Theological Term of the Week: Inclusio

inclusio

A phrase, line, or concept used to mark the beginning and ending of a literary unit of biblical text, and forming a frame or bracket around what lies between; also known as bookending or bracketing. 

• In scripture:

“Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places!

How the mighty have fallen!

Tell it not in Gath,

publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon,

lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,

lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.

“You mountains of Gilboa,

let there be no dew or rain upon you,

nor fields of offerings!

For there the shield of the mighty was defiled,

the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.

“From the blood of the slain,

from the fat of the mighty,

the bow of Jonathan turned not back,

and the sword of Saul returned not empty.

“Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely!

In life and in death they were not divided;

they were swifter than eagles;

they were stronger than lions.

“You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,

who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet,

who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.

“How the mighty have fallen

in the midst of the battle!

“Jonathan lies slain on your high places.” (2 Samuel 1:19-25 ESV)

• From Inductive Bible Study by Richard Allen Fuhr, Jr. and Andreas Kostenberger, pages 162-163:

Inclusio provides the means of marking the beginning and the ending of a literary unit, often through parallel phraseology or subject matter. A classic example of this technique is seen in Ecclesiastes 1:2 and 12:28 with the proclamation, “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity” (NKJV; Heb hevel in the superlative). Between these two “bookend” statements, the idea of life lived in a hevel (“vain,” “absurd,” or “fleeting”) world is examined inside and out. …

The Prophets often use inclusio as a means of reinforcing the declaration of judgment or the proclamation of salvation. Compare Hosea 1:10-2:1 to 2:21-23 and notice the bracketing language and content that embraces the subject matter between these prophetic statements. 

Learn more:

1. Peter Krol: Know Your Literary Devices
2. Chris Brauns: The Gospel of Matthew’s Use of Inclusio or Bracketing

Related terms:

• biblical hermeunutics
• literary genres of the Bible

Filed under Scripture

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Sunday Hymn: Come, Christians, Join to Sing

Come, Christians, join to sing
Alleluia! Amen!
Loud praise to Christ our king;
Alleluia! Amen!
Let all, with heart and voice,
Before His throne rejoice;
Praise is His gracious choice.
Alleluia! Amen!

Come, lift your hearts on high,
Alleluia! Amen!
Let praises fill the sky;
Alleluia! Amen!
He is our guide and friend;
To us He’ll condescend;
His love shall ne­ver end.
Alleluia! Amen!

Praise yet our Christ again,
Alleluia! Amen!
Life shall not end the strain;
Alleluia! Amen!
On heaven’s blissful shore,
His goodness we’ll adore,
Singing for­ev­er­more,
Al­le­lu­ia! Amen!

—Chris­tian H. Bate­man

Theological Term of the Week: Illumination

illumination

The work of the Holy Spirit within us, enabling us “to grasp and to love the revelation that is in the biblical text” as we hear and read it, and as it is explained to us by teachers and writers.1

• From scripture:

Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. 

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:12-14 ESV)

• From The Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 1:

The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for His own glory, man’s salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men. Nevertheless, we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word…. 

• From The Christian Faith by Michael Horton, page 167:

[I]nspiration is a characteristic of the biblical text, while illumination is the Spirit’s subsequent work of bringing us to an understanding and acceptance of its meaning. … The Spirit’s illumination is of two kinds, internal and external. The Spirit witnesses to the truth of Scripture and within us to win our consent.

Learn more:

1. J. I. Packer: Illumination
2. Ligonier Ministries: Divine Illumination
3. Ligonier Ministries: Illumining Scripture 
4. David Garner: An Illumined Reading of Scripture

Related terms:

• internal call
• inspiration of scripture

1Concise Theology by J. I. Packer, page 155

Filed under Person and Work of the Holy Spirit and Scripture

Do you have a a theological term you’d like to see featured as a Theological Term of the Week? Email your suggestion using the contact button in the navigation bar above. 

Clicking on the Theological Terms button above the header will take you to an alphabetical list of all the theological terms.