Parallel Passages

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Parallel Passages
Assumptions

1. The Bible is Unified

2. God is the Author
3. The best commentary is (i) by the human author
or (ii) by God who is the author of the whole
BECAUSE the author will not contradict himself.
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Parallel Passages
Two Types

1. Verbal the words are similar.

2. Ideological the topics are the same.
Parallelism is not like a mathematical equation
but comes in degrees of likeness and
dissimilarity.
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Parallel Passages

• Synoptic Parallels

Look for
1. Matthew, Mark, Luke
2. Samuel Kings with Chronicles
3. Specific passages 1 Chron 117-27 Gen
1110-26Psa 18 with 2 Sam 22Isa 36-39 2 Kings
18-20Jer 52 2 Kings 24-25
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Parallel Passages

• OT Quotes

Look for
1. About 295 (with 224 introductions).
Imprecision, brevity, allusions, strings and
translations make them difficult to count.
2. Mt., Acts, Romans and Hebrews have the most.
Only Philemon and 1-3 John have none (perhaps
Rev).
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Parallel Passages

• OT Quotes

Look for
3. 278 O.T. verses are cited
94 Penteteuch 99 Prophets 85 Writings Psa
1101 is the most frequently cited verse
4. Allusions are estimated between 442 and 4,105.
Revelation has the most.
5. 10 of the N.T. is quotation or allusion.
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Parallel Passages
Look for

• Chronological Parallels

1. Pauline Epistles with Acts
2. Psalms with historical foundations
3. Prophets with Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles.
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Parallel Passages

• Theological Parallels

Look for
Examples Predestination, eternal security,
millennialism, womens roles.
1. Find recurring words Christian Acts 1126
2628 1 Peter 416.
2. Find similar thoughts even where the words are
different Mt 1037 Lk 1426 or Lk 1625 Rev
611
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Parallel Passages

• Miscellaneous

Look for
1. Symbols of prophecy and prophetic vocabulary.
2. Quotations from extra-biblical sources.
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Parallel Passages
How to Find Parallels
Using your Bible
1. Read your Bible extensively.
2. Use marginal references.
Using Reference Books
3. Computer concordances for phrases.
4. Topical Bibles and theological dictionaries.
5. Scholarly commentaries.
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Abuses of Parallels
1. Using the obscure to define the clear (cf. Lk
1616 with Jn 615 Mt 1112).
2. Building a systematic Theology through
proof-texting.
3. Combining lists into one comprehensive
check-list.
4. Not allowing each passage its own voice.
Parallel Passages
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Parallel Passages
Rules for Harmonizing Parallels
1. If the authors are credible, every effort
should be made to harmonize them.
2. If a reasonable explanation (even with
conjecture) exists the author should not be
charged with error.
3. He who asserts must also prove.
4. Accounts must be mutually exclusive to
constitute a contradiction.
Parallel Passages
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Rules for Interpreting Parallels
1. Study all the relevant passages
2. Look at theologians whose views appear to
contradict the text. (e.g. Amill on Rev 20
premill on 2 Peter 3)
3. Allow for paradox.
4. Be fair with the context of each text.
Parallel Passages
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Rules for Interpreting Parallels
5. Develop a personal file of topics.
6. The clear takes precedence over the obscure.
7. Repeated passages carry greater weight.
8. Literal texts are give preference over
figurative, parabolic or poetic texts.
9. Later revelation is preferred over earlier.
Parallel Passages