So confused: am I to take the Bible literally or not?

[BePor]

Hi everyone, I'm a long time lurker and always enjoyed this forum. I've learn a lot as a Born Again.

My question to everyone is, is the Word of God written in the Bible to be taken literally or not? I know that's an odd question in a Christian site, but I was told by members of my church that I should take things symbolically rather than literally.

Now that really confuses me. I would think all that is written is to be taken as the word of God as written.

Should I look for another church? This has been told to me not only by the members but from the pastor as well.

Thanks for any advise.

 

[Strypes]

2 timothy 3:16-17


Some passages are symbolic, like Jesus' parables, but they reveal truths that are very real. Understanding the Bible and wether or not a particular passage is to be taken literally is dependant on The Holy Spirit. For without Him, it is just a book.

 

[jiggyfly]

Hi everyone, I'm a long time lurker and always enjoyed this forum. I've learn a lot as a Born Again.

My question to everyone is, is the Word of God written in the Bible to be taken literally or not? I know that's an odd question in a Christian site, but I was told by members of my church that I should take things symbolically rather than literally.

Now that really confuses me. I would think all that is written is to be taken as the word of God as written.

Should I look for another church? This has been told to me not only by the members but from the pastor as well.

Thanks for any advise.

Yes and no, the bible is a compilation of books, letters, and poems comprised in many different fashions and employed different writing techniques. Some are literal and some are symbolic, some are factual and some are allegory.

Rely on HolySpirit to teach you and lead you into Truth.

 

[jeffsi435]

Hi everyone, I'm a long time lurker and always enjoyed this forum. I've learn a lot as a Born Again.

My question to everyone is, is the Word of God written in the Bible to be taken literally or not? I know that's an odd question in a Christian site, but I was told by members of my church that I should take things symbolically rather than literally.

Now that really confuses me. I would think all that is written is to be taken as the word of God as written.

Should I look for another church? This has been told to me not only by the members but from the pastor as well.

Thanks for any advise.

I'm wondering if there is a particular scripture passage that you were dealing with about this? Like others have said, I think some are symbolic and some are to be taken literally.

 

[Christ4Ever]

Hi everyone, I'm a long time lurker and always enjoyed this forum. I've learn a lot as a Born Again.

My question to everyone is, is the Word of God written in the Bible to be taken literally or not? I know that's an odd question in a Christian site, but I was told by members of my church that I should take things symbolically rather than literally.

Now that really confuses me. I would think all that is written is to be taken as the word of God as written.

Should I look for another church? This has been told to me not only by the members but from the pastor as well.

Thanks for any advise.

BePor;
Jesus and Paul affirm that Adam and Eve were literal, historic figures (Matthew 19:4; 1 Timothy 2:14-15). This is but one example of scriptural truth being literal by acknowledging the accuracy of the Old Testament noted in Genesis. Paul in Heb 11:7 speaks of Noah as fact. As you've found out, some churches have a tendency to say "not literal" because for whatever reason they’re tired of trying to answer questions, "they" have no answer to and have no time to dedicate to finding out. Instead of answering, “I don't know” that particular answer, let’s get together pray & study and see what we can find out about that particular part. It's become easier, to say, "don't take it literal" or "it's symbolic, an analogy, or it’s a parable" and not to be taken literally. People are also ridiculed for being simple minded in accepting the literal truth of scripture. Speaking for myself, BePor hold true to scripture even if "any" church you attend would deny it's literal truth or the truth of the gospel! Remember Gal 1:8 that truth of the Gospel that you’ve heard and believed in. Paul felt so strong in this that he repeated in the next verse, which you don’t see often in scripture. If I believe that Jesus believed in the literal truth of scripture, and that being the case; regardless of who were to come to me and attempt to make a case for it not being so, regardless of how eloquent or educated that person maybe, I’d have to pray for them, but cast aside their teachings and if need be there church. The need to you to study and continue to grow in His word is vital. That you’ve written this post shows that you sense that there was something wrong in what you had heard from the leaders of your church in response to your questions and concerned enough to ask others. Continue to pray and study and know that you’ve done well in posting here, because you have brothers and sisters here who truly have a love for God and the truth His word conveys in scripture.

 

[stephen]

Hi everyone, I'm a long time lurker and always enjoyed this forum. I've learn a lot as a Born Again.

My question to everyone is, is the Word of God written in the Bible to be taken literally or not? I know that's an odd question in a Christian site, but I was told by members of my church that I should take things symbolically rather than literally.

Now that really confuses me. I would think all that is written is to be taken as the word of God as written.

Should I look for another church? This has been told to me not only by the members but from the pastor as well.

Thanks for any advise.

Dear Friend and Brother in Jesus, looking at your profile I see that you have been a follower of Jesus for over 20 years.

Excellent. And well done. Though my commendation matters not, and will pale away as you receive that greater commendation in the future.

I would suggest that you always take the bible literally... as fact. Particularly the words of Jesus. The words of Jesus are life giving.

Considering what you say I would move to a Fellowship that has the 'life' Jesus promised to all who would follow Him. Jn.10.10

You are loosing out on so much joy and blessing, and life is short.

Go where you can be 'fed' and 'blessed' in Jesus and His word.

I am praying for you.

 

[Brighthouse]

Amen Stephen there are many who twist the Word to fit,there opinion of it,here is always something to remember!! 1 Cor 14:33 where there is confusion GOD is never the author of it!

 

[RJ]

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13, that when we die, our imperfection goes away and our perfection will come and though we only can know now in part, then we will know fully , as well as God knows us. I believe with all my heart and coupled with the fact that it is impossible to know all of God's ways, when our perfection comes, I have no doubt that we will discover that God's word was His absolute and infallible truth and fits together like a perfect puzzle!


Psalm 18:30
30 As for God, his way is perfect:
The LORD’s word is flawless;
he shields all who take refuge in him.

 

[David777]

Tips for reading the Bible.

Concentrate initially on the New Testament. The New testament is a series of letters written by those who were with Jesus Christ or who had contact with direct eye witnesses.

At a deeper level in answering your question, the more you read the New Testament the more you will see. At some stage the Holy Spirit will take over, then the New Testament will start to breath.

When the New Testament starts to breath, you will notice what you are reading becomes active in your life. Jesus Christ will give you a call via the Holy Spirit.

I would not worry at this stage too much about what should be read as literal or not.

Just read and believe and the best tutor you can imagine will do the rest. This is how God whom is the real author, decided that it should be this way.

Don't rely too much on human direction in regards to how the Bible should be read. Unless of course you implicitly trust the person giving the advice. Let God do what He does perfectly.

By the way, enjoy the experience of reading about the most remarkable and the only real event in human history!

 

[Maureen]

I would suggest that you always take the bible literally... as fact. Particularly the words of Jesus. The words of Jesus are life giving.

Considering what you say I would move to a Fellowship that has the 'life' Jesus promised to all who would follow Him. Jn.10.10

You are loosing out on so much joy and blessing, and life is short.

Go where you can be 'fed' and 'blessed' in Jesus and His word.

I am praying for you.

I would like to add my Amen to what you've said here brother so Amen.

 

[Iceman]

There are of course some times when it is impossible to take Scripture literally. For example, the beatitudes were given on either a hill, or on the plains. Different gospel accounts record it differently. The anointing at Bethany, either Jesus head was anointed, or his feet. Again, the accounts differ. In Joshua, regardless of whether or not you think time stood still, a literal reading means that the sun stopped moving. Of course we know today that it is not the sun, but the earth that moves. Did Jesus' ministry last one year? or three?
Revelation is of course written in apocalypticism. Paul's letters use rhetoric, and so on and so forth.

Things that should change how you read the Bible are scattered throughout the text so thickly it's impossible to do any real Bible study and not see them.

Indeed the translations themselves can cause problems. For example, in one scene the word love crops up three times, but mean different things. I'm sure most Christianis know these days that Greek has different words for love, but in english all are translated to love. So much can be lost there, and a literal reading of the english may not only lose the meaning, but actually distort it so much that the meaning becomes the opposite of what scripture is trying to say.

Truth comes from Scripture, but it must come from the context of what the Scripture is. Not in the context we choose to build around it.

 

[RJ]

Hi everyone, I'm a long time lurker and always enjoyed this forum. I've learn a lot as a Born Again.

My question to everyone is, is the Word of God written in the Bible to be taken literally or not? I know that's an odd question in a Christian site, but I was told by members of my church that I should take things symbolically rather than literally.

Now that really confuses me. I would think all that is written is to be taken as the word of God as written.

Should I look for another church? This has been told to me not only by the members but from the pastor as well.

Thanks for any advise.

Just do what you think you are being led to do. If what the members and the Pastor tells you is bothersome, I would leave, but that is just me. You know, you don't have to agree with them and maybe God has you there for a purpose. If and when it is time for you to go, you will know!
I don't understand how this all works exactly, but I know that the Bible is the infallible word of God just because he says it is!...It goes directly back to that "all important" faith.
Just read God's word and let the Holy Spirit tell you. I have read the same passage many, many times before it popped out at me and I instantly knew it was right. Now, that's God's timing, not mine!
I tell you this, if it fits into all the other truths you have learned thus far and it's outcome is positive, then you are either right or very close.

Also, we must under stand that the language of that day was much more complex than what we have today and there will be words and passages that have a different meaning but it should still support God's truths. You see there, I am trying to put God in a bottle and define him because the word is God and Gos is the word and we simply can not put it all together.....back to faith again!

I know this, some day when I perfection comes, we will find that all of the Bible has fit together like a finely made puzzle.

 

[Dave M]

Ok do you take this one literally or not?? I say yes all the way for sure. what say you??.

English Standard Version
If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.

 

[B-A-C]

For me.. Its usually both. Almost always when a metaphorical or symbolic patable is given. It has some practical real life application.

In Revelation it talks about the dragon making war with the saints. I havent run across too many dragons so I have to take this as symbolic language.

But I have run across weeds in a wheat field and bad fish in a net. I've been guilty of burying my talents and not investing them. For me, these scriptures are both spiritual and practical.

 

[B-A-C]

Ok do you take this one literally or not?? I say yes all the way for sure. what say you??.

English Standard Version
If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.

Again.. both for me.
There is some grace here. If you are struggling with lust (say pornography for example).
You need to overcome it one way or another. God hasn't called us to do anything that He
hasn't given us the ability to do. What God is saying here, you really need to quit doing this.

On the other hand, if after several years of struggling , you have not been able to overcome this... maybe it's time
to take some drastic steps. Is it better to lose a part of the body for a short while, or lose your soul for eternity?

 

[Dave M]

a little common sense is always a good thing

 

[RJ]

Rest assured that your sin must be atoned for. If you are truly "Born Again", with Christ in you, you will understand more fully. If you take this one verse and say, self-mutilation is proper, then you don't understand that God does not encourage one sin over another. Christ died for your all of your sins. God does not require you to physically die for your sin or literally hurt yourself, but to spiritually die to your sin, meaning, if you accept Jesus Christ as your personal savior, then you receive the gift of salvation, where by, Jesus paid the penalty. Jesus said: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.] 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5-27,28
If you believe in the literal "plucking out of the eye" verse, then how can you, in the incident of this form of adultery, pluck out the one eye , with out plucking out the other, it makes no sense. What makes sense, is that we sin in ways we don't even understand and the truth and you answer to this deli-ma, is to, in earnest ask Jesus to come into your heart and receive his forgiveness, for which he has already provided.

 

[Bendito]

Rest assured that your sin must be atoned for. If you are truly "Born Again", with Christ in you, you will understand more fully. If you take this one verse and say, self-mutilation is proper, then you don't understand that God does not encourage one sin over another. Christ died for your all of your sins. God does not require you to physically die for your sin or literally hurt yourself, but to spiritually die to your sin, meaning, if you accept Jesus Christ as your personal savior, then you receive the gift of salvation, where by, Jesus paid the penalty. Jesus said: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.] 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5-27,28
If you believe in the literal "plucking out of the eye" verse, then how can you, in the incident of this form of adultery, pluck out the one eye , with out plucking out the other, it makes no sense. What makes sense, is that we sin in ways we don't even understand and the truth and you answer to this deli-ma, is to, in earnest ask Jesus to come into your heart and receive his forgiveness, for which he has already provided.

Not a bad answer....Probably not written as clearly as you would want. But not bad.
Look. God says "
Romans 6:1-3 (KJV)
6 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

As you said RJ, when we were born again we died, then we were raised up sinless... We died and now we are dead to sin....We were children of the devil until we died..We are reborn with a new father. We are now children of the Most High God. What do we have to do with sin? That was another life, another person. Now that's cool!
Ok Now?
John 8:34-35 (CJB)
34 Yeshua answered them, “Yes, indeed! I tell you that everyone who practices sin is a slave of sin. 35 Now a slave does not remain with a family forever, but a son does remain with it forever.

Sin is a problem for Christians when they practice it.. Stop practicing sin and start practicing being victorious in Christ. Practice walking in Love, in the anointing wherewith you are anointed.

 

[Bendito]

Not a bad answer....Probably not written as clearly as you would want. But not bad.
Look. God says "
Romans 6:1-3 (KJV)
6 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

As you said RJ, when we were born again we died, then we were raised up sinless... We died and now we are dead to sin....We were children of the devil until we died..We are reborn with a new father. We are now children of the Most High God. What do we have to do with sin? That was another life, another person. Now that's cool!
Ok Now?
John 8:34-35 (CJB)
34 Yeshua answered them, “Yes, indeed! I tell you that everyone who practices sin is a slave of sin. 35 Now a slave does not remain with a family forever, but a son does remain with it forever.

Sin is a problem for Christians when they practice it.. Stop practicing sin and start practicing being victorious in Christ. Practice walking in Love, in the anointing wherewith you are anointed.

So many Christians would answer that all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God. but guess what? That's true of you...LOL Then you died! Now you walk in Love. Now you walk in the anointing wherewith you are anointed and you do not sin.
1 John 3:5-7 (CJB)
5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and that there is no sin in him. 6 So no one who remains united with him continues sinning; everyone who does continue sinning has neither seen him nor known him.

7 Children, don’t let anyone deceive you — it is the person that keeps on doing what is right who is righteous, just as God is righteous.
You cannot walk in righteousness and sin at the same time.
Instead of plucking out your eyes (ugh Painful and messy) why not simply walk in Love?

 

[RJ]

As you said RJ, when we were born again we died, then we were raised up sinless
I said no such thing. I said you must be born again to understand any of this. Being born again means you have received God's free eternal gift of forgiveness. You are still sinful, not sinless, but now: Romans 8: 1 . Now, there is no condemnation for those in Christ. The Bible says you are dead to sin (this means spiritually and eternal)...meaning there is no condemnation....condemnation from what?...condemnation when you do sin.