Christians: you do know the bible isn't meant to be read literally, right?

Question

After all its written metaphors and parabells. For example the bible says if you feel lust you should stab out your own eye. It doesn't mean you'll never feel lust nor that you must stab out your eye. It says if you over indugle(not faithful to one person) and let it consume your mind it is as bad as giving up a part of your body.

Answer 1

Aha,

You addressed the right crowd. STAR FOR YOU!

Answer 2

while reading any rfile from a distinctive quantity of time and surprisingly a distinctive language you may desire to comprehend that that's difficulty to interpretation. the unique works of the bible weren't written in English so the countless words do not translate an identical. they may be comparable, yet not precisely an identical. additionally, remember the era in time the educational became written. a proper occasion: 50 years in the past in case you asked sixteen three hundred and sixty 5 days olds what the definition of the be conscious “gay” became they might very nearly all say “chuffed”. right now in case you ask that maximum suitable comparable question you may probable get “gay”. This basically is going to coach that the connotation and societal definition of a be conscious can exchange over the years. that's achieveable to me that once the Bible refers to Jesus to “healing the ill” which you may ask your self what the definition of the be conscious “healing” is. you may say right now that healing is the removing of any illnesses. notwithstanding, perhaps while the writings of the bible have been written human beings suggested that somebody became “healed” in the event that they felt greater proper. perhaps Jesus delivered convenience to human beings and eased their rigidity? I’m not attempting to Jesus became a shill, yet basically quite that perhaps some issues could be interpreted greater FIGURATEVLY often times and actually in others. Thou shall not kill? Literal: kill not something, no animals or human beings. Figurative: no unnecessarily taking of any existence.

Answer 3

God bless you. A valiant attempt.

Sure it is. If I am speaking to a friend, or wrote that friend a letter, he or she would understand my meaning and intent regardless of how I phrase it. It doesn't mean that the content of the letter is not to be taken literally, it means that my friend can tell when I am giving an example to make a point.

I never read anything about stabbing out an eye, although I believe you mean the parts where Jesus says pluck out your eye, etc. What he means is that it would be better to not have a certain body part than for that part to be involved in sin (or to be involved in sin at all), and risk eternal punishment. Jesus does not mean that if a body part is involved in the sin, it has to go.

Matthew 5:29-30* (King James Version) And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

*Also found in Matthew 18:9, Mark 9:47 (King James
Version)

Adultery--

Matthew 5:27-28 (KJV) Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Here Jesus' meaning is clear. Lust is as great a sin as adultery. If a person lusts they have committed adultery.

Jesus is discussing and clarifying the original Commandments, while incorporating the two 'new' commandments he had given.

People were obeying the letter of the law, but Jesus was making sure they understood the heart of the law, which was the purpose of the two new commandements. And the heart of the Ten Commandments is love. Love God, love your neighbors as you love yourself.

Hope I helped. God bless you. †

onelm0, Eds, cindyunion, Lady Louisa, dewcoons, sisterzeal, (and others): you made excellent points!

Answer 4

The entire Bible is to be taken literally. It is literal and historical when he tells us that Jesus made that statement. The statement was however part of a length teaching that Jesus gave to his disciples which included some material that is symbol, some that is parables, and some that is to be taken exactly as stated. God assumes that most people are smart enough to be able to recognize the different styles used if they actually time the read and think.

But the whole book is to be taken "literally". It is a literal fact that Jesus made those statements.

Answer 5

Sunny, of course God does not want you to stab your eye out. At the same time, you should take it literally up to the point of understanding your own sin, and turning from it. Try to keep it simple sweets. Keep reading it an studying it. I promise it will make more sense if you do.

Answer 6

The Metaphors and Parables actually are literal in the weight of the wisdom they carry. For instance when Solomon was presented with a problem of two women claiming this child was "theirs" and he was to decide which woman was really the mother of the child he said "cut the child in half".....and give half to one and half to the other".......this caused the real mother to say I'm not the mother and the truth came out. The child was never cut in half and Solomon knew that it wouldn't be......but the fear of that happening brought out the truth (who was the real mother)......in the same way God's word has a way of bringing out the truth. If you don't hate sin bad enough to pluck out your eye you probably don't hate it enough. Do you really have to pluck out your eye to satisfy God? No. Did the Rich man really need to sell al he had and give to the poor? No but he needed to love God enough that he would do it in order to make the trip of following him. I'ts hard to explain to non believers because you need the Holy Spirit to understand God's word. The carnal mind is at war with God.......the things of God are foolishness to man's Carnal Mind just as Man's Wisdom is foolishness to God. In the end we will see who is wise and who is not.

Answer 7

I believe much of the Bible is and much of it isn't. Only God and the Holy Spirit can translate the meanings that He wants us to hear and obey. I think most intelligent people have accepted that God doesn't want us to pluck out our eyes or cut off our hands.

Answer 8

( 1 Cor; 11:11-12 ) A Christian is to be a witness by sharing personal experience and Knowledge gained by experience

Answer 9

Yes that is true it is impossible to understand the Scriptures and there meaning if you don't understand the Hebrew and Greek ,all languages have many words meaning different things and if you don't understand the language you will never understand the meaning.Example when GOD said he hated Esau in the Hebrew hated means to love less not hate as some think it.When the bible said to fear God it means to revere to praise to lift up.God Bless you and yours

Answer 10

Yes, literal scriptures should be understood literally.

Symbolic scriptures should be understood symbolically.

Metaphors should be analyzed for comparison.

Parabolic thought should be realized as enhancing the logic of the lesson.

Answer 11

Sunshine,
There are some areas that are written using different styles and using different forms. Please consider this if/when you read it. Also it is helpful to read the entiure chapter for every verse that is quoted to find out how it is used in context. Thanks for your thoughts. Have a wonderful week and a lovely Holiday!!
Yours,
Eds


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