Pattern Analysis: June 7, 2025 Update on Completion

A first draft of 27,300 (88%) of the Bible's 31,100 verses has been completed using the Pattern Analysis methodology. For the last month, the concentration has been on completing the book of Isaiah (nearly done). The strong consistency seen in the previous months has continued.

88% — June 7, 2025
87% — May 13, 2025
86% — April 26, 2025
85% — April 15, 2025
84% — February 17, 2025
83% — January 26, 2025
82% — January 22, 2025
81% — January 15, 2025
80% — January 1, 2025
75% — June 22, 2024
70% — April 19, 2024
65% — April 6, 2022
60% — September 29, 2020
  0% — April 6, 2016

Currently in the tenth year, this methodology has become more complete and comprehensive. Since 2020, modifications have been made about how the system works with a goal to complete a first draft of the entire Bible. At the same time, two manuscripts are being written: Pattern Analysis Methodology, a detailed description of this approach for a more scholarly audience, and Evidence of Holy Spirit Inspiration for those in the congregations and beyond. Click here to read more about Pattern Analysis.

I suggest that the implications associated with Pattern Analysis are significant. If one consistent yet complex model for Genesis to Revelation can be shown, that strongly suggests One underlying source behind the entire work, not forty individual authors. This is evidence, not proof, for One inspiration. It suggests that we should not be picking and chosing our way through the Bible, but instead we should come to grips with what that original source intended, the God who loves us so very deeply.

Comments, questions, and words of encouragement are appreciated.

Pattern Analysis: Countdown Towards Completion

A first draft of 27,000 (87%) of the Bible's 31,100 verses has been completed using the Pattern Analysis methodology. It has been a full time effort over 9+ years. Click here to read more about Pattern Analysis Methodology.

87% — May 13, 2025
86% — April 26, 2025
85% — April 15, 2025
84% — February 17, 2025
83% — January 26, 2025
82% — January 22, 2025
81% — January 15, 2025
80% — January 1, 2025
75% — June 22, 2024
70% — April 19, 2024
65% — April 6, 2022
60% — September 29, 2020
  0% — April 6, 2016

Currently in the tenth year, this methodology has become more complete and comprehensive. Since 2020, modifications have been made about how the system works with a goal to complete a first draft of the entire Bible. At the same time, two manuscripts are being written: Pattern Analysis Methodology, a detailed description of this approach for a more scholarly audience, and Evidence of Holy Spirit Inspiration for those in the congregations and beyond.

I suggest that the implications associated with Pattern Analysis are significant. If one consistent yet complex model for Genesis to Revelation can be shown, that strongly suggests One underlying source behind the entire work, not forty individual authors. This is evidence, not proof, for One inspiration. It suggests that we should not be picking and chosing our way through the Bible, but instead we should come to grips with what that original source intended, the God who loves us so very deeply.

Nearing Completion of the New Testament

I have today completed a first draft of 18,700 (60%) of the 31,100 verses in the Bible using the pattern analysis methodology. It has taken 4.5 years. Click here to read more about pattern analysis.

  0% — April 6, 2016
26% — May 6, 2017
30% — August 31, 2017
35% — January 21, 2018
40% — April 20, 2018
45% — October 24, 2018
50% — March 14, 2019
55% — March 29, 2020
60% — September 29, 2020

Possibly more important is that I am 98% complete with a first draft of the New Testament. There are eight chapters in 1 and 2 Corinthians that I have not yet analyzed. That 98% represents just the first draft.

In these 4.5 years, the methodology has become more complete and comprehensive. I have seen where some of my early analyses can and should be revised. The current model is a bit more mature. Maybe I am too much of a perfectionist, but I think that consistency to the model is important and should result in greater acceptance of this work. A second review should also reveal some corrections that were simply missed the first time.

I suggest that the implications associated with completing the New Testament are significant. If I can show one consistent yet complex model for Matthew to Revelation, I have then suggested there appears to be one underlying source behind the entire work, not eight individual New Testament authors. (I also have completed 47% of the Old Testament using this same model.) This is evidence, not proof, for one inspiration. It suggests that we should not be picking and chosing our way through the Bible, but instead we should come to grips with what that original source intended, the God who loves us so very deeply.

Progress Update on Pattern Analysis

Today I met a short-term goal: I have now analyzed 30% of the Bible using the Pattern Analysis methodology. My goal when I started this effort a year ago was to take a sampling of every book of the Bible with a minimum of 10% of each book or three chapters, whichever is more comprehensive. I am very close to completing that goal with today being another milestone. Hallelujah!

Over this past year I had to substantially enhance the Pattern Analysis model to accomodate the new patterns that I was seeing. With this improved model, I can say that every verse that I’ve looked at has fit into one or more literary patterns. That is, I am not seeing any evidence at this time where an editor (the technical name is a redactor) has modified the biblical text. All the variations that people use to support the theory of a redactor are, at least in my analysis so far, the Holy Spirit’s use of emphasis.

The current model that I am using may be seen in part at Pattern Analysis Handbook. That handbook is currently undergoing scholarly review and will hopefully be published in 2017. You may email me at Tom@ThomasBClarke.com for more information and/or notification of availability.

*** Update on 1/21/2018 ***:
While I have now completed 35% of the Bible, I have decided to postpone publication for some period of time because I want to be absolutely positive that the approach that I have been seeing is correct. I expect my various writings about Pattern Analysis will be controversial because people who do not believe the Bible was inspired by God will attempt to punch holes into this methodology. Thank you for your patience—if you wish, I will be very glad to add you to my mailing list as the various teachings and workbooks become available.
Tom

Thematic Structures in the Bible Expose Fresh Meanings

I've been studying chiastic structures in the Bible for over 15 years. When I mention that to most Bible-believing people, a glaze typically comes over their face. If they're interested, I offer to show them Matthew 6:24, a very simple chiasm with boat loads of profound truth.

A	No one can serve two masters.
	B	Either you will hate the one
		C	and love the other,
		C′	or you will be devoted to the one
	B′	and despise the other.
A′	You cannot serve God and wealth.
	(Matt 6:24 NASB)

I explain that to many people, this verse conveys the thought that we must choose which master we will serve: God or wealth. While I believe that is correct, I boldly state that there is a far more profound understanding when looking at it from the standpoint of a chiasm.

I suggest that a chiasm is like a sandwich, bread at the top and bottom, mustard or mayonnaise on the bread, some lettuce next to the mayo, and then some meat. The meat is the important part.

In A and A′, the bread is revealed as two masters, God and wealth. The mustard or mayonnaise is the hate and despise in B and B′, and the meat is love and 'be devoted to' in C and C′.

Here is the clincher: I suggest that in a chiasm, the center is generally considered the emphatic portion of a passage, just as the meat is the major reason to purchase the sandwich. So I ask, “What is in the middle?” The answer is love and 'be devoted to.' “To who?” I then ask. The obvious answer is God. To that I then conclude this verse is emphasizing love, not service, to that master. When we love Him, then service is a natural outflow.

Types of Thematic Structures
There are five basic types of thematic structures in the Bible: chiasm, parallel symmetry, alternation, immediate repetition and lists. The most common is the chiasm. In a brief look at 200 structures in both the Old and New Testament over the last 3 weeks, I found that 32% were chiastic, 24% contained parallel symmetry, 23% alternations, 15% immediate repetition, and 6% lists. A substantial number of these contain variations that make their study most intriguing.

My hope is to help people learn how to read their Bible from the standpoint of thematic structures. The many gems that clarify the meaning of a passage are hidden within these structures. These gems then point to a Holy Spirit-type of interaction that emphatically reveals the meaning and application of the passage. My next book, Pattern Analysis Handbook, attempts to take people through that identification and discovery process.

If you are interested in being notified when the book is available, my email address is Tom@ThomasBClarke.com.

Word Duplication in the Hebrew Portions of the Bible

The Hebrew portion of the Bible contains an intriguing technique to strongly emphasize an action: word duplication. If you said, “I will obey obey God” in English, it would make little sense. In Hebrew, that duplication gives very strong emphasis to the commitment to obey. You might say instead, "I will totally obey." My hope in this article is to teach how you can recognize this duplication technique – that is, how the Holy Spirit inspired the scriptures with this technique.

This literary device is also known as iteratio and subjunctio.

This rhetoric occurs when a word is repeated. Using the book of Zechariah (NASB), here are some instances of word duplication:

“Those who are far off will come and build the temple of the Lord.” Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. And it will take place if you completely obey the Lord your God. (v6:15)

The inhabitants of one will go to another, saying, “Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts; I will also go.” (v8:21)

“Woe to the worthless shepherd
Who leaves the flock!
A sword will be on his arm
And on his right eye!
His arm will be totally withered
And his right eye will be blind ¹.” (v11:21)
Footnote: ¹ Lit completely dimmed

It will come about in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured. And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it. (v12:3)

Many times, an adverb [recognized by the -ly at the end of the word] indicates a duplicated Hebrew word.

In a sense, our English diminishes the word repetition. If you said, “I will jump jump over the candlestick”, that does not infer a jump that is twice as high. Rather, it points to the wholehearted commitment to jump over the candlestick. No burnt pants from that jump!

In our effort to hear the voice of God through the Holy Spirit, even the little things in language can provide a strong look into the heart of God. See if you can find examples of word duplication in these verses from Deuteronomy (NASB):

I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that you will surely perish quickly from the land where you are going over the Jordan to possess it. You shall not live long on it, but will be utterly destroyed. (v4:26)

You should diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and His testimonies and His statutes which He has commanded you. (v6:17)

And when the Lord your God delivers them before you and you defeat them, then you shall utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them and show no favor to them. (v7:2)

Abbreviated Lists in Biblical Literary Structure

An abbreviated list is the frequent appearance of listed items in the Bible but not all items are repeated. To put it another way, an abbreviated list is a literary device where the shortened form is representative of the whole.

I replaced the landscaping in front of our house in 2015. I selected a weeping blue spruce for the centerpiece which is surrounded by a variety of other plants: a white pine, a Japanese maple, three blue cloak firs, some cotoneasters, barberries, junipers, yews, weigela, and assorted flowers. When I call this the "blue spruce and Japanese maple plantings", that is an abbreviated list.

In Deuteronomy 13:3,4 (NASB) there is a list of seven statutes:

For the LORD your God is testing you to find out if

• you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
• You shall follow the LORD your God
• and fear Him;
• and you shall keep His commandments,
• [and] listen to His voice,
• [and] serve Him,
• and cling to Him. ¹

This list is abbreviated many times in Deuteronomy. Think of all seven when you see reduced lists such as verses 11:22 and 13:18.

“For if you are careful to keep all this commandment which I am commanding you to do, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and hold fast to Him,” (v11:22)

“… if you will listen to the voice of the LORD your God, keeping all His commandments which I am commanding you today, and doing what is right in the sight of the LORD your God.” (v13:18)

When you discover an abbreviated list, it is emphatic simply because it is frequently repeated. Even the single reference in verse 29:9 is an abbreviated way of stating the entire list.

“So keep the words of this covenant to do them, that you may prosper in all that you do.” (v29:9)

The clue to finding these abbreviated lists is in their extensive repetition.

1. The words [and] appear in the Hebrew text but do not appear in the NASB. If the first letter of a Hebrew word is the character Vav, that is usually the word AND.

Chiasm with an Ellipsis: John 16:16-19

You ask, "What is an ellipsis? I have learned about chiasms, what is an ellipsis?" According to E. W. Bullinger, ellipsis appears in the Bible when "a word or words are omitted … in order that we may not stop to think of, or lay stress on, the word omitted, but may dwell on the other words which are thus emphasized by the omission."

When the ellipsis appears within a literary structure such as a chiasm, it behaves as if it were there. This literary device is best seen by illustration. Below is John 16:16-19. The phrase
A little while, and you will no longer see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me.
appears three times. The fourth time, the one with the ellipsis, is shown in violet. The ellipsis makes it appear that the entire phrase was stated even though it was omitted.

A	“A little while, and you will no longer see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me.”  (v16)
	B	Some of His disciples then said to one another, “What is this thing He is telling us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’  (v17A)
		X	and, ‘because I go to the Father’?“  (v17B)
	B′	So they were saying, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is talking about.”  (v18)
A′	Jesus knew that they wished to question Him, and He said to them, “Are you deliberating together about this, that I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me’?”  (v19)

Once I learned from Bullinger how to recognize the ellipsis, my understanding of chiastic and other structures became even more clear. I hope it helps your analysis, too.

The Enemy's Attack on the Bible

In my soon to be published book Discovering Emphasis in the Bible: Hearing God's Voice through Literary Structure, I present three steps to better hear God's voice. The process is deemed DIG:

1. Discern the literary structure of a passage
2. Identify the emphasis within that literary structure
3. Glean God's personal message for you based on that emphasis

This study will teach you how to recognize the 14 most common types of literary structure in the Bible. Each type has its own method for detecting the emphasis. Where a structure exists, this process works for Genesis through Revelation.

The book targets two groups of born-again believers: those that are having a difficult time hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit and those that want to dig deeper into the Bible.

Hallucinogenic Drugs
While I would hope that everyone would benefit from my manuscript, there is one group that I specifically cannot target: those involved in illicit drugs. These drugs, such as marijuana, ketamine, cocaine, and heroine, distort a person's ability to think and react in both the short-term and the long-term.

Confusion is a significant tool of the enemy to distract us from understanding the biblical text. Not only does the drug's high prevent good comprehension, so there is a long-term effect that impedes wisdom in pattern recognition. The good news is that over time, continued abstinence restores this processing power that God gave us.

In our United States and throughout the world, drug abuse has become a very significant problem. So has Bible illiteracy. Is there a correlation? I suspect so.

I am not an expert on the effects of these drugs on our minds, but it makes sense to me. In my own experimentation with marijuana about 45 years ago, my ability to think through problems diminished quickly. I thought there was no difference in my cognitive skills while I was not high; once I stepped away from all substance abuse, I saw differently.

Here is some research that supports my understanding: National Institute on Drug Abuse: What are marijuana's long-term effects on the brain?. For example it states, "As people age, they lose neurons in the hippocampus, which decreases their ability to learn new information."

Conclusion
The enemy is continually attempting to separate us from pursuing our God. His tactic of confusion through drugs seems to have worked for many people. If your state is looking to legalize marijuana, consider getting involved in defeating that effort. And if your child suddenly comes home with poor grades in a subject, be aware–there may be more to it than the pretty girl nearby.