Where do you draw that line when it comes to what you take literaly in the bible and whats metaphorically taken? I cant wait to see the answers on this one!
2007-09-30 08:39:27 · 8 answers · asked by science rules! 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
no one is answering the question-what do you take literal and what do you take metaphorically-like when god says stuff like this-how do you interpet it-
2) All who curse their father or mother must be put to death. They are guilty of a capital offense. (Leviticus 20:9 NLT)
2007-09-30 08:47:52 · update #1
I take it all as bad fiction. Works for me...
2007-09-30 08:42:26 · answer #1 · answered by Leviathan 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
First of all this is a good and important question.
It is really not that hard to figure out. The Bible has poetry, proses and other forms of figures of speech including parables.
Parables are not literal stories but they are told with a meaning behind the story to tell us a truth. Jesus used this. A metaphor is also just one of the forms used not to be confused with other forms of expressions. Let me give you one. When people died in the Bible it says they went to sleep. That is a metaphor for they are dead. We say they passed away,bit the bullet, kicked the bucket etc. There are other forms of speech such as Euphemisms and hyperboles. We use them now and they are also found in all literature including the Bible. It is not so important that you take the Bible literally but that you take it seriously.
2007-09-30 15:53:16 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Bible can be classified like any other writing in terms of literary styles and genres. In fact, you'll find many modern Bibles make such distinctions: wisdom literature, historical books, prophetic books, and the like.
You'll also find lots of different genres in one particular book. The criteria for determining such is like any other document or writing. It is based on research and classification.
2007-09-30 15:44:44 · answer #3 · answered by Jude & Cristen H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some of the Bible is literal, some is metaphoric. You have to take them all as they are. Not distort them to mean what one wants them to.
2007-09-30 15:46:15 · answer #4 · answered by geessewereabove 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Usually the Bible says what it is ..
Like it says: Jesus told this parable. (a story to teach)
Or it says: There was once a rich man (literal)
The book of Ecclesiastes is written from the point of view of the world. For example it says that all in life is vanity. That is the point of view of the world without God. And this book ends up saying that we should serve God from our youth..
2007-09-30 15:43:20 · answer #5 · answered by † PRAY † 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
You go by the context, if it is supposed to be a metaphor or literal.
2007-09-30 15:45:44 · answer #6 · answered by rrrawwwr im a monster 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The interpretation seems to depend upon whether or not it serves a current purpose.
2007-09-30 15:42:53 · answer #7 · answered by ? 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
literally? not one word.
metaphorically? I'll allow the possibility.
2007-09-30 15:49:28 · answer #8 · answered by kent_shakespear 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋