Is the bible meant to be all literal, all metaphor or a bit of both?

Question

And how are you supposed to know which bits are which? For a book written or inspired by god, he didn't do a very good job now did he? Surely he must have anticipated these problems?

Answer 1

If you believe it at all,you just take the Pick'N'Mix route.

Answer 2

All of it is to be taken as a metaphor. However, some take it as literal. While other pick and chose which parts are literal. It does seem that those who take it literal all agree on Genesis but will exclude Exodus or Lev:

But your are right, if god was real and was all-knowing he would have known to make the bible very clear.

Answer 3

The bible isn't 'meant' to be anything. It is a collection of religious writings.

If you believe it to be the word of God, then you must believe it all.

Look at it this way. Christians see the bible as a book of life, like a manual.

If you had a manual for bringing up a baby, you might happily deal with the breastfeeding, washing and dressing. But would you ignore the chapter about nappy changing and potty training because you didn't like the idea?

That is what has happened with a lot of modern Christians. Because the bible asks you to do thinks you might not want to, and tells you not to do things that you do want to do, it's easy to satisfy your conscience by saying ' that isn't meant literally'.

That my friend is a cop out! True Christians believe all the bible. If they don't they cannot consider themselves true Christians.

Answer 4

A Christian friend of mine said that Catholics believe that the Bible is entirely metaphor, except for the "body of Christ" part, which is to be taken literally, while Protestants and Born Agains say that the Bible is entirely literal, except for the "body of Christ" part, which is metaphor.

Answer 5

The bits about Creationism and Heaven are literal, as it is easier to and nicer to comprehend than The Big Bang/ Evolution/ No life after death.

The bits that are racist, homophobic, sexist, or other -ists and -ics, are conviniently metaphorical. Oh, the contradictory bits are metaphortical too.

Answer 6

You cannot understand the word of God without God's Holy Spirit. He will teach you all things if you let him and ask him .......the word is a treasure not meant for skeptics and people who hate God. For those who love him (God) and seek his truth it is food for the spirit. To those who do not it is confusion and foolishness. Jesus said this would be so.

Answer 7

If God didn't mean what he said then who can figure out what he is saying... THE CLERGY.... OF COURSE!!!! Please make sure you are up to date on your tithe and offerings!!!

Answer 8

*******UPDATED**********
>>>>There are clear distinctions made in the Bible as to how to differentiate between many ways the Bible presents material and INDEED the God of the Bible is shown to be the greatest of all authors:

>>RATHER than pay attention to some of the silly comments made by our literary genuises on this site how about giving attention to some real life authors:

“It is the best book that ever was or will be in the world, because it teaches you the best lessons by which any human creature who tries to be truthful and faithful can possibly be guided.”—Charles Dickens, English author

“I find more sure marks of authenticity in the Bible than in any profane history whatever.”—Sir Isaac Newton, British scientist

IN ACCORD to the type of reader we may be or think we are in expertise , here are some examples of styles God uses to express truths, metaphors, illustrations, symbolisms, and many other styles used , that an honest view of someone reading could explore & determine its marvelous message, rather than show ignorance and predjudice:
(You give praise to worldly authors who encorporate different styles, yet you can't be impressed with an author who is in full control of His writing using 40 different biographers--unbelievable)

# 1 Accuracy of truths presented by Luke the Physician:(Also the biographer the book of Acts)
(Luke 1:1-4) “1 Whereas many have undertaken to compile a statement of the facts that are given full credence among us, 2 just as those who from [the] beginning became eyewitnesses and attendants of the message delivered these to us, 3 I resolved also, because I have traced all things from the startWITH ACCURACY (my caps) to write them in LOGICAL ORDER to you, most excellent The·oph′i·lus, 4 that you may know fully THE CERTAINTY of the things that you have been taught orally. . .”
>>PROVEN BY accuracy of statements on specific maladies, historical events verified, archaelogical findings of places , people , rulers by Luke the Bible writier and physician presents, and much more!

# 2 Symbolic presentations with literal ones:
(Revelation 1:1-3) “1 A revelation by Jesus Christ, which God gave him, to show his slaves the things that must shortly take place. And he sent forth his angel and presented [it] in signs through him to his slave John, 2 who bore witness to the word God gave and to the witness Jesus Christ gave, even to all the things he saw. 3 Happy is he who reads aloud and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and who observe the things written in it; for the appointed time is near. . .”

>>The fact that things are presented in symbolism(that definitely have their interpretation) as well as literal which are distinguised allows the reader to "observe the things written" of this prophecy with understanding!
>>THUS honest hearted & noble individuals similar to the Beroens would find answers:
(Acts 17:11) “11 Now the latter were more noble-minded than those in Thes·sa·lo·ni′ca, for they received the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so.”
>>PROVEN BY Daniels account along with Revelation on the interpretation of the symbolic beasts of Revelation 13,17,18 representing world empires:
(Daniel 7:2-3) “2 Daniel was speaking up and saying: “I happened to be beholding in my visions during the night, and, see there! the four winds of the heavens were stirring up the vast sea. 3 And four huge beasts were coming up out of the sea, each one being different from the others.......
.......17 “‘As for these huge beasts, because they are four, there are four kings that will stand up from the earth....."
>>>WRITTEN SOME 600 years apart with no colusion!

#3 Even when fairy tale mechanics are used as the familiar "ONCE UPON A TIME" is incorporated to tell a truth metaphorically or what ever literary usage might be used by God--- , there is still a reason for it to be used:
(Judges 9:8-15) “8 “ONCE UPON A TIME the trees went to anoint a king over them. So they said to the olive tree, ‘Do be king over us.’ 9 But the olive tree said to them, ‘Must I give up my fatness with which they glorify God and men, and must I go to wave over the other trees?’ 10 Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come, be queen over us.’ 11 But the fig tree said to them, ‘Must I give up my sweetness and my good produce, and must I go to wave over the other trees?’ 12 Next the trees said to the vine, ‘You come, be queen over us.’ 13 In turn the vine said to them, ‘Must I give up my new wine that makes God and men rejoice, and must I go to wave over the trees?’ 14 Finally all the other trees said to the bramble, ‘You come, be king over us.’ 15 At this the bramble said to the trees, ‘If it is in truth that YOU are anointing me as king over YOU, come, seek refuge under my shadow. But if not, let fire come out of the bramble and consume the cedars of Leb′a·non.’”

#4 THE BIBLE alone can make this claim and fulfill its expectations:
(2 Timothy 3:16) “. . .All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness. . .”
>> AN EXAMPLE of this plumb line of writing can be shown through God showing why the Bible was written, and the conclusions people can make as to morals:
(1 Corinthians 10:6-8) “. . .Now these things became our examples, for us not to be persons desiring injurious things, even as they desired them. 7 Neither become idolaters, as some of them did; just as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink, and they got up to have a good time.” 8 Neither let us practice fornication, as some of them committed fornication, only to fall, twenty-three thousand [of them] in one day.”

#5 The Bible even warns of ridiculers and those who would try to flim flam the Bible and its teachings purposely:
(2 Peter 3:15-16) “. . .Furthermore, consider the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul according to the wisdom given him also wrote YOU, 16 speaking about these things as he does also in all [his] letters. In them, however, are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unsteady are twisting, as [they do] also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.”
--17 YOU, therefore, beloved ones, having this advance knowledge, be on YOUR guard that YOU may not be led away with them by the error of the law-defying people and fall from YOUR own steadfastness.

>>JEROME THE Roman Historian coined the Bible as "The Divine Library", why so:
Could it be he was referring to the Bible as indeed the most outstanding of Libraries that one could get DIVINE answers if one so wished?
>>>HIS appreaciation of the Bible and its wisdom seems to be on that plane of thought, throughout all his expressions of the wisdom of the "Divine Libray"

>>There are indeed many other examples that could be given , but I doubt that our literary genuises on these pages would pay much heed in their narcisstic state of mind!