Originally posted by Optional:
Maybe you need to explain it to me slowly how you believe an allegorical/analogical Genesis 1 & 2 yet believe a literal Jesus/resurrection.
Okay, I'll type it slowly.
From my careful study of Genesis 1 and 2, I believe the text itself points to something other than a "literal" interpretation. Specifically, I understand the "first" creation account as an evangelistic method that draws in the pagan reader by using the forms of ancient cosmogenies and then illuminates the pagan with the identification of the God of Israel as being the Creator of all and true God of all in the "second" creation account. In the end, I really don't have any textual problems believing that the creation story in Genesis 2 is the "literal" story with Genesis 1 as an introduction. That view neatly resolves the issues with the creative sequence without doing mental gymnastics and adding extra creative events to the text.
The stories of the resurrection of Jesus do not easily lend themselves to anything other than the fact that Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to many.
Jesus and Paul spoke quite clearly of Adam and Noe as literal, true figures of history.
I'm guessing you mean Noah... I think the text of Genesis suggests that Noah was a real person and the flood happened. (I've never suggested anything other than that if you actually read my post.)
So what were Jesus and Paul talking about if they were referring to allegorical/analogical persons?
Refs:
Matt 24:37-38
Luke 17:26-27
Heb 11:7
I Peter 3:20
No issues with Noah... You weren't paying attention to what I actually wrote.
In this context, Adam is either the literal name of the first man (if you notice, I never said anything against Adam and Eve being real people) or the representative name of the first people created by God. ("Adam" literally means "man".)
Either the literal name of the first man or the representative name of humankind's legacy.
Either the literal name of the first man or simply a reference to the text of Genesis 2:7. If you notice, the name "Adam" is used metaphorically here to draw a comparison to Christ.
My Bible only has the book of Titus -- how many do you have?
I'm guessing this is the reference to 1 *Timothy* 2;13-14:
It is either the literal name of the first man or simply a reference to an allegorical text. (A text does not have to be literally true to have teaching value -- Jesus used parables to teach spiritual truth. This may be a similar instance.)
Any questions?
[ July 31, 2002, 07:40 PM: Message edited by: Baptist Believer ]