Should We Take the Bible Literally or Figuratively?

CatholicExchange.com ^ | April 17, 2007 | Mary Harwell Sayler

[Salvation]

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Should We Take the Bible Literally or Figuratively?

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April 17, 2007

Question: I started going to a Bible study in our parish and usually enjoy it but am thinking about dropping out. Several people in our group said we should never take the Bible literally, but what's the point of reading the Bible if it doesn't mean what it says?

Discussion: The Bible does mean what it says. However, God's ways can be so mysterious that people do not always understand what's said or why, especially on first reading. Some may write off the whole Bible as being merely symbolic or allegorical, while others take every word as the kind of literal truth you get when you say something like, "The fire is hot." Symbolically, that same fire represents the power, warmth, and enthusiastic fervor poured into Christians by the Holy Spirit. You can approach the flame literally or figuratively, but either way, the fire is "true." 

As the living word of God, the Bible is also true to itself and the spiritual truths expressed in a variety of tones, formats, and literary styles. Many themes and purposes arise in its pages, but the overall goal shows the salvation and redemption of man by the Almighty God, beginning in Genesis and going all the way through the final Amen in Revelation. So as you study the Bible, don't worry about whether you should take the words literally or figuratively. Just take them. Read them. Study them, and get to know what the Biblical record shows about the ongoing relationship between human beings and the God of love.

You might also take another tack in your Bible study. For instance, try thinking of yourself as an investigator or a Christian reporter looking for the who, what, when, where, why, and how of your Judeo-Christian heritage and the life-giving truth of God's loving mercy and forgiveness. As you do this, consider:

the Who of God — i.e., the character and power of the One to Whom you speak;

the what of the conditions, circumstances, or context surrounding the larger spiritual truth that a book or chapter presents;

the when of the past, present, and future as well as the timelessness of eternity in which a Biblical truth or statement affects God's people, including you;

the where of the place and culture from which the text arises;

the why of the law recorded, the wisdom taught, or the prophecy spoken;

the how of the literal, figurative, or poetic words that the inspired writer utilized to tell a story and present a spiritual truth in the most effective way.

Generally speaking, the Who, what, when, where, and why of the Bible will express our Judeo-Christian background and beliefs, whereas the how has more to do with the means by which the Bible presents a spiritual truth. Unlike modern libraries that separate fiction from nonfiction and both genres from poetry, a single book of the Bible may contain an eclectic mix of Godly commands, historical events, poetic lines, and allegorical tales. Between genres, thin lines may overlap, but don't let them trip you up. For instance, if you read something that troubles you or that you don't understand, just do a little research by looking up the verse or passage in a reputable commentary. Better yet, see if the Catechism of the Catholic Church covers that specific topic. To ease the search, just look for a key word on a website that contains the complete Catechism.

Most importantly, begin and end each Bible study session or independent reading with prayer for God to guide the discussion and increase your understanding. Then trust that He will. The same Holy Spirit who scripted the story of God's love into the Holy Scriptures knows how to write His word into your spirit today.

 

© Copyright 2007 Catholic ExchangeMary Sayler has studied the Bible since early childhood and leads discussion groups in her local parish. In addition to being a poet, freelancer, and assignment writer for the religious markets, she works with other writers and poets through her website http://www.catholicpoetsandwriters.com/.

[Between the Lines]

Try resding without the rosary colored glasses.

I am not Catholic. I am Southern Baptist in fact.

I don't know this book or the author. I got the quote from a Sabbatarian web site a couple years ago.

Don't you think you ought to research what you are quoting?

[kerryusama04]

I quoted a Catholic Priest. Rest assured, that has been researched.

[Enosh]

First, in response to the article, I have to say both. It depends on the passage and is usually obvious which way to go.

Second, in response to your post at #50, I invite you to notice the word all in Acts 2:4. Peter wasn't the only apostle.

[pgyanke]

I sense a need for conflict here.

Ah good, you have a sense of irony. I like that in a poster.

If you challenge me, I am going to respond.

Great! I'm still waiting for you to respond to #41.

[kerryusama04]

Sorry for the hijack, Salvation. They keep pulling

me

back

in.

Colossians 2: 16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.

Context is crucial. How would pagans from Colossea know about a Sabbath if Paul had not taught them? Perhaps, just perhaps, Paul taught them to keep the Sabbath and then they got grief from their pagan neighbors? At any rate, 2:20 goes on to reference the elements of the world. Who worshipped elements of the world?

Regarding Romans, is this verse in your Bible as well?

Rom 3:31 Do we then make the Law void through faith? Let it not be! But we establish the Law.

Paul is teaching the believers in chapter 14 not to fall into salvation through works. One can keep 52 Sabbaths a year as well as the Levitical Holy Days but if they do it with a carnal mind trying to earn salvation, they will fail. Paul is motivating the believers to let Christ work in them. The Law saves no one, but the saved keep the Law.

Yes, the believers came together to eat on the first day of the week. Convocating on any day of the week does not break the 4th Commandment. Not keeping the Sabbath Holy, or making up your own Sabbath, is sin. Please also don't neglect the verses that show the believers in Acts keeping the Sabbath.

Act 13:14 But going through from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day and sat down.

Act 13:27 For those living in Jerusalem, and their rulers, not having known this One, and the voices of the Prophets being read throughout every sabbath, condemning Him, they fulfilled the Scriptures.

Act 13:42 And the Jews having gone out of the synagogue, the nations begged that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.

Act 13:44 And on the coming sabbath day almost all the city came together to hear the Word of God.

Act 18:4 And he reasoned in the synagogue on every sabbath, persuading both Jews and Greeks.

1Jo 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome.

[pgyanke]

Thank you. Now we're having a conversation.

This isn't a hijack as far as I'm concerned. It goes to the literal or figurative interpretation of the Bible as is the topic of the thread.

Perhaps, just perhaps, Paul taught them to keep the Sabbath...

The Colossians weren't just pagans. Everywhere Paul went he addressed first Jew, then gentile. Context is indeed crucial. That also applies to your citation from Acts regarding the Sabbath. Paul was in the synagogue every Sabbath preaching to the Jews. This doesn't mean necessarily that he considered keeping the Sabbath as paramount... it could simply be that that was where he could speak to the Jews.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not out to disagree with you. We agree far more than we disagree. Paul brought the Law with him (God's Law, not Deuteronomy). How he taught it, we don't know. Did he tell the gentiles to observe the Sabbath day of rest or encourage them to meet on Sunday? I rely on the teaching authority of the Church to settle the matter. Considering that nearly all of Christendom celebrates on the same day, I would say we have this in common.

[Campion]

I don't believe any church has the authority to change the commandments

Who decided that Gentiles don't have to keep kosher?

[Salvation]

** I’ve always thought the answer to this question is “yes,” because so much of the Bible is written in allegory and parable.**

Yes, it has a double meaning, doesn’t it. ‘Yes’ is a good answer. LOL!

[Salvation]

Early Church Fathers - Worship on Sabbath or Sunday

[Salvation]

The Catholic Church Changed The Ten Commandments?

'Top 10 Catholic parenting tips found in the 10 Commandments' - Top Home and Family story of 2006

[Salvation]

LOL! He is a one issue Seventh Day Adventist — not the first time he has tried to hijack a thread.

[Enosh]

"Who decided that Gentiles don't have to keep kosher?"

Jesus - Acts 10:15

15 The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."

[Salvation]

**I was raised Catholic, **

Then you probably still are Catholic.

Have you taken steps to go through all the paperwork to formally disavow yourself from the Catholic Church? I bet not........so you are probably still a Catholic.

(And you can come back anytime as long as you repent of your disbelief against the Catholic Church.)

[Salvation]

Perhaps we would like to discuss the article per the rules of the Religion Moderator, but we deem it necessary to answer your inquiries, objections first. Maybe you need to leave the thread.

In the first post I asked that everyone abide by the RM’s rules. Please!! Discuss the posted article.

[Salvation]

**rosary colored glasses**

Not appropriate at all. Good-bye.

[Salvation]

**17 of the first 64 posts on this thread belong to you. I don’t believe a single one of them addresses the thread subject.**

Bingo! Thanks, sandyeggo.