1. Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

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

Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by JesusFan, Jun 7, 2011.

  1. JesusFan

    JesusFan Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2011
    Messages:
    8,913
    Likes Received:
    240
    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?
     
  2. preachinjesus

    preachinjesus Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2004
    Messages:
    7,406
    Likes Received:
    101
    How do you define literally?

    Sounds silly, but it is important.
     
  3. JesusFan

    JesusFan Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2011
    Messages:
    8,913
    Likes Received:
    240
    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!
     
  4. webdog

    webdog Active Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2005
    Messages:
    24,696
    Likes Received:
    2
    It should always be viewed in context first and foremost. This will determine if it is to be taken literally or not.
     
  5. JesusFan

    JesusFan Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2011
    Messages:
    8,913
    Likes Received:
    240
    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!
     
  6. glfredrick

    glfredrick New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 5, 2010
    Messages:
    4,996
    Likes Received:
    2
    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.).
     
  7. JesusFan

    JesusFan Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2011
    Messages:
    8,913
    Likes Received:
    240
    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!
     
  8. revmwc

    revmwc Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2011
    Messages:
    4,139
    Likes Received:
    86
    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.
     
  9. Sularis

    Sularis Member

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2000
    Messages:
    943
    Likes Received:
    0
    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
     
  10. Winman

    Winman Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2009
    Messages:
    14,768
    Likes Received:
    2
    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:
     
  11. Tom Butler

    Tom Butler New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 20, 2005
    Messages:
    9,031
    Likes Received:
    2
    This reminds me of the Family Feud game show, when the contestants will shout, "Good answer, good answer."
     
  12. jbh28

    jbh28 Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2008
    Messages:
    3,761
    Likes Received:
    2
    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.
     
  13. DiamondLady

    DiamondLady New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2011
    Messages:
    808
    Likes Received:
    0
    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!
     
  14. JesusFan

    JesusFan Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2011
    Messages:
    8,913
    Likes Received:
    240
    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!
     
Loading...