Biblicists and Pharisees

[atpollard]

What are examples of "liberal methods of interpretation?"

I think the most obvious example that comes to mind is the story of Lazarus and the Rich Man. A "literal interpretation" would believe that Jesus was describing an actual person and a true picture of Hell. A "liberal interpretation" would believe that is is all a fictional tale intended to teach a lesson, like the stories about gathering sheep and goats and sorting them.

 

[Yeshua1]

I left a church because the Pastor believed that ALL scripture was allegorical and written to teach us how to live. The miracle stories in the Gospel were just that ... stories, parables, fables.

Probably a "Hyper-Liberal" example, but it may point at an answer.

So would be denying Jesus as God, that he died on the Cross for sinners, and was resurrected then?

 

[JonC]

'letterism' is the issue. It has no place in literature.

I agree. "Letterism" is a faulty way of interpreting any text. But when it comes to Scripture I do believe that we are not to go beyond what is written if at all possible. When we do then we forfeit objectivity and anything we have to say becomes subjective. Either Scripture is the standard by which we judge doctrine or it is not. Too often people prefer tradition over Scripture. The difference is biblical understanding derived through theology versus theology verses through Scripture. I believe the latter appropriate (and even here there will be enough debate over interpretation).

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Another attribute of Pharisees is that they often cannot see their own error. Even when they do acknowledge it they cannot bring themselves to correct it.

Agree

 

[George Antonios]

1. The Pharisees held to a woodenly narrow interpretation of Scripture, which they wrongly supposed to be 'literal' or 'biblical.' 'How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter into his mother's womb and be born a second time?' 'How can this man give us His body to eat?'

What a conveniently cherry-picked example.
The Pharisees believed in a literal resurrection and were right, whereas the Sadducees who spiritualized it were wrong.