STRUCTURES
Readers, unfamiliar with Charles H. Welch's writings, may question the
significance and understanding of what he calls Structures.
The Principle of Structure in Scripture
From at least as far back as the fifteenth century*, it has been
recognized and recorded by students of the Bible, that parallelisms occur
between successive lines in the Old Testament, either in the repetition of
similar, or contrasting, thoughts or words, e.g.:
Psalm 19:1
The Heavens
declare
the Glory of God
The Firmament
sheweth
His handywork
As time passed, it was realized that:
(1)
Parallelisms (or Correspondences) occur in both the Old and the New
Testament books.
(2)
Correspondences of subject matter, owing to repetition of theme,
may be seen throughout the whole Bible.
(3)
The constitution of these themes may be seen to be made of more
intricate structures, formed by the phrases and words actually used
in the Scriptures (i.e. Hebrew and Greek phrases and words, e.g. en
tois epouraniois `in the heavenlies' p. 45; charis `grace' p. 368;
musterion `mystery' p. 534).
Throughout his lifetime's work as a Bible Teacher, Charles H. Welch
utilized Scriptural Structures effectively and frequently. This present work,
In Heavenly Places, abounds in this style of exposition.
The examples given in (3) above, are shown overleaf:
From page 45
En tois epouraniois in Ephesians
A 1:3.
`In heavenly places'
Dispensation of fulness of times.
Mystery of His will.
The purpose in Himself.
B 1:20.
`In heavenly
Principality and power.
Places'
Power, strength, might.
Power in wrought.
C 2:6.
`In heavenly
places'
Quickened
together.
Raised
together.
Seated
together.
A 3:10.
`In heavenly places'
Dispensation of the grace of God
The Mystery.
The purpose of the ages.
B 6:12.
`In high places'
Principality and power.
(A.V.) (heavenly
Strong, power, might.
places R.V.).
Power worked out.
4