The diagrams in this appendix are intended to picture some of the types of relationships described in chapter 17, step 4, operation 7.  You should compare these diagrams with those descriptions.

Caution:  A diagram, like a parable, can effectively show only one truth (one type of relationship) at a time.  Furthermore, often the same diagram will mean different things to different people.

If you tend to think pictorially or graphically, you may want to make your own diagrams of the key relationships you find in a biblical text, and the following samples may help you create your own.

1. Quantitative relationship:
     

2.  Spacial relationship:

   

3.  Chronological relationship:



4.  Sequential relationship:



5.  Cyclical relationship:

 

6.  Reciprocating or vice versa relationship:


7.  Cause-effect or parent-offspring relationship:


8.  Agency or means-end relationship:



9.  Comparative or contrastive relationship:



10.  Supportive relationship (supporting evidence):



11.  Inclusive (or exclusive) relationship:



12.  Prerequisite relationship:



14.  Value relationship:



15.  Authority relationship:



21.  Secondary or sibling relationship





The following examples, taken mostly from 1 Corinthians, illustrate all of the types of relationships described in chapter 17, step 4, operation 7.  In order for these examples to be most helpful, they should be compared with those descriptions, and each passage should be read before the following explanations are read.

Even though the following examples point out only one type of relationship for each reference, you may often find that two items in the text are related to each other in more than one way.  For example, both a quantitative and a value relationship are found in 1 Corinthians 14:19.

In some of the examples below, the relationship is explicitly stated in the text.  When this is the case, that explicit word or phrase is usually quoted in parentheses with the explanation.

Some of the relationships in the following examples are stated literally in the text; some are stated figuratively.

Type of Relationship	Reference	Explanation / Comments
1. Quantitative	1 Corinthians 14:19	Ten thousand words are much greater in number than five words. (Of course, the fact that Paul prefers the five words indicates that they are greater in instructional value.)
1. Quantitative	Numbers 13:32-33	The Israelites were so much shorter than the Nephilim that they saw themselves as grasshoppers.
2. Spacial	Exodus 25-27 John 13:21-25	Many spacial relationships are large scale, involving towns and countries.  The most common means of representing these large scale relationships is with the aid of maps.  However, occasionally spacial relationships on a smaller scale are also important to observe, such as the floor plan and furnishings of the tabernacle (Exodus 25-27), and the seating of the disciples at the Last Supper (John 13:21-25).
3. Chronological	1 Corinthians 15:1-9	The historical books of the Bible supply numerous events which can be related to each other chronologically, perhaps even placed on a time line.  However, even the more didactic books often contain events that can be arranged chronologically, such as the fifteen or more distinct events mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:1-9. (1) Christ died for our sins.  (2) Christ was buried.   (3) Christ was raised on the third day.    (4) Christ appeared to Cephas.     (5) Christ appeared to the twelve.      (6) Christ appeared to more than five hundred brethren.       (7) Christ appeared to James.        (8) Christ appeared to all the apostles.         (9) Paul persecuted the church.          (10) Christ appeared to Paul.           (11) Paul received the gospel.            (12) Paul preached the gospel to the Corinthians.             (13) The Corinthians received the gospel.              (14) The Corinthians hold it fast and are saved.               (15) Paul makes the gospel known (again) to the Corinthians.
4. Sequential	Proverbs 16:18	Pride and a haughty spirit go "before" destruction and stumbling.
5. Cyclical	1 Corinthians 11:1	Christ's example is imitated by Paul; in turn, Paul's example is to be imitated by the Corinthians.
5. Cyclical	2 Timothy 2:2	Paul taught Timothy, who in turn taught faithful men, who in turn taught others.
6. Reciprocating or vice versa	1 Corinthians 7:3-4	The husband's duty to his wife is the same as ("likewise") the wife's duty to her husband.  The husband has authority over the wife's body, and vice versa ("likewise").

Type of Relationship	Reference	Explanation / Comments
6. Reciprocating or vice versa	Romans 1:11-12	Paul hoped to encourage the Romans and to be encouraged by the Romans ("each of us by the other's faith").
7. Cause-effect or parent-offspring	1 Corinthians 11:29-30	Eating and drinking without rightly judging the body causes ("for this reason") sickness and death among the Corinthians.
8. Agency or means-end	1 Corinthians 9:19-22	Becoming as a Jew, as without the law, etc. are the various means or methods ("by all means") used by Paul in order to win more.
9. Comparative or contrastive	1 Corinthians 9:13-14	The idea that those who preach the gospel should be paid is similar to the idea that those who perform sacred services eat the food of the temple, etc. ("so also").
9. Comparative or contrastive	1 Corinthians 1:25	God's wisdom and strength are contrasted with man's ("wiser than," "stronger than").
9. Comparative or contrastive	1 Corinthians 10:21	Fellowship with the Lord and fellowship with demons are mutually exclusive practices ("you cannot ... and").
9. Comparative or contrastive	2 Corinthians 11:13-15	The false apostles' pattern of operation (disguising themselves) is identical  to Satan's pattern of operation ("no wonder," "even," "it is not surprising," "also").
9. Comparative or contrastive	Matthew 20:25-28	Greatness among the disciples is simultaneously contrasted with the supposed greatness of the Gentile rulers and compared with the greatness of Jesus ("it is not so among you," "just as"). --- NOTE --- Comparisons and contrasts abound in the Bible, sometimes even occupying extended portions, such as the contrasts between law and grace in Galatians and between the old and new covenants in Hebrews.  The side-by-side column analysis mentioned in chapter 17 is especially helpful in connection with these more extended and more complex comparisons and contrasts.

Type of Relationship	Reference	Explanation / Comments
10. Supportive	1 Corinthians 2:7-8	The fact that the rulers crucified the Lord is evidence that supports the proposition that they did not understand God's wisdom ("for").
10. Supportive	1 Corinthians 7:2	Abundant immorality is the reason a man should have a wife and a woman should have a husband ("because of").
11. Inclusive (or exclusive)	1 Corinthians 1:1 and 15:7-8	In chapter 1, Paul includes himself among the apostles.  In chapter 15, Paul excludes himself from among the apostles.
12. Prerequisite	1 Corinthians 13:1-3	Love is necessary  for the gifts of tongues, prophecy, etc. to be worthwhile and significant.
12. Prerequisite	Romans 10:14-15	Sending must take place before preaching can take place, preaching before hearing, etc.
13. Inferential	1 Corinthians 3:14	If a man's work remains, then he shall receive a reward.
13. Inferential	1 Corinthians 7:39	If her husband is dead, then she is free to remarry.
14. Value	1 Corinthians 7:19	Whether or not one keeps God's commandments is vastly more important than whether or not one is circumcised.

Type of Relationship	Reference	Explanation / Comments
14. Value	1 Corinthians 14:5	The one who prophesies is of more value than the one who speaks in uninterpreted tongues ("greater").
14. Value	1 Corinthians 14:19	Paul's desire to speak a few instructive words rather than many unintelligible words implies that prophecy is more valuable than tongue speaking.
15. Authority	1 Corinthians 11:3-5, 10	The husband has authority over the wife ("head," "authority").
16. Attributional	1 Corinthians 4:2	Trustworthiness is one of the qualities required of stewards.
16. Attributional	1 Corinthians 4:20	Power is one of the characteristics of the kingdom of God; mere talk is not ("consist").
17. Illustrative	1 Corinthians 4:1-6	Paul applies the concept of humility to himself and Apollos in order to serve as an example to the arrogant Corinthians ("I have ... applied ... that in us you might learn").
17. Illustrative	1 Corinthians 14:7-9	The meaninglessness of unintelligible words is illustrated by the meaninglessness of unintelligible sounds coming from a flute, harp, or bugle ("so also you").
17. Illustrative	Philippians 2:3-8	What Jesus did is an example of the humble, servant attitude commanded in verses 3-4 ("which was also in Christ Jesus").

Type of Relationship	Reference	Explanation / Comments
18. Evaluative	1 Corinthians 7:1, 8	Remaining single is evaluated by the phrase "it is good."
18. Evaluative	1 Corinthians 15:3	The information that Paul delivered to the Corinthians is evaluated by the phrase "of first importance."
19. Problem - solution or question - answer	1 Corinthians 14:1-40	Paul's instructions about orderliness and the proper use of tongues implies that this chapter is the solution to the Corinthian problem of the disruption of their meetings through the misuse of tongues.
20. Principle - application	1 Corinthians 4:17	Paul applies his own teachings in his own life ("my ways ... just as I teach").
20. Principle - application	Philippians 4:9	The principles which the Philippians have learned are to be put into practice ("practice these things").
21. Secondary or sibling	1 Corinthians 12:14-16	Even though the foot, hand, ear, and eye are diverse, they hold equal status with each other because they are all parts of one body.
21. Secondary or sibling	Galatians 3:26-29	The Galatians had a secondary relationship to each other (oneness, fellow heirs) because of their primary relationship to Christ ("in Christ," "belonging to Christ").
22. Unrelated	1 Corinthians 8:8	One's relationship to God is completely independent of eating, or not eating, food offered to an idol.