Using Human Examples and Illustrations Consistent with God's Sovereignty
Using Human Examples and Illustrations Consistent with God's Sovereignty
The use of human examples and illustrations in Christian teaching is rooted in biblical practice. The Psalms, for instance, frequently employ comparisons between human experiences and divine actions to convey theological truths [1, 3]. In Psalms 43:15, the psalmist laments being placed "in similitudes among the nations" [1], highlighting the use of human analogies to understand divine providence.
The Bible itself uses human examples to illustrate divine concepts. Genesis 1:26 records God's statement, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness," establishing humanity as a reflection of God's character [2]. This concept is further explored in Psalm 8, where the psalmist marvels at humanity's dignity as "a little lower than God" and endowed with dominion over creation [9].
In teaching and preaching, Christian tradition has long utilized human illustrations to convey spiritual truths. Torrey's Topical Textbook, a Protestant resource, categorizes various biblical examples under themes such as humility, boldness, and communion with God [6, 7, 4]. For instance, Christ's example of humility is cited as a model for Christian behavior, with references to Matthew 11:29 and Philippians 2:5-8 [7].
The use of parables and similitudes is also a key aspect of biblical teaching. According to Smith's Bible Dictionary, a parable is "a placing beside or together, a comparison, a similitude, an illustration of one subject by another" [5]. Jesus frequently employed parables to convey spiritual truths, making complex concepts more accessible through relatable human analogies.
However, the use of human examples must be balanced with an acknowledgment of God's sovereignty. The biblical text emphasizes that human actions and decisions are subject to God's providence and control. In Romans 1:18-3:20, Paul argues that both Gentiles and Jews are under sin's power and cannot find favor with God by their own actions [8]. This underscores the need for illustrations and examples to be grounded in a theology that prioritizes God's sovereignty.
Reformed and Puritan traditions have particularly emphasized the importance of aligning human examples with divine sovereignty. Calvin, in his commentary on Genesis, discusses the image of God in humanity and the need for a nuanced understanding of this concept [10]. Matthew Henry, a Nonconformist/Puritan commentator, notes that the Psalmist's meditation on God's glory and greatness is rooted in an acknowledgment of human limitations and divine transcendence [11].
Sources
- Psalms “Posuisti nos in similitudinem gentibus ; commotionem capitis in populis. -- Psalms 43:15”
- Genesis “God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” -- Genesis 1:26”
- Psalms “Psalms 66:5 (LEB) — Come and ⌞consider⌟ the works of God; he is awesome in his dealings with the children of humankind.”
- 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”
- 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”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Boldness, Holy — Christ set an example of -- Joh 7:26. Is through faith in Christ -- Eph 3:12; Heb 10:19. A characteristic of saints -- Pr 28:1. Produced by Trust in God. -- Isa 50:7. The fear of God. -- Ac 4:19; 5:29. Faithfulness to God. -- 1Ti 3:13. Express your trust in God with -- Heb 13:6. Have, in prayer -- Eph 3:12; Heb 4:16. Saints shall have, in judgment -- 1Jo 4:17. Exhortations to -- Jos 1:7; 2Ch 19:11; Jer 1:8; Eze 3:9. Pray for -- Ac 4:29; Eph 6:19,20. Ministers should exhibit, in Faithfulness to their people. -- 2Co 7:4; 10:1. Preaching. -- Ac 4:31; Ph”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Humility — Necessary to the service of God -- Mic 6:8. Christ an example of -- Mt 11:29; Joh 13:14,15; Php 2:5-8. A characteristic of saints -- Ps 34:2. The who have Regarded by God. -- Ps 138:6; Isa 66:2. Heard by God. -- Ps 9:12; Isa 10:17. Enjoy the presence of God. -- Isa 57:15. Delivered by God. -- Job 22:29. Lifted up by God. -- Jas 4:10. Exalted by God. -- Lu 14:11; 18:14. Are greatest in Christ's kingdom. -- Mt 18:4; 20:26-28. Receive more grace. -- Pr 3:34; Jas 4:6. Upheld by honour. -- Pr 18:12; 29:23. Is before honour -- Pr 15:33. Leads to riches, honour, ”
- 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”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 8:5: 8:5 Yet you made them only a little lower than God: Humans bear God’s image; the Lord has endowed humans with dignity and charged them to rule (Gen 1:26-27). Hebrews 2:6-8 applies these words to Jesus Christ, the ideal human who fully realized God’s purposes.”
- 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”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 8 (introduction): This psalm is a solemn meditation on, and admiration of, the glory and greatness of God, of which we are all concerned to think highly and honourably. It begins and ends with the same acknowledgment of the transcendent excellency of God's name. It is proposed for proof (Psa 8:1) that God's name is excellent in all the earth, and then it is repeated as proved (with a "quod erat demonstrandum" - which was to be demonstrated) in the last verse. For the proof of God's glory the psalmist gives instances of his goodness to man; for God's goodness is his glor”