20. The Synthetic Principle

CHAPTER TWENTY The Synthetic Principle or Principle of Literary Structure. a. Definition. That principle under which God superintends the literary structure of the Bible so that it is constructed in introversion, alternations, or combination of both. b. Explanation.

Everything that God does is perfect: Everything in nature and the Book; everything in the world and the Word. God is not the Creator of that which is imperfect. A blade of grass is perfect and so is a drop of dew. Man’s most perfect creation is a razor-blade-smooth, sharp. But put it under a microscope and the edge would look like this: W But a blade of grass under the same microscope is perfect.

Snowflakes are perfect. If 10,000 snowflakes were photographed, you would find no two alike, yet they are all alike in structure. They are all six-pointed. The same perfection that you find in nature, you find in Scripture. When you find the same perfection in Scripture that you find in nature, then you have proof that the God Who created is the God Who wrote. c. Alternation.

1. Meaning. Alternate members to an outline or alternation. A A B B C A DB A A BB

C

D 2. Examples: – the beauty of the structure of the Word of God.

(a) Book of Jonah.

A. Commission 1:1, 2 B. Disobedience 1:3 C. Consequence 1:4-17

D. Prayer 2:1-9 E. Deliverance 2:10 A. Commission 3:1, 2 B. Obedience 3:3, 4 C. Consequences 3:5-10

D. Prayer 4:1-3 E. Correction 4:4-11 (b) John 3:20-21 A. Everyone that doeth evil hateth the light.

B. Neither cometh to the light.

C. Lest his deeds be reproved.

A. Everyone that doeth truth.

B. Cometh to the light.

C. That his deeds may be made manifest.

(c) Proverbs 31:10-31.

A. Her husband – 10-12.

B. Her occupation – 13-19.

C. Her character – 20.

D. Her household – 21.

E. Herself – 22 (What she is on the outside).

A. Her husband – 23.

B. Her occupation – 24.

C. Her character – 26.

D. Her household – 27, 28.

E. Herself – 29, 30 (what she is on the inside).

(d) Matthew 23:16-17.

A. Woe unto you blind scribes.

B. The temple and the gold.

A. Ye fools and blind.

B. The gold and the temple.

(e) Acts 2:14-36.

A. Appeal – men of Judea – l4, 15.

B. Reference to Joel – 16-21.

A. Appeal – men of Israel – 22-24.

B. Reference to Psalm 16 – 25-28.

A. Appeal – men and brethren – 29-33.

B. Reference to Psalm 110:34-36.

(f) Joshua 4:1-9 – Memorial.

A. Twelve men – 1, 2.

B. Twelve stones – 3.

C. The place – 3.

A. Twelve men – 4.

B. Twelve stones – 5.

C. The memorial – 6, 7.

A. Twelve men (figure of speech, tribes figuratively) – 8.

B. Twelve stones – 8.

C. The place – 8, 9.

(g) II Thessalonians.

A. Introduction. Grace and peace – 1:1, 2.

B. Thanksgiving – 1:3.

C. Reason – 1:3, 5.

D. Obtaining of rest and glory – 1:6-10.

E. Prayer for them – 1:11.

F. Name of the Lord be glorified – 1:12.

G. They gloried in Him – 1:12 H. Admonition – 2:1-12.

B. Thanksgiving – 2:13.

C. Reason – 2:13.

D. Obtaining of glory – 2:14, 15.

E. Prayer for Paul – 2:16-3:1.

F. Word may be glorified – 3:1.

G. Hearts directed to God’s love – 3:5.

H. Admonition – 3:6-15.

A. Conclusion – Peace and Grace – 3:16-18. d. Introversion.

1. Example A. A.

B.          B.

C.      C.

B.          C.

B 2. Examples from Scripture.

(a) Isaiah 6:10.

A. Make the heart of the people fat.

B. Ears.

C. Eyes.

C. Eyes.

B. Ears.

A. Heart.

(b) Luke 1:68-79.

A. Visitation – 68.

B. Salvation – 69.

C. Prophets – 70.

D. Enemies – 71.

E. Covenant – 72.

E. Oath – 73.

D. Enemies – 74, 75.

C. Prophet – 76.

B. Salvation – 77.

A. Visitation – 78, 79.

(c) Psalms 117.

A. Praise – 1.

B. Reason – 2a.

B. Reason – 2b.

A. Praise – 2c.

(d) Psalms 23.

A. Supply, pasture and water. Spoken of "He" – 1-3.

B. Danger – death, rod and staff – spoken to "thou" – Vs. 4.

B. Danger – enemies, table and cup, spoken to "thou" – Vs. 5.

A. Supply, goodness, and mercy-spoken of "Lord" – Vs. 6. e. Other examples.

1. Ezekiel 36:26-27. Alternation.

A. New heart.

B. New Spirit.

A. New Heart.

B. New Spirit.

2. Jeremiah 17:5-8. Alternation.

A. Cursed is the man who trusts Man 1:-5.

B. Shall be like the heath {a shrub in the desert) – 6.

A. Blessed is the man that trusts God – 7.

B. Shall be like the tree – 8.

3. 1 Corinthians 3:6-7. Alternation.

A. I have planted.

B. Apollos has watered.

C. God giveth the increase.

A. Neither is he that planteth.

B. Nor he that watereth.

C. But God that giveth the increase.

4. Psalms 1 : Alternation.

A. Blessed is the godly man – vs. 1.

B. Shall be like a tree – vs. 3.

A. Ungodly are not so – vs. 4.

B. Are like the chaff – vs. 4.

5. Psalms 8, 150 begin and end the same – Introversion.