TIP OF THE DAY 73: Introduction to promises

MJ. Smith

I am adding these posts to the previous tip list L/V 10 Tip of the Day ; Here I am testing the use of comments to expand the length of the post. Please comment on how you think this might work as a way around the post length restriction. Note that the end of the laws discussion is still in the holding cell.

QUESTION: In the context of linguistics, how do commands and promises differ?

ANSWER: From Perplexity:

In linguistics, commands and promises differ in several key ways:

1. Directionality:

Commands are directed from the speaker to the listener, telling them what to do.

Promises are commitments made by the speaker about their own future actions.

2. Agency:

Commands assume the listener has agency to carry out the action.

Promises indicate the speaker's agency and intention to do something.

3. Grammatical mood:

Commands typically use the imperative mood.

Promises often use future tense or modal verbs like "will" or "shall".

4. Obligation:

Commands place an obligation on the listener.

Promises create a self-imposed obligation on the speaker.

5. Speech act theory:

Commands are directive speech acts, attempting to get the listener to do something.

Promises are commissive speech acts, committing the speaker to a future action.

6. Presupposition:

Commands presuppose the speaker has authority over the listener.

Promises presuppose the speaker's ability and intention to fulfill them.

7. Response:

Commands expect compliance or refusal from the listener.

Promises typically expect acknowledgment or acceptance from the listener.

8. Time orientation:

Commands are usually about immediate or near-future actions.

Promises are inherently about future actions, often with no specified timeframe.

9. Conditionality:

Commands are generally unconditional.

Promises can be conditional ("If X happens, I promise to do Y").

10. Performative nature:

Saying "I command you" performs the act of commanding.

Saying "I promise" performs the act of promising.

These linguistic differences reflect the distinct social and communicative functions of commands versus promises in language and interaction.

QUESTION: How does Logos/Verbum analyze “Whoever attacks Kiriath-sepher and takes it, I will give him my daughter Achsah as wife.[1]”

SOFTWARE: The information provided for promises is similar to that provided for commands, including the use of the VerbNet verb classes. Many of the promises are attached to events in which the promise is fulfilled.

ANSWER: from the Context Menu

Morphology: verb, Qal, wᵊqātal (waw + perfect), first person, singular

Speaker: Caleb (Spy)

Addressee: Judeans (Judges)

Longacre Genre { Primary: `LongacreGenre:Narr: Story` } Note that genre is not directly related to the fact that the direct speech is a promise.

Promise { Fulfillment: `BibleKnowledgebase:*IsraelConquerDebir`; Theme: `BibleKnowledgebase:pt:Marriage`; Verb Class: "Transfer" }

Culture:"Arranging a Marriage"

Sentence type: Declarative Sentence

Sentence type: Imperative Sentence

Speech Act: Informative: Assertive

Speech Act: Informative: Assertive

To translate the Fulfillment as shown above (the text copy function on the context menu) into something useable to identify the passage references:

Select the promise in the Bible text.

Right click to open the Context menu.

Select the Promise label on the left (tab) side in the Context menu.

Select a search on the right (action) side in the Context menu. I usually select a Bible search.

From the search argument promise:(fulfillment:event:"The Israelites conquer Debir" AND theme:preachingTheme:Marriage AND verbClass:Transfer) extract the event name.

Open the Biblical Event Navigator by type Open Biblical Event Navigator into the Command box (open via the application icon on the top (left) of the application toolbar.

Select Biblical Event Navigator under books.

Enter the event name The Israelites conquer Debir into the Biblical Event Navigator find events box.

Select the entry in the results to see the details on the right.

In this case, the fulfillment of the promise is straightforward:

“And Caleb said,“Whoever attacks Kiriathsepher and takes it, to him I will give my daughter Achsah as wife.” Othniel son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it; and he gave him his daughter Achsah as wife.

Note that this should raise study questions such as:

Marriage practices that a daughter could be pledged

Marriage practices that allow kinship marriages of 1st cousins.

War practices allowing “mercenary” soldiers i.e. fighting for a prize rather than under orders.

[1]The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), Jdg 1:12.

MJ. Smith

QUESTION: How does the Promises dataset relate to the many books of promises sold in inexpensive editions in the popular market?

Software: Example titles:

Group, Baker Publishing. All Things New: Transforming Promises from the Word of God. Grand Rapids, MI: Revell, 2010.

Birkhead, Mary Grace. Bible Promises for Dad. Nashville, TN: B&H Books, 2013.

Holman Bible Publishers. Bible Promises for Dad. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2003.

Moore, Karen. Bible Promises for Newlyweds. Nashville, TN: B&H Books, 2014.

Moore, Karen. Bible Promises for Teachers. Nashville, TN: B&H Books, 2013.

Publishing, Barbour. 199 Promises of God. Uhrichsville, OH: Barbour Books, 2007.

Publishing, Barbour. The Bible Promise Book: One Thousand Promises from God’s Word. Uhrichsville, OH: Barbour Books, 2006.

Staff, B&h Editorial, Broadman Publishers, and Holman Publishers. Bible Promises for Mom. Nashville: B&H Books, 2003.

Water, Mark. Bible Promises Made Easy. The Made Easy Series. Alresford, Hampshire: John Hunt Publishers Ltd, 2001.

Zondervan. Bible Promises for You: From the New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2009.

Bible Promises for Kids. Nashville, TN: B&H Books, 2003.

Bible Promises for Men. Nashville, TN: B&H Books, 2008.

Bible Promises for New Parents. Nashville, TN: B&H Books, 2003.

Bible Promises for Teens. Nashville, TN: B&H Books, 2003.

Bible Promises for Women. Nashville, TN: B&H Books, 2008.

ANSWER: Check the first promise in each of several of these titles for Logos promise coding:

From Group, Baker Publishing. All Things New: Transforming Promises from the Word of God. Grand Rapids, MI: Revell, 2010.

And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. Genesis 1:31 [1]

This is treated as narrative not as direct speech; in that context it is a simple declarative sentence. Notice the description of promises “God promises us new life and reminds us of our “born again” status again and again—in his Word and through his work in the world.[2]” gives no linguistic criteria.

From Birkhead, Mary Grace. Bible Promises for Dad. Nashville, TN: B&H Books, 2013.

Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night. He is like a tree planted beside streams of water that bears its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. ~ Psalm 1:2–3[3]

This is treated as poetry not as direct speech; in that context it is a declarative sentence with a Longacre genre of “Expository: What things are or were like”. As a speech act it is tagged as Informative: Assertive. Nothing implies an obligation or a future response, both of which as typical of promises.

From Publishing, Barbour. 199 Promises of God. Uhrichsville, OH: Barbour Books, 2007.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17[4]

This is treated as an argument rather than as direct speech. It has a Longacre genre of “Expository: What things are or were like”. As a speech act it is tagged as Informative: Assertive. Nothing implies an obligation or a future response, both of which as typical of promises. However, it does contain a conditional which is noted by the Propositional Outline.

From Water, Mark. Bible Promises Made Easy. The Made Easy Series. Alresford, Hampshire: John Hunt Publishers Ltd, 2001.

“The generation of the upright will be blessed.” Psalm 112:2[5]

This is treated as poetry not as direct speech; in that context it is a declarative sentence with a Longacre genre of “Expository: What things are or were like”. As a speech act it is tagged as Informative: Assertive.

Obviously, the criteria for a promise in these resources do not match the criteria for a promise in Logos/Verbum. Logos/Verbum uses linguistic criteria which includes some interpretation. The books carried by Logos are selected by subjective interpretation; they serve a purpose, but not the purpose of Logos tagging for searches.

QUESTION Are there any speech acts classified as promises that are not also commissive speech acts?

SOFTWARE: To test for commissive speech acts use section:speechAct:="Obligative: Commissive"

To test for promise coding use promise:*

Note that promise:* and promise:* INTERSECTS section:speechAct:="Obligative: Commissive" produce the same results.

ANSWER: A Bible search with the search argument of promise:* NOT INTERSECTS section:speechAct:="Obligative: Commissive" produces no results i.e. all promises are obligative: commissive speech.

However, section:speechAct:="Obligative: Commissive" NOT INTERSECTS promise:* returns results showing that some obligative:commissive speech acts are not promises.

[1] Baker Publishing Group, All Things New: Transforming Promises from the Word of God (Grand Rapids, MI: Revell, 2010).

[2] Baker Publishing Group, All Things New: Transforming Promises from the Word of God (Grand Rapids, MI: Revell, 2010).

[3] Mary Grace Birkhead, Bible Promises for Dad (Nashville, TN: B&H Books, 2013).

[4] Barbour Publishing, 199 Promises of God (Uhrichsville, OH: Barbour Books, 2007).

[5] Mark Water, Bible Promises Made Easy, The Made Easy Series (Alresford, Hampshire: John Hunt Publishers Ltd, 2001), 4.

MJ. Smith

QUESTION: How do I use the VerbNet verb classes in a search for Promises?

SOFTWARE: VerbNet verb classes are parameters in the following labels:

Command

Promises

ANSWER: Example searches and results:

9: Putting promise:(verbClass:Putting)

I have set my bow in the clouds[1]

10: Removing promise:(verbClass:Removing)

I will let you go to sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness[2]

11: Sending and Carrying promise:(verbClass:"Sending and Carrying")

For in seven days I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights[3]

12: Pushing and Pulling promise:(verbClass:"Pushing and Pulling")

Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased and possess the land[4]

13: Transfer promise:(verbClass:transfer)

“To your offspringc I will give this land.” [5]

14: Learn promise:(verbClass:learn)

All your children shall be taught by the Lord,[6]

15: Hold and Keep promise:(verbClass:"hold and keep")

“It shall be for him and for his descendants after him a covenant of perpetual priesthood, because he was zealous for his God, and made atonement for the Israelites.’ ” [7]

16: Concealment promise:(verbClass:concealment)

On that day I will surely hide my face on account of all the evil they have done by turning to other gods.[8]

17: Throwing …[9]

QUESTION: How does one find all the promises made by Jesus:

SOFTWARE: To find all promises use promises:*i

To find Jesus as speaker user speaker:Jesus

ANSWER: The search argument speaker:Jesus INTERSECTS label:promise:* returns results including:

Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” [10]

The promise is Promise { Theme: `BibleKnowledgebase:pt:Commitment`; Verb Class: "Refrain" }

However, the interpretive portion of the coding is under figurative language attached to “for this is my blood of the covenant”[11]:

Figurative language category: Metaphor, Ontological, Substance

Figurative language term: Blood of Jesus

Figurative language term: Wine Poured Out

Figurative language term: Wine Poured Out as Blood of Jesus

Note that there is no alternative coding for the majority view: Anglicans, Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Lutherans, Oriental Orthodox, and Methodist theology tend towards some form of “real presence”; Reformed and Evangelicals tend towards a more symbolic theology. For decades, Logos proudly espoused the statement of faith of the evangelical presses. All of which serves as an introduction to:

Faithlife’s Commitment to Diversity and Unity

Faithlife serves pastors, teachers, churches, and Bible students in nearly every country on earth.

We have offices in three of the United States and a wholly-owned subsidiary in Mexico. Team members also work remotely from seven countries. (If you call Faithlife, you’ll be talking to our team—but they could be anywhere in the world.)

Faithlife celebrates the diversity of people and cultures around the world and within our own communities, and we glory in the unity that Scripture calls us to as the Church and the family of God.

We recognize that significant differences in theology, biblical interpretation, and cultural application exist among the people we serve.

And we are aware that some people we serve consider others we serve to be beyond the bounds of orthodoxy.

A unity of belief may be beyond our reach, but a unity of love, kindness, and respect for one another is not too much to pray and strive for.

We deplore racism and are grieved to see it displayed in our communities, and grieved at the pain it causes our team, their families, and people we serve.

We repent of pride and prejudices, remember and affirm that a Christian’s first citizenship is within the kingdom of God, and strive to follow Jesus’ example of serving and honoring others as we take the seat at the foot of the table together.

We pray for reconciliation, respect, and common ground within our communities and across all borders.

We are committed to hiring teams that reflect the diversity of our communities.

We are committed to promoting voices from varied perspectives, to enrich our understanding of God’s Word, which was given for all the people of the world.

We are committed to serving and learning from our neighbors and brothers and sisters, whether next door or around the world.

We desire to serve the Church and equip everyone, everywhere, who studies the Bible.

You might also find the Logos Distribution Philosophy statement to be of interest.

[1]The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), Ge 9:13.

[2]The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), Ex 8:28.

[3]The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), Ge 7:4.

[4]The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), Ex 23:30.

c Heb seed

[5]The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), Ge 12:7.

[6]The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), Is 54:13.

[7]The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), Nu 25:13.

[8]The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), Dt 31:18.

[9] Jeremy Thompson, Promises in the Bible Dataset Documentation (Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2018).

[10]The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), Mt 26:27–29.

[11]The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), Mt 26:28.