Is the Bible Literal or Metaphorical?

Question

what are you reasons?

Answer 1

The Bible can really only be either (i) metaphorical, or (ii) wrong, since it is chock full of things easily falsifiable if considered "literal"...

Here's a list of 1078 specific cases of things in the Bible that are absurd if taken literally, but which are fine if one accepts this collection of books as "guidance" rather than "pure fact"...

Answer 2

The Bible is fully both. The scripture is factual. The 6 day creation is true. I saw a scientist from Princeton University explain how from the Big Bang time to the Biblical time frame was a 6 day period for someone traveling at the spreed of light. I really didn't understand the quantum math part but he did and it assured me that both science and scripture match or the science is faulty. A DNA data bank study of European women indicated that they all descended from 7 women, Japeth was one of Noah's sons and he had 7 sons and their wives. They were on Noah's Ark and they went North from the Mountains of Ararat or present day Turkey. the remains of the Ark can be viewed at Wyatt Archaeological web site. The other instances of scientific study show the date or time the Sun stood for a battle Joshua was in, and the suns regression for King Hezekiah.
The Metaphorical part is spiritual truths like many parts of the Sacrificial Laws of the Old Testament foreshadow the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross.

Answer 3

Yes. It's both, to various people.

I believe that Genesis is just one of many creation myths; probably a compilation of a number of them. Much of the Bible is obvious metaphor, such as being swallowed by a whale and somehow surviving. The Revalation is obvious metaphor, as is most prophecy. That's why they are interpreted only after the predicted event takes place; if they were literal, you could know what would happen, rather than having to wait.

So, it's both. The trouble arrives when you try to assume it's all literal.

Answer 4

The Bible is a work of literature as well as the inspired Word of God. And like any other work of literature, it uses certain devices to tell stories and teach doctrine.

The people who wrote the Bible used common literary devices of that time period to keep the reader's interest and make their stories come alive. They used parables, metaphors, hyperbole, and other traditional Oriental story telling methods in their writing. So parts of the Bible are symbolic and/or metaphorical/

The one exception is any time that God gives a commandment or an order. Without any exception that I am aware of, those are meant to be taken literally. Not necessarily all of them apply to us, our time, or our situation, but they were intended to be taken literally by the person to whom or at whom they were directed.

So the answer to your question is, "You need to understand the author's intent in writing a specific passage before you can determine whether it should be taken literally or metaphorically."

Answer 5

Our goal in understanding the Bible is not to prefer either literal meanings or figurative meanings. It is to understand what God intended the words to mean. Sometimes God intended a literal meaning, sometimes a figurative meaning, and occasionally both. We need to explore each context.

Answer 6

Most parts are literal, but some are metaphorical or allegorical

Answer 7

Everything in the Bible is meant to teach a lesson, and you may have a totally different interpretation of it than I do and that is good, Jesus wants that. To each his own. Remember don't take my word or anyone elses word for it, find out for yourself.

Answer 8

Literal. Only with Revelation you are supposed to take figurative first and then literal. I believe the Bible is the Word of Gd and it is our benefit to take it literally and seriously.

Answer 9

Mythical

Answer 10

Its literal