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Using Non-Scriptural Examples to Illustrate Biblical Truths

The use of non-scriptural examples to illustrate biblical truths is a practice that finds precedent in the biblical text itself, particularly in the form of parables and comparisons. The Greek word for parable, parabole, signifies "placing beside or together," indicating a comparison or illustration of one subject by another [1]. This method involves drawing parallels between familiar concepts or stories and deeper spiritual realities.

Jesus frequently employed parables, which sometimes took the form of short proverbs or enigmatic maxims, to convey spiritual lessons [1]. For instance, when discussing sincerity, the apostle Peter presents Christ as an example, and ministers are likewise encouraged to be examples [5]. This highlights a pattern of using observable or relatable instances to illuminate abstract virtues or divine principles.

The Bible itself is described as the "Word of God," "Word of Christ," and "Word of truth," given by inspiration of God and the Holy Spirit [2]. It is considered a revelation, an "uncovering" or "bringing to light of that which had been previously wholly hidden" [6]. While the Scriptures are the revelation itself, the method of conveying these truths often involves analogies. For example, Hebrews 11:3 states, "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear" [3]. This verse uses the observable world to point to an unseen divine act of creation.

The apostle Paul also utilized comparisons to explain spiritual concepts. In 2 Corinthians 3:3, he describes believers as "Christ's epistle ministered by us, written, not with ink, but [the] Spirit of [the] living God; not on stone tables, but on fleshy tables of [the] heart" [4]. Here, the familiar concept of a written letter is used to illustrate the internal transformation wrought by the Holy Spirit, contrasting it with the Old Covenant written on stone.

Theological commentators often draw upon broader human experience and logic to explain biblical doctrines. For instance, when discussing sin, commentators note that "all human beings are born sinners," but while the wicked indulge this nature, the godly fight against it [7]. This distinction is often illustrated by contrasting sinful acts, which are described as "vanity" [8], with righteous living. Augustine, as cited by Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, explains that while one can be "born of God," one is not "born of the devil," but rather becomes a "child of the devil by imitating him, not by proper birth" [9]. This distinction clarifies the nature of spiritual lineage through an analogy to physical birth and imitation.

The concept of sin itself is often explained through relatable human experiences. The "great sin" is identified as rebellion [11], and the first sin is described not merely as eating an apple, but as "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" [10]. These descriptions use human motivations and relationships to explain the gravity of the original transgression.

Furthermore, the universality of sin is a foundational concept, with Paul delaying the discussion of righteousness through faith until after establishing "universal sinfulness" among both Gentiles and Jews [12]. This broad human condition serves as a backdrop against which divine truths are presented. Even the idea of God's anger is explained as "not a spontaneous emotional outburst, but the holy God’s necessary response to sin," drawing on the Old Testament depictions of divine wrath [12].

The use of non-scriptural examples extends to acknowledging the limitations of human understanding and written accounts. John Gill, commenting on John 21:25, suggests that if all of Jesus's deeds were written down, "the world itself could not contain the books that should be written" [13]. This hyperbolic statement uses a tangible image of countless books to convey the immeasurable scope of Christ's actions, thereby illustrating the depth of divine activity beyond what is recorded. Similarly, the Scriptures themselves are called "wonderful" due to their author, content, and utility, encompassing accounts of creation, providence, and miracles [14]. The "word of truth" (Scriptures or Gospel) is presented as coming from God, who "cannot lie," and is concerned with salvation [15]. These descriptions, while rooted in the divine, often employ human categories of wonder, truth, and purpose to make the divine more comprehensible.

Sources

  1. 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”
  2. 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”
  3. King James Version “[KJV] Hebrews 11:3 — Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.”
  4. II Corinthians “II Corinthians 3:3 (Darby) — being manifested to be Christ's epistle ministered by us, written, not with ink, but [the] Spirit of [the] livingGod; not on stone tables, but on fleshy tables of [the] heart.”
  5. 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; ”
  6. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Revelation — An uncovering, a bringing to light of that which had been previously wholly hidden or only obscurely seen. God has been pleased in various ways and at different times (Heb. 1:1) to make a supernatural revelation of himself and his purposes and plans, which, under the guidance of his Spirit, has been committed to writing. (See WORD OF [532]GOD.) The Scriptures are not merely the "record" of revelation; they are the revelation itself in a written form, in order to the accurate presevation and propagation of the truth. Revelation and inspiration differ. Rev”
  7. 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).”
  8. Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 30:8: vanity--all sorts of sinful acts (Job 11:11; Isa 5:18).”
  9. 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 3:8: He that committeth sin is of the devil--in contrast to "He that doeth righteousness," Jo1 3:7. He is a son of the devil (Jo1 3:10; Joh 8:44). John does not, however, say, "born of the devil." as he does "born of God," for "the devil begets none, nor does he create any; but whoever imitates the devil becomes a child of the devil by imitating him, not by proper birth" [AUGUSTINE, Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John, Homily 4.10]. From the devil there is not generation, but corruption [BENGEL]. sinneth from the beginning--from the time that any beg”
  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.”
  11. 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).”
  12. 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”
  13. John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on John 21:25: And there are also many other things which Jesus did,.... Which refer not to his doctrines and discourses, his sermons and prayers, and the conversation he had with his disciples, and others, on different accounts; but to the signs, and wonders, and miraculous operations, which were done by him, that are neither recorded in this, nor in any of the evangelists: the which, if they should be written everyone; with all the particular circumstances relating to them: I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. The Arabic versi”
  14. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 119:125: PE.--The Seventeenth Part. PE. Thy testimonies are wonderful,.... The Scriptures, which testify of God, his mind and will, are wonderful both with respect to the author of them, the things contained in them, and the use and advantage of them. They give an account of the wonderful works of creation; of their author and matter; of the manner, order, and time of their being wrought: they relate many wonderful events of Providence, both in a way of mercy and judgment; they declare several surprising miracles, wrought by Moses and others, and exhibit many marvellous t”
  15. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 119:41: And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,.... The Scriptures, which are by divine inspiration, come from the God of truth, contain nothing but truth in them, and are called "the Scriptures of truth", Dan 10:21. Or the Gospel, which is often so called, Eph 1:13; This comes from God, who cannot lie, and is a declaration of his mind and will concerning the salvation of men; in which Christ, who is the truth, is concerned, being the author, preacher, and substance of it; into which the Spirit of truth leads men, and makes it useful and effectual; which has”
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