STAIR-STEP PARALLELISM IN THE BIBLE

One thing that distinguishes biblical poetry from prose is called parallelism of thought. To explain, that is a literary composition in which subsequent lines echo the ideas in the previous lines. The most simple example is that of so-called identical parallelism, such as in the following verse which opens the Psalter:

    “Happy are those who walk not in the counsel of the wicked,

                                    or stand in the way of sinners,

                                    or sit in the seat of scoffers.” (Psalm 1:1)

Note how all the elements line up, even though there may be some progression of thought as one proceeds from one line to the next.

Variations on this basic organization include parallelisms which are incomplete, antithetic, introverted, symbolic, or synthetic. And to add interest to their writings, two or three of these techniques may even be combined within the same couplet by authors, But perhaps the least utilized form is that called stair-step parallelism. In this type of poem the last element in the first line has its counterpart in the first element of the next line. Some possible examples I could find are shown below:

“Samuel was among those who called on his name

                                        they cried to the LORD and he answered them

                                                                                     he spoke to them in the pillar of cloud.”

                                                                                                                                     (Psalm 99:6-7)

“An inheritance gotten hastily in the beginning

                                                in the end will not be blessed.”

                                                                                                                                    (Proverbs 20:21)

And even in this last example, it is a mixed type in that “end” is not parallel to “beginning” but antithetical to it.

For more examples and definitions of the various types of biblical poetry, see my post titled “Proverbs 20: Types of Biblical Poetry.”

I once had a college roommate who attempted to write a novel. He showed me his first draft for comment. A sample of the type of writing he had come up with went something like this: “Jim enjoyed walking in his neighborhood, a neighborhood populated with houses fronted by green lawns, lawns that were obviously well-kept, maintained by a team of hard-working immigrants, men who had escaped the violence in their home countries, lands in which it was no longer safe to raise a family, families which they dearly loved, etc., etc.” As you can see, this sort of writing style should only be used sparingly or it soon becomes very tiring to the reader.

But there are actually three New Testament authors who do use this technique on occasion, not in the context of poetic passages, but in what has been labeled as “exalted prose,” something half-way between prose and poetry.

John 1:4-5

        In him was life

             and the life was the light of men

                                       the light shines in the darkness

                                                             and the darkness has not overcome it.

You can see from this simple example why it is called stair-step parallelism. And actually, the whole of the prologue to John's Gospel (1:1-18) employs variations on this literary technique.

Turning next to Paul's writings, we see hints of this same style in passages such as below:

Galatians 3:5-6

Does God give you the Spirit and work miracles among you

                              by your doing works of the law or by believing?

                                                               Just as Abraham believed and it was reckoned as righteousness.

Philippians 2:6-8

who though being in the form of God

      did not regard equality with God to be exploited

                            emptied himself, taking the form of a slave

                                                     being found in human form, he humbled himself

                                                                                                  and became obedient to death

                                                                                                                               even death on a cross.

The final example I am going to show is far more complicated, and I have attempted to identify the various parallel words in it through a variety of devices, as you can see below.

I Peter 1:3-12

Blessed be God and Jesus Christ who has given us new birth through resurrection of Jesus Christ:

to an inheritance kept in HEAVEN FOR YOU

    those kept by faith to a salvation ready to be revealed

        in this (salvation) you REJOICE though you now have trials

            which (trials) are sent to PROVE your faith

                being PROVED will result in GLORY when Jesus Christ is revealed 

                     whom you have not seen but love Him

                            you do not see Him, but believe Him

        and are JOYFUL having obtaining the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls

                               the salvation the PROPHETS sought

                               who PROPHESIED of the coming grace

        when the SPIRIT of Christ PROPHESIED Christ's trials  

    and the following GLORY and it was revealed to THEM

THEY were SERVING YOU by the HOLY SPIRIT sent forth from HEAVEN

                                things the angels long to know

Notice how densely packed this passage is and how it seems to march in one direction, and then circle back upon itself to the beginning. As Keener observes, “In Greek, 1 Pet. 3-12 is one elaborate, 'periodic' sentence, a sophisticated literary form that undoubtedly required much labor on the part of whoever composed or arranged it in this form (possibly Silvanus).”