Patterson, Richard D.2019-09-252019-09-252017-01-032003http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12424/161608"Aristotle once remarked, “Everything said metaphorically is obscure.” 1 By this the great Greek philosopher indicated that figures of speech lack a certain degree of the clarity of a direct statement. 2 Nevertheless, the use of metaphorical language forms a basic means of human communication. 3 Indeed, one might say that A. T. Robertson’s remark that in one sense “words are metaphors, sometimes with the pictured flower still blooming, sometimes with the blossom blurred” has distinct validity. 4 Moreover, as L. Ryken demonstrates, a high degree of richness exists in metaphorical language that brings not only freshness and vividness to an expression but tends to make a statement more memorable. By their very nature metaphors “force a reader to ponder or meditate on a statement”"engWith permission of the license/copyright holderParental lovemethaphorGreek philosophyAristotleDogmaticsCreator and CreationSalvation/liberationSacraments/communityCreeds, confessionsArticle