why are some parts of the bible not supposed to be taken literally, while other parts are?

Question

and why is that that it depends on who you ask, which parts are real and which aren't? it also seems to depend on the situation. how can we put so much credit into something (the bible) that doesn't have concrete meaning, something who's meaning you can change to accomodate you at will?

Answer 1

I have asked that same question over the years - even to college professors who teach comparative religions - and the only answer I've ever received is that as human beings no one perceives the same thing in the same way - internal bias. Given that, I take it to be a totally human influenced work and have no regards for it.

Answer 2

Anything written as a story has value, things that are preached as in do this, not that, are for a specific time period. Often events are better understood if you read the following verses or chapters first. Much of the Bible is about punishments for those who wondered away from loving God and should not be applied to those who haven't strayed, for God doesn't treat every being alike, rhats a human failing.

Answer 3

ALL OF THE HOLY BIBLE, IS TO BE TAKEN LITERALLY.
WE ARE TO HAVE GODS UNDERSTANDING AND NOT MEN'S.
Ro:1:17: For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Ro:1:18: For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Ro:1:19: Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
Ro:1:20: For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Ro:1:21: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Ro:1:22: Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Ro:1:23: And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Ro:1:24: Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Ro:1:25: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

Answer 4

Well say I'm talking with you. If I say

"I have three papers due in a week."

then I say

"I have five boatloads of homework due this week."

You would probably know when I'm being literal and when I'm not. The Bible is just a tad more complicated than that, but that's the quick version of an answer.

For example, God tells us to love our enemies. Straight forward, no need to interpret. Doesn't make it any easier to follow, but it is easy to interpret.

Conversely, Jesus says that if our eye causes us to sin, we should pluck it out. Now, He obviously didn't mean that literally (regardless of whether Jesus is God), but we can assume He meant that we should uproot anything that causes us to sin.

Answer 5

I believe in the literal truth of the Bible. There are many people thinking different ways but our God is the same. follow Him the best you can.

Revelation is apocalyptic literature and like all apocalyptic literature, you need to take the figurative meaning first and then literal.

Study the Bible with someone who knows more about God and His Word than you. That is the best way for understanding God and His Word. : )

Answer 6

because God does nothing except He reveals His secrets to His servants, the prophets. A prophet can interpret the scriptures, people should not make their own intpretetations of the doctrine of Christ. Sometimes Christ spoke in parables to teach us by examples and metaphors, some things are literal, some things are symbolic so that people who just want to pick on it will not understand and stay in their stupoer of thought and keep arguing.

Answer 7

ALL of Gods Word is TRUE. Read Psalms 40: 7, and Hebrew 10:7. It states that Then said I, LO, I come: the Volume of the Book, (Scriptures) IS WRITTEN OF ME"...

Read for the complete Verse.(s)

Answer 8

If God did that, how many human beings from the bronze age to the 18th century could have a clue what he exchange into asserting? basically because you're too lazy or too stupid to overview relating to the subculture on the time issues have been written and evaluate issues from the physique of techniques of that subculture would not advise that God made a mistake it ability you're lazy or stupid.

Answer 9

Some people in the bible represent whole tribes as a recording of history. Some things are poor translations, and others you would have to understand the way they talked(slang).

Answer 10

The bible itself identifies the parables