אבנימ

Biblical Hermeneutics Part Second Chapter 8

The comparison of parallel passages in Scripture is a necessary practice in exegesis, and especially when there is no immediately discernible context or scope. For example, substantial portions of the Book of Proverbs consist of self-contained aphoristic statements that have no contextual connections with what surrounds them.

There is a preferred methodology to employ when undertaking the comparison of parallel passages. Comparisons ought to be first sought within the writing of the same author. Useful parallels will most usually occur within writings of the same class, e.g. historical narrative compared with historical narrative. Parallels may be classified as either verbal or real. The former is where the same words occur in similar connections, and the latter is where is similarity is not in actual words, but in facts, subjects, ideas, doctrines, etc. It is critical in every case to determine if the passages are truly parallel, or merely have a similarity in content.

The author demonstrates these principles in the comparison and collation of parallel passages to address specific exegetical questions. Among these is a lengthy analysis of the confession of Peter in Matthew 16, and the question of what exactly is the “rock” upon which our Lord will build His church. Through careful comparison and collation, the author demonstrates the weakness of the popular Protestant view that the “rock” is Peter’s confession.