How do christians no what parts of the bible to take literally and which are metaphors?

Question

How do they know if they are reading the metaphors correctly?

Answer 1

Some are called..some are not.
All wisdom comes from God.

Answer 2

Honestly, I can't be sure that I'm interpreting the Bible correctly. But I use my personal experiences with God and common sense to help me out.

For example, I'm a Christian, so I do my best to base my life around the words and actions of Jesus Christ. However, I also know that Jesus taught lessons in parables ... so I can only make the assumption that God would teach in a similar way.

Obviously, the story of Genesis was simplified .... but its not really important whether or not man evolved or if God shaped us from dirt ... whats important is that God made everything. Also, the story of Noah's Ark is obviously a metaphor, because it has so many metaphoric elements -- water is a famous symbol for cleansing and represents that something can be cleansed and remain intact. Its not important whether or not there was actually a big boat with every species of animal on it ... whats important is the lesson behind the story: that obedience to God, even in the face of ridicule, will result in blessings.

I can't know for sure that I'm correct, but I think that its more important that we get the message right -- to love God, and to love our neighbors as ourselves -- instead of arguing over the details.

Answer 3

The bible usually explains itself. A strongs concordance will help explain those symbolic parts of the bible for example:


The word waters here is presented in a symbolic meaning.

Revelation 17
1And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will show unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:




Later the bible explains the meaning of waters:

REV 17V
15And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

When I first read Revelation all the way through I knew I was reading something way beyond my initial understanding and that I would have to read and study it more in order to get the full message.

Have patience there are many secrets that God has revealed to those who love the truth.

Answer 4

impressive which you could't get an answer. that's effortless. The bible tells that are basically illustrations and that are literal. working example: if Jesus grow to be talking in effortless terms to his disciples, regularly it is going to likely be literal. If he spoke in the previous a crowd, it grow to be consistently with illustrations. "34 numerous those issues Jesus spoke to the crowds by utilising illustrations. certainly, without an illustration he would not talk to them; 35 that there could be fulfilled what grow to be spoken throughout the prophet who pronounced: “i'm going to open my mouth with illustrations, i'm going to submit issues hidden because of the fact the founding.” (Matt. 13:34-35 see additionally playstation . seventy 8:2) This grow to be to skinny out the riffraff from the relatively fascinated. those desirous to understand might return and ask for the which ability and Jesus might gain this. Revelation is extra often than not all illustrations for the destiny, that's as we talk. the motives for numerous those issues might nicely be got here across in the others books of the Bible, extraordinarily Isaiah and Daniel. The advent account is literal, no longer in effortless terms because of the fact it describes God's advent, yet Jesus spoke of Adam as a real guy or woman. At Matthew 19:5, Jesus expenditures his Father's words in Genesis 2:24 with regard to the 1st marriage of Adam & Eve. In Luke 3, Luke strains the kinfolk line of Jesus decrease back to Adam and to God. Romans 5:12 lays the duty for humanity inheriting sin and death because of Adam on my own. those references have been made because of the advent account with Adam & Eve being real, no longer any representation or fantasy.

Answer 5

They do what they all do.

It's a metaphor if it is in line with their own ideas for it to be so and it can be contrived into something useful for them. And it is literal when it is convenient for it to be, which is especially true when it speaks of 'sins' that someone else is committing that they do not, would not, or simply agree to be 'sin' because it doesn't apply to their lives. Homosexuality, for example, fits that same criteria.

So it's really just a matter of convenience for them.

Answer 6

We don't know it all right now. Some things we know because the Bible makes it clear, other things will not become clear until the actual fulfillment of the prophecy or the return of Christ. Paul said that it's like looking through a dark glass, we know some things and others are reveled through prophecy. But when Christ returns there will be no need for prophecy because he will reveal all things to us. The most important thing for you to know is that Christ gave his life to take away the sins of the world. Let that be your foundation.

Answer 7

Because the parts they agree with they take literally and the parts they don't agree with are metaphors. Easy.

Answer 8

All Scripture was canonized ("approved") by the Church. Scripture belongs to the Church. Taking the Scriptures outside of the context of the Church (The Body of Christ) is not proper.

Inside of the Traditions and context of the Church - we have the Doctors of the Church - the Apostolic Fathers who studied and wrote commentary from the very beginning.

We see Scripture properly only through the eyes of those who came before us and upon whose shoulders we stand - the fathers of the Church. Tradition...and Holy Reason.

Answer 9

I think Jesus is a metaphor but Christians seem to think otherwise...

Answer 10

A good rule might be,.......

If it will end up with me in jail, it has to be a metaphor.

Or if it is proven incorrect, I will add it to the ever growing metaphor list that began with Galileo

Answer 11

Its like reading a book, usually you can tell when its supposed to be a metaphor or not. If youre not sure you can always ask someone at church.