When to take the bible literal?

Question

in the book of mathew 5:29, 5:30
Does it really mean poke out you eye and cut of your hand?

Answer 1

v. 27-30 Jesus did not want us to literally cut off a hand, but to realize that allowing sin to control us could lead us to hell.

(29-30) Our attitude in the war against sin.

"If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell."

a. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out: Here Jesus uses a figure of speech, and did not speak literally. Sadly, some have taken it so and have mutilated themselves in mistaken efforts in the pursuit of holiness. For example, the famous early Christian named Origen’s castrated himself on the principle of this passage.

i. The trouble with a literal interpretation is that it does not go far enough! Even if you did cut off your hand or gouge out your eye, you could still sin with your other hand or eye. When all those are gone, you can especially sin with your mind.

b. It is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell: Jesus simple stresses the point that one must be willing to sacrifice to be obedient. If part of our life is given over to sin, we must be convinced that it is more profitable for that part our life to "die" rather than to condemn our whole life.

i. This is the one thing many are unwilling to do, and that is why they remain trapped in sin, or never come to Jesus. They never get beyond a vague wish to be better.

Answer 2

Well, when the bible records certains facts, like the fact that there was indeed a person called Jesus, and apostles and Mary and Joseph, etc..., you can and should take this literally. And when Jesus performs miracles, we can be sure that he was doing things that at the time appeared to be impossible. However, you do have a very good point, that there are some things we should probably not try to do at home, kids!!!! You have offered a good example of something in the bible we should probably not do literally, but consider what it means figuratively.

Answer 3

Serious historical and archaeological research has shown that much of the Bible's history after about 1800 BCE is verifiable and verified. Most of the customs are as well. But one of the problems with ANY writing is trying to figure out when the author(s) is/are using metaphor, allegory, or poetic license to get their point across.

The mindless way is to take everything literally.

The correct way is to study the archaeology, the anthropology, the history, the sociology, the customs, of the time frame which is encompassed by the writing. And that goes for ALL religious writing, not just the Bible.

If you haven't got 8 or 12 years to devote to learning Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, Koine, and Latin; to learn archaeology, anthropology, sociology, history etc., then best you just stick with listening to the words of God/Jesus and doing your best to live by them.

Otherwise, ignore it all, be the nicest, bestest person that as an atheist you can be, and wait for Him to show up and invite you Home. Then say, "Yes." And let Him sweat the details.

Answer 4

NO !!!!!!
There is a difference in a metaphor and a law.
Take the Ten Commandments literally or the laws written in the Torah---but realize that some stories are told to make a point. Jesus told stories to teach a lesson or to make a point---there are several different kinds of literature in the Bible -
It doesn't hurt to learn more about the collection of books we call the Bible. That would not be considered questioning the Lord.

Answer 5

As a part of Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy conservative Christian scholarship affirms the following:
"WE AFFIRM the necessity of interpreting the Bible according to its literal, or normal, sense. The literal sense is the grammatical-historical sense, that is, the meaning which the writer expressed. Interpretation according to the literal sense will take account of all figures of speech and literary forms found in the text. WE DENY the legitimacy of any approach to Scripture that attributes to it meaning which the literal sense does not support."


Noted inerrantist Norman Geisler in his commentary on the Chicago Statement on Biblical Hermeneutics states:

"The literal sense of Scripture is strongly affirmed here. To be sure the English word literal carries some problematic connotations with it. Hence the words normal and grammatical-historical are used to explain what is meant. The literal sense is also designated by the more descriptive title grammatical-historical sense. This means the correct interpretation is the one which discovers the meaning of the text in its grammatical forms and in the historical, cultural context in which the text is expressed."

Answer 6

No, most of the time you should not take it literally. You have to read between the lines often. Remember that it has been translated from another language and sometimes it doesn't mean exactly what it says, but if you think about the concept a bit you will see what it is saying. Think of what you read more in terms of broad concepts and it will be easier to understand the message.

Answer 7

A reader should take passages in the Scripture literally when the CONTEXT tells us this is the proper method of interpretation. In the passages you quoted, Jesus was clearly speaking rhetorically -- that it would be better if you cut out your eye than to sin with your eye (i.e. lustfulness, covetousness, etc), which will lead to Hell.

Answer 8

Use of this language is strong because we are implored to keep ourselves unspotted from the world and to follow the laws established...so yeah, in effect its true...it would be better but not necessary. Jesus is saying to flee from whatever stumbling block of sin is before you and to never proceed through it or over it. He's saying if what you see causes you to sin then refuse to see it...ie, lust, coveting, hatred. As well, if what ever you are doing causes you to sin then refuse to do it...ie; murder, idolotry, breaking commandments. Sacrifice whatever it takes so that the blood of Christ is not trampled on in intentional sin. This is done by staying in the Word of God and keeping our focus on Him. Many Christians today believe that Jesus did away with the commandments and that simply believing in Him and confessing His name is salvation. I know cuz I used to think the same thing...except that His Word says otherwise. We are to confess our sins, repent and sin no more...if we should fall short then He is our mediator but we are to follow His commandments...that has never changed. Confessing our temptations to Him and asking for deliverence is also wise as He directed us through the Lord Prayer...The Bible is to be taken literally where it is literal...and figurative where it figurative...and symbolic where it is obviously symbolic. Also, read the entire of the passage and not just line upon line in order to grasp the whole context. Love in Christ, ~J~

Matthew 5
19Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Answer 9

No, but Jesus used hyperbole to drive home his point that we're not to take sin lightly. He meant the welfare of yoursoul was/is worth more than your physical body and to approach matters accordingly. At least that's what I got out of the passage.

Answer 10

no, some things are in parables, which I'm thinking that one is. Which is basicly a story told by Jesus making a point. But no not all things can be taken serious, haha like communion (catholics). There is scripture for that too.