Page 143 - A Dissertation for Doctor of Philosophy

out-flowing of his nature, thought process, and poetic capacity. 170 It is certain that Jesus made

the heavenly messages earthen with the familiar word pictures and sparkling imagery of the earth.

It is also certain that people loved it.

Use of Figures of Speech

Jesus’ pictorial and imaginative expressions incorporated various figures of speech. Jesus did

not use figures of speech just for decorating his preaching or “gratifying a poetic fancy.” 171

Rather, he employed them purposely, so his message could be conveyed and memorized by his

listeners through “impressiveness.” 172 Jesus knew how to transport the abstract and spiritual

substance of the faith to the finite human mind. Wilder contends that it was possible through “a

new liberation of speech evident in its prodigality of imaginative vehicles.” 173 The imaginative

vehicles are the figures of speech. A figure of speech is classically defined as “simply a word or

a sentence thrown into a peculiar form, different from its original or simplest meaning or use.” 174

Jesus used numerous figures of speech in his preaching, so many in fact that it is almost

impracticable to give a complete inventory. Yet, according to Bond, “In the Sermon on the

Mount, as given by Matthew, we have counted sixty-two figures of speech.” 175 Horn lists and

170
Jones, Teaching Methods, 25.

171
Donald Fraser, The Metaphors of Christ (London: Nisbet, 1885; reprint, Minneapolis,
MN: Klock and Klock, 1985), vii.
172 Pan, “A Stylistic Analysis,” 67.

173
Wilder, Early Christian Rhetoric, 118.
174
E.W. Bullinger, Figures of Speech Used in the Bible: Explained and Illustrated
(London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1898; reprint, Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1968), xv.

175 Bond, Master Preacher, 72.