Jesus often spoke in parables (metaphors), right? Often his teachings were not to be taken literally, they had deeper meanings.
So how are we supposed to know what is to be taken literally and what is a metaphor for some deeper philosophical ideal?
2007-06-15 07:26:07 · 22 answers · asked by Aria 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
This is a good question with some good answers. Thanks for asking as I always wondered the same thing.
2007-06-23 05:17:48 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
These parables are obviously a teaching story pointing out a truth.
Take the other parts literally, unless you find a reason not to. But, if what you see contradicts some other part of scripture, then you know something's amiss.
By the way, the rich man in Hell and the poor man at Abraham's bosom...that's not just a parable. The giveaway- that Christ was speaking from personal knowledge literally is the fact that he mentions the man's name. Lazarus. The mention of a man's name would have no bearing on the teachings of the truth in this story. So why name him?
Because this was an actual event that happened.
2007-06-15 14:45:52 · answer #2 · answered by Jed 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Parables are bound in prophecy.
You can get the best 'idea' by looking first at those parables which Jesus preached. He preached many parables to all who followed him; but only explained them to those closest to Him. Understanding Scripture requires staying close to Jesus.
Jesus was the lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Before he was ever literally slain there were lambs created to represent Him in our reality. Lambs are real, His death at Calvary was real, and His eternal existence is real. What is idea or revelation is putting the two realities together.
You work back and forth between spiritual and physical reality. Until you realize that the spiritual is as real as the physical you will always have "literal" and "philosophical" questions.
Parables are given and revealed by God. As such there is no understanding them in the human mind; except as the answers are given to the mind of the heart. You have, or should have, two minds. The mind of the flesh which interprets this world, and the mind of the spirit which interprets those things in spiritual places.
The mind of the flesh, which many study and worship, is like an Army grunt. The first to go and the last to know.
All Scripture relates to the literal and parables are about real but hidden things. This reality we live in is a parable of all things spiritual. Consider the Lilies.
2007-06-15 15:08:58 · answer #3 · answered by Tommy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Usually an illustration is obviously an illustration. Take, for example, the parable of the rich man and Hades. This is so obviously a parable as to really require no further comment. Yet people insist it is literal and use it to teach that God tortures and torments people forever in a burning hellfire.
When Jesus teaches a point by describing himself as a door or a lamb, we don't really think he is a door, do we? We don't think the man is an animal, right?
It's not that difficult. Perhaps, though, there is some illustration you have in mind about which you feel unsure. If so, maybe you can mention it and respondents here can take it from there and try to help you.
Hannah J Paul
2007-06-15 14:32:05 · answer #4 · answered by Hannah J Paul 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
God's Word is all taken literally. You need to be guided by the Holy Spirit to understand a lot of the Bible. Keep praying and keep reading over and over again and then one day it's just click. I know from personal experience.
2007-06-22 15:48:06 · answer #5 · answered by heartday 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Look inside you and you'll find your own truth. It is those who have absolutely no intellect who follow these scriptures which are no more than a history book full of beautiful parables. What an empty life. Poor Jesus Christ was misunderstood. What a waste of time was his passage through this dimension...
2007-06-15 14:37:21 · answer #6 · answered by kassandra 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
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A Sincere Heart Will Offer Up An Earnest Prayer And Through God's Love The Scripture Prayed Over Will Give Up It Fruits
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2007-06-15 14:34:39 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
excellent question. I will try.The whole BIBLE is a book that GOD designed by inspiration. The HOLY SPIRIT has guided its truth and translations because it belongs to GOD. so let us go to the next outline, that is the enemy. GOD does not want all of HIS plans understood, so HE put a requirement on knowing the truth, that is spiritual understanding. The HOLY SPIRIT provides the understanding of the truth that GOD wants us to know. the enemy cannot have the HOLY SPIRIT because he does not dwell with GOD. read Acts chapter 2, and notice what inspired the disciples to speak, it wasn't the tongues but KNOWING, UNDERSTANDING. remember when JESUS walked with the 2 men on the road to Emaus? and beginning with Moses and alll the prophets HE taught them concerning HIMSELF. what did JESUS SAY to Nicodemus in the garden? unless you are Born again you cannot enter the Kingdom of GOD. Nicodemus took hime literally, and JESUS spoke to him about the HOLY SPIRIT. And if you look at the Sanctuary system, it tells all about the Sacrifice of GOD in HIS giving HIS SON to die as a randsom for many. the entire sacrificial system was a spiritual lesson for GOD'S people, a lesson we can learn from today.Why did GOD tell Abraham to sacrifice his son? as a spiritual lesson for all of us to understand the price that sin costs, and its depth and impact on all of our lives.This is just a small part of it all. so Surrender your heart to the will of GOD, repent of your sins, and pray for the HOLY SPIRIT and read the WORD OF GOD. I will see you in Heaven. To understand an enigma...you need wisdom.
2007-06-15 14:42:02 · answer #8 · answered by spotlite 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Read, pray, and study with an open heart and mind. We don't get it all at once. Like any good thing it takes time and some effort. Some things you may hate hearing. Some will make you even mad. But the truth eventually comes out. God wants us to be happy, but correct. He wont lead you astray.
2007-06-15 14:31:42 · answer #9 · answered by F'sho 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Man will always come up with different opinions on this. Pray about it and let God show you the answer. He knows more than any pastor, elder, or other teacher or student of the Bible.
2007-06-15 14:34:20 · answer #10 · answered by bornagain2003 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
That's where a good Bible teaching church comes in.. When you study the Word of God in church,,, Sunday School..Study Classes,,, You get to dig deeper into the Word,, And I think its great because every time you study a book,, or verse,, each time you get more and more out of it,,
2007-06-15 14:33:17 · answer #11 · answered by dolphinchic 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋