If there is only one literal interpretation of the Bible, why are there thousands of denominations?

Question

There seems to be thousands of different "literal" interpretations of the Bible and they all disagree with each other. Isn't this evidence that God's word is vague and open to interpretation?

Somebody said that you know that an interpretation is correct if the interpreter is filled with the holy spirit. How do you tell if someone is filled with the spirit, rather than just malingering?

Answer 1

of course it is! If we could prove the origins of the bible, religion would be based on fact, not on faith.

Answer 2

There are Facts and metaphors in the Bible and many people can't tell them apart. Also the stories Jesus told were paraphrased.
A lot of people don't want the truth, so they are obsessed with the King James bible. King James was a devoted Catholic. And since the Catholic church did not want people reading the Bible, he ordered them not too read it too. But they were being printed outside of England and smuggled in. Since he could not stop them from being smuggled in; he ordered his made.
In his Bible he ordered four hundred words to be change to words totally different, times each used. Like where all other Bibles, (even from before King Jame's) have "wild ox" and "wild oxen"; the KJB has "unicorns" replacing the word. There are another 800 to 900 words, times each used, that meanings have totally changed over the past 400 years too. So a lot of the words don't mean what we think the word means.
King James also ordered no extra information to be at the bottom of the pages.
A lot of Churches use, some even require, the King James bible. So they can distort the bible to mean what they want it to. Not what it really says. I have come across a few that are so proud that they do that. So truth is not wanted most of the time.
Also there are traditions, that we are use to that most do not relise that we are sinning. EX. The forth Commandment orders us to "honor the Sabath day". The Sabbath the bible specifies as being from the time the sun sets on Friday til it sets on Saturday, the last day of the week. But a Roman Ceasor ordered that the Sabbath be changed to Sunday during the fourth century. And most are still obeying his order instead of Gods. So this causes disagreements.........

Answer 3

There is *not* one literal interpretation of the bible (obviously), or even one literal translation (also obvious). It may be that there is only one accurate, valid, definitive, loophole-free interpretation of the bible - but we do not have that interpretation.

There is no (reasonable) interpretation of the bible that is entirely literal. There are verses in the bible that *must* be interpreted contextually (and, therefore, not literally). There are also some that include symbolism or metaphor. This is a verifiable fact. Personally, I feel that interpretation should always be literal except in cases in which it cannot be - but then, that is my own belief, not the command of God.

It is true that *our translation* of God's word is vague and open to interpretation, and it may even be that the words originally written by men through inspiration of God are vague and open to interpretation. Nevertheless, what we have is the closest thing that anyone has to the true, valid, unambiguous and perfect word of God. I believe that this is sufficient to guide people on the path of salvation.

Jim, http://www.jimpettis.com/wheel/

Answer 4

Because of the manmade, unbiblical tradition of sola scriptura, which guarantees ongoing fragmentation of Christianity and doctrinal chaos. The Bible tells us that the Church Christ founded is "the pillar and foundation o ftruth". This is a powerful analogy. We know that a structure cannot stand without its pillars and foundation. As soon as those are removed, a structure will begin to weaken and wark, change its shape, and eventually collapse. At the time of the Protestant Rebellion, Martin Luther rejected the God-given authority of Christ's Church, and claimed that a collection of writings from that same Church would be his only authority. Within a very short time, the inevitable began to happen. The truth began to weaken and change shape, for apart from the Church Christ founded, the truth cannot stand. Which is why Christ stated His divine will "that they all may be one". Denominationalism constitutes open rejection of God's will. In the meantime, the one true Church He founded, the Catholic Church, continues to teach the fullness of truth in unity after 2,000 years, without denominational fragmentation and without thousands of conflicting interpretations of God's Word, while unathorized manmade religion continues to self-destruct, with more and more conflicting denominations being created every year. Sad. Christ has given us so much, and denominational religion has thrown away so much of what He has given us.

Answer 5

The early church fathers warned us against this. Ireneaus wrote that as men were relying on their knowledge (gnosis) and giving their interpretations of scripture based on their limited knowledge, and not relying on the Holy Ghost and the knowledge of God to interpret the Holy Scriptures, there would be a division in the church. They were correct. That is why we need the Holy Ghost. It will lead us in all truth and not some perverted interpretation of the Word.
Men weren't following the teachings of the Apostles and strayed from the path of being taught of God. That is why it is very important to do what the Apostles did and to experience what they experienced.

Answer 6

It has no negative reflection at all on God's word.
It does reflect poorly on religious leaders however.
The Bible is clear ....but what it really says, most don't want to hear.
Therefore, some religious leaders have said to their 'faithful':
"Let me water it down this way."
Others have said:
"Let me water it down that way."
This was predicted to happen.
"There will be a period of time when they will not put up with the healthful teaching, but, they will accumulate teachers for themselves to have their ears tickled." 2 Timothy 4:3

Answer 7

Mostly because people don't really STUDY their Bibles anymore. Mostly they just take verses and use them in the context of what they believe rather than in the context of what God is saying.

The real truth is that true Christans do not vary very much in what they believe. it is just that the world accepts anyone who says they are Christians as Christians. Christ clearly stated that there would be relatively few true Christians and many deceived christians.

Answer 8

There are three branches of Christianity:
1 Catholic
2 Protestant (includes 1000's of sub-denominations)
3 Eastern Orthodox

If you are a Christian, you are one of those. People who think otherwise delude themselves (and they are probably protestants).

Every Christian church is an offshoot of the Catholic Church. The Eastern Orthodox churches broke away from unity with the pope in 1054. The Protestant churches broke away and were established during the protestant revolt, which began in 1517. (Hence the name "protestant", from "protest". Most of today’s Protestant churches are actually offshoots of the original Protestant offshoots.)

Only the Catholic Church existed in the tenth century, in the fifth century, and in the first century, faithfully teaching the doctrines given by Christ to the apostles, omitting nothing. The line of popes can be traced back, in unbroken succession, to Peter himself. This is unequaled by any institution in history: Even the oldest government is new compared to the papacy. The Catholic Church has existed for nearly 2,000 years, despite constant opposition from the world. This is testimony to the Church’s divine origin: Any merely human organization would have collapsed long ago. The Catholic Church is today the most vigorous church in the world (and the largest, with a billion members: one sixth of the human race), and that is testimony not to the cleverness of the Church’s leaders, but to the protection of the Holy Spirit.

Answer 9

As far as protestants are concerned there are many denominations. But while they are separate they agree on the most important things. It is small and for the most part unimportant issues that have caused divisions.

Answer 10

Can you find two people that would interpret anything that is written down exactly the same way?
Good luck!

Answer 11

Yes - GOD's word is vague and open to interpretation.

"The word of GOD is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword."

It is a spiritual book meant to be spiritually discerned by men and women filled with the HOLY SPIRIT.

But it is so alive and real - the exact same verse - can mean different things to me at different times in my life depending upon my different circumstances.

Hard to explain - but wonderfully life-affirming to experience!

Wish you could too!