Bible Lexicons

Bullinger's Figures of Speech Used in the BibleBullinger's Figures of Speech

Enthymema; or Omission of Premiss

En´-thy-mee-ma. Greek ἐνθύμημα, a thought or a consideration.

This is the opposite of Syllogismus.

In Syllogismus, the premisses are stated, but the conclusion is omitted; while, in Enthymema, the conclusion is stated and one or both of the premisses omitted.

Both are alike, therefore, in being an abbreviated Syllogism.

It is also related to Hypocatastasis (q.v. [Note: Which see.] ), in that it is an implication. But in Hypocatastasis it is an ordinary statement or word which is to be implied; while, in Enthymema it is the premiss of an argument which is left to be supplied.

The Latins call it COMMENTUM, a thought or a contrivance, and CONCEPTIO, the wording or drawing up of a statement.

It may be illustrated thus:-"We are dependent; we should, therefore, be humble." Here the major premiss is omitted-"dependent persons should be humble."

A Biblical example occurs in

Romans 7:1-6.-Here the fact is asserted that law has dominion over a man only while he is alive (verse 1), and this fact is applied to those who died (i.e., were judicially reckoned as having died) when Christ died. So that all the members of the body of Christ died, and therefore the law has no logger dominion over them (verses 5, 6).

In proof of this, an illustrative argument is used, as to the case of a husband and wife. Both are bound to each other by law: and, while both are alive the union of one of them with another person is unlawful; but, if one be dead, then such a union on the part of the survivor is legitimate.

But only one of the cases is given: viz., the death of the husband.

The death of the wife is there, but only in thought; and this other premiss has to be supplied by the mind in the course of the argument.

So that after the third verse we must add the other premiss in some such words as these:-

"And if the wife die, I need not say that she is free"; or, "but it goes without saying that if the wife die, of course she is free."

Wherefore (as the conclusion is given in verse 6) we died in Christ, and are therefore free from that law wherein we were held; for "he that has once so died stands justified (the penalty having been paid) from his sin.

Now if we died with Christ we have been raised also with Him (6:8. Colossians 2:12). Thus we were planted together with Him in "His death, and raised with Him (6:4) to newness of life. And be it noted that this is no mere marriage union. To prevent this conclusion the verb to marry is not used in verses 3 and 4. There, instead of the usual verb marry, which we should expect to find, we have the verb to become, with the dative case; and must in each instance supply the Ellipsis. In the case of the woman, she "becomes" joined, "becomes" bound under the law to a husband; but, in the case of those who died with Christ, they "become" united to Him as members of His body and "become" His property. Their union with Him is not in Incarnation, but in death, burial, and resurrection; and having died with Him are freed from the Law, instead of being bound to it.

Matthew 27:19.-"Have thou nothing to do with that just man."

Here the fire, and feeling, and urgency of Pilate’s wife is all the more forcible, in that she does not stop to formulate a tame, cold argument, but she omits the major premiss; which is greatly emphasized by being left for Pilate to supply. The complete Syllogism would have been:

1. It is very wicked to punish a just or innocent man.

2. Jesus is a just man.

3. Have therefore nothing to do with punishing him.

The conclusion thus contains the proof of each of the premisses on which it rests.

Thus is emphasized one of the four testimonies borne to the innocence of the Lord Jesus by Gentiles at the time of His condemnation.

1. Pilate’s wife (Matthew 27:19).

2. Pilate himself, "I am innocent of the blood of this just person" (Matthew 27:24).

3. The dying malefactor, "This man hath done nothing amiss" (Luke 23:41).

4. The Centurion, "Certainly this was a righteous man" (Luke 23:47).