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The structure is of extreme service in preventing one from losing the thread of any
passage. For example, if one knew the structure of Heb. 1:-2:, one would not be
confused by the introduction in two different places of `angels', but would realize the
development of the theme.
Hebrews 1:, 2:
A | 1: 1, 2. God once spoke by prophets. Now by His Son.
B | 1: 2-14. The Son. His Glories.
God and Lord, better than angels.
A | 2: 1-4. God once spoke by angels. Now by the Lord.
B | 2: 5-18. The Son. His humiliation.
Man and Abraham's seed. Lower than angels.
The structural background of Scripture falls into four groups:
(1)
Cognate or Gradational, where the same thought is expressed in different or
progressive terms:
"Seek ye Jehovah while He may be found,
Call ye upon Him while He is near" (Isa. 55: 6).
(2)
Antithetic or Opposite.
"Faithful are the wounds of a friend;
But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy" (Prov. 27: 6).
(3)
Synthetic or Constructive.
"O the happiness of that man
Who hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly;
And hath not stood in the way of sinners
And hath not sat in the seat of the scornful" (Psa. 1: 1).
(4)
Introverted.
"Make the heart of this people fat,
And make their ears heavy,
And shut their eyes;
Lest they see with their eyes,
And hear with their ears,
And understand with their heart" (Isa. 6: 10).
Fuller analysis and many more examples can be seen by consulting the works of
Dr. Louth, or Dr. Roe on the correspondencies of Scriptures, and the great work of
Dr. Bullinger on Figures of Speech used in the Scriptures.
Examples could be multiplied, but these can never take the place of personal
investigation. The unashamed workman will never rest satisfied with his own
interpretation or that of any other, until he has tested it by scope and structure.
A word of caution regarding structure may not be amiss. We early discovered that by
inventing our own head-lines in arriving at the structure, we could save a lot of time, cut
out a lot of work, make a very presentable show, BUT FAIL TO ARRIVE AT TRUTH!
We therefore discarded `headings' and pinned ourselves down to using actual words from