 5:21: Some of the oldest manuscripts insert "But." You ought indeed not to "quench" the manifestations of "the Spirit," nor "despise prophesyings"; "but," at the same time, do not take "all" as genuine which professes to be so; "prove (test) all" such manifestations. The means of testing them existed in the Church, in those who had the "discerning of spirits" (Co1 12:10; Co1 14:29; Jo1 4:1). Another sure test, which we also have, is, to try the professed revelation whether it accords with Scripture, as the noble Bereans did (Isa 8:20; Act 17:11; Gal”
  11. 2 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Corinthians 13:5: Examine--Greek, "Try (make trial of) yourselves." prove your own selves--This should be your first aim, rather than "seeking a proof of Christ speaking in me" (Co2 13:3). your own selves--I need not speak much in proof of Christ being in me, your minister (Co2 13:3), for if ye try your own selves ye will see that Christ is also in you [CHRYSOSTOM], (Rom 8:10). Finding Christ dwelling in yourselves by faith, ye may well believe that He speaks in me, by whose ministry ye have received this faith [ESTIUS]. To doubt it would be the sin of Israel”
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