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You feel the bible should be:
A. Taken literally, every word. It is not open to interpretation.
B. Seen as mostly true, some interpretation is needed.
C. Thought of as a basic guidline for how to live. Take what you need and forget the rest.
D. Viewed as a work of fiction. Nothing more.
2007-03-26 12:03:35 · 46 answers · asked by hazydaze 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
C. I take morality lessons wherever I see them, the bible is no different to any other book in this respect.
2007-03-26 12:06:48 · answer #1 · answered by Dharma Nature 7 · 4⤊ 2⤋
None of the above. An alteration to 'A' is needed. See below.
The Bible must be taken literally but each sentence or verse, and even many words, must not be taken out of context; and/or related to things that have been said before and in other books and sections of the same book.
One could say there is a literal false and a literal true available to all; considering hidden parables and the fact that eyes can be held and ears diverted from reading or hearing the word.
Considering the above paragraphs the Bible, God's word, can and must be its own interpreter. Assisted by the Holy Spirit one is guided into all truth.
Some reference to what I am saying is found in St.Paul to Timothy who mentions that even in study one must be "rightly dividing the word of truth."
Consider what can be involved in any verse written by the Holy Spirit through Moses in the Book of Genesis. A given verse or sentence may be history and applied to the day of Moses. It may contain prophecy and also be a statement about the nature and work of Christ Jesus over the past 2,000 years.
As hundreds of years unfold that same verse, still speaks of Christ, but those reading it are seeing a prophecy coming to pass; finding an application for their day in line with the day of Moses and speaking forth yet another prophecy for ages to come.
Such a verse, as mentioned above, has five or six functions but only one interpretation. It stays current in time and speaks a current word. This movement through time is accomplished by prophets. For all its complexity, it is for many uses, such as instruction in godliness, very simple so that even a child can understand.
A. Taken literally precept upon precept and subject to its own interpretation under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
What many seem never to grasp is that the majority of the New Testament is nothing but quotes from the Old Testament. This alone gives some insight into the living word. Finally what people "feel the Bible should be" has nothing to do with it. It is God's word and God's view and not ours.
2007-03-27 02:56:22 · answer #2 · answered by Tommy 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would say none of these - any time you read any book you "interpret" the meaning - you use your experiences, your intellect and all that comes with what you know
so the Bible must be intrepreted but we must interpret it with the mind of the people that were writting and reading it - we must try to find out what a verse meant to them and then what that means to us
I take it as the Word of God so every word was chosen by God for all of us and there are guiding principles within the stories and we must learn what they are and do our best to live it out
is every story in the Bible fact - no - we know that for sure b/c there are parables in the Bible - the exact number of parables are up for debate some say Adam and Eve are others say it is true fact - either way the story has truth in it and we must learn what God wants us to know and then do it
2007-03-27 02:03:55 · answer #3 · answered by servant FM 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
B.
The bible is not an easy read, and some peoples interpretations are downright scary. Where I live I see tons of bumper stickers saying "If it aint King James , it aint Bible" well that is all and all good, but people need to brush up on their history, King James was a lousy leader who really needed something good to come out of his reign so his had the Bible translated.
And think about it for those who like to take every word literally, it has been transcribed by hand for hundreds of years before the printing press was invented, they can't all be the original text, and things get lost in translation.
2007-03-26 12:11:39 · answer #4 · answered by Stephanie 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The bible is completely true in every respect, but it must be translated correctly and taken in context. A person can make the bible to appear to say whatever they want, this is not how the bible should be used. A biblical scholar learns the ancient languages and reads the text taking into consideration the whole work as well as its cultural context.
Biblical study cannot be broken down into a multiple choice question. Sorry.
2007-03-27 01:45:13 · answer #5 · answered by Christopher 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A and 1/2
It is to be taken literally in the history and the doctrine that it teaches. But when dealing with a library of 66 books by multiple authors who each express things through their personalities and their own relationships with God, it takes some "interpreting" - meaning some intelligent and common sense thinking and comparing - to understand parts of it. That is why even the Bible says you have to "study it to rightly divide the word".
It states that it is for "doctrine, reprove, correction and instruction in righteousness." Sometimes you have to study to find out which it is. For example, David's affair should not be taken as a "doctrine" that we should have affairs, but as a "reprove" in that it shows the destruction it caused in his life. So some "interpreting" of the scriptures is needed
The main purpose of the Bible is not present either history or science. Often things are presented in "common language". They say things like "God rules from the rising of the sun to the setting of the sun", when we know from science that the sun does not rise or set, the earth turns. But it is the way normal people would state it in normal speech. The author was not trying to state a "fact" about the movement of the sun, but a "truth" about the rulership of God. In that truth, it is accurate. Again, common sense has to be used when reading the book.
2007-03-27 01:57:19 · answer #6 · answered by dewcoons 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The bible is true as long as you have the most correct interpetation of it.
Some interpetation is needed. You cannot read the bible and understand or fully comprehend its meaning unless you are reading sober and carrying the holy ghost through living the actual word.
Some things in the bible are fullfilled through the coming of the savior that no longer need to be lived but the original 10 commandments still apply.
It is real and there is a way you can get a answer from God.
It says in the bible he who lacks knowledge ask and you shall recieve. There is a catch to that. You need to have intial faith and be trying the best you can to live the word.
In the book of Mormon it says he who reads and asks God if these things are true in the name of Christ God will; manifest it to you through the holy ghost.
I got my answer and thought that was a cool challenge that you cant beat. It is very fair and is true.
www.lds.org
www.mormon.org
I testify there is a true church and a true way to get a answer from God and save you some confusion.
Good luck
2007-03-27 01:43:16 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A. Taken literally, every word. It is not open to interpretation.
However there are parables to help get the point across.
Jesus was smart enough that when He talked to a farmer He uses seeds and farming to help get His point across.
When Jesus talked to fishermen, He said "I will make you fishers of men".
When Jesus talked to homemakers He used bread, "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump". Leaven being like yeast.
When Jesus is talking to you He talks in a language that you can understand when you are still and listening to His voice.
2007-03-27 01:47:48 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
A.
I agree with rocky road.
The Bible was written in Hebrew and Greek and is best understood when studied in those languages. Every translation is flawed because languages are flawed.
example: There are four words in Greek for the one word 'love' in English.
A good place to go to study the Bible is http://www.bible.org which believes in Sola Scriptura which is Latin for 'only scripture'.
Stay away from the LDS which is NOT Sola Scriptura.
2007-03-27 01:56:07 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
E. None of the above.
The Bible is a book that came to us through the Church. It is to be taken in a manner that preserves the original intended meaning, of the original writers and the original author, God.
Not our use and understanding of the words today.
2007-03-27 02:06:47 · answer #10 · answered by Br. Rich OFS 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
E. The absolute true and everlasting word of the Most High God! A guide for what was and what is to come. Instruction manual on how to live my life according to God's plan!
2007-03-26 12:11:59 · answer #11 · answered by Marie 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋