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/.

[Iscool]

Any unsaved people in your church of Jesus Christ???

[kerryusama04]

I asked you way back in the first post to address the issue of the Bible only, not the Sabbath.

Perhaps you could actually read the question I posed:

To What Degree does the Bible Matter to Catholicism?

Furthermore, I asked if you guys would address it, and not even on this thread necessarily.

What Sandyeggo left out is that out of the first 64 posts, 25 are addressed to me, and I don't recall one of them addressing the relevancy of the BIBLE to CATHOLICS.

[pgyanke]

Thank you!

[pgyanke]

I've answered you more than once... though not on this particular question... so now I will...

As Catholics, we recognize God's revelation of Himself in three ways:

- Scripture (The Bible)
- Tradition (Primarily the Liturgy--Mass--and the Sacraments)
- The Magisterium (The Church's teachings)

Why do we recognize these three? Because Christianity is a religion of the Word, not of a book. The Word is a person--Jesus Christ. Each of the revelations above is mutually illuminating. Nothing in the three contradict each other, they reveal more about the others. Scripture is the God-breathed written revelation. Tradition is the living worship of God. The Magisterium is the means given by Christ to understand it all.

Ephesians 3:8 To me, the least of all the saints, is given this grace, to preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ: 9 And to enlighten all men, that they may see what is the dispensation of the mystery which hath been hidden from eternity in God who created all things: 10 That the manifold wisdom of God may be made known to the principalities and powers in heavenly places through the church, 11 According to the eternal purpose which he made in Christ Jesus our Lord: 12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

[windcliff]

Will do.

[wideawake]

If you notice the sixth word in the passage above...taken from the original Greek, it is the word Sabbatwn. This is a Hebrew word (Greek had no word for Sabbath) and the phrase "mia twn Sabbatwn" means....."one of the Sabbaths".

You are mistaking a partitive genitive (genitive of time) for a possessive genitive.

[Running On Empty]

Great post.

[wideawake]

There is zero Scriptural evidence for that assertion.

[kerryusama04]

I found the post informative, but not enlightening. What is the basis for Catholicism? One party of the three listed must have the final word, otherwise how does one correct for error? If Rome can declare a new Sabbath in direct contradiction to the Holy Scriptures, and brag about it, what else can it declare?

[trisham]

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.

*************

Good advice. :) Thanks for this, Salvation!

[trisham]

This one is good: http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/

[onedoug]

Thanks.

[Salvation]

Doctrinal Concordance of the Bible [What Catholics Believe from the Bible] Catholic Caucus

[aruanan]

Should We Take the Bible Literally or Figuratively?

Literally where literal. Figuratively where figurative. After all it is at least 66 books written over a period of centuries and containing history, poetry, and prophecy, etc..

[Running On Empty]

The burden of proof lies with you that “Rome can declare a new sabbath in direct contradiction to the Holy Scriptures, and brag about it”.

For one thing, the Catholic Church is not “Rome”.

Secondly, show me where it “brags” about declaring a “new sabbath”.

And, for what seems like an endless number of times, posts and threads you have offered to contest it, Catholics still celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord on Sunday and all the sabbatarians in the world won’t change that and won’t prove beyond any doubt that it is “in contradiction to the Holy Scriptures.”

[kerryusama04]

The burden of proof lies with you that “Rome can declare a new sabbath in direct contradiction to the Holy Scriptures, and brag about it”.

Negative. The burden of proof lies with the body of believers who teach contrary to God's Law. Show me one line of scripture sanctifying any other day of the week in scripture vice the Sabbath.

"You may read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and you will not find a single line authorizing the sanctification of Sunday. The Scriptures enforce the religious observance of Saturday, a day which we never sanctify." Cardinal Gibbons (for many years head of the Catholic Church in America), The Faith of Our Fathers (92d ed., rev.; Baltimore: John Murphy Company), p.89.

And, for what seems like an endless number of times, posts and threads you have offered to contest it, Catholics still celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord on Sunday and all the sabbatarians in the world won’t change that and won’t prove beyond any doubt that it is “in contradiction to the Holy Scriptures.”

Answer a) Where is the command to do this?

Ansewer b) Why not celebrate it on the actual day is occurred, i.e. 3 Nisan 17?

Answer c) Where is the command to repeal the 4th Commandment?

For one thing, the Catholic Church is not “Rome”.

You got that right.

[pgyanke]

Thank you too!