|
by
Doug Ward |
Mathematical theorems are universal truths about numbers, geometric figures,
and other mathematical objects. When words like "all" and
"every" appear in mathematical statements, they are meant in an
absolute sense. For example, one theorem about numbers says that for all odd
numbers x and y, the sum x+y is an even number. In
other words, the sum of two odd numbers is always even, with no exceptions.
Outside
of mathematics, though, words like "all" and "every" typically
are used less carefully. When we say that "everybody's doing it," we
mean that something is popular, not that every single person is doing it. As
one humorous tee shirt says, "Surely not EVERYBODY was kung-fu fighting."
In
the Bible "all" is sometimes used in a mathematical sense to make a
universal statement, as when Paul says that "we will all stand before the
judgment seat of God" in Romans 14:10. Another example appears in 1
Corinthians 15:27, which states that Jesus the Messiah will one day rule over
the entire universe, with the exception of God himself.
In
other passages "all" is intended less precisely, as in Acts 19:10,
which says that after Paul had shared the gospel in Ephesus for two years,
"all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and
Greeks." This verse is saying that both Jews and non-Jews heard the
gospel, not that every last person heard it.
Ancient
battle accounts tend to use universal language loosely to emphasize that one
army won a decisive victory. This is somewhat comparable to modern sports
writing. If we say that a game was a "complete rout," we mean that
the final score was not close, not that the winning team chased every member of
the losing team out of town.
This
is helpful to keep in mind in reading verses like Joshua 10:40, which declares
that in a victory over the Canaanites, Joshua's forces "truck the whole land”
and "left none remaining, but devoted to destruction all that
breathed." As we read on, we find that many Canaanites remained among the
Israelites, and Joshua instructed the Israelites not to intermarry with them
(Joshua 23:12-13). Joshua 10:40 is employing hyperbole for the sake of
emphasis, not using "all" in a mathematical sense.
Being
aware of ancient writing conventions and reading verses in context, not in
isolation, can help us determine what the Bible means when it uses universal
language. Remembering these principles will enhance our understanding of
scripture.
File
translated from TEX by TTH,
version 3.66.
On 18 Jun 2024, 16:32.
