Theological Term of the Week

As you can see by my link to Wikipedia in the Learn more section of this post, I didn’t find many good links for more information on this term. If you can help me out with a link suggestion or two, please do.

inclusio
A  phrase, line, or concept used at both the beginning and end of a section of biblical text, forming a frame or envelope around what lies between, and giving a sense of start and close; also known as envelope stucture or bracketing. 

• An inclusio found 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)

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Heidelberg Catechism

Question 24. How are these articles divided?

Answer: Into three parts: the first is of God the Father, and our creation; the second of God the Son, and our redemption; the third of God the Holy Ghost, and our sanctification.

Question 25. Since there is but one only divine being, (a) why do you speak of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost?

Answer: Because God has so revealed himself in his word, (b) that these three distinct persons are the one true and eternal God.

(Click through to see scriptural proofs.)

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Sunday Hymn: Jesus Shall Reign

Jesus shall reign where’er the sun
Does his successive journeys run;
His kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
Till moons shall wax and wane no more.

For him shall endless prayer be made,
And praises throng to crown his head;
His Name, like sweet perfume, shall rise
With ev’ry morning sacrifice.

People and realms of ev’ry tongue
Dwell on his love with sweetest song;
And infant voices shall proclaim
Their early blessings on his Name.

Blessings abound where’er he reigns;
The pris’ner leaps to lose his chains,
The weary find eternal rest,
And all the sons of want are blest.

Let ev’ry creature rise and bring
Peculiar honors to our King,
Angels descend with songs again,
And earth repeat the loud Amen.

—Isaac Watts

This is a hymn that needs to be sung like an anthem—or a coronation hymn—and if it’s sung by “people … of ev’ry tongue,” so much the better.

Other hymns, worship songs, sermons etc. posted today:

• Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus at By Grace Alone
• My Jesus, I Love Thee at Graces Daily
• Ye Ransomed Sinners, Hear at The Happy Wonderer
• All Creatures of Our God and King at Luma Simms
• Return to Him at Tried With Fire
• Lord’s Day 8, 2014 at The Thirsty Theologian
• Lifting Up Our Hearts at The Upward Call
• Your Weekly Dose of Spurgeon at Pyromaniacs: An indispensible home feature
• The Treasury of David: Psalm 13:1 at Theology for Girls

Have you posted a hymn (or sermon, sermon notes, prayer, etc.) today and I missed it? Let me know by leaving a link in the comments or by contacting me using the contact form linked above, and I’ll add your post to the list.