You have probably heard the adage, “If you see a “therefore” in the Bible you have to look and see what it is there for.” (Note: I wrote about this earlier here and here.) “Therefore” typically indicates that what follows is the result of what came before. It is a literary sign post, a marker that an author uses to construct his argument.
“Therefore” is not the only word like that. “If” is another; most times but not always it is accompanied by a following “then.” Sometimes the “then” is implied. That combination indicates condition and the result of a condition. Here is a list of words that are also signposts.
A few days ago we talked about repetition. The emphasis there was on words or terms. When you combine repetition with signposts it gives you a lot to observe and ask questions. Take a look at 1 John 1. One of the sign posts above is repeated five times. What questions does that raise for you?
Other posts in this series:
A few days ago we talked about repetition. The emphasis there was on words or terms. When you combine repetition with signposts it gives you a lot to observe and ask questions. Take a look at 1 John 1. One of the sign posts above is repeated five times. What questions does that raise for you?
Other posts in this series:
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