The Principle of Personification
The below remarks are here placed as a guide to better understand how personification is used in the Scriptures. I have bolded the text were personification is used to infer a practical lesson.
Its actually "fun" to go through these.
Here the world is made into a person.
"If ye were of the world, the world would love his own" (John 15:19).
Riches are personified as being like a real master.
"No man can serve two masters. . . Ye cannot serve God and mammon" (Matt. 6:24).
Sin is often personified in the Bible and defines its character as the great liar and adversary
"Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin" (John 8:34). "Sin hath reigned unto death" (Rom. 5:21). "Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey, whether of SIN unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? . . . Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness" (Rom. 6:16, 18).
The Spirit of God is personified:
"When HE, the Spirit of truth, is come, HE will guide you into all truth; for HE shall not speak of himself" (John 16:13).
Wisdom is personified: "She is more precious than rubies, and all the things that thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and honour" (Prov. 3:15, 16).
"Wisdom hath builded her house; she hath hewn out her seven pillars" (Prov. 9:1).
The nation of Israel is personified: "Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O Virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets" (Jer. 31:4)
"I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus: Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke; turn thou me, and I shall be turned for thou art the Lord my God" (Jer. 31:18).
The People of Christ are personified:
"Till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a PERFECT MAN" (Eph. 4:13). "There is one BODY" (Eph. 4:4). "Ye are THE BODY OF CHRIST (1 Cor. 12: 27). Christ is the head of the church, and he is the saviour of THE BODY" (Eph. 5:23). "He is the head of THE BODY, the church.....I fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for HIS BODY'S SAKE, which is the church" (Col. 1:18, 24). "I have espoused you to one husband that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ" (2 Cor. 11:2). "The marriage of the Lamb is come, and HIS WIFE hath made herself ready" (Rev. 19:7).
The evil which a man forsakes on becoming Christ's, and also the new state of mind developed by the truth, are personified
“Ye have put off THE OLD MAN with his deeds (Col. 3:9). "Put off, concerning the former conversation, the OLD MAN which is corrupt, according to the deceitful lusts . . . put on the NEW MAN, which, after God, is created in righteousness and true holiness" (Eph.. 4:22-24). "Our old man is crucified with him" (Rom. 6:6).
The spirit of disobedience which dwells in the world is personified:
"Wherein in time past ye walked, according to the course of this world, according to THE PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR, THE SPIRIT THAT NOW WORKETH IN THE CHILDREN OF DISOBEDIENCE, among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind" (Eph. 2:2, 3).
Now is the judgment of this world: now shall THE PRINCE OF THIS WORLD be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said signifying what death he should die" (John 12:31-33).
Understanding that sin among many other subjects are personified better assist us to understand the Bible and its true message. Sadly many fasle teachings have arisen from misunderstanding the intent of these and many other verses.
The reason the Spirit presents its lessons in such a manner, is but one style of speech, which when read should convey warmth and be more inviting. It helps us to better identify with the subject being taught. Sadly the beauty of this language is open to great abuse, while its intentions are good and honourable, many pervert these verses to mean something other than first intended.
You may like to find other Scriptures where personification is used and attach them below...you will be amazed how many there are!
Love in the Master
Alethos
The below remarks are here placed as a guide to better understand how personification is used in the Scriptures. I have bolded the text were personification is used to infer a practical lesson.
Its actually "fun" to go through these.
Here the world is made into a person.
"If ye were of the world, the world would love his own" (John 15:19).
Riches are personified as being like a real master.
"No man can serve two masters. . . Ye cannot serve God and mammon" (Matt. 6:24).
Sin is often personified in the Bible and defines its character as the great liar and adversary
"Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin" (John 8:34). "Sin hath reigned unto death" (Rom. 5:21). "Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey, whether of SIN unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? . . . Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness" (Rom. 6:16, 18).
The Spirit of God is personified:
"When HE, the Spirit of truth, is come, HE will guide you into all truth; for HE shall not speak of himself" (John 16:13).
Wisdom is personified: "She is more precious than rubies, and all the things that thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and honour" (Prov. 3:15, 16).
"Wisdom hath builded her house; she hath hewn out her seven pillars" (Prov. 9:1).
The nation of Israel is personified: "Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O Virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets" (Jer. 31:4)
"I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus: Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke; turn thou me, and I shall be turned for thou art the Lord my God" (Jer. 31:18).
The People of Christ are personified:
"Till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a PERFECT MAN" (Eph. 4:13). "There is one BODY" (Eph. 4:4). "Ye are THE BODY OF CHRIST (1 Cor. 12: 27). Christ is the head of the church, and he is the saviour of THE BODY" (Eph. 5:23). "He is the head of THE BODY, the church.....I fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for HIS BODY'S SAKE, which is the church" (Col. 1:18, 24). "I have espoused you to one husband that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ" (2 Cor. 11:2). "The marriage of the Lamb is come, and HIS WIFE hath made herself ready" (Rev. 19:7).
The evil which a man forsakes on becoming Christ's, and also the new state of mind developed by the truth, are personified
“Ye have put off THE OLD MAN with his deeds (Col. 3:9). "Put off, concerning the former conversation, the OLD MAN which is corrupt, according to the deceitful lusts . . . put on the NEW MAN, which, after God, is created in righteousness and true holiness" (Eph.. 4:22-24). "Our old man is crucified with him" (Rom. 6:6).
The spirit of disobedience which dwells in the world is personified:
"Wherein in time past ye walked, according to the course of this world, according to THE PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR, THE SPIRIT THAT NOW WORKETH IN THE CHILDREN OF DISOBEDIENCE, among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind" (Eph. 2:2, 3).
Now is the judgment of this world: now shall THE PRINCE OF THIS WORLD be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said signifying what death he should die" (John 12:31-33).
Understanding that sin among many other subjects are personified better assist us to understand the Bible and its true message. Sadly many fasle teachings have arisen from misunderstanding the intent of these and many other verses.
The reason the Spirit presents its lessons in such a manner, is but one style of speech, which when read should convey warmth and be more inviting. It helps us to better identify with the subject being taught. Sadly the beauty of this language is open to great abuse, while its intentions are good and honourable, many pervert these verses to mean something other than first intended.
You may like to find other Scriptures where personification is used and attach them below...you will be amazed how many there are!
Love in the Master
Alethos
