Is the bible meant to be taken literally as fact or is it a series of metaphors?

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Mary96

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[FONT=Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]Many people think the Bible should be literal and others believe that there are metaphorical stories or teachings? Curious what you think? My grandma says t[/FONT]he Bible is a collection of different types of books from a broad period of time. Some books are history, some are more philosophical, law and some are poetry and that you certainly don't read all these different types of books in the same way.
 
The Holy Bible is fact, and gives literal historical accounts and facts, but it is also spoken in a mystery, just as the Lord spoke by the prophets in similitudes.

Hosea 12:10
I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.
 
The Holy Bible is fact, and gives literal historical accounts and facts, but it is also spoken in a mystery, just as the Lord spoke by the prophets in similitudes.

Hosea 12:10
I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.

1 Cr 2:13Which things also we speak,
not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth;
comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
 
The Holy Bible is fact, and gives literal historical accounts and facts, but it is also spoken in a mystery, just as the Lord spoke by the prophets in similitudes.

Hosea 12:10
I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.

"TRUTH" , as breathed by YAHWEH the CREATOR through men HE chose.

facts might change, with translations/ or other we grasp or don't grasp.

"TRUTH" never changes.
 
Many people think the Bible should be literal and others believe that there are metaphorical stories or teachings? Curious what you think? My grandma says the Bible is a collection of different types of books from a broad period of time. Some books are history, some are more philosophical, law and some are poetry and that you certainly don't read all these different types of books in the same way.
Believers don't see the bible the same way as you describe. It is about salvation. Any kind of in depth explanation would, if possible at all, be much too lengthy for this forum. A believer understands.
 
"TRUTH" , as breathed by YAHWEH the CREATOR through men HE chose.

facts might change, with translations/ or other we grasp or don't grasp.

"TRUTH" never changes.
Facts, like truth, is immutable. You should learn the definiton to words before you use them or, in this case, misrepresent them. When a word means something and you say it doesn't, it doesn't help people think you know what you're talking about.
 
The Bible is made up of many different books (66 in total) played out in different genres but all couched in history (from the beginning of Creation to the end of all things and the Beginning of the New Heavens and Earth). The Bible is made up of history, laws, genealogies, prophecies, poetry, letters and songs etc. Every book/chapter/passage/verse should be read in the context of the genre it belongs to, but everything always ties back to true history (either foreshadowing Christ coming to earth, His work here on earth or Jesus' work since ascending to Heaven). Genesis 1-11 is history, as is the rest of the Bible. It's all history. That's not to say there isn't figurative language therein, there is. The Bible is history. The Bible is God's love story to us, played out in history. As such, the Bible should be read and studied from a historical-grammatical perspective.
 
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[h=3]"Are facts immutable? A report from the ground[/h] Posted by Andrew Scheinman • February 15, 2013 • 10:12 am
Tagged irving washington, lean launchpad, lean startup, leaning upstate
A news article a few days ago (e.g., Mice Mislead) reported on a conclusion recently reached in a ten year scientific study: mice are a bad model system for some human diseases, at the very least sepsis, burns and trauma — ” years and billions of dollars have been wasted following false leads,” the article goes on to report. Equally as interesting, the “facts” in the case — that mice are a good model system for these diseases– were so clear for so long (until proved wrong), that the authors of the study had enormous difficulty getting their results published.
Of course this isn’t the first time that facts turn out to be “facts,” originally rock-solid and eventually discarded. Right here in Upstate, for example, the facts of the dearth of jobs seem to be changing under our feet.
Well maybe that’s a bit overblown, but there’s a lot going on to be proud of. Lean LaunchPad out of HTR, unification of different groups around a common guideline business plan (see Common Business Plan) in order to make the lives of founders just a tiny bit simpler, a makerspace in Rochester (Rochester Makerspace), the RIT downtown campus, and on and on.
None of that is any relief to those without jobs, young or old. None of that is any relief for the younger people here who see no prospect of jobs in the future — but, facts aren’t immutable, and the evidence on the ground is that some of the facts of Upstate are changing. And I’m no sort of optimist, I just happen to think there are lots of reasons to see good."

Facts, like truth, is immutable. You should learn the definiton to words before you use them or, in this case, misrepresent them. When a word means something and you say it doesn't, it doesn't help people think you know what you're talking about.
 
1 Cr 2:13Which things also we speak,
not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth;
comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

Kinda like code talkers. :)

Mark 4:11
And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
 
Many people think the Bible should be literal and others believe that there are metaphorical stories or teachings? Curious what you think? My grandma says the Bible is a collection of different types of books from a broad period of time. Some books are history, some are more philosophical, law and some are poetry and that you certainly don't read all these different types of books in the same way.

IMO, the Bible should be taken literally unless there is compelling linguistic reason to do otherwise.



For example: I do not think that Jesus literally mistook the Pharisees for whitewashed coffins or for snakes.
 
The bible should be taken as Truth even though that truth comes in the forms of history, eye witness accounts, poetry, parables, prophetic utterances etc. There are some metaphors but when used metaphorically or allegorically elsewhere you will read the interpretation under divine guidance, for example ...

For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.
(Gal 4:22-25)

Way too often Christians will willy-nilly create allegories where there are none. That is a sloppy interpretative method and leads to many bizarre and imaginative doctrines.

The old jingle holds true, 'when the literal sense makes good sense seek no other sense lest you end up with nonsense.'
 
Many people think the Bible should be literal and others believe that there are metaphorical stories or teachings? Curious what you think? My grandma says the Bible is a collection of different types of books from a broad period of time. Some books are history, some are more philosophical, law and some are poetry and that you certainly don't read all these different types of books in the same way.


The figurative language used in the Bible is powerful.

Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet.
(The Word of God is not a literal lamp. Compare our street lights, flashlights, porch lights, kerosene lanterns to the days long ago before such were common and readily available. Imagine walking on a path at night beyond city lights and with no light source. Imagine going through life without the knowledge of God's word.)

Matthew 5: 29-30
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.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.
(If we take it literal, many of us would be blind.)

1 Peter 2:2 Desire the sincere milk of the word.
 
Kinda like code talkers. :)

Mark 4:11
And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

Yeah, I was looking a couple of things, I need to snip to keep this short, but here, would show that verse in them here

He answered and said unto them,

Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven,
but to them it is not given.

Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ,
and stewards of the mysteries of God.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels,
that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom,
but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

And use other verses weaving in the way the Holy Ghost teaches (by comparing between)

As is shown in parable and similitude (or spiritual things with spiritual)

Them that are without parables (even in the plural) whereas he said,

And he said unto them,

Know
ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?

So its really a parable

I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:

And by the same (in a parable) he is uttering dark sayings of old

Things old
and new (or comparing between) as the Holy Ghost teaches

Whereas here it says,

I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.

That one always reminded me of those having the harps of God Its just how its written in both places and how it could fit into the comparison well in the sense of his opening up what is his (his dark sayings) even upon the same.

Which (if you look at the place where they have the harps of God) the song of Moses and the servant of God (which is as things old or the former things) and the song of the Lamb (which is as things new) are there (acknowledged as known in these). Of the old things and new would seem to work even in the picture of every scribe which is instructed unto the Kingdom which bringing forth out of his treasure (even as Paul said we have this treasure in earthen vessels) and out of which comes forth old things and new there also

Here...

Therefore
every scribe
which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder,

which
bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

He bringeth forth out of his treasure things old and new

And again when he says,

Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven

For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him?
But we have the mind of Christ.


He is the treasure

Likewise Paul said,

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels,
that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

And again,

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom,
but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:


He answered and said unto them,
Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven,
but to them it is not given.

Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ,
and stewards of the mysteries of God.

Which things also we speak,
not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth,
but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

I thought hese are cool, this was pretty sloppy and choppy (sorry, gotta snip and do tuck in's)
I think they are more difficult to order up, but really fascinating to find various connections especially to match according to the working in the pictures. I never get tired of these things.

Man, we have such an awesome God, we truly do


 
Many people think the Bible should be literal and others believe that there are metaphorical stories or teachings? Curious what you think? My grandma says the Bible is a collection of different types of books from a broad period of time. Some books are history, some are more philosophical, law and some are poetry and that you certainly don't read all these different types of books in the same way.

Good question that comes across every christian's heart and mind when we hear or sense that there seems to be more. A key that opens understanding is that the bible is written on two plains. The first we can see and the way this is described by some is to read the bible literally. The 'second first' cannot be seen or known without the image that can be seen. These two are so closely knit because one is the image of the other. If I gave a few examples, you'll likely be able to share some examples of your own. Have you seen creatures that are called sheep? Have you been referred to as 'one of the flock'. You are not a sheep, but the bible uses the 'nature' of the sheep to describe you. If you carefully consider the nature of sheep and its many characteristics, you'll come to know a little more about who you are and why you are that way in God's sight. Some are not able to see this, and hence the reason for saying to read the bible literally. This should not be viewed as a fault. It is part of the learning process, and in some cases, the foundation of some religions.
 
Good question that comes across every christian's heart and mind when we hear or sense that there seems to be more. A key that opens understanding is that the bible is written on two plains. The first we can see and the way this is described by some is to read the bible literally. The 'second first' cannot be seen or known without the image that can be seen. These two are so closely knit because one is the image of the other. If I gave a few examples, you'll likely be able to share some examples of your own. Have you seen creatures that are called sheep? Have you been referred to as 'one of the flock'. You are not a sheep, but the bible uses the 'nature' of the sheep to describe you. If you carefully consider the nature of sheep and its many characteristics, you'll come to know a little more about who you are and why you are that way in God's sight. Some are not able to see this, and hence the reason for saying to read the bible literally. This should not be viewed as a fault. It is part of the learning process, and in some cases, the foundation of some religions.

I said the Bible should be read from a historical-grammatical viewpoint, not a purely literal one. This allows for the figurative language of many passages, while still retaining the historicity of of the Bible.
 
I said the Bible should be read from a historical-grammatical viewpoint, not a purely literal one. This allows for the figurative language of many passages, while still retaining the historicity of of the Bible.

Yeah that sounds about right!
 
The best way i have found to read the the Bible is to - look at the contents, the history behind the passage. - What are the lessons the people involved could get out of it. - How does that affects you today, apply the lessons to your life.

There are lots of history books that we can read literally, the Bible is so much more than that. It is life for those that make it part of them. Php_2:16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. Jer 15:16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.
 
Many people think the Bible should be literal and others believe that there are metaphorical stories or teachings? Curious what you think? My grandma says the Bible is a collection of different types of books from a broad period of time. Some books are history, some are more philosophical, law and some are poetry and that you certainly don't read all these different types of books in the same way.

It should be taken literally. God is not on a crusade to spread confusion, his word is in black and white. Of course, when it comes to symbolism. i.e. the book of revelation, not everything is literal.

I heard a great quote, when some biblical scholars ask a simple man about the book of revelation and what it means he replied: ''It's simple. Jesus Wins.''