Teaching Tool of Common Themes

The Teaching Tools of Scripture

The Common Theme is a powerful teaching tool that God has placed in Scripture. When multiple passages reveal the same theme or topic, even if they seem dissimilar at first glance, a comparison of those passages often reveals amazing insight, instruction, and wisdom. One simple example is the theme of the tree of life. This tree appears overtly in Gen 2:9, Gen 3:22-24, Rev 2:7, and Rev 22. But also the tree of life appears, perhaps not so covertly, in Psa 1. It is not mentioned by name, but it becomes clear upon consideration of the passage in its entirety, that its theme or topic is a life- giving tree – a tree of life. Comparison, then, of Gen 2:9, Gen 3:22-24, Psa 1, Rev 2:7, and Rev 22 (and any other passages in which the theme is the tree of life) will be instructive.

Examples:
Genesis 4:26, Then men began
Genesis 8:15-9:17, Go out from the ark
Genesis 12:1-9, Abram the sojourner
Genesis 46, Seventy persons who go down to Egypt
Leviticus 13, Separation and exile
Leviticus 23:26-32, Chiastic Structure
Numbers 19:1-22, Finding Messiah in the law of the red heifer
Deuteronomy 9:1-29, The role of unbelief
Psalm 82, Sons of God
Isaiah 13 and 14, Princes of men and angels
Matthew 1, Common theme of the miraculous birth
Matthew 22, On wedding garments