An American author once observed, Any idea, plan, or purpose may be placed in the mind through repetition of thought. This seems to be correct especially when you observe the use of repetition in the bible. The repetition of words, phrases and ideas within Scripture is a method of drawing the attention of the reader into focus and highlighting an important truth. The repetition tool, like many of the other tools we have discussed, is not a skeleton key that magically unlocks all of a passage’s meaning. All the tools are like flashlights that assist us in finding a way through our study emerging from study with a truth we can feed on for days. Tools shine the light of clarity on the text to bring understanding to our minds. When looking for repetition a good resource to have on hand is a bible dictionary. Below we will consider several passage that employ repetition and we will work together to gain a functional knowledge of how this method helps our study.
Types of repetitions
1. Words and Phrases
2. Ideas and concepts
In the next few examples try to do these three steps:
1. Find the repeated words or phrases
2. Think through the meaning of that word or idea
3. View the text in light of the word or idea
Example One: John 6.47-59
47 I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." 52 Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" 53 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever." 59 He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
Reviewing some of the repetition in this passage, what would you say is the main thrust here?
Besides what is highlighted, what other repetition did you see? How would you apply this to your interpretation?
i. Jesus stepped down from heaven– we also see an Old testament imagery of Manna. (1) Jesus is our suffiancy like it manna
Example Two: 2 Timothy 2.3-6
The repetition tool is not always repeated words or phrases, occasionally it consists of repeated ideas, like this example:
3 Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer. 5 Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.
A.What would you say is the idea that is being repeated in this passage?
a: Hardship now brings reward later (perserverance)
1.A solider fights on the battlefield and pleases his commander
2.An athlete trains hard but wins the crown
3.A farmer works in the field but collects the harvest
B. Why would you say Paul makes these specific appeals to Timothy? What can we learn from this today?
C. Later, Paul makes this same point regarding Jesus (vss 8), his own life (9-10), and again in two trustworthy sayings (11-12)
Training ourselves to see repetition in the Bible--particularly when paired with our other tool of study--is a great way to glean a passages primary points.
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