How to read the Bible - - Literally or Figuratively?

Question

I just checked out from the library and finished reading the latest book in the 'Left Behind' series called The Rapture. At the end the authors point out the best way to read the Bible is to read it literal (Even Revelations, Song of Solomon, etc). That is, of course, take the stories, as they are true, and apply the lessons of each story accordingly. I think the authors point out that, first, each person writes their own style, whether fiction or non-fiction, but each person, writes in a literal sense when they write their account of what they saw, even John from Revelations.

Part of my point is, in regard to the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) is that it was not passed down. These were dicipleswho followed Jesus and were there. While it may seems their accounts differ, as I said earlier, everyon'e accounts differ, and peoplewrite differently. Some may write in a chronilogical order, while some may write, in their opinion, according to order of importance, etc.

In the case of Revelation, I also believe it should be taken literal. Remember Revelation was written over 1,900 years ago, and John only wrote what he saw. Some things he saw he did not know what they were, or could not explain them, so often in Revelation he wrote, "It was like..." saw "something" as if..." How can he describe something else for 'technology' and stuff they did not have back then?

Answer 1

The Bible is God's love letter to us. I believe His word true and doesn't change "with the times." The Bible should never be taken out of context or changed to be suited to our needs. It says what it says. I guess that means I'm on the literal side of things. I encourage you anyone who doesn't understand to pray for understanding and revelation when reading scriptures.

Answer 2

Assuming the authors of the Left Behind Series think their stories are the result of taking the Bible literally - they strayed from the course and filled in with conjecture and loose interpretation of scripture and little more than that.

The Bible clearly states there is no pretribulation rapture as just one example. Some of their books suggests its okay for Christians to try and kill the Antichrist as well as the Antichrists men.., again.., this is something more in tune with the Crusades mentality and not with the Christ mentality.

The Bible has to be taken literally - and recognize there are portions that are purely illustration value.., not quite a full fledged "Figurative" line of thought, but close.

The Bible does not illustrate a Trinity - but the Left Behind Author's embrace this Roman Catholic doctrine. These Authors are Baptists, I might add.

You cant weigh the Bible based on someone's fictional adventure books which incorporates an injection of Biblical potentially false interpretation.

Answer 3

When reading the Bible, I would recommend praying about it before actually reading it.

I'd like to suggest reading the book of John first (4th book of the New Testament.) Once you've read it, go to Jude and read each book back to Matthew. When you've got a good handle on the New Testament, then you can begin reading the Old Testament starting with the book of Malachi and read each book back to Genesis.

I know seems an odd way to do it...but give it try before your final answer.

Also, if you like a modern translation, I'd recommend the New Century Version (NCV) - translation. It's awesome and an easy read. The New Living Translation is also a great one!

Happy Reading!

FYI: Matthew and John were apostles that followed Jesus. Mark is believed to be a student of Peter and Luke was a student of Paul.

That's probably why I love the book of John so much...He was there. He walked, talked, prayed and was in Jesus' inner circle of friends.

Answer 4

There are parts that are to be taken literally, and parts that are figurative. The figurative parts are recognized as figurative, such as the Parables of Jesus. The prophecies of Daniel and John are very symbolic. That doesn't mean that we shouldn't take them literally, but symbolically. We can understand what the symbols mean by reading the rest of the Bible. The symbols used by Daniel and John in the Book of Revelation are used and explained elsewhere in the Scriptures. What God uses as a symbol for one thing is used for that same thing throughout the Scriptures. The meaning of the symbol doesn't change, so we can understand literally the symbolic.

Answer 5

Of course, the same could be said for Hunter S. Thompson or Timothy Leary. Just because someone writes in a literal sense doesn't mean that the writing conveys a literal truth.

Furthermore, in the case of the bible, much of it was written down by people based on decades or even centuries of oral tradition. While the letters of Paul were actual letters (I'm not sure why he didn't just IM them), the gospels were taught orally by communities of believers. If you notice, Paul attempts to correct some communities' mistaken beliefs but he never says "as is written in Matthew" (or Mark, or Luke, or John) because they didn't exist. The oral teaching was all there was. It was only when people started to get old and die that they felt the need to write things down. Having been written down by different people in different communities with different oral traditions at different times it is no wonder that the four gospels often don't agree.

Answer 6

That's a hard because there are parts of the bible (2/3rds I'd say) that are to be taken literally, and there are stories and scripture that are not literal but are symbolic.

A book to read is by Jon Revier called Heart on Fire, or any books for that matter. His newest book is the bomb and gives me goose bumps reading t because he is a pro at putting scripture together and explains it to a point that anyone could understand. It's called "Driven by Eternity". Man if you want to learn about god you must by this book

Answer 7

Read it as literal but realise that it also has a spiritual application which we need the Holy Spirit to help us.

Man has failed to be led by the Holy Spirit and has interpreted the Holy Bible as he chose.

2 Peter 1:20 - Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Luke 11:13 - If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Matthew 13:14 - And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

Answer 8

I'm reading a book you might like to get out of the library, Liberating the Gospels: Reading the Bible with Jewish Eyes by John Shelby Spong. The basic point is that the Bible, which was written by Jews, is meant to be taken poetically not literally since that's how Jews write religious books.

Seems pretty convincing to me, see what you think.

Answer 9

Sorry...I believe the Left Behind series is no more than a fictional piece of work loosely...very loosely based on an apocolyptic view...so why would I care how they think I should read the Bible. The most authoritive and knowledgable Bible Scholars will tell you the Bible is a book written as a guide only for believers and is meant to be taken representationally or symbolically.
THE SKEPTICAL CHRISTIAN
GRACE AND PEACE
PEG

Answer 10

I think that we have to understand that while the Word of God is perfect and true, our understanding of it is not. Each of us brings our own interpretations and understandings to the Word. With that in mind I am always careful to remind myself that I will never possibly have perfect knowledge. Only God has that. Reading the Bible literally would be great if we all came to the reading with the same thoughts and backgrounds and knowledge base. But in our humanness we tend to put our own spin on God's perfect Word.