In | Pauline Figures of Speech

Paul was an effective communicator who used a variety of techniques and references to get his point across. Figures of speech are one of those techniques. A figure of speech is a figurative phrase or expression that has more significance than the literal meaning of the words involved. While scholars have identified more than thirty types of figures of speech in the Pauline letters, we’re going to focus on five that will help us understand his voice and message. 

Metaphor
One of the better-known figures of speech is metaphor. When Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13), He obviously doesn’t mean it literally. Jesus is using the image of salt to teach them about the role of believers in the world. Most of the time we see descriptions that use comparisons we’re looking at a metaphor, unless the comparison uses “like” or “as.” This brings us to . . .

Simile
A simile is different from a metaphor in that it uses the words “like” or “as” for comparison. If Jesus had said, “You are like the salt of the earth,” he would have been using a simile rather than a metaphor. A simile suggests similarity. So John of Patmos is using simile when he describes Christ in Revelation saying, “The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire” (Revelations 1:14).

Hyperbole
When we overstate or exaggerate things in order to create strong impressions in our listeners, we are using hyperbole. When God makes the promise to Abraham in Genesis that, “I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore,” he’s impressing upon Abraham the enormous scope and importance of his family in the years to come. He wasn’t promising a specific numerical outcome. He was using hyperbole.

Euphemism 
A euphemism is a coded phrase or image that uses positive language to describe something unpleasant or to avoid being blunt. When God promises to Abraham, “You, however, will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age” (Genesis 15:15), “going to your ancestors” is the way God refers to death. This phrase is a euphemism for death. 

Antithesis
While metaphors and similes use similarity to make a point, antithesis sets things in contrast and uses their differences to draw out distinctive characteristics. When Isaiah says of Israel, “We look for light, but all is darkness, for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows” (Isaiah 59:9), he is contrasting the ways of light and darkness. In this one statement he has both a positive and negative focus. Rather than focusing on just darkness or light alone, he is discussing both at once and setting them in antithesis.