Using Human Emotions to Connect with Audiences in Biblical Teaching
Biblical teaching can effectively connect with audiences by acknowledging and addressing human emotions, which are integral to the human experience [3]. The Scriptures themselves frequently portray a wide range of emotions, both in God and in humanity, providing a framework for understanding and engaging with these feelings.
The Bible describes various human emotions, from grief to joy. For instance, the apostles were grieved when others taught against the resurrection [1]. The Psalmist speaks of a heart "hot within me" and a burning fire while meditating, leading to speech [2]. The concept of "affection" encompasses feelings and emotions, with distinctions made between "vile affections" and "inordinate affection" versus setting one's affections on "things above" [3]. Even in expressions of repentance, the tearing of clothing was an ancient sign of grief, but the prophet Joel emphasizes the need to "tear your hearts" as a deeper, inward demonstration of repentance, indicating a change in orientation and attitude [8]. This highlights that biblical teaching often moves beyond superficial displays to address the core emotional and volitional aspects of a person.
God's own character is also described with emotions, though distinct from human sinfulness. God's anger, for example, is not a "spontaneous emotional outburst" but a "holy God’s necessary response to sin" [7]. This divine response is often depicted in the Old Testament and is predicted to have a decisive outpouring against human sin [7]. Similarly, God is described as "merciful and compassionate... and filled with unfailing love," offering hope to those who repent inwardly [8].
When teaching biblical truths, acknowledging the emotional landscape of the audience can foster connection. The human condition, marked by universal sinfulness, means that individuals are born sinners, though the godly strive against their sinful nature [4]. Sin is not merely an act but can stem from attitudes like insolence or arrogance, representing rebellion against God [6]. This understanding of sin, which includes "a love of self, dishonor to God, ingratitude to a benefactor, disobedience to the best of Masters," resonates with common human failings [5].
Effective biblical teaching can also draw on the emotional experience of finding and internalizing God's word. Jeremiah found God's words and "did eat them," finding them as welcome as food to a hungry person, digesting them in his mind [11]. This illustrates how the reception of divine truth can be a deeply satisfying and nourishing emotional experience. Furthermore, the prophetic office is commended for its ability to support believers in adversity, preventing them from fainting or being discouraged by offering consolation [10]. This demonstrates the emotional comfort and strength that biblical teaching can provide. Even Christ, as the High Priest, is portrayed as one who sympathizes with human temptations, having changed His place but not His affection for humanity [9]. This divine empathy offers a powerful point of connection for those who struggle.
Sources
- Acts “Acts 4:2 (Webster) — Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.”
- Psalms “My heart was hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burned: I spoke with my tongue: -- Psalms 39:3”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Affection — Feeling or emotion. Mention is made of "vile affections" (Rom. 1:26) and "inordinate affection" (Col. 3:5). Christians are exhorted to set their affections on things above (Col. 3:2). There is a distinction between natural and spiritual or gracious affections (Ezek. 33:32).”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 58:3: 58:3 All human beings are born sinners (see 51:5); however, whereas the wicked indulge their sinful nature, the godly fight against it (Rom 7:19-23; Jas 4:1-10).”
- Genesis (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Genesis 3:13: beguiled--cajoled by flattering lies. This sin of the first pair was heinous and aggravated--it was not simply eating an apple, but a love of self, dishonor to God, ingratitude to a benefactor, disobedience to the best of Masters--a preference of the creature to the Creator.”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 19:13: 19:13 An individual who commits deliberate sins does so with an insolent (86:14) or arrogant (119:21, 69) attitude. • The great sin is rebellion (see 32:1).”
- Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 1:18: 1:18–3:20 Paul delays exploring the theme of righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until after he first teaches about universal sinfulness. Gentiles (1:18-32) and Jews (2:1–3:8) are equally under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own (3:9-20). 1:18 God’s anger is not a spontaneous emotional outburst, but the holy God’s necessary response to sin. The Old Testament often depicts God’s anger (Exod 32:10-12; Num 11:1; Jer 21:3-7) and predicts a decisive outpouring of God’s wrath on human sin at the end of history. While Paul usually de”
- Joel (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Joel 2:13: 2:13 One means of showing grief in the ancient world was to tear one’s clothing (Gen 37:34; 2 Sam 3:31; 2 Kgs 19:1). • tear your hearts: In Hebrew, the heart is the center of thought, faith, and will. God’s people were to go beyond external demonstrations of repentance to repent inwardly—to change their orientation, priorities, and attitudes. This could only happen if they would return to the Lord. • for he is merciful and compassionate . . . and filled with unfailing love: The people’s only hope was in the merciful character of the Lord (see also Exod 34:6-7; Num 1”
- Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 4:15: For--the motive to "holding our profession" (Heb 4:14), namely the sympathy and help we may expect from our High Priest. Though "great" (Heb 4:14), He is not above caring for us; nay, as being in all points one with us as to manhood, sin only excepted, He sympathizes with us in every temptation. Though exalted to the highest heavens, He has changed His place, not His nature and office in relation to us, His condition, but not His affection. Compare Mat 26:38, "watch with me": showing His desire in the days of His flesh for the sympathy of those whom H”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 3, section 8.8: by experience that the promises of grace, like a hidden treasure, are laid up for them, to cheer their hearts at the proper time. This is also a very high commendation of the prophetic office, that it supports believers in adversity, that they may not faint or be discouraged; and, on the other hand, this passage shews that it is a very terrible display of God’s vengeance when there are no faithful teachers, from whose mouth may be heard in the Church of God the consolation that is fitted to raise up those who are cast down, and to strengthen t”
- Jeremiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Jeremiah 15:15: Thy words were found, and I did eat them, The messages he was called to deliver unto others appeared to him to be of God, and they were as welcome to him as food is to a hungry man; he cheerfully received them, treasured them up in his memory, digested them in his mind, and carefully retained them. So the doctrines of the Gospel, which are the words of God, and not of men, when by searching and close application they are found in the Scriptures, and under the ministry of the word, they are food to souls, sweet, savoury, wholesome, nourishing, and strengthening; not”