Helping Your Hermeneutic: Lists

We continue in our series by examining the use of lists throughout the Bible. However, before we do, let us recall the purpose of interpreting Scripture well; for, Paul tells the church at Colossae, “For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (Col. 1:9). Here, Paul prays for the Colossian church to be filled with knowledge of God’s will, spiritual wisdom, and understanding. In the next verse, Paul shows why he wants the church to attain such knowledge, saying, “so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord” (Col. 1:10). Therefore, we conclude that the purpose of sharpening our hermeneutic is to grow in our “knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding” and the purpose of such growth is that we will “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.” We must learn the Word so we can live the Word. Now, with that goal in mind, let us return to our series to examine the biblical use of lists.

How Lists Help Your Hermeneutic

A list is a series of successive items, usually comprised of three or more articles. These “articles” may be as small as a single word or as large as a compact phrase (e.g. Proverbs 6:16-19). As the reader progresses through Scripture, they should seek to identify lists because they tend to reveal major themes or thoughts of the author. One could think of the presence of a list as a point of either emphasis or explanation of a given passage. In this way, lists, like repetitions, serve as a point of emphasis. Sometimes, a thorough understanding of a list’s content helps the modern reader apply the immutable doctrines of the text by emboldening the major thrust of the author’s intentions.

Before we examine some lists in the Bible it is important to understand that not all lists are created equal in their function . . . All lists are inspired, but not all lists serve the same function. For example, Genesis 2:10-14 lists four rivers that explain the pre-diluvian location of Eden. This list does not serve the exact same type of function as the listing of the Twelve Sons of Israel in Exodus 1:1-4. However, both lists provide either an explanation or emphasis that leads to a better understanding of the historical context. On the other hand, some lists are replete with imperatives for the believer to obey. For example, in Exodus 20 God lists the Ten Commandments, which Jesus later summarizes into a shorter list in Mark 12:28-31. Now, we will look at an example of how a list in the Bible contributes to the interpretation and application of a given passage.

Galatians 5 

Galatians 5:19-21 states, “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Here, Paul provides a list of fifteen “deeds of the flesh.” First, one must heed Paul’s warning that such deeds are not characteristic of those who will inherit the kingdom of God – what a sobering warning! In the next two verses, another list appears: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).

These adjacent lists reveal a major theme in the book of Galatians: The Flesh vs. The Spirit. Galatians 3:3 says, “Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” Galatians 4:29 continues this theme, stating, “But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also.” Galatians 5:16 says, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” The lists in Galatians 5:19-23 make manifest the concepts of flesh and spirit in 3:3, 4:29, and 5:16.

Verses 3:3, 4:29, and 5:16 contribute to orthodoxy (right doctrine) while the lists in Galatians 5:19-23 contribute to orthopraxy (right living). The believer may take these lists and compare their conduct to them. Are you walking in the Spirit and displaying love, joy, and peace? Or are you living in the flesh, displaying immorality, impurity, and sensuality? The presence of these lists makes it rather easy for the reflective individual to evaluate if they are walking in the Spirit or not.

Conclusion

When you read the Word of God, look for lists. They help clarify a passage, reveal major themes and thoughts of an author, and oftentimes, a list contributes to uncovering the application of a passage, “so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord” (Col. 1:10).

God is faithful.