Jesus taught by parables, stories; Parables are not literal; So why believe in the literal word of the Bible?

Question

All words have meanings, and most words have several meanings if not many meanings. So why is anyone so absolutely sure of what most of the sentences in the Bible actually mean? If those who us the word literal actually mean reading the Bible by understanding some exact meaning of the words, then who gets to pick and choose what words really mean that are in the Bible.
If on the other hand a person decides on there own what passages in the Bible mean, then I have no argument in that case. But if you were taught in church what the passages mean, that which someone else says is the meaning, they have a right to that opinion. But like any opinion, it is not a universally accepted meaning of those words. So maybe you should stop preaching for a minute or two based on some preacher opinion.
After all, one of Jesus's main ideas is that a person can and should have a personal relationship with God. In other words, you don't need a church or a preacher to tell you the story of Jesus.

Answer 1

Excellent point. Jesus never says what Heaven or Faith are, he only says they are “like” or “can be compared to” but then the folklore and superstition take over...

Answer 2

First of all parables are a figure of speech, and the literal way to translate or interpret a parable is as a parable. Literalness in no way insinuates that you do not ever use a symbol or a parable or a simile or a metaphor or a type or an analogy or an allegory or any other type of symbolism. Everyone who writes a book uses symbolism to some extent. We use it when we talk to one another and it is a common practice of language. So there is no reason to deny the Bible the right to use symbolism.
As far as interpretation of the Bible Jesus promised before he left this earth that he would send the Holy Spirit who would be a spiritual teacher and guide us into the truth. Without the Spirit of God living within you you would not have the ability to understand the Bible correctly, but with the Holy Spirit living within you, you have a guide to help you interpret and understand the scriptures.
In the church there are people with different ministries such as teachers and God gives them the ability through study of the Bible which we are told to do, to put scriptures together and bring understanding to the Bible. What they say is not infallible but it certainly is a help in giving understanding to those who are listening, especially those who have not studied the Bible very much themselves.

Answer 3

Andre M has his "facts" wrong. There is no truth in what he says. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were members of Jesus' inner circle. They were eyewitnesses, they wrote it down not too long after Jesus left.

I have recently started to wonder if other stories are parables. But I do know that all the stories show a truth about life. Like if you try to have more than one wife, they will fight with each other. That's a common one in the OT. The Israelites take it as history, and some of it may be, or all of it may be. I don't find that question to be worth a lot of my time. What really matters is how I understand the principles laid out in the Bible and how I apply them to my life. The Holy Spirit is here to help us to see those principles and see their relevance to our lives today.

Anyone can take a passage and make it sound like whatever they want it to say. The only true interpretations are those that take into account the whole Bible. What is the big picture? what are the principles of Jesus?? How does each passage work into the big picture?

Answer 4

The bible says fellowship with each other. The reason we need a pastor is a good pastor has studied the word and may understand more than others as God has given him wisdom. The whole bible is not written in parables, and Jesus later explained what all the parables meant. As far as different things have different meanings, that is true. Thats why you cross reference anything you might question. You should be able to find several references to any subject in totally different parts of the bible to make sure you have the right answer to a question.

Answer 5

A parable is used to make something clearer. If a person is having a hard time understanding what the speaker is saying the speaker might say "Let me give you an example" or they might say "In other words" then give the information in another fashion that might be easier to understand. The Bible was originally written in the Hebrew and Greek languages. Sometime when words are interpreted from one language to another, the meaning isn't quite as clear. Interrupting something from Hebrew and Greek into English may have this problem. People not only heard what Jesus said, they SAW what He did too Seeing is believing. They saw Him die for our sins and then raise from the dead defeating death ans Satan on our behalf.

Answer 6

Look at the dreams in the Bible.

If you use current dream interpretation, the answers you get are radically different than the interpretations given in the Bible.

So, the same is true of Jesus "words". They must be interpreted through the correct filter. Do you know what this "filter" is?

So in the end, you get to have an opinion, and so does everyone else, (this accounts for free will), but there is only one judge for what the Bible truly means.

Same person who doubles as the filter.

Enjoy

Answer 7

It is indeed true that the Truth shall set you free, but first it will obliterate you; the conceptual 'you' that you believe yourself to be. Truth is not ego-friendly, but it is Love. If it is allowed, it will bring the strongest man to his knees, rip the darkness from his heart, and leave him sobbing like a baby. It's the greatest adventure on Earth, but it is not for the weak of mind or heart.

What all but the tiniest portion of humanity is searching for is not Truth, but solace. Any port in a storm will do, and religious doctrine offers one the assurance that they will be loved and cared for, and be saved if they will only follow some simple rules. As an added bonus, there is often the benefit of self righteousness.

This is neither good nor bad, and no judgment is necessary. We all are doing the best we can and the time will come for each of us when the longing to know our true Self overwhelms our need to feel safe, and then the adventure begins.

In any event, Truth is not, and never has been, the issue in traditional, mainstream religion.

Answer 8

Nevertheless of how Jesus tought we all know what he did as an example and a blue print for us to live our life's. No sometimes it is hard to always do everything like Jesus did, since he was the perfect man. But we can sure try and being in a church does not make us who we are in God's eyes. But it does give us direction, which is how Jesus tried to tech us to live through parables. We just have to find the best place to worship because, if you or me, anyone are not excepted or not happy in there church then it is of no use to you or anyone involved.if you cannot find a good church then become your own best friend and teach yourself who Jesus is and was. That probally would make you one wise person in God's eyes! God Bless You and Always fight the good fight!

Answer 9

Far from it. Do you know the word parallel comes from parable? They establish clear parallels about a greater message, they illustrate a point. For instance it may be about a king forgiving two robbers and one robber gets jealous that the other was also forgiven regardless of the fact that he himself was also forgiven. The details, like if it were two men that were forgiven, or two women, or if they were not robbers but instead were arsonists. Of course the stories themselves may not be literally true, they may not be actual historical events, but they are mere stories to get a point across. i.e. God being the king who forgives the robbers (i.e. sinners) and then the sinners getting jealous that other sinners are also receiving redemption. I think the parables in the Bible are among the riches contents among its passages, because in it is found the most wisdom and uniqueness.

Answer 10

Jesus took the Bible actually too. Jesus believed that Adam and Eve have been genuine human beings. there is not any reason to no longer take the Bible actually. there's a literal heaven and hell. a thank you to be saved and comprehend God is to repent and get carry of Jesus as your Savior and Lord, and he will keep you via His grace on my own.

Answer 11

I wouldn't in all honesty even give it that much credit. Where have you been? the real message of jesus is be kind the deity idea was just humored . as when asked about heaven he said look inside your head for god and heaven . and I believe it's all in your head as well . plus all the urban legend that was tacked onto his life long after he died was never verified through history or any ligitimate means but the hearsay of a few men not to trusted as Jesus proved in the very scripture as peter you will deny me three times as the cock crows . See what i mean you can't have your cake and eat too.So learn to be kind and you wont just be blindly following him you will be living up to what he professed and lived .as well the great religious kingpins as Buddha five hundred years prior or most any religion that is mis understood and perverted by power hungry and corrupt leaders here to take your money for the ignorance they return.