Should the bible be 100% taken literally?

Question

Or 100% symbolically? Or something in between? Please explain.

I understand different people have different perspectives on this - I'm most interested in understanding the why and the reasoning behind the different points of views.

Thanks

Answer 1

no it should not because we have an enemy. he can only read and discern from a literal view.. with the HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD as our guide we can know the mysteries of GOD that he wants us to know.. so how is that? read Proverbs ch 1, JOHN CH 3 AND I Corinthians ch 13..for starters.

Answer 2

THe bible was written as allegory. It's a literary form that is pretty much not appreciated these days, but was well understood in what we refer to as biblical times.

Allegory was used to explain sophisticated concepts to a relatively unsophisticated population. It worked under those circumstances.

These days, though, it is too often taken to be the literal truth. Which is very very strange, particularly when we simply don't know any longer what the original wording was of just about any part of the old or new testaments. There is a school of thought and study called textual criticism, and the point of this field of study is to try to figure out, as best as it possible, the original wordings. But what we today call the bible is full of transcription and translation errors, as well as whole verses and parables that were added later by scribes trying to convince readers of their particular viewpoint. These are fascinating arguements, and you can find an overview of this field, written for the layperson, in a recent book, "Misquoting Jesus : the story of who changed the bible and why", by Bart D Ehrman.

Keep on asking questions. In other words, keep up with the concept of critical thought. It's something that can be very difficult to do within a fundamentalist or evangelical groupthink, but it's a worthwhile way to look at the bible and at the world.

Answer 3

I think it should not be taken 100% literally. Some things are straightforward, and it was clear that when they were written, they were speaking literally. But other things can have deep meanings as allegories, and in fact, convey greater meaning as an allegory than as a literal account.

For example, the creation story to me makes more sense as an allegory, but if taken literally, it presents problems. There are 2 juxtaposed creation stories at the beginning of Genesis, and they are not naturally reconcilable. But if taken as allegory, many great meanings occur to the reader. For example, one notices that in the first story, God is very majestic, totally Other than human beings, and transcendent. Yet in the second story, He is like a man walking around down on the earth. Instead of merely commanding things into existence, He picks up the dirt of the ground and forms a man. These 2 stories, which might seem to oppose each other, tell us 2 truths about God. First, He is transcendent. and second, He is also imminent. Both are true allegorically.

Just as Jesus told parables, the Bible tells things in allegory.

Answer 4

We all see things with different eyes and at different stages of truth. Hence different points of view, and noone really can say they know their belief system is 100% correct. We all have to do the best we can with the information that we have.

Only in the search for truth. can my soul be stilled and the flame within be quenched.
THOTH

should the bible be taken literally? Paul and emperor Constintine
decided what should go into the bible. The question should be what were their motives?

Answer 5

Well, actually no!

The reason is simple as you look at the Scriptures themselves.

Take a look at Revelation, for instance:

s angel and presented [it] in signs through him to his slave John" -Revelation 1:1

Also, consider when in the Book of Daniel there was mentioned certain animals. Then, what they meant was told:

“The ram that you saw possessing the two horns [stands for] the kings of Me′di·a and Persia. And the hairy he-goat [stands for] the king of Greece" - Daniel 8:20-21

Now, also of note is that ones were spoken of 'roving about' in God's Word and what would happen then??

“And as for you, O Daniel, make secret the words and seal up the book, until the time of [the] end. Many will rove about, and the [true] knowledge will become abundant.” -Daniel 12:4

So, as time goes on the sybolism would be understood better and better such as is described at Proverbs 4:18 below.

"But the path of the righteous ones is like the bright light that is getting lighter and lighter until the day is firmly established."

Answer 6

The Bible needs to be read in context, and with an understanding of the cultural backgrounds. With that in mind, some parts are stories, meant to teach lessons, some parts are visions or parables, and still other parts are instruction for behavior or doctrine.

Some of what God said was meant for particular individuals, and not necessarily for all time. But when God gives instruction that is meant for all time, not just a particular period in history, is is to be taken literally even now.

Answer 7

The bible was written about 1800-2000 years ago. Lives and cultures were Very different then. As with much of life, I take the parts that are good, right, legal and moral for ME and leave the rest. The thinkers will be talking about this one when my grandchildren are old and gray. It is up to me to find the right way of living and therein lies happiness. To be slavish to something written that long ago by mere humans means you are shutting down your mind. Obviously, you are not doing that.

Answer 8

I think it should be somewhere in between. There are some things in the Bible that are symbolic of others or symbols of something. But a lot of it is alos literal. A lot of times people try to interpret some of the things in the Bible too much and they miss what God is really trying to say there.

Answer 9

The Bible should be taken first and upmost In your life and God will do the rest.

In my life I believed In the scripture that If a man dosnt work he shall not eat,I worked and I was disabled and I let that scripture beat me up,I judged people wich was my sin that didnt work,I always believed that there was a job for everyone.

I had to repent,I had to let God change my heart and this Is called growth,so my answer Is the word of God never changes but we do.

Dont let legalism get In your way,remember he Is the God of grace and mercy and died for my sin

Answer 10

No...simply because the Bible as it was being translated by King James, had lots of stories added to it, by order of the king himself. He only did this to become famous, like just being the one to translate the Scriptures wouldnt be enough to make one famous. If you want to check out if what I am saying is true, learn the ancient Hebrew language and compare both books yourself.