Questions tagged [literary-structure]

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In Esther 5 why did Esther arrange a second meeting?

I recently did a meditation on the fourth chapter of Esther at my church. As I was studying, I noticed something that I knew before hand, but I had never really thought to seriously about. Why did ...
anonymous2's user avatar
14 votes
3 answers
11k views

Is the Gospel of John arranged as a chiasm?

In his book the Literary Structure of the Old Testament, David Dorsey compiles a list of fifteen ways the writers of the Hebrew bible linked narrative units into narrative patterns. One of these ...
Matthew Miller's user avatar
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Why does Mark provide two feeding accounts?

The Gospel According to Mark, in contrast to the other three gospels, provides two separate feeding miracles wherein Jesus multiplies loaves and fishes to feed five thousand and four thousand ...
Soldarnal's user avatar
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Why Does The Thought Of 1 John Flow The Way It Does?

Following "Tests Of Life" (Robert Law), many have identified that John is following a circular or spiralling line of thought in 1 John by initially stating several key topics and then revisiting them ...
Daniel Stowers's user avatar
7 votes
6 answers
485 views

How should the Bible reader interpret Proverbs 24:21a use of the term "the king" if the earthly governing leadership was evil?

Proverbs 24:21 New American Standard Bible 1995 21 My son, fear the Lord and the king; Do not associate with those who are given to change, Proverbs 24:21 New King James Version 21 My son, fear the ...
user1338998's user avatar
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7 votes
1 answer
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Does James 5:12 begin a new thought or conclude a previous thought?

The rhetoric of James 5:12 seems to indicate that some sort of conclusion is being reached: But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your ...
Soldarnal's user avatar
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Is Revelation 12:6, 14 considered an inclusio?

Would the term inclusio be correctly applied to Revelation 12:6 ("Then the woman fled into the wilderness . . .") and verse 14 ("the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she ...
Rong Wei's user avatar
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6 votes
2 answers
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What is the literary funciton of Acts 1:15-26?

The Book of Acts opens with Jesus' ascension and the promise of the Spirit. The disciples go to Jerusalem where their Lord had directed them to wait, and then on the day of Pentecost, the Spirit comes ...
Jas 3.1's user avatar
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5 votes
2 answers
485 views

Other than as a memory aid what is the alleged hermeneutical significance of chiastic structure?

Whether or not chiasmus is something intended by an author or whether it is simply serendipity is a question about which there is no settled opinion. People disagree. Some see it everywhere and are ...
Ruminator's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
330 views

Are Matthew 4:17 and 16:21 intended to provide structure to the gospel?

In the Gospel of Matthew there are two lines that seem to suggest a transition in Jesus' ministry and perhaps add some sort of structure to the gospel as a whole. The first is in 4:17 after Jesus ...
Soldarnal's user avatar
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Is 1 Corinthians 13:9-12 a literary structure?

KJV 1 Corinthians 13 : 9 - 12 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as ...
collen ndhlovu's user avatar
4 votes
6 answers
793 views

What Do the Three Literary Devices in John 1:1-2 Add to the Exegesis of the Relationship of the Word and God?

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. (John 1:1-2 ESV) ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν θεόν καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος ...
Revelation Lad's user avatar
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4 answers
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Is there really a hearing/seeing theme in Revelation?

Many claim there is a hearing/seeing theme in the book of Revelation, where John hears something, then sees something (or the other way around), and that both what he sees and hears have the same ...
למה זה תשאל לשמי's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
231 views

How are the Proverbs in the Proverbs book organized? By author? Theme? Chronologically?

I would love to know if the book is compiled in any specific manner. It follows a theme order it seems, but is that intended by the authors, or some were organized later on and placed in some kind of ...
jbdo's user avatar
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4 votes
3 answers
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Is there a parallelism intended in Romans 9:4?

Paul lists a string of six blessings on Israel in Romans 9:4 (NIV): Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the ...
Soldarnal's user avatar
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3 votes
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(Psalm 45:2) Is Ancient Hebrew's translation of "fairer" used as a figure of speech for a person's character, personality, inner spirit, etc.,?

Could someone please check if the Ancient Hebrew translation of the word "fairer" is meant to be used as a figure of speech in Ancient Hebrew that indicates a person's character, personality,...
user1338998's user avatar
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3 votes
4 answers
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According to the text, are the trees of life and of the knowledge of good and evil symbolic or actual trees?

And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.  And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for ...
Mike Borden's user avatar
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Is the Gospel of Mark arranged as a chiasm or parallel structure?

This question was inspired by a similar question about the Gospel of John: Is the Gospel of John arranged as a chiasm?. I have reason to believe that the same question about Mark can be answered in ...
Dick Harfield's user avatar
2 votes
4 answers
293 views

Nature, tone, speakers & audiences of the Isaiah 8:5-10 bible passage

Isaiah 8:5-12 New American Standard Bible 1995 5 Again the Lord spoke to me further, saying, 6 “Inasmuch as these people have rejected the gently flowing waters of Shiloah And rejoice in Rezin and the ...
user1338998's user avatar
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2 votes
3 answers
498 views

Trying to analyze (1 Corinthians 3:18) ".....he must become foolish...."

1 Corinthians 3:15-23 New American Standard Bible 1995 15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 16 Do you not know that you are a [...
user1338998's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
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Does the sermon on the mount follow a chiastic structure mapped by the Beatitudes?

Reposted from the Christianity stack exchange site, as off-topic there. A possible observation I made is that the Beatitudes lay out a map for what follows immediately after in the sermon on the ...
abnry's user avatar
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1 answer
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What are the literary and narrative features Judges 1?

What literary or structural features are within the context of Judges 1? I'm finding this chapter exceedingly difficult to come to grips with in relation to the rest of the book. Are there any books ...
Glowworm_22's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
77 views

(Isaiah 41:2 & 25)“conjoining" literary technique of “north” & “east” to deduce that God “inspired” Cyrus of Media & Persia to conquer nations

Isaiah 41:2 and 25 New American Standard Bible 1995 ………. ……………………………… 2 “Who has aroused one from the east Whom He calls in righteousness to His [a]feet? He delivers up nations before him And subdues ...
user1338998's user avatar
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1 vote
3 answers
216 views

What are the literary device(s) used in Psalm 44 to express God's Victories as He battles?

I might just be asking something that's quite obvious, but I just wanted more insight and clarity. When the Israelites battled against their foes at Beth-horon, God did drop large stones/hailstones on ...
user1338998's user avatar
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0 votes
2 answers
184 views

Are Some Bible Scripture verses merely monotonously descriptive/instructive Or do they have more meaningful undertones?(layers of meaning)

Some bible passages may seem to just have monotonously descriptive/instructive tones (especially the bible books of Chronicles, Leviticus, Kings, etc. ), but the bible reader is usually left wondering ...
user1338998's user avatar
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0 votes
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The word "Let" as an element of a sequential build up in the details of the creation story

I tried to categorize the build up in detail as we move from the 1st to 7th day. I tried to use the word "Let" to create an orderly arrangement of the chapter. I discovered that the word "Let" ...
user20490's user avatar
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-1 votes
1 answer
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Where does the paragraph end in Genesis 37:2 [closed]

I'm converting this link into HTML, so when I came across Genesis 37:2, I got stumped because I don't see where there might be a closing </p> tag.
Phillip Senn's user avatar
-1 votes
1 answer
35 views

Viewing (Isaiah 8:5-12) as modern day's Christian journaling of Godly Revelations & Personal Declaration

(Closely related Posting: Nature, tone, speakers & audiences of the Isaiah 8:5-10 bible passage ) This is just a theory. If you think about some ministries like Mark Virkler's ministries ( https:...
user1338998's user avatar
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-1 votes
1 answer
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Literary devices explaining Paul's use of language style when it comes to marrying or even being involved in worldliness (1 Corinthians 7:27-31)?

( 1 Corinthians 7:25-31 ) 25 Now concerning virgins I have no command of the Lord, but I give an opinion as one who [a]by the mercy of the Lord is trustworthy. 26 I think then that this is good in ...
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