What does it mean to take the Bible literally?

[Jonaitis]

For example, if your eye offends you, pluck it out?

Some think that if it isn't literal, then it can't be taken seriously.

 

[Blade]

Yes exactly take the Bible literally Are we talking about just some man that said if your eye offends you, pluck it out? Or someone with no limit no measure to the sweet sweet holy Spirit and everything He said is GOD talking? Makes you wonder if He stood there waiting to see just who would see understand. He has a way with "words". The word became flesh... YES!

 

[2PhiloVoid]

For example, if your eye offends you, pluck it out?

I think the jury is still out as to what the exact denotation of 'literal' should be when it is applied to biblical interpretation ...

 

[Gregory Thompson]

For example, if your eye offends you, pluck it out?

My eye hasn't said anything all that offensive lately, it hasn't really grown a mouth yet .. so not necessary.

 

[tours]

There are some things in the Bible that can be taken literally, and others that cannot. I don't think you can make a blanket statement about how the entire bible should be interpreted.

Try reading Matthew 13.

There are some who do not understand scripture.

"Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand."

But others can understand.. Matthew 13:16

"But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear"

So it is important to pray for understanding and not rely on natural understanding.

 

[Soyeong]

For example, if your eye offends you, pluck it out?

John 10:9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.

When someone some says that they take the Bible literally, they are often meaning that they believe that the Bible is an historical account of what really happened, not that the believe that Jesus is literally a door with hinges. We can believe that the Bible is historical while also recognizing that it uses figurative language.

 

[GDL]

Perhaps it's the reason denominations exist to begin with - the crux of it all.

One of the reasons. The crux of it all is probably just people.

 

[Wayne Gabler]

For example, if your eye offends you, pluck it out?

When you understand it is talking about 'a body of believers' then the parable will make more sense.
If a 'whole body' that is sinless is a 'good thing' then keeping it sinless should be the goal of every Congregation.
If you make the sinner in 1Cor:5 the 'sinful eye' then casting it away is how the others remain saved. If they do not expel the sinner, God will judge the whole congregation as being in sin.
The vision and explanation in Da:7 and Re:17 would help you, the vision is given in 'figurative language' while the explanation are given in literal terms. Those two visions also refer to 10 men that are the same 10 men so what is said in both places are information about the end times, especially for these men:
Re:17:12:
And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings,
which have received no kingdom as yet;
but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.

 

[ViaCrucis]

I think it's safe to say that no one has ever "taken the Bible literally" as though every single thing is supposed to be read in a literal way. This becomes evident when even the most ardent "literalist" still recognizes that there are figures of speech. Nobody, for example, reads the Proverbs and comes away concluding that God's name is literally "a strong tower", or that Jesus is literally a juvenile four legged woolly ungulate.

I think what is often intended by the word "literal" isn't literal, but rather that one should take the Bible seriously. But depending on our respective tradition/denomination and theological persuasions we believe that understanding parts of the Bible a particular way is taking it more seriously than views contrary to our own. So a Young Earth Creationist might conclude that a Christian who reads the first chapter of Genesis as non-literal isn't taking the Bible seriously enough and is trying to compromise their trust in Scripture; though that isn't really the case.

For the most part, though our interpretations may different radically, we all are genuinely trying to take the Bible seriously as the divinely inspired written word of God. And that not taking the Bible seriously really doesn't come down to blanket statements like "the Bible is literal", but rather about affirming the central truths of the Christian faith: Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, crucified, buried, dead, risen on the third day, ascended into heaven, seated at the right hand of the Father, coming again in glory to judge the quick and the dead, whose kingdom is everlasting.

"If Christ is risen, nothing else matters. And if Christ is not risen—nothing else matters." - Jaroslav Pelikan

-CryptoLuthean

 

[Dennis_Hogg]

These are some rules of literal interpretation as uttered by a non-scholar
1. Every passage in the Bible is true and must be taken at face value as we would do reading a textbook in normal language.
2. Each passage must be understood in its context, including who is speaking, who is being addressed, and the time period being addressed. Verses of the Bible are not to be understood like a horoscope.
3. Every passage of scripture is of equal weight and authority. Every passage can be used to correct our understanding of every other passage. If our understanding of a passage conflicts with the clear wording of a different passage, then our understanding of one of the passages (or both) is wrong.
4. The Bible uses figurative language, and even hyperbole at times ("we were like grasshoppers in their sight"). Figures of speech must be identified. Figures of speech enhance the literal meaning. We must never use "figurative" as a way to diminish what God is saying or to discount the authority of a passage.
5. Our job is to study and understand the Bible. It must correct us - not the other way around. We compare scripture with scripture always modifying our understanding as passages correct our understanding.
6. We must be willing to let go of our assumptions and presuppositions of what God is like and what we are like and recognize that God is right and that we have been deceived and polluted in our understanding by our sin.

There may be more, and you might prefer to edit this, but is what is meant by literal understanding

 

[BBAS 64]

Good Day,

RC Sproul answers the question here:

In Him,

Bill