Results 1 - 6 of 6
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | How literal is the Bible? | Bible general Archive 2 | Reighnskye | 135691 | ||
Intrinsic perhaps with the belief of a literal millennial reign of Christ would also be the idea of a literal physical and bodily return of Christ to this earth. Similar also to Christ's literal resurrection of the dead. (As opposed to symbolical). Indeed, the first three chapters of the book of Genesis are very similar in writing style to the book of revelation. This similarity stands out with the depictions in each book (Genesis and Revelation) of a Tree of Life that was once in the Garden of Eden and then resurfaces in the New Jerusalem, which descends from heaven to earth. I might ask what exactly in the bible should we take literally versus symbolically? The millennial reign of Christ? The Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden or the heavenly New Jerusalem? The miracle healings of Christ and the bodily resurrections that He performed on others? The physical bodily resurrection of Christ Himself? The ascension into heaven and therefore bodily return of Christ? I suggest that each of these things are intricately interrelated. But are they physically literal or merely symbolic? I suppose if we had the power to make our dreams into physical realities with mere thought, like immortals probably do, we could manifest many of these things ourselves. But alas, we are mortals and will likely remain so, as the majority of our fallen species ever has. What do we know of such wonders, but what we read? - Blessings, Reighnskye |
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2 | How literal is the Bible? | Bible general Archive 2 | DocTrinsograce | 135701 | ||
The narratives of scripture are literal narratives. The poems of scripture are literal poetry. The didactic writings of scripture are literal teachings. The prophecies of scripture are literal prophecies. How else do you read anything? Literalism merely takes the intent of the author into account as a document is interpreted. | ||||||
3 | How literal is the Bible? | Bible general Archive 2 | Hank | 135729 | ||
Interpretation has become synonymous with mere opinion. Responsible interpretation is based on exegesis but never on uninformed, subjective opinion. One hears the expression, "This passage of Scripture means so and so TO ME," thus implying that the passage has no intrinsic meaning but means whatever the reader wants it to mean. If the reader chooses to believe Darwin instead of God, he calls the creation account a myth. If he finds the account of Jonah a fish story too big for him to swallow, he calls it an allegory. If he is uncomfortable with the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, he calls the gospel account symbolism. If he finds the Bible's laws against immorality too challenging to his lifestyle, he calls them applicable to the culture that existed at the time of their writing but inapplicable to our culture and our time. ...... Last week I had a discussion on Bible inerrancy with an ordained pastor of a so-called mainline denominaion. The man was a pro-choicer (meaning he endorsed the brutal murder of unborn children) and a gay-rights advocate. I asked him the meaning of the sixth Commandment, "You shall not murder" (Exodus 20:13). I was told that it pertained to the taking of human life, not the surgical procedure performed on a fetus. ..... Then I asked him what was the meaning of Scripture's condemnation of homosexuality in such passages as 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 1 Timothy 1:10. What this man told me was shocking. This man who stands in the pulpit with the responsibility to shepherd his flock told me that Paul was simply writing letters giving his opinions, and that he (Paul) had absolutly no idea that we would be reading his letters today and calling them Scripture. I walked away heavy of heart. I already knew that some churches have sunk to apostasy and fallen away, but, Doc and other Forum brothers and sisters in Christ, I had no idea of the depth of the fall. Pray that they will repent and turn to God. May God have mercy on them and us. --Hank | ||||||
4 | How literal is the Bible? | Bible general Archive 2 | DocTrinsograce | 135736 | ||
Thank you, Hank. You always hit the nail on the head! When I use the term interpretation, I use it in the 1 Peter 1:20 sense. This question of "literalism" always bothers me. People treat you like you're ignorant for taking the scripture at face value. I wonder how far our legal system would get if we didn't use proper hermeneutics in the interpretation of secular documents? | ||||||
5 | How literal is the Bible? | Bible general Archive 2 | Hank | 135742 | ||
Well, Doc, I believe the Roe v. Wade decision tells us something about how far afield a court can go when it does not use proper hermeneutics in the interpretation of the Constitution of the United States. Ditto for the "separation of church and state" fiasco, wherein the courts are cramming down the people's throats rulings based on a flawed interpretation of the term "separation of church and state." What makes it even more absurd is that the term "separation of church and state" is not to be found in the Constitution. ...... The majority of the American people believe abortion is wrong. The majority of the nation's lawmakers in Congress believe it is wrong, or at least they say they do. Roe v. Wade carried by a 5-4 decision of the U. S. Supreme Court. Some 40 million unborn babies in this country have been brutally murdered as the direct result of the decision handed down to 300 million people by 5 people. Forty million babies have been murdered, not by the will of the majority of the people, not by the will of the majority of the legislators, but by the will of five people, the majority of the nine-member Supreme Court of the United States. We are in big trouble. This is not the way this republic was designed to be governed. The framers of the Constitution never intended (or dreamed) that this nation would be ruled by an oligarchy of nine activist judges wearing black robes, legislating from the bench -- not interpreting the law but making the law. --Hank | ||||||
6 | How literal is the Bible? | Bible general Archive 2 | DocTrinsograce | 136231 | ||
Hi, Hank... I haven't had much time to respond to posts now that I have my studies on top of all my other stuff to do! However, I noticed something recently. I was reading about Saint Jerome. Apparently, soon after he saw Rome sacked by barbarians, he wrote, "Quid salvum est si Roma perit?" Which means "Where is safety if Rome perishes?" Then he wandered off to become a hermit. I have to admit to being so conservative I have a tough time making left hand turns! But as I thought about Jerome, I wondered if he hadn't placed too much confidence in worldly kingdoms. As much as I love the United States of America, I must recognize that it will ultimately disappear. There is no gaurantee in scripture that nations will last forever. Fortunately, our confidence is in One Who cannot fail, not in nations or ideologies. That said, I hope everyone on the forum does their Christian duty and gets out and votes Tuesday! |
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