Is there any way to read the Bible with understanding without limiting the meaning to a literal definition?

Answer 1

I suppose the motive for reading the Bible is at least as important as the method of interpretation used.

We might approach the BIble as a piece of literature and read it because we are studying a literature course at college, say, then we will get a certain understanding from it depending on our method of interpretation (historico-critical, exegetical, literary criticism, rhetorical criticism, postmodern reader-centric interpretation, etc).

Some people read it to look for proof texts to support their pre-conceived arguments. They tend to read into it what they want to see in it.

Some people read the Bible in order to find fault with it so that they can prove that Christianity is wrong.

Some people treat the bible like a magic book, they open it to a random page and read a random passage and apply it in a random way to any random thing.

There are many ways to read the Bible, but whether any of them result in an understanding of God's will depends on the action of the Holy Spirit on the reader, since spiritual things are spiritually discerned and are foolishness to the carnal mind. If we read it with the right attitude, to find out God's will, then God will send his Spirit to us to help us understand it.

Answer 2

The intent of the bible was merely to reveal stories as to what God was like in dealing with the Jews and to introduce the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. In its entirety, its scope is Jesus. A secular individual studying the scripture will get an entirely different interpretation from that of a spiritual Christian who is influenced (spoken to) by the Holy Spirit.

Answer 3

Many people believe the Bible to be more of a set of fables or stories of mostly or complete fiction, and consider them to just be guidelines for living a good life.

Answer 4

You have a choice: literal or metaphorical.

If it's literal, it's ALL literal; you don't get to pick some passages out and claim, "I think THIS is nonsense, so it must be a metaphor!"

Ditto with metaphorical; which would mean the entire god concept is just a metaphor for, say, your daddy.

Pick one.

Answer 5

You should cherry pick anything you want, its the most credible way of taking a whole text into account, I believe!

if you read the NIV they've already done it for you!

Answer 6

YES, ITS CALLED WORD STUDY

YOU NEED A KING JAMES BIBLE AND A STRONGS CONCORDANCE

WHAT YOU DO IS START WITH A WORD, FOR INSTANCE THE WORD LOVE, LOOK IT UP IN THE CONCORDANCE. YOU WILL FIND THE DEFINITION THAT IT IS USED IN THAT VERSE....THERE ARE DIFFERENT KINDS OF LOVE .....AGAPE,(GODLY) PHILEO(BROTHERLY)
EROS (FLESHLY) ETC.

SAME AS THE WORD HATE....HATE ( CAN MEAN TO LOVE LESS IN SOME CONTEXTS) OR IT CAN MEAN DESPISE IN OTHER VERSES

...

Answer 7

Of course, that is what 90% of Christians do.