How can the bible be both the "literal word of God" and figurative at the same time?

Question

For example, an x-tain told me that Leviticus 20:13 "literally referred to homosexuality:" If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

Uh...literally, it doesn't I told him. He was completely confused and had no clue of the irony of his contradiction.

It can't be literal and figurative at the same time. x-tains can't have it both ways.

Answer 1

It's literal when the believers want it to be, and figurative when they want it to be that.
But this is like the difference in communion in a Protestant church compared to a Catholic church. Catholics believe that the bread and wine are literally transformed into the body and blood of Christ (transubstantiation) whereas Protestants believe the bread and wine are simply symbols of Christ's body and blood. It can't be both--but, of course, they're both wrong. It's just a wafer and some bad wine.

Answer 2

i absolutely agree with you that not everything in the bible is literal. my brother will argue with you that when lot's wife (can't recall her name right now, or if it's even mentioned) was turned into a pillar of salt, it's a metaphor meaning she was made to be barren, since nothing can live in salt. i have also thought of the notion that when the wall of jericho fell, it could be a metaphor meaning that the city's defenses were made to be vulnerable somehow, through distraction, through divine intervention, which could have been in the form of fatigue, or distraction, or disorganization among the ranks, or what have you. it's a possibility, is it not? i'm not saying anything in the bible is false: i believe everything from the first word to the last. i just think that some things aren't meant to be taken quite as literally as we often take them. and if people are too dull to realize the figurative nature of the similes solomon is using... wow. lol

Answer 3

good point. i'm a christian...but i don't have the bible all figured out yet (probably never will). so, when i ask questions i get both kinds of answers too. one person will say something like 'it's the word of god, so it must be true' and another will say that the passage is not meant to be taken literally. so, which ones are s'posed to be literal and which ones not? this definitely has to do with the kind of christian background they have and what type of worship center they attend. it also has to do with what kind of delusions they might have (not a quip that all christians are delusional as many of the atheists on this board like to drone over and over).
anyone who singles out gays and says they are going to burn are committing a sin themselves, they are just wrong. if you don't get anything else in the bible...just read what jesus said, it's simple. he preaches to love others and we are all sinners. no one sin is any greater than another, repent and ask god for forgiveness, love god and love people. :-)
oh yeah, and if a christian wants to come back and tell me that they can't be forgiven if they continue to be gay...i don't hear you calling out alcoholics (who many times continue to be that way) and adulterers etc.

Answer 4

The vast majority of Christians don't try to have it both ways. We understand the Bible as the story of God and God's creation, and how the creation (us) is supposed to relate to God. We don't take every word literally. We have faith that God will reveal the truth to us. Those who do take the Bible literally have no faith, which is why they need everything spelled out ... also, they must be very, very confused.

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Answer 5

hi, good question. I have another translation of the bible and it says: ''''''And when a man lies down with a male the same as one lies down with a woman, both of them have done a detestable thing. They should be put to death without fail. Their own blood is upon them''''''

Its more easier to understand. It basically means that if a man lies down with a man, the things that a man and a woman do, then they should both be put to death.

Also, the bible is both literal and figurative. In revelation 1:1 it clearly says ''And he sent forth his angel and presented [it] in signs through him to his slave John.'''. So it says that the book of reveltaion is not literal, but symbolic.

Answer 6

Depends on how you look at it, Holy Cow:

Concerning the death sentence for the immoral, those statements you quoted were literally fulfilled in the destruction of Sodom, Gomorrah, and the tribe of Benjaman that "wanted" a visitor.

However there are some things God speaks figuratively otherwise His enemies would capitalize on. But you must realize Spiritual things are Spiritually discerned. So the self-sufficient and wise will not really understand, but the those who God designs, they will!

Jesus says it this way in Matthew 13:10:

"And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
13:12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
13:13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand."

You can find out if you have Spiritual discernment because there on one part of the Bible that was closed until the end of the days. It says:

The wickedly will do wickedly and none of the wicked will understand, but the "Wise Shall Understand." And that is the name of a book that breaks the code. See http://abiblecode.tripod.com

Shalom, peace in Jesus, Ben Yeshua

Answer 7

The same way a scientifically accurate lyrical poem about the theory of relativity can be. It's both beautiful and open to mental interpretation (meaning each person processes the words in his or her own way) and factual at the same time.

Answer 8

OH - but they can!

The book is a collection of recycled myths from older dead or near dead religions. The whole thing a mythology of leftovers that results in ambiguity and contradiction.

There are laws and actions that go against the very meaning of a"peace loving".

This book is a "moral compass" for people with multiple personality disorder. It is more a like a compass in the Bermuda Triangle - everyone eventually disappears.

Answer 9

The same way you can speak figuratively sometimes and literally at others. The bible is not one statement that must be either or.

Answer 10

People understand things explained figuratively, doesn't mean it is not literal. Because yes homosexuality is a sin and if the homosexual doesn't turn from this sin and all their other sins and accept Jesus Christ as their savior they will go to hell. Justice that's right. Because if one is not covered in the redeeming blood of Christ then one is held responsible for all their sins.