Bible Question:
Dear Forum Members, An interesting question has arisen on the forum recently in multiple posts, which I would like to address directly. We would all agree that it is possible to interpret one part of scripture figuratively and another literally. The question is, "What are the criteria that can be consistently applied to tell the difference?" This is something that creeps into many different threads. It impacts how we interpret the creation story in Genesis, and the end of the world in Revelation. It even affects whether we believe that there was a certain number of soldiers, years, etc, or whether those numbers are figurative to mean something else. |
Bible Answer: "Obvious figures of speech" "In my opinion there is only one legitimate hermeneutic we can use if we seek to know the truth of God's Word. The text must be understood at face value, in its most natural, normal, customary sense, making allowances for obvious figures of speech, its context, and all the other passages of Scripture dealing with the same issue. When in doubt, let Scripture interpret Scripture! Once the common denominator is found that harmonizes all the passages, without contradiction, then we have truth, but not before. And once we have truth, that truth stands in judgment of us; never do we dare stand in judgment of it!" ("The RAPTURE QUESTION Answered: Plain and Simple" by Robert Van Kampen, Fleming H. Revell publishing, 1997.) |