True/False: Bible Should ALWAYS be Interperated As Literally in Meaning?

[JesusFan]

Should a sound/foundamental view be that the Bible should be seen as literally, unless valid reason not to ne interprated as if allegory/metaphore etc

Should always strive for the plain and literally meaning of a text?

 

[preachinjesus]

How do you define literally?

Sounds silly, but it is important.

 

[JesusFan]

How do you define literally?

Sounds silly, but it is important.

Plain and literal meaning of the text, but also have to keep in mind the different genres in text... Allogories get treated their own set of rules, parables, etc but unless good reason to not interprete it literally sense, should see it in that manner!

 

[webdog]

It should always be viewed in context first and foremost. This will determine if it is to be taken literally or not.

 

[JesusFan]

It should always be viewed in context first and foremost. This will determine if it is to be taken literally or not.

Agreed, that is what I was trying to see by taking into account the different genres in bible, and rules governing each, but contex says it better yet!

 

[glfredrick]

Plain and literal meaning of the text, but also have to keep in mind the different genres in text... Allogories get treated their own set of rules, parables, etc but unless good reason to not interprete it literally sense, should see it in that manner!

Based in the science of hermanuetics, with proper care to understand prescription versus description, then yes, why would we do ANYTHING other than a most litteral interpretation?

Now, let's consider what hermanuetics means... It is more than recognizing genre. It also takes into account that the words in Scripture were addressed BY someone TO someone -- and those someone's were other than us. From what WAS said, we must "infer" in context what it is that God wants us to hear. That should NEVER radically change the course of the litteral scriptural direction, but it may modify certain issues dependent on culture, description, etc.

Is that science absolutly difficult? Nope. Does it take more study than looking up a key word and spitting out a proof-text? Yup. What does the WHOLE WORD say about any given topic? What is the general direction of God (worship, His glory, the missio dei, etc.).

 

[JesusFan]

Based in the science of hermanuetics, with proper care to understand prescription versus description, then yes, why would we do ANYTHING other than a most litteral interpretation?

Now, let's consider what hermanuetics means... It is more than recognizing genre. It also takes into account that the words in Scripture were addressed BY someone TO someone -- and those someone's were other than us. From what WAS said, we must "infer" in context what it is that God wants us to hear. That should NEVER radically change the course of the litteral scriptural direction, but it may modify certain issues dependent on culture, description, etc.

Is that science absolutly difficult? Nope. Does it take more study than looking up a key word and spitting out a proof-text? Yup. What does the WHOLE WORD say about any given topic? What is the general direction of God (worship, His glory, the missio dei, etc.).

Also means that we must not come to the Bible to merely "proof text" our own pet doctrines and views...

Seems at times all of us here on BB guilty of reading my own theology into what paul/Jesus etc said, insteed of trying to determine what THEY actually meant, and adjust my theolgy according to them, not adjusting them to give OK to my stance!

 

[revmwc]

Also means that we must not come to the Bible to merely "proof text" our own pet doctrines and views...

Seems at times all of us here on BB guilty of reading my own theology into what paul/Jesus etc said, insteed of trying to determine what THEY actually meant, and adjust my theolgy according to them, not adjusting them to give OK to my stance!

If questions arise a good interlinear bible with a youngs or strongs concordance and a good bible dictionary comes in real handy. Commentaries can help to see how others interpret the passage, but the uses of the original language goes a long way in interpreting and knowing how somehting was meant.

 

[Sularis]

yes

The answer is yes - the first and foremost interpretation should always start at the most literal - and then basic logic demands that you take all other things into account - start at the foundation and work our way to the truth

 

[Winman]

I've always heard the Golden Rule of Interpretation is:

When the plain sense of scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense.

So when Jesus said we must drink his blood and eat his flesh, does that make common sense? No, unless you were born in the jungles of Borneo! :tongue3:

 

[Tom Butler]

I've always heard the Golden Rule of Interpretation is:

When the plain sense of scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense.

So when Jesus said we must drink his blood and eat his flesh, does that make common sense? No, unless you were born in the jungles of Borneo! :tongue3:

This reminds me of the Family Feud game show, when the contestants will shout, "Good answer, good answer."

 

[jbh28]

It should always be viewed in context first and foremost. This will determine if it is to be taken literally or not.

Very good summary! The Bible uses metaphors.

Isaiah 55:12b "...all the trees of the field shall clap their hands."

trees don't have hands.

 

[DiamondLady]

The simple answer is, yes. However, one must take it in it's entire context. In other words if someone says, "The Bible says, Judas went out and hung himself, go ye and do likewise." I would question it because these two verses are not together and are taken out of their original context. They should be taken literally, but not when put together!

 

[JesusFan]

The simple answer is, yes. However, one must take it in it's entire context. In other words if someone says, "The Bible says, Judas went out and hung himself, go ye and do likewise." I would question it because these two verses are not together and are taken out of their original context. They should be taken literally, but not when put together!

Goes back to can quote Bible out of contex, and use it to support anything! "there is no God!"

Leaving out that contex is that a FOOL in his heart says that thing!