For ppl who take the bible literally?

Question

In 1st Timothy 2 verses 9-13, it says a lot about what women cant do. Do you people who take the bible literally think these things to be true. Ex: "I permit no woman to teach or have authority over man; she is to keep silent"

I n Revelation 12 verses 13-17 it talks about a dragon and about how the earth opened its mouth and swallowed a river. Do you people think a dragon existed at one time, and do you think the earth actually has a mouth?

Answer 1

With regards to the first passage, the word for man is the same word as the word for husband in the Greek; and the word for woman is the same word for wife in the Greek.
I believe this is referring to the family, and it is simply saying the woman is not to be the head of the household and be domineering over her husband.
As for the second passage; this is obviously figurative as is much of the Book of Revelation and this is made plainly evident to the reader. This is also very common in the Old Testament (and New), as is clear to anyone who is more than a casual reader. It is as clearly understood as our metaphor "the four corners of the globe". No one hearing another using this figure of speech would think the speaker actually thought the world was a square.

Answer 2

There are ways to decide if a Bible passage is literal or symbolic. A symbolic passage will be explained somewhere in the Bible usally near its appearance. For example in the Revelation passage you cite you know that the dragon is Satan because that is explained in the previous chapter,12 verse 9. The woman is probably the church in Israel in the end because the dragon makes war with "the rest of her offspring" which keep the testimony of Jesus Christ-which means Christians, in verse 17 of cpat. 12.

The Timothy passage means just what it says because there is no corresponding explanation to mean otherwise. The church is not to have women in the leadership postions in which they would have authority over men as in apostle, pastor or bishop, or teacher or deacon. Tim chpt 3 clearly states that men are the ones to be in the mentioned offices. Women can teach other women and do other church work outside of those offices. That is how God set up the organization in the church. It is not that women are not capable of doing those tasks but that in the divine order that is God's perference since He made Man first and the woman to help him sort of like how wives are often considered the better half because they help the husband get his responsibilities done.

Answer 3

(1) Nowhere in the Bible does it say that the Bible is the only source of God's Word.

(2) The first Christians "were persevering in the doctrine of the apostles" (Acts 2:42; 2 Tim 1:14) long before the New Testament was written — and centuries before we knew with certainty which books were part of the New Testament.

(3) The Bible affirms that Christian teaching is "preached" (1 Pet. 1:25), that the Apostles' successors were to teach what they have "heard" (2 Tim. 2:2), and that Christian teaching is passed on both "by word of mouth [and] by letter" (2 Thess. 2:15; 1 Cor. 11:2).

(4) Not everything Christ did and said is recorded in Scripture (Jn. 21:25).

(5) New Testament authors availed themselves of sacred Tradition. For example, Acts 20:35 quotes a saying of Jesus that is not recorded in the Gospels.

(6) Scripture needs an authoritative interpreter (Acts 8:30-31; 2 Pet. 1:20-21, 3:15-16).

(7) Christ left His Church with divine authority to teach in His name (Mt. 16:13-20, 18:18; Lk. 10:16).

(8) The Church will last until the end of time, and the Holy Spirit protects the Church's teaching from corruption (Mt. 16:18, 28:19-20; Jn. 14:16).

(9) The Church — and not the Bible alone — is the "pillar and bulwark of the truth" (1 Tim. 3:15).

(10) The Bible refers to more sources of the Word of God than only Scripture. Jesus Himself is the Word (Jn. 1:1, 14), and in 1 Thess. 2:13, St. Paul's first epistle, he refers to "the Word of God which you heard from us." There St. Paul is clearly referring to oral apostolic teaching.

Answer 4

I believe that women should not be pastors and guide men in teaching but I trust that God knows what He was writing so I will follow what He says
Also, I believe that the book of Revelation is still to come and tells us of the tribulation so that has not come yet. So yes i believe that there will be a dragon and everything..it might sound unbelievable but I know that God can do anything..it however, could also be symbolic but I dont know for what

Answer 5

There are different interpretations of Rev.12-13-17...but it is symbolic and not to be understood as an actual fire-breathing mythological dragon..it is descriptive of Satan.

In the early New Test. church..the men and women sat on opposite sides of the gathering...the woman would often call out to their husband for clarification on a point that was made in the teaching,thereby disrupting the sermon...Women are allowed to teach and participate in church....

Answer 6

The Bible speaks both figuratively and literally.you have to know in what context it is speaking in relationship to what is being said. You cannot pick a verse out here and there to use as examples when you do not view the entire book in the context in which it was written. It is a self explanatory book if you cross reference the subject of interest with the entirety of the book. You must read it with an intent of learning its message. It does not present you with ammunition to undermine its validity, that is a product of your own preconceived doubts and unbelief.

Answer 7

Dear JessieJ

The letter to Timothy is referring to a specific situation in a specific culture. Some churches apply this literally in their church meetings and some dont.

Revelation 12 is metaphorical. For instance, the Dragon is referring to Satan.

Cordially,
Mike

Answer 8

To understand much of the Bible one must have a 'Spiritual' sense. 'He who has an ear let him hear'.
God is Spirit that is why it is said 'the Spirit wars against the flesh(physical) and the flesh against the Spirit'.
Some ask does a person who does good deeds get to heaven. The Bible says 'no flesh shall glory before God' in other words we of our own accord cannot do anything to please God w/o the Spirit of Jesus. He was free of sin and became the Divine sacrifice so in Him we can be worthy too.

My interpretation of the allegory Godsh ref to is somewhat related to the first part of Gall 4. It is talking about being in subjection to the fallen angels-astrology-the law(which is harsh) as opposed to being free of it-accepting the promise, covenant, Spirit of God's grace.

Answer 9

Revelation things as you mentioned are metaphors

As far as woman it was written to a particle time and place..if it was rewritten today it would speak of responsibilities of man and women. In bible times it was the woman's job to take care of house and children. Now days if the woman works it would be the responsibility of both man and woman to provide for the family and take care of house and children.
It's not about one person being in charge of the other...it's about each persons responsibilities in the time and culture that they live in.

Answer 10

The bible says Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world. Thats something that can be taken very literally, but you probably don't believe that either, so why worry about a dragon.