THE LANGUAGE OF SCRIPTURE
(week 23/14)
OLUBI JOHNSON
1 Corinthians 2:13 AMP: And we are setting these truths forth in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the [Holy] Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual truths with SPIRITUAL LANGUAGE [to those who possess the Holy Spirit].
Here, the scripture reveals to us that there is a spiritual language HIDDEN in the scripture: THE SCRIPTURES ARE A COMPLEX MOSAIC OF LITERAL AND SYMBOLIC TRUTHS INTRICATELY INTERWOVEN TOGETHER.
Like every language, scripture has its alphabets and rules of spelling and grammar: the ‘alphabets’ of scripture are the symbolic types and shadows in various literal Bible narratives both in the Old and New Testaments.
The rules of the ‘spellings’ of scripture are the principles by which you can combine the ‘alphabets’ of scripture:
James 3:17 NKJV: But the wisdom that is from above is FIRST PURE, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
Psalms 12:6 NKJV: The words of the Lord are PURE words, Like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
Isaiah 8:20 NKJV: To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
Isaiah 28:9-10 NKJV: “Whom will he teach knowledge? And whom will he make to understand the message? Those just weaned from milk? Those just drawn from the breasts? (10) For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little.”
The rules of the ‘grammar’ of scripture are the principles by which you combine the ‘words’ of scripture formed from the ‘alphabets’ of scripture to form ‘sentences’ and so ‘messages’ from scripture:
Jeremiah 9:24 AMP: But let him who glories glory in this: that he understands and knows Me [personally and practically, directly discerning and recognizing My character], that I am the Lord, Who practices LOVING-KINDNESS, JUDGEMENT, and RIGHTEOUSNESS in the earth, for in these things I delight, says the Lord. [I Cor. 1:31; II Cor. 10:17.]
So using these principles, God can say anything He wants to reveal to us through His written Word:
Colossians 2:3 NKJV: in whom are hidden ALL the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Revelation 22:19 NKJV: and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Therefore, we need to become spiritually educated by having:
1. An honest and humble heart: because God deliberately hides His truth in His written Word so that only the honest and humble can open or discern it:
Proverbs 25:2 NKJV: It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
Proverbs 11:2 NKJV: When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.
Proverbs 14:6 KJV: A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.
2 Corinthians 4:2 KJV: But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
2. Daily habitual balanced Bible reading and study.
2 Timothy 3:15-17 KJV: And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (16) ALL scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (17) that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
3. Daily habitual prayer in the Spirit with all types of prayer.
1 Corinthians 14:2 NKJV: For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.
1 Corinthians 2:7 NKJV: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,
1 Corinthians 2:13 AMP: And we are setting these truths forth in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the [Holy] Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual truths with spiritual language [to those who possess the Holy Spirit].
A good example of a scripture containing a mosaic of literal and symbolic truth as analyzed in our article on Shaking The Heavens 2 is:
Luke 21:25-28 KJV: And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; (26) Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. (27) And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. (28) And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for YOUR REDEMPTION DRAWETH NIGH.
The redemption spoken of here is the redemption of our physical bodies BEFORE the resurrection:
Romans 8:23 KJV: And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
2 Corinthians 4:10-11 NKJV: always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. (11) For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
Philippians 3:11 AMP: That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while IN THE BODY].
1 Thessalonians 5:23 NKJV: Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and BODY BE PRESERVED BLAMELESS at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So, we see how God can speak to us through the hidden truth that can be searched out using the ‘alphabets’, ‘words’ and ‘sentences’ of the language of scripture!
