The Bible brims with metaphors! They are like word-pictures that help make the intangible tangible, or like physical shadows cast by spiritual bodies (Col 2:16-17, Heb 10:1). Consider some of these:
"They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (Rev 7:14)
"Offer your bodies as living sacrifices" (Rom 12:1)
"I am the good Shepherd" (Jn 10:11)
"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field" (Mt 13:34)
"You are the salt of the earth" (Mt 5:13) "He was led like a lamb to slaughter" (Is 53:7) "'Return, faithless people', declares the Lord, 'for I am your Husband" (Jer 3:14)
"The oil of gladness... the garment of praise... oaks of righteousness" (Is 61:3)
"The armor of God... the shield of faith... the sword of the Spirit" (Eph 6:11-17)
When we encounter such metaphors in the Bible, we see God using the things we can touch and see to teach us about Himself, our relationship with Him, Heaven, sin. It can be lost on us that the things we can touch and see were consciously designed by our omniscient Creator (e.g. trees, fruit, marriage, blood, feet), or ordained by our omnipotent King (e.g. Israel's bondage to Egypt, the Passover, the Tabernacle, circumcision, the sacrifice of Isaac). Hence, this study takes a strong view of these metaphors: namely, that God has explicitly designed physical things and shepherded history so as to reveal Himself and teach us about the spiritual (Rom 1:19-20), and that He actively uses them for this purpose throughout Scripture (Jn 3:12, Rom 5:14, 1Cor 10:6, Heb 9:6-12, 1Ptr 3:21).
The following studies attempt to cover the major, recurring metaphors. Their power lies in the Scripture references, not the summarizing narrative-- the reader is encouraged to track the references so that God can speak directly and so that the depth, scope and power of the metaphor is clear.
Completed Studies:
Anointing, Oil
Athlete
Avenger of Blood
Bride
Blood
Circumcision
Divorce
Heaven
- The Paradise of God (Eden)
- The City of God (Jerusalem)
- The Tabernacle or Temple of God
- The Throne Room of God
- The Feast, Abraham's Bosom
- Our Father’s House and Inheritance
- Summary
- Gehenna, Valley of Hinnom, Tophet, Valley of Slaughter
- Lake of Fire, Burning Wasteland
- Outer Darkness
- Summary
Marriage
Music
Soldier
Redeemer, Kinsman-Redeemer
Warrior
Wine
Future studies:
Ambassador (see King, Master, Lord)
Baptism
The Body
Branches (see Husbandman)
Builder (see Craftsman)
Clothing
Craftsman
Ears (see The Body)
Eyes (see The Body)
Father
Festivals
Food, Drink, Clean/Unclean Animals
Hands (see The Body)
Hunting (Net, Snare, Trap, Pit)
Husbandman/Farmer
Judge
King, Master, Lord
Lamb (see Sheep, Shepherd, Sacrifice, Blood, Festivals)
Laying on of Hands (see The Body)
Light (see The Body: Eyes)
Lord
Love Slave
Master
Measures
Metals
Money
Precious Thing Lost and Found (also see Wealth)
Priest
Refining
Rock, Fortress
Salt, Light, Leaven
Sacrifice
Sheep
Shepherd
Smelting
Son
Steward
Tabernacle
Temple
Treasure
Vine
Roots
Tree
Water
Wealth
Yoke
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