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To: jimmyray
I like to think I have a rather good vocabulary, and I tend to be a conceptual thinker, but I have no idea what you mean by "non-literal spiritualization."
148 posted on 03/27/2008 7:39:39 PM PDT by shibumi (".....panta en pasin....." - Origen)
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To: shibumi
I like to think I have a rather good vocabulary, and I tend to be a conceptual thinker, but I have no idea what you mean by "non-literal spiritualization."

I refer to the liberal tendency to allegorize the New Testament, and explain away the literal reading of a passage in exchange for a "deeper meaning" that the writer was attempting to communicate. For example, the passage I previously quoted (and will expand) regarding the plain reading of Rev 20:13-15

"And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."

Unless one has a pretext that ALL will be saved, the plain reading of this passage indicates that someone (those whose names are not written) will be cast into the lake of fire. However, Origen would suggest this is merely an allegory for the removal of the sinful nature, or some such other, since it is "known" that all will be saved. Thus, the reading is not literal.

Sensus Plenior

162 posted on 03/27/2008 8:08:47 PM PDT by jimmyray
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