Following the Flow of the Biblical Argument: Understanding Conjunctions
One of the most important skills in biblical interpretation is learning how to follow the flow of the author’s argument. Scripture is written as connected propositions that build upon one another. The words that connect these propositions—often conjunctions—act like road signs that reveal how one statement relates to another.
By observing conjunctions carefully, ministers can identify how the biblical author develops an argument and how the ideas in a passage fit together.
Below are several common relationships between propositions in Scripture.
Series (S)
Each statement contributes independently to the same idea.
Common conjunctions:
and, moreover, likewise, neither, nor
Greek: καί, δέ
Examples:
-
Colossians 1:28
“warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom” -
Matthew 7:7
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” -
Acts 2:42
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, and the breaking of bread and the prayers” -
Romans 12:12
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer”
Progression (P)
Each statement moves the thought forward toward a climax.
Common conjunctions:
then, and, moreover, furthermore
Greek: καί, δέ
Examples:
-
Mark 4:28
“first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear” -
2 Peter 1:5–7
“add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge self-control…” -
James 1:14–15
“desire… then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin… brings forth death” -
Psalm 1:1
“walks not… nor stands… nor sits”
Alternative (A)
Different possibilities are presented.
Common conjunctions:
or, but, while
Greek: δέ, ἤ
Examples:
-
Matthew 11:3
“Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” -
Joshua 24:15
“choose this day whom you will serve… but as for me and my house…” -
Luke 16:13
“You cannot serve God and money” -
Galatians 1:8
“if we or an angel from heaven should preach another gospel…”
Action–Manner (Ac/Mn)
An action and a statement explaining how that action occurs.
Examples:
-
Acts 14:17
“he did good by giving you rains from heaven” -
Matthew 6:7
“when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do” -
Ephesians 5:18
“be filled with the Spirit speaking to one another” -
Colossians 3:16
“teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom”
Comparison (Cf)
An action clarified by comparing it to something else.
Common conjunctions:
as, even as, like, just as
Greek: ὡς, καθώς
Examples:
-
1 Corinthians 11:1
“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” -
Matthew 10:16
“wise as serpents and innocent as doves” -
Luke 6:36
“Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful” -
Ephesians 5:25
“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church”
Negative–Positive (-/+)
One statement is denied so that the other is emphasized.
Common conjunction:
not… but
Greek: ἀλλά
Examples:
-
Ephesians 5:17
“Do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” -
Matthew 6:19–20
“Do not lay up treasures on earth, but lay up treasures in heaven” -
John 6:27
“Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures” -
1 Samuel 16:7
“man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart”
Idea–Explanation (Id/Exp)
One statement explains or clarifies the meaning of another.
Examples:
-
Romans 4:7–8
“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven…” -
John 3:16–17
verse 17 explains the meaning of God sending His Son -
Hebrews 11:1
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for…” -
Galatians 3:16
Paul explains the meaning of “seed”
Question–Answer (Q/A)
A question followed by the answer.
Examples:
-
Romans 4:3
“What does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God…” -
Romans 6:1–2
“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin…? By no means!” -
Malachi 1:6
“A son honors his father… If then I am a father, where is my honor?” -
Micah 6:8
“What does the Lord require of you?”
Ground (G)
A statement supported by a reason.
Common conjunctions:
for, because, since
Greek: γάρ, ὅτι
Examples:
-
Matthew 5:3
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” -
1 John 4:19
“We love because he first loved us” -
Proverbs 3:12
“the Lord reproves him whom he loves” -
Hebrews 12:6
“for the Lord disciplines the one he loves”
Inference
A conclusion drawn from a previous statement.
Common conjunctions:
therefore, accordingly
Greek: οὖν, διό
Examples:
-
Romans 12:1
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers…” -
1 Peter 1:13
“Therefore, preparing your minds for action…” -
Ephesians 4:1
“Therefore walk in a manner worthy” -
Colossians 3:1
“If then you have been raised with Christ…”
Action–Result (Ac/Res)
An action producing a result.
Examples:
-
Matthew 8:24
“a great storm arose so that the boat was being swamped” -
Acts 16:26
“suddenly there was a great earthquake so that the foundations were shaken” -
Luke 5:6
“they caught a large number of fish so that their nets were breaking” -
John 3:16
“whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life”
Action–Purpose (Ac/Pur)
An action performed for an intended purpose.
Examples:
-
Colossians 2:4
“I say this so that no one may delude you” -
John 20:31
“these are written so that you may believe” -
Ephesians 4:12
“to equip the saints for the work of ministry” -
2 Timothy 3:17
“so that the man of God may be complete”
Conditional (If/Then)
A result dependent upon a condition.
Examples:
-
Exodus 21:23
“If there is harm, then you shall pay life for life” -
1 John 1:9
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just…” -
2 Chronicles 7:14
“If my people… then I will hear” -
John 8:31
“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples”
Why This Matters for Preaching
Learning to identify these relationships helps ministers trace the logical flow of the biblical argument. When we see how the propositions connect, we begin to understand:
-
why the author said what he said
-
how the argument develops
-
where the natural sermon points may arise
Good preaching follows the logic of the text.
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