What Is A Discourse In The Bible? A Comprehensive Look
The Bible contains some of the most well-known and impactful stories and teachings in human history. But looking past individual verses or passages, one of the key ways to understand biblical texts is through analysis of discourses – extended passages with a coherent theme or message.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: A discourse in the Bible refers to a long passage of text that covers a specific topic, conveys a unified message, or tells a complete story.
Discourses can span multiple chapters and contain common features like parables, metaphors, repetition, and changes in style or audience.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore what defines a biblical discourse, look at examples across both the Old and New Testaments, discuss how identifying discourses can aid in biblical analysis, and more.
Defining Discourses in Biblical Texts
In the Bible, discourses refer to extended passages that focus on a unified theme, tell complete stories or arguments, and often utilize common literary features. Let’s break that down further:
Extended Passages Focused on a Unified Theme
Discourses are not just a few verses here and there. They are substantial passages that develop a central concept or narrative over the course of multiple chapters. For example, the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapters 5-7 is considered a discourse, as Jesus teaches extensively on topics like the Beatitudes, loving enemies, giving to the needy, prayer, and more.
All the teaching relates back to central themes about God’s kingdom and righteous living.
Complete Stories or Arguments
Discourses contain entire stories or lines of reasoning, not just fragments. The discourse does not necessarily cover every detail, but it presents a full account or defense from start to finish. John chapters 13-17 contain Jesus’ Farewell Discourse, where he delivers final teachings and prays an extended prayer with his disciples before his death and resurrection.
This discourse provides a complete account of Jesus’ last interactions with his followers.
Often Use Common Literary Features
Discourses frequently utilize recognizable literary techniques to develop ideas. For instance, Jesus’ parables in Matthew 13 form a discourse employing allegorical stories to describe the kingdom of heaven.
John 15 contains Jesus’ Vine and Branches Discourse, which uses an extended metaphor to explain spiritual connectedness. Other features like poetry, rhetorical questions, images, repetition, and chiasmus routinely appear in discourses to reinforce main points.
Types of Discourses in the Bible
Narratives and Parables
Narratives make up a large portion of the Bible, telling the stories of people, places, and events. They provide historical background, teach spiritual truths, and reveal God’s redemptive plan. Famous Old Testament narratives include the creation story, Noah’s ark, and the exodus.
In the New Testament, the Gospels contain narrative accounts of Jesus’s birth, ministry, death, and resurrection.
Parables are a specialized form of narrative that Jesus used frequently. Through short stories about everyday occurrences, Jesus illustrated profound spiritual realities regarding the kingdom of God, human nature, repentance, and God’s grace.
Well-known parables include the Prodigal Son, the Good Samaritan, and the Sower and the Seeds.
Sermons and Speeches
There are many discourses in Scripture that fall into the categories of sermons and speeches. For example, Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2, Stephen’s speech before the Sanhedrin in Acts 7, and Paul’s sermon about the resurrection in Acts 17.
These public addresses helped explain doctrines, expound the gospel, and exhort their audiences.
Jesus’s most famous sermon is the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7, which contains teachings on Christian discipleship and living a righteous life. Other notable sermons in the Bible include John’s prophetic sermons in Revelation and Jesus’s Olivet Discourse about future events.
Epistles and Letters
A large portion of the New Testament consists of epistles or letters that Christian leaders wrote to individuals and churches. Authors include Paul, Peter, James, Jude, and John. These epistles provided pastoral instruction, encouragement, correction, and guidance about doctrinal issues and church governance.
Paul wrote the most epistles, including Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. Other notable New Testament letters include Hebrews, James, 1 & 2 Peter, the three letters of John, and Jude.
Prophecies and Visions
Prophets spoke and wrote discourses as they delivered messages from God, often predicting future events. Major prophetic books include Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel in the Old Testament. Revelation contains apocalyptic prophecy in the form of vivid symbolic visions about the end times.
Prophecies and visions contain divine revelations, warnings of judgment, and promises of salvation. While containing some narrative, their content is dominated by divine discourses as mediated through the prophets. As such, they showcase God’s direct interactions with humanity.
Poetic Discourses
Poetic sections occur in various places throughout Scripture, such as the books of Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon. These express deep emotions, offer wisdom and instruction, and worship God through creative literary forms.
The most well-known poetic discourse is the book of Psalms, which contains 150 songs and prayers in verse. Other poetical works like Proverbs offer wise sayings and Ecclesiastes reflects philosophically. Song of Solomon poetically celebrates marital love.
Key Examples of Famous Biblical Discourses
The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)
The Sermon on the Mount is considered one of the most significant discourses in the Bible, recorded in Matthew chapters 5-7. In this passage, Jesus delivers His first lengthy teaching to a large crowd gathered on a mountainside.
He teaches on a variety of topics relating to the Kingdom of God, including the Beatitudes, salt and light, loving enemies, giving to the needy, prayer, fasting, worry, and judging others. Many regard the Sermon on the Mount as containing the central tenets of Jesus’ moral and ethical teachings.
Phrases like “blessed are the peacemakers” and “love your enemies” have become widely known even outside of Christianity.
Parables of Jesus (Luke 15)
The parables of Jesus are powerful examples of using stories to convey deep spiritual truths. One famous cluster of parables is found in Luke 15, where Jesus tells the stories of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Prodigal Son.
Through these vivid word pictures, Jesus teaches about God’s limitless grace, mercy, and love for sinners who repent. For instance, the Prodigal Son parable portrays a wasteful young man welcomed back joyfully by his compassionate father, mirroring how God receives sinners who humble themselves and return to Him.
Jesus’ parables often connected with everyday experiences to amplify His message.
Paul’s Speech at the Areopagus (Acts 17:16-34)
The Apostle Paul’s address at the Areopagus in Athens is a significant discourse where he connects the Christian faith to the Greek cultural context. When Paul observes the idols and altars in Athens, he uses this observation to launch into a philosophical and theological speech to the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers gathered at the Areopagus.
He finds common ground by quoting Greek poets and appealing to the Athenians’ unknown god. Then Paul reveals aspects of God’s nature and sovereignty while urging them to repent. This speech provides a model for contextualizing and communicating the Gospel in diverse cultural settings.
Prophecies of Isaiah (Isaiah 1-12)
The opening chapters of Isaiah contain some of the most striking prophetic utterances in the Bible. Isaiah thunders God’s rebukes against Judah’s sins but also shines glimpses of future hope and restoration.
Famous prophecies include Isaiah’s vision in the throne room of God (Isaiah 6), God’s promise of the coming Messiah (Isaiah 7:14), and the shoot coming up from the stump of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1-10). Isaiah’s poetic oracles are full of vivid imagery as he warns Judah of judgment but ultimately points to the Prince of Peace.
These Messianic prophecies are frequently quoted in the New Testament as finding their fulfillment in Jesus Christ.
Ecclesiastes’ Reflections on Life
The Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes contains the philosophical discourse of the Preacher (likely Solomon) reflecting on the meaning of life. The Preacher takes a critical look at the futility of human toil, pleasure, wisdom, and possessions as the key to happiness and fulfillment.
Through reasoned analysis, he comes to the conclusion that everything is meaningless apart from a right relationship with God. His oft-quoted phrase “vanity of vanities” captures the emptiness of pursuing worldly aims while ignoring spiritual realities.
While cynical in tone, Ecclesiastes provides an honest look at the transitory nature of earthly pursuits contrasted with the eternal value of fearing God.
Studying Discourses for Deeper Understanding
Look for Unifying Themes and Messages
When studying a discourse in the Bible, look for central themes or messages that unify the passage. Pay attention to repeated words, concepts, images, or warnings. Ask yourself questions like “What is the main point here?” and “How do all these details relate?”
Tracing key themes can reveal the core of what the speaker or author wanted to communicate.
Note Changes in Style, Tone, or Audience
Also notice if the style, tone, or implied audience shifts within the discourse. For example, Jesus often adapted his message and teaching style depending on who he was speaking to. Comparing the beginning and end of a discourse can reveal if a speaker’s goals changed.
Analyzing style and tone provides insight into the discourse’s purpose and helps clarify its meaning.
Analyze Use of Repetition and Metaphors
Pay close attention to repetition of words or phrases which often signals emphasis. Also look for extended metaphors and how they develop over the course of the discourse. For instance, Jesus used agricultural metaphors like sowing seed or grapevines frequently.
Tracking metaphors gives insight into the speaker’s mindset and interests.
Compare Parallel Accounts in Different Books
For discourses like the Sermon on the Mount that appear across multiple gospels, comparing the accounts side-by-side helps identify unique details and variations. Looking at parallel passages allows you to build a more complete picture of the discourse and clarifies each writer’s perspective.
Conclusion
In summary, discourses are extended passages in the Bible united by a common theme, message, or story. Identifying and studying discourses as whole units, rather than isolated verses, can provide deeper insight into the texts’ original meanings and purposes.
Looking at features like metaphors, repetition, audience, and genre can further reveal the literary artistry and theological aims underlying famous discourses from Jesus’ parables to Paul’s speeches. While individual verses have power, analyzing discourses opens up new levels of biblical understanding.
