GUEST ARTICLE

MAKING SENSE OF THE “SENSE”

Textual Studies 

Article description: Words are very flexible tools of communication.  They can take on different “senses,” depending upon the context in which they are found.  In this week’s Penpoints article, we explore this matter.

The term “sense” is a common word.  In sentence structure, it has to do with the manner in which a term is employed within a given context.  The term “sense” itself illustrates the importance of the concept of which we speak.

“Sense,” for example, may refer to the exercise of wisdom, as in the statement, “He is known for his common sense.”  It may reflect one’s impulsive opinion: “My immediate sense is, your idea is not practical.”  The word may connote the use of one’s physical organs, e.g., the “sense” faculties – to see, hear, touch, taste, or smell.  The term may suggest a strong impression, as when one hears a strange sound in the night and “senses” that something is not quite right.

Context provides words with numerous shades of meaning.  As it is with literature generally, so it is with the Scriptures as well. Unfortunately, this is a reality that many sincere Bible students do not appreciate.

In studying the Scriptures one must ascertain the “sense” in which terms are employed, for words are often given “senses” that are alien to their more common use.  Let us illustrate this matter in several ways.

Literal or Figurative

When a word is used in its actual or real “sense,” we say it is literal.  On the other hand, a term may be used in a “sense” other than the literal one; we then conclude that the “sense” is figurative.  Ultimately, all words are used either literally or figuratively.  However, when terms are employed in the “figurative sense,” there can be numerous fine shades of distinction.

Jesus once said that the foxes have their holes, but the Son of man has no where to lay his head (Lk. 9:58). In this text, “foxes” is used of a literal animal that inhabited the land of Canaan.  In another setting, Christ, referred to Herod Antipas, saying, “Go say to that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I am perfected’” (Lk. 13:32).  In this text “fox” is employed in a figurative sense. By way of the figure known a “metonymy” the ruler was characterized as a cunning and destructive “varmint” – he was the “beast” who had John the Baptizer beheaded (Mk. 6:14ff).

It is most important that the serious Bible student learn to discriminate between the literal and figurative senses of words in their respective settings.  E.W. Bullinger, in his massive work on this subject, suggested that more than 500 different varieties of figures of speech are known (Figures of Speech in the Bible, Grand Rapids: Baker, 1968, p. ix).

A failure to appreciate this reality can lead to disastrous consequences in religion.  The Jews did not recognize the Savior’s figurative use of “temple” when he said, “destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (Jn. 2:19).  In this case, “temple” referred to his body, and the resurrection thereof from the grave.  Their lack of understanding resulted in a false charge against the Lord at the time of his trial (cf. Mt. 26:61; 27:40).

Absolute or Relative

Another way of demonstrating the different senses a word may assume is to mark the distinction between the “absolute” and the “relative.”  “Absolute” would denote that which is “without restriction, unqualified.”  “Relative” would suggest a quality or state that is in “comparison” to something else.  Consider some examples.

 

When a young ruler referred to Christ as “Good Teacher,” the Lord asked, “Why do you call me ‘good’? No one is ‘good’ except God” (Mk. 10:17:18). Jesus was stressing that only God is “good” in the ultimate sense of that term; too, he was challenging the young man to evaluate his employment of “good.”  Was he, by the use of that term in connection with the “Teacher,” willing to concede that Jesus was deity?  Christ was not denying his own divine nature, as some have alleged.

On the other hand, Barnabas was designated as a “good man” (Acts 11:24).  Barnabas was “good” in a relative sense, i.e., compared to many of his generation. He was exceptional in character.  But he was not “good” to the extent that God is good. One must grasp the “sense” of the adjective in context.

Paul contended that there is “none righteous, no, not one” (Rom. 3:10).  And yet Peter referred to Abraham’s nephew as “righteous Lot” (2 Pet. 2:7; cf. Acts 10:22).  Do the Scriptures conflict? They do not. No one, aside from deity, is righteous in the complete sense; Lot was righteous relatively – as he stood in contrast to the men of Sodom among whom he lived.

The Master was not suggesting that the disciples were “evil” in an absolute sense (as Satan is—cf. Mt. 6:13), but, compared to God, even the best of men are “evil.”

Though no Christian is void of sin (Rom. 3:23; 1 Jn. 1:8), there are those in society who have dredged deep into wickedness, who are unrestrained in their rebellion, hence, are “evil” in an accentuated way. Paul could wish, therefore, that he and his companions might be delivered from “evil men” (2 Thess 3:3), without claiming moral perfection for themselves.

Idiomatic Senses

An “idiom” is an unusual form of expression that is common to a particular culture or language.  An American idiom, for example, is “on the ball,” as in, “That guy is really on the ball.”

The Bible contains certain idiomatic modes of expression with which the serious student needs to be familiar.  A couple of examples will suffice to illustrate the point. 

Hosea employed this idiom to declare Jehovah’s firm intention to punish his people for their rebellion.  The prophet has the Lord saying, “My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge” (Hos. 4:6; cf. Isa. 5:13).  Though spoken years before the Assyrian captivity transpired, the invasion was depicted as if it had happened already – because the result, as orchestrated by the Lord, was assured (cf. Isa. 10:5ff).

Many of the Messianic prophecies are constructed similarly. Isaiah declared: “For unto us a child is [lit. has been] born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (9:6).  The child [Jesus] is idiomatically described as having been born already, though the event was seven centuries into the future.  Jehovah’s plan for sending his Son, however, was as certain as anything could be.

During the course of his ministry Jesus declared: “But if I by the Spirit of God cast out demons, then is the kingdom of God come upon you” (Mt. 12:28).  Even though the Savior employed a verbal form that reflects a past action [lit. “has come,” cf. ESV] the kingdom had not arrived in the powerful, visible sense that would characterize it on the day of Pentecost (cf. Mk. 9:1; Acts 1:8; 2:4). Christ’s miracles, however, signaled the certainty of its arrival, hence it was depicted as a present reality.

When Peter described the eventual destruction of the material universe, he wrote: “Seeing that all these things are being dissolved [loumenon—a present tense participle], what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy living and godliness?” (2 Pet. 3:11).  Our translators have rendered the participle as a future tense (though technically it is not), for that is the sense – as the context clearly reveals.

Conclusion

These examples should suffice to illustrate the fact that sound biblical exegesis involves much more than a quick, superficial passing over of the text. The sacred narrative is laden with subtle nuances, the exploration of which will pay rich dividends to the careful student. And one aspect of this is to contextually detect the “sense” in which a term is used.

Wayne Jackson

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