Is the Bible best interpreted symbolically?

Question

There are certain things in the bible, especailly the Old Testament, that are difficult to believe literally. For example, we have the Great Flood. How can two of each species restore the world? How can Moses and his wife and children, restart the Human population?

And then there's the Creation. How can one man and one woman start the entire race of Humans? Its said that they had three children, all boys. So, that leaves four men, and one woman. Not nearly enough people to keep the gene pool going. Were more people placed on Earth after the banishment from Eden? There's a large gap of time between Creation and the next story, which i can't remember.

Also, you have David and Goliath. How can one small rock knock down a man said to be larger than any man? Could this merely be a representation of a small nation defeating a large? This could be the Battle of Thermopolie (think of the movie 300)

Is perhaps these events written more symbolically, but misinterpreted literally?

other stories from the old Testament:

Samson. How does his hair hold the key to his great power and strength? Could this be related to the story of Hercules?

I apologize. It was Noah, not Moses, who was part of the Great Flood. I just got my names mixed up.

Answer 1

1) There are several passages in the bible that must be accepted as symbolism. However, in my estimation, most (if not all) of these passages are *clearly* symbolic. This is clear either by specification (the bible claims that it is symbolic), or (in a *very* few cases) by the lack of coherence displayed if the passage is taken literally. Generally, only the passages which are agreed by all sects to be symbolic are actually symbolic. Many preachers use symbolism as an excuse to ignore certain scriptures that disagree with their favorite doctrine.

2) The flood
This is a classic example of what happens when people refuse to accept what is actually written, or who "read between the lines" and add material not actually stated within scripture. For example, the biblical account
a) does not claim that 2 of each species restored the world
b) does not claim that the flood covered the entire planet
Of course, there is no problem whatsoever with the idea that Noah and his family could have repopulated the earth.

3) creation
a) "How can one man and one woman start the entire race of Humans?"
The normal method, I would suppose.
b) "Its said that they had three children, all boys. So, that leaves four men, and one woman. Not nearly enough people to keep the gene pool going."
There are several fallacies in this statement.
i) Adam had "sons and daughters" according to scripture. Cain, Abel and Seth were the names of the first 3 sons, but according to scripture is not an account of all of his children.
ii) all that is necessary, genetically, to "keep the gene pool going" is 1 man and 1 woman, both of child-bearing age.
b) "Were more people placed on Earth after the banishment from Eden?"
This is not recorded in scripture, and so there is no reason to believe that it might have occurred.

4) Davey & Goliath
Slings propel stones with great force - certainly, with enough force to penetrate a man's skull. In the biblical account, this is *precisely* what happened to Goliath. The account claims that the stone actually sunk into Goliath's forehead. There is no reason to think this is speaking symbolically when it is such a clear and graphic description of the well-known result of a well-cast sling stone.

5) Sampson
Sampson was a nazirite (which is a special vow taken by Jews in ancient times and described in the bible). One of the requirements of the vow of the nazirite is that the vow taker not cut his hair during the duration of his vow. When Sampson's hair was cut, he was in violation of his vow and so lost the special favor, or blessing, of God. Early legends of Hercules predate the stories of Sampson by several millennia. In addition, there is no relationship between Hercules' strength and his hair. Hercules is simply another strong-man myth, of the type prevalent in almost all ancient cultures. Finally, the Hellenization of the Levant occurred at least 7 centuries after the recorded time of Sampson, thus leading me to believe that this story in no way borrows from the legend of Hercules. The *only* similarity between these two accounts is that both characters have strength greater than other men.

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

Answer 2

Some things in the Bible are definitely to be taken
literally like the items you mentioned (the flood, David
slaying the giant, and Adam and Eve). Of course, God
created more humans to inhabit the earth. Nothing is
impossible with God, you know. Other things may be
symbolic such as if your hand causes you to sin, cut it
off. The planted seed falling onto barren ground is
referring to people telling someone about God, but they
for some reason don't believe, so no spiritual growth
happens in that person. Real Christians become spiritually
discerning and they are able to tell whether a certain
passage is literal or symbolic.

Answer 3

Literalism is the enemy of everything the Bible has to offer humanity. By obsessing on the trivial details of every story, Bibliolators relieve themselves of any obligation to extract and adapt a moral message to their contemporary circumstances. What worked perfectly well three thousand years ago ends up creating misery and injustice in today's world.

Jesus taught in parables, not because he was trying to hide anything, but because he knew the power of allegory. Knowing that something is a "story" frees it from its historical boundaries and allows the hearer to recast it into his own life circumstances. The Jews who first heard the stories of the Bible understood that these were heroic myths, many adopted from other cultures but reinterpreted to reflect their own ethical outlook. The characters and situations made the stories familiar, but the proper meaning transcends the superficial details. The stories of the Bible are supposed to be "living", always applicable here and now, not dead "history" to worship.

Answer 4

I am not going to tackle everything you said here, but for instance David and Goliath predates the battle of Thermopylae.

But I get your point. Of course most of it is parable or hyperbole rather than history.

Don't get hung up in the details. It is fascinating reading 5000 years of Jewish consciousness and the split into Christianity.

To me the real story is demonstrated in the New Testament and the statement of God's love for us and the message of hope. We can feel less isolated and know that we are part of something much greater than ourselves.

Answer 5

First is was Noah, not Moses that repopulated the earth.
and as to how can 2 of a species repopulate the earth? with God, anything is possible!
Second, Adam & Eve were newly created being. there would be no corruption of the DNA.
You hit a man in the right spot, no matter his size and he will die. it happens all the time especially if God is on your side.

I believe in the literial interpitation of the bible

Answer 6

Many simultaneous interpretations are required, but all withing the context of it being a Myth.
The surface story therefore is never meant to be interpreted literally or historically - but instead points us towards "truth" in the underlying story.
Of course the syurface story contains elements of history, geography, poetry, wisdom etc...but do not bring this interpretations to any sense of proving anything historical. It is a story that weaves through time in order to help understand order in chaos.

Answer 7

Sadly, your question reveals a great lack of research.
Moses had nothing to do with the flood.
The Bible states plainly that Adam and Eve had many, many, many sons and daughters. Genesis5:4
Your reference to a movie does not enhance the weight of your argument.
Please do not draw any conclusions based on hearsay ....which is all you have at this moment.
The Bible does speak symbolically on occasion.
However, when it does it makes it very clear by saying it is symbolic.
Guess work is not needed.

Answer 8

It depends on your personal belief system. Some people are more comfortable taking the Bible literally and some people are more comfortable taking it as a symbolic story. For me, personally, I prefer the symbolic approach but believe whatever is more comfortable for you.

Answer 9

Whether the stories in the scriptures literally or not they have power to teach us allegorically. Getting caught up in the literal or not debate is a waste of time and a distraction.

Answer 10

so much to answer, will take one on..the rest you should be doing your homework more

even on the mythbusters they provided proof that one small rock hitting a man clearly in the forehead can knock one down.
the speed of the rock in the sling hits a speed of 100 mph.
stoning is still done in fact in the middle east.
and hence we get the slang, a stones throw away