I don't have Bullinger's book, but I think it might be a good this to add. There is another book to consider as well.... "Idioms in the Bible Explained and A Key to the Original Gospels" by George M Lamsa ISBN 0-06-064927-5 (14.00 USD, $20.00 Can)
However, Lamsa comes from the idea that Aramaic was the original language of the Gospels... a point to which I disagree. He has some valid points nonetheless. I also disagree with some of his interpretations of the Biblical idioms, but in some circles I would be heretical because (after all) how DARE I disagree with a man who transalted (I mean translated) the New Testament from his own language. This is point he makes in his translation of the whole Bible and he seems to hang a lot of importance on this fact. However, as anyone knows, the meanings of both idioms and words change through time and the man is not 2,000 years old. --slade -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Bill Taylor Sent: Sunday, 26 December, 2004 02.06 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [TruthTalk] Idioms and Figures of Speech "but it does shift some additional burden upon those claiming it is a figure of speech" No, David, it does not. That would be the case only if Bullinger had set out to identify every use of figurative language in the Bible. But that is not Bullinger's intent. By the way, I've got that book too, and I must say that it has been immensely helpful over the years. Nowhere does he state an intent to set forth every occurrence of figurative language: His is not to give every reference to a particular figure of speech; instead he attempts to address every figure of speech by referencing examples of its use in the Scriptures -- a rather significant distinction. Hebrews 1.5 is structured chiastically (A>B-B>A). The first and last lines concern sonship and frame the second and third lines, which speak of paternity. A -- You are my Son; B -- today I have become your Father B -- I will be his Father A -- and he will be my Son David, do you deny my assertion concerning the chiastic structure of this verse? Chiasm (sometimes called Chiasmos or Chiaston) is a figure of speech. Bullinger addresses Chiasm on pages 374-384, citing many examples of this structural form in Scripture. Yet he does not include Hebrews 1.5 in this set of examples. Should his lack of inclusion under Chiasm, cast dispersions on a further lack of inclusion as it relates to this verse in other figurative forms? Certainly it should not. When one statement (and that is what this is: a statement, with multiple quotations of that statement elsewhere) casts dispersions on the greater narrative of Scripture, it is not unreasonable to suspect firstly that the statement was not written with literal intent; hence the assertion that Ps 2.7 et al is to be taken figuratively. Of this verse, William Lane writes: "There is a certain degree of unresolved tension in the writer's designation of Jesus as Son, since the title can be applied to the pre-existent Son (v3a-b), to the incarnate Son (v 2a), and to the exalted Son. It was apparently the writer's conviction that although Jesus was the pre-existent Son of God (cf. 5.8, "although he was the Son"), he entered into a new dimension in the experience of sonship by virtue of his incarnation, his baptism, his sacrificial death, and his subsequent exaltation. This new dimension finds expression in THE LEGAL FORMULA OF RECOGNITION, "You are my Son" (emphasis mine). A possible explanation for the figurative thrust of this verse is as follows: If Lane is correct in identifying this pronouncement a legal formula, then it is a figure of Speech by definition and the Hebrew culture would have recognized it as such. Hence we see that the day of that pronouncement came not once but on several occasions throughout the course of the Son's earthly appearance: at his baptism, at his transfiguration, and after his resurrection (cf. Acts 13.13), to name a few. "On this day" then is not a statement in reference to a point in time which introduced the "Son's" ontological existence, it refers to points in time which established the legal designation or recognition of Sonship to the Son's eternal existence. Bill ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Miller" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, December 25, 2004 7:47 PM Subject: Re: [TruthTalk] Idioms and Figures of Speech > I should point out that some scholars have attempted to be very thorough in > cataloging and identifying figures of speech. I have a volume by E.W. > Bullinger called, "Figures of Speech used in the Bible." It is more than > 1100 pages, but it does not list "This day have I begotten thee" as a figure > of speech. It does list the idea of "begotten" from Psalm 2:7 as being an > anthropopatheia. The question posed in Heb. 1:5 of "Unto which of the > angels said he at any time, thou art my son" also is listed as a figure of > speech, but the phrase, "This day have I begotten thee" is not discussed. > The volume has a good Scripture index so I am confident that I have looked > at all the relevant places in this extensive volume. Of course, not listing > it as a figure of speech does not mean that it was not a figure of speech, > but it does shift some additional burden upon those claiming it is a figure > of speech to explain what actual meaning is meant to be conveyed by this > alleged figure of speech. > > Peace be with you. > David Miller. > > > ---------- > "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org > > If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed. > ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed. ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
