Why are only some things in the Bible taken literal?

Question

An example for something not literal is the verse "whoever doesn't hate his family more than me isn't worthy of me".

Answer 1

When I used to read the Bible, I learned to take nothing of the Bible literally. The Bible is a story, a fable and non of the accusations the Bible has written about have ever happened in History. Why did it take the Gospels 40+ years to write about Jesus? Answer me that?

Answer 2

I believe the Bible to be the word of God. But we must understand that it is written down by men, with the language and expressions of the cultures from those days. There is a great truth in these words of Jesus, spoken in the local language and in the expressions people used and were familiar with. What he was saying is, in the language we would use, "whoever loves his family more than me, isn't worthy of me." We must put God and his son first in our lives, even if it means we will loose our family. This is what he meant, and I think his listeneres understood perfectly well what he was saying. But when this is translated into English it sounds strange, I agree.

Answer 3

Textual criticism.

There are many clues within the very literature to tell a person how to judge whether the author was being literal, or figurative. Other things the author has wrote to compare, the context of the verse itself, type of literature that was written to begin with, the language and wording used, common usage of the word in that day, etc etc.

This is what many scholars and theologians do is discuss the meanings of the Scriptures and to try apply them to doctrine.

Answer 4

That meant that if we have more love for our earthly family than we have for our heavenly Father and his son, our king and savior Christ Jesus, then we aren't worthy of Him. It is written that the only fear we should have is the holy fear of displeasing Him... and not the fear of displeasing our families when we finally make the step to get out of Babylon The Great, the Empire of False Religion on the Earth, to worship the True God, in spirit and truth as written in John 4:24

Answer 5

The Bible (AKJB) means what it says and says what it means in its proper context.

Keeping a verse in its PROPER CONTEXT is a very important part of Bible study and will help to avoid much confusion.

A verse in the Bible is to be taken literally, unless the CONTEXT suggest otherwise.

In His Service,

Rev. Calvin C. White, Director,
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Answer 6

Because otherwise right-wing fundamentalist Christians wouldn't be able to pick and choose which Bible verses to ignore and which to persecute others over.

Answer 7

Because we are to study to know the value or differences in the scriptures. To 'rightly divide the word of God'. That's the kind of wisdom only available to those who are led by God's Spirit. Sounds elitest, but are you going to take it that literal?

Answer 8

sources daniel?

a lot of the accusations(not sure what you mean) have happened
such as sexual immorality, teenagers causing trouble

also, the verse is not wrong. If you disagree, say you disagree, but leave the Bible as it is, not be a cultist.

Answer 9

It's the classic "cafeteria" approach. You take what you like and you ignore what you don't like.

Answer 10

that verse is wrong. the word hate should be replaced with love. >:(