Some parts of the Bible are not literal, correct?

Question

Saying that one part of the Bible is symbolic and another is literal is not a problem - it's just the way it is. And it is inarguable. Here is a figurative/symbolic/metaphorical passage: Solomon 5 12 "His eyes are like doves
by the water streams,
washed in milk,
mounted like jewels." See? That can't possibly be taken literally. There are two similes here. His eyes are like doves. That's figurative. They are not REALLY like doves (with wings and beeks), but they are beautiful like doves are. So there it is - it's out - some portion of the Bible is not literal. The sky is still there, and the sun still shines.

This is the most laughable statement I have ever heard "The literal way to understand a symbolism is as a symbolism." No..... symbolism is figurative. It's not understood literally. "The sky is blue" is understood literally. "Her eyes are as beautiful as a clear blue sky" is understood figuratively as a metaphor. It's not literal at all. Both statements can be true. Or false if it's night and she has ugly eyes.

"And this is big news for you? Wow. How profound." No. It's not big news to me. It appears to be news to a lot of fundamentalist Christians.

"But that's a simile, not a metaphor. "

Right - just as I said. And, similes are figurative, by definition. The author isn't saying the eyes are LITERALLY like a dove (wings, talons, beak). He's saying they are FIGURATIVELY like a dove (beautiful, fluttering, etc.).

Answer 1

The Bible is literal, all of it.
The literal way to understand a symbolism is as a symbolism.

Answer 2

Well then, who determines what parts are literal and what parts are figurative.

With that logic, one could state that the life of Jesus is just figurative and he didn't really rise from the Grave. It is just a metaphor for what God wants us to do. So the way to heaven must be through martyrdom.

Or the laws of the OT are only metaphors for living, therefore the ten commandments are only guidelines and have no effect on salvation. Jesus is the only what to get to heaven. But that doesn't work anymore because the life of Jesus may have been a metaphor as well, so the way to heaven is not through the law, or through Jesus?

The idea that the bible is not literal creates the ability for people to create a plethora of new belief systems, because once again they will be purely defined by emotional interpretations of metaphors.

Who gets to determine what is real and what is symbolic.

That argument can't logically work, it is a last grasp at keeping the faith alive.

Many Christians state that the bible makes metaphors and literal statements cleat. This is true. But that means you can't apply the metaphor statement to the story of creation, which is presented as literal. Creation is rife with things that are non scientific, Christians like to use the Metaphor out as a way to explain that away. One cant.

Answer 3

But that's a simile, not a metaphor. The author has used the word 'like' to indicate that his eyes are not actual doves. The sentence literally means that his eyes are similar to doves, not that they are doves. You're confusing 'literal interpretation' with 'literal interpretation after removing words that indicate comparison'.
A simile, taken literally, means two things are similar. Not identical. Your statement that certain parts of the bible are not meant to be taken literally is obviously correct, I just think you could have chosen a better example.

Answer 4

When something says it is 'like' something such as "His eyes are like doves" it is called a 'simile' and it is symbolic. You should have learned this in your English class in school.

When something says it is such as "God is Spirit" it is literal. This also should have been learned in some English class.

The Bible is clear on what is 'simile', what is 'metaphor', what is a 'hyperbole' and what is 'literal'. Most people who mock the Bible are unclear about these issues; perhaps they were sleeping during their English classes.

Study the Bible at bible.org

Answer 5

Song of Solomon 5:12 is literally accurate. It states that his eyes are LIKE doves. It is does not state that they are doves. Rather that use of the word "like" indicate that what follows is a "picture" or "image". It is then followed by a picture (doves by the water streams). So it is literally accurate in stating that his eyes are LIKE the image which follows.

Answer 6

Wrong! The Bible is the direct word of God and must be taken that way. If it says he's eye were like doves, then they probably had wings and beaks. Even if it goes against all reason, you still must believe it all as it is written. Why would God lie? DON'T argue with the bible or you will die...and burn in hell!!!!! Now send me $10 of your income.

Answer 7

You're right that there are metaphors and similes in the Bible. They're just parts of speech and shouldn't be hard to understand, although lots of people intentionally do so. There are parables and lessons that are related metaphorically so that the principle may be more easily grasped.
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Answer 8

I don't think anyone would seriously argue that all of the Bible is to be taken 'literally' (whatever that means). Everyone accepts that different parts of scripture need to be read in different ways, and that deep and thoughtful reading is required. Certainly all Christians with any theological training understand this. Believing that the Bible is the divinely-inspired word of God does not require us to accept every word of it at its most superficial level.

Answer 9

So which area of modern technology? The area that have been disproved via technology? would desire to I come back in fifty years and notice which area that's everyday as actual as we communicate will nevertheless be everyday as actual the next day?

Answer 10

Not unless you believe that the dragon in Revelation was a literal dragon with a tail many light-years in length.

"His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it." - Rev. 12:4 (ESV)