SOUNDING OUT:
Making Sense of the Sense

  The context in which a word occurs is so important to its meaning. A word may have several usages or meanings depending upon how it is used. Although words are very good tools of communication, they are flexible and may take on different senses depending upon the context in which they occur.

  I called this Making Sense of the Sense. I used two different meanings of “sense.” Did it make sense to you? When the same word is used in the same sentence with different meaning it is a figure of speech, antanaclasis. This kind of play on words or word clashing is designed get one to pause and consider the intent of the writer. Just what is he trying to say. My English dictionary says, “make sense” means “to be intelligible or logical.” When one makes sense of something, he figures it out; he understands. “Sense” as used here refers to meaning, especially any of several meanings conveyed by or attributed to the same word. Another way of saying, “making sense of the sense” could be “understanding varied meanings of a word” or “distinguishing between several meanings of the same word.”

  You are probably familiar with the difference between literal and figurative senses. Jesus spoke of literal foxes in Matthew 8:20 and Luke 9:58.

  However, when he spoke of Herod as a fox in Luke 13:32 he was using “fox” figuratively, as a hypocatastasis. He refers to Herod as a crafty and bold nuisance. Just as literal foxes had the temerity to associate with lions at a kill and make off with what they could, Herod plays the crafty fox to Caesar’s lion. The real political power was in Rome’s hands, but Herod took what scraps he could get away with to keep his kingdom going.

  Another way the sense of a word may vary is by distinguishing between absolute and relative usages. The absolute would denote that which is without exception or restriction. The relative suggests something that has been restricted or qualified in comparison to something else. God is good in the absolute sense; there is no moral ethical blemish in Him at all.

  When Christ was addressed as a good teacher he asked, “Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God.” (Matthew 19:17; Mark 10:18; Luke 18:19) Again, that refers to good in the absolute sense. Jesus Christ knew he wasn’t God and did not want to be treated in that way. In the absolute sense, no one is as good as God. So in comparison, no one is good.

  Yet there are other places in God’s Word where men are spoken of as good.

  It is the same English and Greek word, the difference is in the sense. There is no contradiction between Matthew 19:17 and the other verses because they are used in different senses. Similarly when Jesus called the disciples evil in Matthew 7:11, he did not mean it absolutely (as could be said of the devil) but relatively in comparison to God.

  A third way the sense of a word may vary is by idiomatic usages. An idiom is a form of expression that is common to a particular culture. Not only is “all” used absolutely as all without exception and relatively as all with distinction, but it is also used idiomatically meaning the greatest degree or quality of that to which it refers. (See Bullinger FOS page 825.)

  It is used in the absolute sense in Hebrews 2:9.

  It is used relatively in John 12:32.

  Not absolutely everyone has been drawn unto Jesus, just look around at your community. Here the relative usage suggests something that has been restricted or qualified in comparison to something else. The restriction or qualification is believing. All who have believed, [that’s the distinction] have been drawn unto him. Not absolutely everyone has been drawn, but everyone who has a believing relationship with Jesus, finds themselves drawn unto him.

  The idiomatic sense of all meaning the greatest degree should also be noticed.

  So when reading the Word, make sense of the sense. Distinguishing between the different senses of a word eliminates apparent contradictions and allows us to understand the truth He wants to convey.