Should we interpret the Bible literally?

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Christina

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Should we interpret the Bible literally? What's your thoughts/opinions on this topic
 

BernieEOD

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What part of "Thou Shalt not" should we not interpet literally?It appears that everybody is trying to declare "That's not what it really means" whenever one comes up against something they don't like.
 

ROS777

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Should we interpret the Bible literally? What's your thoughts/opinions on this topic
My answer is: both literal and figurative.A couple quick examples: the talking serpent shouldn't be taken literally.And when Jesus says to pluck out an eye if it causes one to sin, I don't thinkhe means it literally.I have a Strong Concordance which is quite helpful since a word such as, say,love, could have several meanings depending on the passage in question.
 

HammerStone

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ROS has it right.There are some parts, obviously, that should be interpreted literally such as "Thou shalt not..." or "... is an abomination." However, many times obviously and sometimes not, there are parts that should be taken figuratively such as a talking "snake" or the beasts of Revelation. Typically when things are meant figuratively there is some sort of key for the lock if you will. It may be a statement that comes right out at you or it may very well be something much more subtle, but its there if you listen to God and let him show you.
 

skeptik

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Hello all,I've recently joined this forum with the hope of talking about a few things that have been troubling me about exactly this topic. Bible interpretation.For example, (SwampFox)
There are some parts, obviously, that should be interpreted literally such as "Thou shalt not..." or "... is an abomination."
Of course, we all know Leviticus 18:22 that clearly states:("Leviticus 18:22")
You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.
This is the base argument to regard homosexuality as a sin and an abomination. But if we look a few chapters earlier, we see:("Leviticus 11:10-12")
[10] But anything in the seas or the rivers that has not fins and scales, of the swarming creatures in the waters and of the living creatures that are in the waters, is an abomination to you.[11] They shall remain an abomination to you; of their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall have in abomination.[12] Everything in the waters that has not fins and scales is an abomination to you.
So it's an abomination to eat shellfish also? Have none of you ever had a lobster?And regarding "Shall not"("Leviticus 19:23-25")
[23]"When you come into the land and plant all kinds of trees for food, then you shall count their fruit as forbidden; three years it shall be forbidden to you, it must not be eaten.[24] And in the fourth year all their fruit shall be holy, an offering of praise to the LORD.[25] But in the fifth year you may eat of their fruit, that they may yield more richly for you: I am the LORD your God.
So a farmer has to wait 5 years to start enjoying the fruit of his land? Worse still:("Leviticus 19:27")
You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard.
Means that nobody should cut their hair or shave.And this is not including all the laws of the old testament calling for stonings, burnings and castrations.How do you interpret this? How do you decide which laws are to be followed and which not?
 

HammerStone

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How do you interpret this? How do you decide which laws are to be followed and which not?
Christ's sacrifice for us on the cross. The laws still hold, as Jesus told us in Matthew 5, he didn't come to change even one jot (Greek iota) of the law. It never changed. We cannot possibly live by all of the laws because we are fallible and hence the reason Jesus sacrificed himself on the cross for us so that we can be forgiven. Acts 5:31Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
So a farmer has to wait 5 years to start enjoying the fruit of his land?
Notice the phrase "the land" - this makes this verse important because it is the first of 4 prospective laws given to the Israelites by God - the KJV renders the fruit uncircumsized and it makes for a better understand of the verse given the covenant that God made with Israel. You can find the other three laws in Leviticus 14:34, Leviticus 23:10, and Leviticus 25:2. Canaan was a very unclean land. Additional study on the Canaanite and Egyption religions would yield that the process of cutting the beard as described in Leviticus 19:27 was what their priests did in reverence to their various gods. This is further bolstered by the following Leviticus 19:28.
So it's an abomination to eat shellfish also? Have none of you ever had a lobster?
The important thing to recognize here is the phrase "abomination unto you" is there for a reason. When God outlined these specific things not to eat or do, it was for good reason. Many of the unclean animals are very poisonous, especially in the time period. Take hogs for instance - they don't sweat; every poison they eat stays in their body. I'm sure you're aware of their common habitat of mud and muck? In all cases, there's always a good explanation as to why. Sometimes you just have to look for it. Admittedly, I cannot sit here and say I hold all of the some 1200 precepts of the law, but neither does anyone else here and anyone on this old Earth. Thank God for the Grace of Jesus the Christ!
 

skeptik

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The important thing to recognize here is the phrase "abomination unto you" is there for a reason. When God outlined these specific things not to eat or do, it was for good reason. Many of the unclean animals are very poisonous, especially in the time period. Take hogs for instance - they don't sweat; every poison they eat stays in their body. I'm sure you're aware of their common habitat of mud and muck?
Exactly! 3000 years ago, eating a pig might kill you! Not anymore. Still, its the law, and its "g*d's word". What do we make of this? (SwampFox;4292)
In all cases, there's always a good explanation as to why. Sometimes you just have to look for it. Admittedly, I cannot sit here and say I hold all of the some 1200 precepts of the law, but neither does anyone else here and anyone on this old Earth. Thank God for the Grace of Jesus the Christ!
So, homosexuals, like those who eat pork or shellfish, just violate one of the 1200 rules and can be allowed into heaven regardless of their condemned behavior?
 

Christina

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Exactly! 3000 years ago, eating a pig might kill you! Not anymore. Still, its the law, and its "g*d's word". What do we make of this? So, homosexuals, like those who eat pork or shellfish, just violate one of the 1200 rules and can be allowed into heaven regardless of their condemned behavior?
It is still true that pork,shellfish ect. can make you ill just the same as back then nothing has changed in health ordinance laws they are followed by the Jews today as yesterday still an unclean animals There is only 10 laws the ten commandments (8 if you are Jewish) and there are ordinances.In the old testament before Jesus the only way to avoid sin and sickness was to follow all laws and ordinances laid down in the Old testament. If these were broken you had to offer a sacrifice according to Jewish law, pray and ask forgivenessAfter Christ died on the cross he became the eternal sacrifice for all sin it became possible to be forgiven for any sin by praying and repenting in Christ name. But it can't be a repentance of words only you have to truly be sorry in your heart for the sin you committed. So yes if a homosexual pork and shellfish eater was truly repentant in his heart asked for Gods forgiveness he would be forgiven.It is really no different now then it was then it is Just that Christ became the sacrificial lamb.Just in case you are wondering why God let the Jewish sacrifice Christ. Christ had to become the sacrifice for mans sin to replace the blood of the lambs and the only ones qualified to choose the lamb to be sacrificed were the Jews the gentiles were not qualified under Gods laws as Christ had not yet been crucified to atone for the sins of the gentiles
 

pointer

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How do you decide which laws are to be followed and which not?
Christians don't follow any laws at all (except civil laws, of course). Christians love, because they are loved, because they are forgiven. Everything they do is done with love in mind (or should be). So they want the best for others, whatever that may be.
 

skeptik

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Christians don't follow any laws at all (except civil laws, of course). Christians love, because they are loved, because they are forgiven. Everything they do is done with love in mind (or should be). So they want the best for others, whatever that may be.
Mr. Falwell disagrees. If only many people who call themselves christians acted like that, having nothing but love in their hearts towards their fellow man, to those who sin and to those who don't share their beliefs.
 

Christina

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(pointer;4303)
Christians don't follow any laws at all (except civil laws, of course). Christians love, because they are loved, because they are forgiven. Everything they do is done with love in mind (or should be). So they want the best for others, whatever that may be.
I disagree here some with pointer to be a Christain you must live by the Gods Law of the ten commandments and except Christ all other ordinance laws of the Old Testament can either be forgiven by repentance in Christs name or were fullfilled in the death on the cross Swampfox has stated this very well in the followingChrist's sacrifice for us on the cross. The laws still hold, as Jesus told us in Matthew 5, he didn't come to change even one jot (Greek iota) of the law. It never changed. We cannot possibly live by all of the laws because we are fallible and hence the reason Jesus sacrificed himself on the cross for us so that we can be forgiven
 

skeptik

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I disagree here some with pointer to be a Christain you must live by the Gods Law of the ten commandments and except Christ all other ordinance laws of the Old Testament can either be forgiven by repentance in Christs name or were fullfilled in the death on the cross Swampfox has stated this very well in the following
So you have to regret eating pork to go to heaven?(kriss;4333)
Christ's sacrifice for us on the cross. The laws still hold, as Jesus told us in Matthew 5, he didn't come to change even one jot (Greek iota) of the law. It never changed. We cannot possibly live by all of the laws because we are fallible and hence the reason Jesus sacrificed himself on the cross for us so that we can be forgiven
I don't think you can pick and choose here. Its like saying: I cannot possibly abide by all the laws in my state, so I'm piggybacking on someone else who's serving a sentence for me. That way, I can choose which laws I can live by or not.Jesus died for your sins, and if you wish to regard the bible as "g*d's word" then you have to make your best effort to live by all its laws and not say: I can eat pork because jesus died in the cross so that I could.Jesus died in the cross to show us how much love he has for us. He would've died sooner if he had said that he was here to overturn every law. Instead he said that he could destroy the temple and build it again in 3 days. I think I saw it in some post here or somewhere else. The temple is HIM. They destroyed the temple and he rebuilt it in 3 days! Forget the laws. Love is all you need.
 

pointer

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I disagree here some with pointer to be a Christain you must live by the Gods Law of the ten commandments
To do that would be fatal.'"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment."' Matt 5:21-22 NIV'"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."' Matt 5:27-29 NIV
 

ROS777

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Hello all,I've recently joined this forum with the hope of talking about a few things that have been troubling me about exactly this topic. Bible interpretation.For example, Of course, we all know Leviticus 18:22 that clearly states:This is the base argument to regard homosexuality as a sin and an abomination. But if we look a few chapters earlier, we see:So it's an abomination to eat shellfish also? Have none of you ever had a lobster?And regarding "Shall not"So a farmer has to wait 5 years to start enjoying the fruit of his land? Worse still:Means that nobody should cut their hair or shave.And this is not including all the laws of the old testament calling for stonings, burnings and castrations.How do you interpret this? How do you decide which laws are to be followed and which not?
Food laws and the ordinances were for the Israelites. God was taking care of the people, leading them, feeding, watering and keeping their shoes from wearing out, etc. When they followed his way, they won battles and took the spoils of battle when it was allowed. And he gave them land. He pretty much did everything for them and they lived good when they followed his rules.The food laws, many Christians follow today because they want to be healthy. If you want to eat lobster then go ahead. I want to be healthy so I voluntarily try to follow the health laws. I use to eat shellfish but then again I'm not as healthy as I use to be and I wonder if what I've eaten in the past, ie ham, lobster, etc. has caused problems. If you don't follow the food laws and eat ham, shellfish, etc., my understanding is that you won't go to hell. It's just unhealthy for you.There are no PRESENT laws about shaving, cutting the hair, land resting.Although letting the land rest is a good ideal.The rules that were specifically for the Israelites, if followed, would bless the Israelites. So if God told me to do something I would try like everything to do it, as I would be blessed. And being blessed by God is great!!God did not want the people to be like the nations around them. They were all burning their kids in the fire for their gods and cannibalism, slavery, etc., etc.
 

pointer

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Forget the laws. Love is all you need.
Laws as laws should be forgotten. They are a guide, though. But love is all you need, yes. It was faith that justified Abraham, and he had faith because he had love for the truth. He had no ten commandments, and Christians are his children, and the children of Jacob, justified by faith, not the children of Moses the Lawgiver. One can go straight from Genesis to the gospels and lose nothing essential.
 

skeptik

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If you want to eat lobster then go ahead. I want to be healthy so I voluntarily try to follow the health laws. I use to eat shellfish but then again I'm not as healthy as I use to be and I wonder if what I've eaten in the past, ie ham, lobster, etc. has caused problems.
Care to provide any links to any source that says that lobster is hazardous to your health? (If you're not allergic of course)(ROS777;4349)
If you don't follow the food laws and eat ham, shellfish, etc., my understanding is that you won't go to hell. It's just unhealthy for you.There are no PRESENT laws about shaving, cutting the hair, land resting.
What's this supposed to mean? Its in the bible! Timeless word of g*d, no?You hardly see any christian with long hair and a beard, although the bible is very explicit about these sorts of things.Have any of you read the bible, cover to cover? Surely, you must've noticed some laws like:Leviticus 20:10If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall be put to death.Deuteronomy 13:13-16 [13] that certain base fellows have gone out among you and have drawn away the inhabitants of the city, saying, `Let us go and serve other gods,' which you have not known,[14] then you shall inquire and make search and ask diligently; and behold, if it be true and certain that such an abominable thing has been done among you,[15] you shall surely put the inhabitants of that city to the sword, destroying it utterly, all who are in it and its cattle, with the edge of the sword.[16] You shall gather all its spoil into the midst of its open square, and burn the city and all its spoil with fire, as a whole burnt offering to the LORD your God; it shall be a heap for ever, it shall not be built again. Exodus 31:14You shall keep the sabbath, because it is holy for you; every one who profanes it shall be put to death; whoever does any work on it, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. And many, many other "sins" whose penalty is death.
 

Jenn4God

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AGAIN...Are you aware of the different types of death? There are three types of death...#1 Physical Death--when the spirit is separated from the body.#2 Spiritual Death--when the spirit is separated from God. (This is what happened when Adam and Eve sinned. The only way they could ever be united with God again is to be spiritually "born again")#3 The Second Death--whena person is physically and spiritually separated from God forever. (The lost person is physically resurected to stand before God at the Great White Throne Judgement, and then cast into the lake of fire to be separated from God forever.)
 

skeptik

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AGAIN...Are you aware of the different types of death? There are three types of death...#1 Physical Death--when the spirit is separated from the body.#2 Spiritual Death--when the spirit is separated from God. (This is what happened when Adam and Eve sinned. The only way they could ever be united with God again is to be spiritually "born again")#3 The Second Death--whena person is physically and spiritually separated from God forever. (The lost person is physically resurected to stand before God at the Great White Throne Judgement, and then cast into the lake of fire to be separated from God forever.)
Whats that got to do with stoning? What they kill them softly with their stones?
 

Christina

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skeptik;4370 said:
Care to provide any links to any source that says that lobster is hazardous to your health? (If you're not allergic of course)
What's this supposed to mean? Its in the bible! Timeless word of g*d, no?You hardly see any christian with long hair and a beard, although the bible is very explicit about these sorts of things.Your above quotes have already been answered by Ros777.She has already rightly stated these were laws ordinances for the Jews before Christ died for our sins. Skeptik I have no problem with you being a skeptic in fact we should all practice some degree of skepticism. At times it can be a healthy thing to have and keep you from being led astray every time a strong wind blows or some guy comes up with another hair brain interpretation of scripture. However you must also be willing to listen if you are going to question you seem to be having difficulty knowing how to rightly divide the word or how to separate concepts. I'm not saying you can not remain skeptical but you have to have some understanding of where to separate certain things or you will never come to any understanding which I assume you are trying to do. Some of the things I see you are having difficulty understanding are the concepts of the following:There is an Old Covenant (promise)and a New covenant(promise)A time for Jews and A time for GentilesAll Catholics are Christians(because they believe in Christ)All Christians are NOT Catholics ( In fact a large number of Bible believing Christians have great problems with the Catholic Religion)there in lies the another misconception you seem to misunderstandChristianity is not a religion its a believe in ONE GOD and his Law One set of Ten Laws (commandments) (basically the same as 8 Noahide Jewish Law)And that Christ was the Anointed One son of God who came and will return.The End that's all a Christian means.Protestant, Catholics, Mormons, Baptists etc. are all religions based on a believe in Christianity all religions are man created for men by men based on their interpretations of scripture.This is the same in Judaism being a Jew isn't a religionhowever the believe in Judaism is the same as the Christian believe in One God except for a believe that Christ was the anointed of God which Jews do not recognize therefore Jews are living under the Old Covenant Laws of the old testament.Just like Christianity there are many different sects in Judaism Orthodoxy, kabbalists, traditional etc. all based in Judaism but different interpretations of scriptures without changeing the basic belief in One god concept of Judism these different sects are equal to,same thing as a Christian religions. hope this helps you keep things in better context while being skeptical